Industry News

Kaye Wood: 35 years of teaching & still going strong!

Kaye Wood began teaching the machine arts in 1973. Then the quilting bug hit her in1977 when a student asked if they could do some of that “quilting stuff.” Kaye thought it was a great idea. That’s where it started, and now 35 years later, Kaye is still teaching and inspiring quilters and sewers!

As Kaye studied more patterns, she realized there were shortcuts that could simplify the piecing of quilts along with providing accuracy. That thinking and Kaye’s mathematical mind led her to the invention of the Starmaker® Master Templates cutting system. She designed this system to work not only with designated patterns but any pattern that is made from angles.

In 1989 Kaye made a decision that she could teach and inspire even more people by producing and hosting her own public television series. Strip Quilting, Quilting For the ‘90s and Kaye’s Quilting Friends TV series have been welcomed into households across the world. Kaye has now provided 520 programs for television. That is 40 seasons of programming!

In 1993 Kaye founded the LoveQuilt Connection, which is a program held at quilt shows where attendees are asked to help assemble quilts using the Kaye Wood 6 Hour Quilt method. This method allows many quilts to be made and donated in a short amount of time, and it works toward Kaye’s goal of providing every child in need with a special quilt! Thousands and thousands of quilts using the Kaye Wood method have been given to charities around the country.

Kaye has also hosted 16 quilting cruises all around the world visiting places such as the Panama Canal, The Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean. Kaye teaches her techniques through classes, lectures, books, patterns, and her TV series. As if that wasn’t enough, Kaye launched an all new Web site, www.kayewoodTV.com to continue her quest to teach the world to quilt with ease. The site includes episodes of Kaye’s Quilting Friends television series along with tips and techniques from designers all around the world. This site is provided FREE. Just log on and learn! The new site is reaching over 90 countries a month!

After authoring and designing numerous books, patterns and tools, Kaye keeps on coming up with inspiring ideas to create. We can’t wait to see what the next 35 years bring!

For more information, contact Kaye Wood, Inc. at 1-800-248-5293 or visit www.kayewood.com.

Reprinted from SQE Professional, February 2009