Stars Over the Pamlico quilt show proceeds to go to hurricane relief, recovery

Published 7:16 pm Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Once a year, the Washington Civic Center is awash in color, as more than 100 handmade quilts go on display, as does the talent of the Pamlico River Quilters’ Guild.

Unlike other years, however, the proceeds of this show will be donated to the cause that’s foremost on the mind.

“Proceeds are being donated to hurricane relief and recovery, to (organizations such as) Eagle’s Wings, Salvation Army — the idea is we’re trying to help locally,” said guild member Jan Hindsley.

Hindsley said guild members weighed letting the show go on, but they were all lucky enough to fare well in the Category 1 storm that pummeled eastern North Carolina for two days.

“We were so blessed compared to New Bern. The New Bern guild had scheduled their show at the convention center, but they had three feet of water in the convention center,” Hindsley said.

The local guild is now sharing members’ good fortune with others, through donations to relief organizations, and helping fellow quilters in need.

“If anyone lost their stash (of quilting fabric), we will take up a fabric collection for them,” said guild member Wendy Bissinger.

A donation box will also be located front and center at the show, which runs Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A raffle will be held for a large bed quilt, made by guild members; its design incorporating this year’s theme — Stars Over the Pamlico — in its many paper-pieced stars, handstitched by individual guild members.

The show is not just an opportunity to show off bed quilts, wall quilts, quilted home décor and innovation quilting. It’s also an opportunity for quilters to get some valuable feedback from the juror of the show: physician, quilter and certified quilt judge Scott Murkin.

“He starts judging every quilt by saying what he loves about it. … He always gives useful, constructive criticism,” Bissinger said. “He looks at the design, the use of color, at the quilting — does the quilting enhance the quilt?”

In addition to the juried show, Stars Over the Pamlico will feature handmade boutique items made my guild members, such as ornaments, runners and port pillows for cancer patients, paper-piecing, hand-quilting and bed-turning of antique quilts demonstrations.

But the statewide effort that went into a single quilt might very well steal the show, according to Bissinger.

“Stitching N.C.: The 100 Counties Quilt Project” will be on display at Stars Over The Pamlico. The quilt is 18-by-9 feet, encompassing 100 blocks, each made by a quilter from every county in the state. Bissinger, who owns a lake house in Hyde County, quilted Hyde County’s part.

The “100 Counties” quilt has rarely been displayed.

“That’s going to be interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing that,” Hindsley said.

Stars Over The Pamlico takes place at the Washington Civic Center, 110 Gladden St., Washington. Admission is $5.