THE quilting section at the Margaret River Agricultural Show is a fabulous opportunity to showcase quilts made in this region, steward Maureen Munro says.

“Over the past years we have been able to build up the display, and many visitors now come to look and, most importantly, enter their Viewer’s Choice vote.

“This is a way of rewarding and encouraging quilters to put their work on show.”

Quilts take many hours to make, and therefore all quilters need to be aware of the new show dates, October 17 and 18.

“We all tend to leave the finishing off to the last minute– this year we just need to be a bit earlier,” she said.

All quilts must be benched by Tuesday, October 14.

An exciting new section this year is Textile/Fibre Fun.

Increasingly quilters are using a variety of fibres to create small ‘art’ quilts.

Unlike bed quilts, these may have no purpose other than to bring pleasure to the viewer, and being fun to make.

Quilters can have freedom to explore colour, texture and their own imagination.

Stewards have imposed a maximum size of A3 on this section, and each piece should be a quilt (have three layers) and include fabric, fibres and quilting.

The special theme this year is Blue and White.

Quilts can be entered in any class, and also included for the theme prize.

“Of course we hope that there are lots of different colours and themes in the quilts presented in all sections, but each year we nominate one theme in the hope that quilters may be challenged to make a special quilt for the show,” Ms Munro says.

“Last year’s winner won a basket of blue and white fabrics which we hope may be seen in a quilt at this show.”

Quilters are also reminded that they do not have to have their quilts judged.

Quilts entered in the Exhibition Only class are still included in the Viewer’s Choice voting, but they are not presented to the judges.

Groups who have created Friendship Quilts, or Round Robin Quilts, where several members have contributed to the one quilt, are invited to display the results in this section too.

More information on the quilting section can be obtained by checking out the website www.margaretriveragshow. com.au, or by phoning one of the stewards (Maureen Munro 97572753 or Maxine Patmore 9758 8935).