Ron Collins - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Ron Collins is Canada’s best known sewing personality and is adored as a designer, speaker and teacher. He is the first male Canadian Designer to have his own line of patterns with Vogue, which premiered in March 2017. Sandra Betzina, Power Sewing icon, and Ron have produced 12 DVD’s including an tailoring for both men and women. Since 2009 they have filmed over 240 on-line web shows called Power Sewing which has received great reviews. He is talented, hardworking and handsome - an absolute natural! Lucky for us he also loves to teach.
Liz Thompson - Vancouver, B.C
Liz has been a passionate sewer since the age of 9. More than 30 years ago she started quilting as “therapy” to ease homesickness after a move far away from where she grew up. She never looked back after that – sewers & quilters truly are super friendly and supportive around their common passion! Her fav sewing is applique/quilting; machine embroidery, garment sewing including bras & other lingerie. She recently retired from a long career in the sewing industry and continues to share her sewing and quilting skills through her sewwithliz.com business. Liz is a proud Canadian living in Vancouver, BC – although she does have a different accent!
Beverly Johnson - Hamilton, Ontario
Since 1995 Beverly Johnson has taught bra-making, underwear, swimwear and corsetry to over 50,000 women! Whether they have taken classes from her here at the Stitches Conference, or an online class at Craftsy her students call her the "Fairy Bra Mother" Beverly has written 8 books on making and designing intimate appeal as well as developed her own line of patterns, called Pin-up girls. Let Beverly share the magic of Bra making with you!
Jeanette Spornitz - Vanderhoof, British Columbia
Jeanette has been sewing since she can remember and began sewing bras in 2011. In 2013 she completed the Professional Bra Making with Bra Makers Supply. Since then she has been assisting Beverly Johnson with a number of classes including the Saskatchewan Stitches Conference. 2018 She began teaching the Beginner bra classes at the conference. Having Beverly as a mentor has greatly increased her bra making techniques & fitting skills. She teaches bra making, swimwear and lingerie drafting, fitting and sewing techniques to students in Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Northern Alberta. There is nothing better than seeing a student's eyes light up with a great fitting bra they made themselves.
Jan Bones - Winnipeg, Manitoba
Jan is a teacher, author & designer. Teaching is an inspiring & amazing part of her life. Jan knows The Saskatchewan Stitches Conference is the place for all to share ideas, meet new friends & have fun working hard!
For 31 years Jan taught pattern design, garment construction, pattern drafting, tailoring, draping & fitting at the University of Manitoba. She continues to enjoy educating classes of enthusiastic clothing design students at Rev Rive College, located in Winnipeg.
In 1994 Jan started her sewing pattern company "Linger Secrets & there are over 40 designs to fit ladies in all shapes & sizes! Jan travels across Canada & the United States, to have the joy of teaching sewing enthusiasts in seminars, hands on workshops & weekend retreats. Family (including happy perfect grandchildren, aged 5, 11 & 18), volunteer work and summer time at the cottage keep her busy and joy filled.
Marci Baker - Fort Collins, Colorado.
Recognized internationally for her expertise in quilting, Marci enjoys sharing ideas that simplify the process of quilting. She began teaching quilting in 1989 for her local quilting guild and shops. In 1993 she started Alicia’s Attic with the concepts that combine her love of math with her love of quilting. Marci has authored a series books on “Not Your Grandmother’sTM Quilts” and has invented several tools to make quilting easier!
KATE ATHERLEY
is an internationally known knitting author, teacher, and editor. Her latest book, Custom-Fit Hats is her ninth, and the fourth in a
series on customizing projects for perfect fit and style; it joins works on shawls, socks, and mittens. She’s also the co-founder and publisher of Digits & Threads, an independent, member-supported online magazine about Canadian fibre- and textile arts, crafts and industry. The combination of her university degree in mathematics, professional experience in software development and usability, and training in garment and fashion design give her a unique perspective. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their rescue dog Winnie.
Wendy van der Walt - Brandon, Manitoba
For over 22 years, Wendy has been in the business of making colorful dreams come true! For the first 15, Wendy was the Creator and Faerie Godmother of Faeries from the Prairies, a costume and clothing manufacturer you might have seen at a Canadian Craft sale near you.. Currently, Wendy is the Chief Creative Shenanigator and Hand Holder at Fabriculous Fresh Modern Fabrics in Manitoba. Opening in early 2012, Fabriculous has expanded and evolved to include two location, shows and teaching engagements across western Canada, as well as legendary retreat hosting! Wendy and her husband George have also developed their own line of Collage, Bag Making and Quilting designs and patterns under the Fabriculous banner. The heart of the business, as well as the energy behind the growth has been Wendy's enthusiasm and excitement for taking projects that seem intimidating and dauting, and making them fun, fast and accessible to everyone. "you can do this!" is her favorite thing to say!
Melissa Marginet - Beausejour, MB.
Melissa grew up next door to her wonderful grandmother, whom she credits for her creative life. She caught the quilting bug in 2001 when she took a Log Cabin class to get rid of some fabric she had laying around. Needless to say she has way more fabric laying around now than she did back then. She loves to teach and enjoys sharing her knowledge and inspiring others. She is a DIY quilter from beginning to end and encourages her students to do the same. She has published two books "Walking Foot Quilting Designs" and "Edge to Edge Walking Foot Quilting Designs".
Shelley Tobisch - Saskatoon, SK
Shelley Scott-Tobisch discovered her love of quilting after immigrating to Canada from the United States in 1986. The desire to share her passion for quilting led her to begin a teaching career soon after. Shelley's love of scrap quilts, pursuit of precision and desire to make it more easily attainable led to the development of the techniques and tools used in the Easy Precision Piecing System. Shelley is the author of Easy Precision Piecing and with her husband, Bernie cofounded Little Oak Pattern Co. Ltd. in 2011. Together they have deve4loped Acorn Precision Piecing products for the Easy Precision Piecing System.
Bernie Tobisch - Saskatoon, Sk.
Bernie was born in Germany and moved to Canada as a young boy. He grew up in Saskatchewan and moved to Alberta in his early twenties, where he began his career as a sewing machine technician with Singer. He became a dealer after a few years and continued to service machines. In the late 1980's he moved to the Vancouver region, opened up shop where he remained until he recently moved back to Saskatchewan. Together with his wife, Shelley, they have worked together for the last twenty years teaching classes.
Dianne Jansson - Pritchard, British Columbia
After attaining an Australian Degree in Home Economics and Teaching dressmaking for many years in Australia and Canada the last 25 years have seen Dianne's focus change to quilting. Technique, rather than artistic design is the basis for most of her machine piecing workshops, with colours playing a strong role. Dianne believes that quilting is meant to be a pleasurable activity and encourages students to adapt designs to suit their own needs.
Bonny Voice - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Bonny is a self described fabricoholic and she loves to quilt and sew. A well spent day for her is one spent in her sewing room designing and making her next quilted project. Bonny's been teaching sewing and quilting for most of her adult life. She's taught across Western Canada and at four Quilt Canada conferences. She's also exhibited her work in numerous shows and galleries.
Glenda Hudson, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Owner of the Wool Emporium for over 20 years Glenda has been involved with the fibre industry for over 30 years.. Her fast knowledge includes hand and machine knitting, crochet, felting, spinning and dyeing. She loves to share her expertise and knowledge of fibre with other through the 25 different classes she teaches at her shop.
Michelle Miller - Bienfait, Saskatchewan
Inspired by nature she is renowned for creating works of art out of recycled wood, fabric, metal, glass and more. Unafraid to try something out of the ordinary. Her unique creations are always in demand. Once exposed to rug hooking she quickly develped a love for primitive designs and enjoys sharing her talent and passion. Tow of her designs have bee featured in a A Needle Pulling Thread Magazine.
Heather Grover - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Heather Grover (McDermid) was raised in Renfrew, Ontario. She grew up loving art, she studied Art Illustration (textiles as well as weaving, silk painting, paper making, print making and Pottery ) at Sheridan College in Trenton, Ontario. At this point in her life she married Michael Grover and moved to Europe and studied for three years. Once she was back in Canada she did alot of art work for the military, of which many of her pieces are in Muesums. When she moved from Petawawa, Ontario to Moose Jaw, Heather dabbled a bit with quilts but once settled in Moose Jaw she took it up full time. In 2004 Heather incorporated her art work into quilting. Heather worked in traditiona lstyle of quilting (Square in a Square, piecing et.) She now does a lot of work with fieber arts and also felting. She is always trying something new which she incorporates both styles of quilting.
Diane Dugan - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Diane is a self taught accomplished sewist. She discovered the art of draping when she hand made her dress form Marley. She is a natural instructor and loves sharing her skill with other enthusiastic sewists.
Sarah Rorquist - Lloydminster, Alberta
Sarah is an avid crafter and quilter. Her love for technology has lead to her love of creating projects using the Artistic Edge Cutter. She has made numerous unique T-shirts, for her family and friends, along with water bottles, painted signs and other decorations as gift.
