Penticton’s quilters are amassing their materials for the biggest fabric pattern event in the Okanagan.
This year’s show has been given the theme “A Bouquet of Quilts,” and will feature nearly 200 quilts at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.
The giant event only takes place every third year, and the 2015 show on May 8 and 9 will be the 10th event held by the Penticton Quilters’ Guild.
“It’s always inspirational and enjoyable,” said Marilyn Govier, chair of the quilt show. “You’re going to run into someone you know from somewhere, and it’s just so nice to look at them – some of them are absolutely beautiful.”
Comprising the collection of quilts will mostly be works from the Penticton Quilters’ Guild, and will be joining forces with the Keremeos Guild, Summerland Material Girls and the Pieceful Evening Quilters.
Visitors are expected to come from even farther.
“We easily could have people from Vernon all the way down to Osoyoos who come.”
For quilt enthusiasts who are too excited to wait for the weekend, Penticton’s Main Street will be share a sneak peak of the fabric patterns throughout many downtown businesses.
“The goal is to surge excitement and spread awareness for the upcoming show and the guild’s community initiatives,” reads a Penticton Quilting Guild press release.
The community initiatives include sending quilts to those in need through various organizations, including RCMP Victim Assistance, Salvation Army Christmas Hampers, Penticton Regional Hospital, healthcare programs, long-term care homes, Meals on Wheels, Quilts of Valour – Canada, B.C. Cancer Society, and other local organizations upon request.
Many of the supplies for those quilts were paid for with money raised through the previous quilt show in 2012.
“And quilts are not cheap,” Glovier said.
Admission to the show will cost $7 this year (cash-only at the door), and it is expected to attract between 800 to 1,000 quilting enthusiasts.
“It’s pretty good when you have a thousand women concentrated that are all quilters.”
Govier said that quilt-related businesses in the valley have been invited to the show as merchants, “so there’s a bit of a vendor’s mall going on.”
From the clubs, there will be quilted items there for sale, and three quilts will be awarded to the lucky raffle winners.
The show is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 8, and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 9.