Capital Quilters Quilt Show

The Lower Hutt Horticultural Hall was hung with colourful quilts over the weekend for the Silver Threads Quilt Show, with the club celebrating its 25th Birthday. With over 170 quilts on display, there was something for everyone. It was nice to see a discounted entry price offered for Gold Card holders, I can look forward to that for their next show.

Views of the Hall

After stopping to take my tickets in the raffle baskets, and the blue and white raffle quilt, I wandered around the large hall. First in the hall were these two beauties, large bed quilts just bursting with colour. Then just around the corner, I came across a dramatic red, black and white quilt, which would certainly bring any bedroom to life.

Quilts featuring stitcheries are still very popular and there were plenty of examples on show. I was quite taken with this “botanical” quilt which featured large machine embroidered blocks of New Zealand plants set in string pieced sashing, called Nature’s Garden, by Sandra Kennington. And the very pretty hand embroidered Flower Fairies “For Violet”, by Noreen McGavin, was lovely with it’s pastel palette.

This fan quilt had an intriguing name, it was called “For the Protection of the Complexion, made by Jeanie O’Sullivan. Graced with four ribbons, it took away prizes for Best Pieced Quilt, Best Hand Quilting, Judges Award and Life Members Award.

Fan quilt, awarded 4 ribbons

I love to see the quilts made for children and there were two examples of Holly Hobbie, a quilt with trains, and another with diggers. There was a small selection of wonderfully warm looking quilts made from woollen fabric and quilted with “big stitch”quilting. A challenge to make a bag from a bra made for very interesting offerings. Up on stage were quilts made by Life Members. As usual, I had to decide on which quilt took my quote for “Viewer’s Choice”. My criteria was, which quilt would I most like to have on my bed at home. This lovely Baltimore with pieced sashings in the gorgeous colours of paua shell took my vote. The quilter told me it was ten years in the making, and was hand quilted by Heather Harding, a quilter par excellence.

“Ultra Violet” by Debra DeLorenzo was my Viewers Choice

As I returned to my car a lady going into the hall asked me, “Is it worth going in?” I was incredulous, surely she wasn’t serious. “It’s wonderful”, I told her. Capital Quilters are to be congratulated on such a marvellous show, I had a great time there.