Plethora of patterns united by common passion
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RONAN — There’s an inexplicable passion all quilters seem to share. Some will say the lure is in the texture of the fabric, the joy of blending beautiful hues, and the challenge of piecing a variety of patterns into a cohesive work of art. Stitch that with a dose of nostalgia and sense of family roots, and quilters bond with the craft — and each other — for life.
The result of months and years of handiwork was on display last week during Mission Mountain Quilt Guild’s annual show, held at K. Harvey Elementary School in Ronan.
The guild boasts 40 members. All were challenged to create a quilt and donate it to a charitable cause, according to Jessie Merwin who rose to the challenge. Her “Stars with a Mission” quilt that won a “People’s Choice” award will be donated to Mission Valley Christian Academy for the school to raffle as a fundraiser. Earlier this year, she gave the students a quilting lesson, and received many thank you notes.
“They are great kids, just a pleasure to work with,” she said.
The students’ Seattle Seahawks quilt hung alongside a tapestry of quilts as varied as summer wildflowers. Vintage ties were pieced and hand embroidered by Laurina Foust, and quilted by Peggy Olson. A classic quilt was fashioned from postage-stamp-sized squares, while other contemporary art designs boasted patterns that flowed like the Flathead River.
On the other end of the spectrum, quick country quilts are Robyn Schock’s style. Schock was one of four quilters chosen to feature several quilts at this year’s show. Each quilter was featured for her unique talent. Schock described her style of quilt as “very usable, easy to make and easy to give away,” she said. “I’m maybe not the best quilter, but I am very prolific.”
Shock became intrigued with quilting while watching friends fashion quilts for each of their children. Her display included a Pirates of the Caribbean quilt she made for her son, who helped her pick the fabric at age 4. She recently designed her first quilt pattern, which is available to purchase at The Country Store in downtown Polson.
Featured quilter Cathy Jensen began quilting in 1990. While many crafters quilt with a longarm machine, Jensen still quilts all her large creations by hand. She began like many people, simply needing something to cover her bed.
“I made a lot of quilts with squares sewn together and tied with yarn,” she explained.
Later, she found a shoebox in her mom’s attic. It was full of little pieces, which she used to create a complex Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt.
“I kind of like the old patterns,” she said.
Jensen also completed a quilt her mother began in 1940.
Making art quilts is featured artist Colleen Fenimore’s first passion. “My second is making a quilt top so that I can do the final quilting,” she said.
Fenimore’s quilts earned first and third place in the Overall Favorite category.
Starting off quilting on her domestic machine, Fenimore quickly realized she needed a longarm and purchased the baby Gammill with an 18-inch throat.
“My biggest joy is doing freemotion and ruler work on my machine,” she said. “I rarely do a pantograph any more; if I do one, I incorporate ruler and freemotion into the design.”
Her quilting obsession began in 2007 after she moved to Mission Valley, where she joined the St. Ignatius Thursday Quilters and the Mission Mountain Quilt Guild.
That’s a great way to learn to quilt, agreed featured quilter Donna Corum.
“My advise for a new quilter: take it slow, take classes, join a guild, and realize that you probably will get discouraged at times,” Corum said. “If you can quilt just a few minutes a day, your skills get better and your seams will be more accurate.”
Corum’s mother shared her love of sewing with her daughter. Corum sewed most of her own children’s clothing until she became self-employed. After learning to quilt, she passed her love of stitching onto her granddaughters, helping them create quilts of their own.
“After my kids got older I became interested in quilting. I had friends who encouraged me to quilt. I started slow, took classes and completed a few smaller projects,” she said.
“It wasn’t until after my mother’s passing and my kids were all out of the house that I really began to quilt.”
She still takes classes and has even traveled on a few quilting cruises. Through the experience she’s made good friends who travel together and go to quilt shows.
“I love quilt shows because the quilts inspire me and I want to do better and be better,” Corum said, including a bit of advice for newbies: “Be happy for your fellow quilters when their projects are done and quilted. Some day you will look back and see how far you have come.”
Quilt Show Results
King 1st Charolette Sheumaker 2nd Jessie Merwin 3rd Marian Sands
Queen 1st Kay Krantz 2nd Barbara Smith 3rd Kathy Sweatt
Full 1st Colleen Fenimore 2nd Susan Hartman 3rd Susan Brown
Twin 1st Colleen Fenimore 2nd Penny Chambers 3rd Bernadette Corum
Theme Bed Quilt 1st Kay Krantz 2nd Charolette Sheumaker 3rd Debbie Thingelstad
Theme Smaller Than Bed Size 1st Susy Corneliusen 2nd Bernadette Corum 3rd Kathy Kent
Paper Pieced 1st Donna Corum 2nd None 3rd None
Applique 1st Joyce Rux 2nd Donna Corum 3rd Donna Corum
Hand Quilted 1st Barbara Smith 2nd Cathy Jensen 3rd Ada Allen
Seasonal 1st Debbie Thingelstad 2nd Evelyn Kelch 3rd Julie McConnell
UFOs 1st Debbie Thingelstad 2nd Linda Goldeski 3rd Linda Trickey
Art/ Wall Hangings 1st Marina Cheff 2nd Donna Corum 3rd Colleen Fenimore
Baby 1st Donna Corum 2nd Bernadette Corum 3rd Debbie Thingelstad
Lap/Small Child 1st Tia Trickey 2nd Kathy Sweatt 3rd Julie McConnell
Table Toppers 1st Cathy Jensen 2nd Robyn Schock 3rd Evelyn Kelch
Miscellaneous 1st Marina Cheff 2nd Kay Krantz 3rd Jessie Merwin Overall
Favorite 1st Colleen Fenimore 2nd Susan Hartman 3rd Colleen Fenimore
