Kimberly Bennefield - June 2024
Kimberly Bennefield is a product designer by day and creative maker by night, living and creating in Beaverton, Oregon.
Kimberly is an avid modern quilter and bag maker, although only having started at the end of 2015. And in 2018, Kimberly was elected to served as President of Portland’s Modern Quilt Guild, when it reached a record almost 400 members.
The journey in modern quilting blended into shoemaking, when she enrolled in a shoemaking course with the ShoeSurgeon. It began with an online class in 2022 in which she designed an Air Jordan 1 shoe, using quilted Alison Glass fabric, combined with leather.
She later attended an in person class in 2023, in which she won the student design competition, resulting in TheSurgeon creating a small commission based run of the shoe she designed, which was a Nike SB Dunk, she named “The Woman King”. Most recently she has created her own quilted version of The SneakerKit’s “Summer 2” pattern, using a combination of quilted fabric and a bright ultrashort suede. It’s a very complemented fashion statement, especially when worn with the matching quilted painter’s vest she created.
She has been featured on Sewing Parts Online’s Sew Inspired Podcast, as well as Sewing Parts Online’s YouTube Channel. She is a brand ambassador for Accuquilt, Fat Quarter Shop and a previous Maywood Maker. She has also been featured in multiple quilting magazines and hosted a quilt along with Quilting Daily, featuring her quilt pattern, Bargelato.
Presentation to Guild
Quilted Garments and Shoes
Thursday June 20, 2024 IN-PERSON (and streamed virtually)
Lately, quilted fashion has been all the rage. From quilt coats, to quilted shoes and quilted hats, the options
are endless. Learn more about the steps in the process and a few considerations to keep in mind as you begin, or extend your journey. Learn more about the tools and options for beginners or for those of you that are, or plan to become more experts.
Kimberly Bennefield will walk us through the steps she typically takes and will show a few videos demonstrating the process. We will also have a chance to see some of the examples of shoes and garments she has made so far, in her journey.
Workshops
Quilted Sneakers
In-person
Saturday June 22, 2024
10am - 3pm PT
This workshop will not be recorded.
Join us and begin your journey to becoming a true Cordwainer!
In this workshop, we will work together to create a new pair of sneakers, using the SneakerKit. Your sneakers can be built using quilted fabric, leather/suede, vinyl or any material you feel you can work with to cut into a pattern and sew onto a sole.
You will have to purchase your size in the SneakerKit, which includes a pair of soles, insoles and a free pattern, which you can access (in your size) online. There are at least 6 style options to choose from, including a couple of sandal like patterns.
We will trace the pattern, cut it out, punch holes for the soles and for the laces and finish with a brand new one-of-one made by you, pair of sneakers.
Sales Timeline:
Scholarship: Opens April 22nd and closes Saturday, MAY 4th (winners notified Sunday, MAY 5th).
Sales open to members: Mon MAY 6th