The theme for the 2017 Children’s Workshop was Tivaevae, the style of quilts unique to the Cook Islands. 
This textile art is just over 100 years old and the workshop started with a bit of geography and then history of the Pacific. Fortunately most of the ten participants had seen the film Moana and knew a little about Polynesian life prior to European influence. The children next learned about how tivaevae are made and their importance in the community.
Then on to the tricky process of designing using paper folding. It took a few tries before some really good patterns emerged from the folds. The next step was thinking about colour contrast and again coloured paper was used to try lots of options.
Finally everyone was ready to work with fabric. Each child made a paper pattern of their own design. Then traced it onto a folded square of fabric that was a good contrast to their background piece. The fabric had been prepared with a fusible webbing, so after cutting, it was easily fused. For many of the children this was their first lesson in pressing. They handled it most competently.
These brilliantly coloured designs are destined to become cushion covers. That is after either machine or hand stitching in bright threads around the edges.
