Meet Jennie Rayment: Hexie Boxes for All

What happens when traditional patchwork meets the art of origami? For Jennie Rayment, the possibilities are almost endless.

Known for her love of folding, twisting, and manipulating fabric, Jennie has developed a distinctive quilting approach that transforms flat textiles into intricate three-dimensional creations.

Jennie's quilting journey began in 1989, following a varied career that included managing hotels, inns and restaurants, as well as running a village general store and Post Office.

Until then, her sewing experience had been limited to family mending and household repairs. But after discovering patchwork and making her first quilt, she quickly fell in love with the craft.

What began as a steep learning curve developed into a lasting fascination with the creative possibilities of fabric.

Today, Jennie particularly enjoys exploring textured surfaces and three-dimensional forms, often drawing inspiration from origami techniques.

Describing herself as a "twiddler and fiddler", she delights in experimenting with folds, shapes and structures to discover just how far fabric can be manipulated.

At our People & Places Online Retreat 2027, Jennie will introduce participants to Hexie Boxes for All, a creative session exploring the possibilities of three-dimensional textile construction.

Inspired by origami, Jennie's techniques use folding, rolling and fabric manipulation to create textured boxes with striking geometric forms.

But the possibilities don't end with boxes.

Jennie will explore how to adapt and develop these techniques to create bowls and decorative embellishments, encouraging participants to experiment with fabric in new and unexpected ways.

Whether you enjoy traditional patchwork or are looking to explore something a little different, this session offers plenty of inspiration for taking your fabric creations beyond the flat surface.

When she's not experimenting with fabric, Jennie is currently tackling a familiar challenge for many quilters: finishing an ever-growing collection of unfinished objects, or UFOs!

And regular attendees of her lectures might recognise another detail.

Jennie is known for her red thigh-high boots, though she tells us she's now down to her very last pair, having worn out the others during years of enthusiastic lecture appearances.

As Jennie puts it, they simply don't make them like they used to!

This combination of creativity, humour, and a willingness to experiment makes her approach to textiles so engaging.

Explore Jennie's work, creative techniques and quilting activities through her website and social media channels.

Website: jennierayment.com

Facebook and Instagram: @jenneraymentquiltingqueen