Quilt Show has over 200 entries

ODESSA-The 28th annual Spring Fling quilt show hosted by The Odessa Quilt Club and Fronen Steppdecker had another successful year. There were over 200 quilts on display.

The vendors in attendance were Toasty’s (Spanaway), Milk Bottle Co. (Odessa), Crazy Quilter (Lind) and Stitch! (Reardan).

Attendees enjoyed refreshments at the “Quilter’s Café.”

Challenge entries spanned over two years. The 2020 Challenge was Postcard Quilts, 4x6 mini quilts, sized and constructed for mailing through the US postal service. Postcards, including embellishment could be no more than ¼ of an inch , including embellishment, to meet Postal Service guidelines.

2021 challenge entries were based on a page in a magazine that contestants received from the Challenge Committee. The quilt could replicate the page or be inspired by the theme, colors or visual texture of the page. The magazine was displayed with the finished quilt.

Voters were allowed one favorite when voting for challenge quilts.

New challenges for 2023 include a fabric sample that was picked up at the front desk. Completed quilted entries must go with or match the sample as if it were curtains in the space where the item could be used or worn. The entries could be a bed quilt, wall-hanging, table runner, garment, purse, tote or other quilted item. Items must match the fabric samples must be quilted and must be completed by April 10 2023 for the quilt show.

A memorial quilt for Kathy Taylor was also on display. Taylor had helped Odessa’s Quilt Club with shows and events.

The annual quilting show’s featured quilter is Anita Pederson of Spokane.

She was preparing for baby number one and quilted her first project in 1978.

Pederson loves the creativity of the design, cutting up the fabric into small pieces and sewing them back together to create something new.

When Pederson first started quilting they did not have rotary cutters, mats or rulers.

Quilters would cut plastic and trace the pieces using pencil on fabric and cut it without scissors.

Pederson taught classes for 13 years at the Quilting Bee and still teaches occasionally as an outreach at her local church.

In 2005 Pederson started Longarm Quilting at Log Cabin Dry goods and bought her machine in 2007. All of her machine quilting is done by freehand. She likes to challenge herself by trying new techniques. Getting inspiration from classes taken or looking through a book.

Pederson has served as the President of the Inland Northwest Machine Quilters Guild and has worked on several committees.

She just finished serving as second Vice President for Washington State Quilters, Spokane Chapter and is currently serving as secretary for the Quilt Show Committee.

Odessa’s Spring Fling Quilt show has drawn interest from all over Washington State since the first show in 1993.

Their first show included 139 quilts on display and over 260 attendees.

25% of those who attended came from as far as Renton, Tacoma, Dayton and Pasco. Surrounding areas such as Moses Lake, Ephrata, Quincy, Ritzville, Spokane and Davenport all drew a high interest.

This year’s award winners are listed below.

Favorite Large Quilt: Guns and Roses made by Linda Dills, Marysville, WA

Favorite Small Quilt: Audubon Christmas made by Terry Engleman, Spokane, WA

Favorite Antique Quilt: Seven Sisters owned by Laura Estes, Odessa

Favorite Embroidered Quilt: Wild Flower made by Mary Overmyre, Downs, WA

Best Pieced Quilt: Schoolgirl Sampler made by Claudia Graham, Lamona, WA

Favorite Lap Quilt: Schoolgirl Sampler made by Claudia Graham, Lamona, WA

Best Applique Quilt: Audubon Christmas made by Terry Engelman, Spokane, WA

Best Hand Quilted Quilt: Grandmother's Flower Garden made by Darlene Horst, Moses Lake

Favorite Magazine Challenge Quilt: Manipulating Color by JoEllen Wollman, Odessa

Favorite Postcard Challenge: Postcard by Deb Keeley, Odessa

Best Hand Guided Machine Quilting: Flourish made by Patricia Gies, Odessa, quilted by Cathy Raugust, Odessa

Best Computer Aided Machine Quilting: Colorwash Irish Chain made by Claudia Graham, quilted by Laurel Whitner, Moses Lake

Friday Student Award: Ford Truck owned by Joe Wollman made by JoEllen Wolman