PebbleCreek Quilters’ 2023 Opportunity Quilt, “An Homage to Carol Doak” (photo by Linda Rowe)
Jonnie Chandler
The Pebblecreek Quilters (PCQs) offer a handmade quilt as an annual drawing to raise funds for supplies and equipment. Money raised is used to make charity items that are donated to several West Valley shelters and medical facilities. This year’s quilt, spearheaded by Linda Rowe, is a 71” x 94” queen size quilt inspired by Carol Doak’s Book, 50 Fabulous Paper-Pieced Stars. The quilt, titled “An Homage to Carol Doak,” displays 48 paper-pieced stars. Examples of paper piecing date back to the late 1800s. The method involves placing a paper template onto the wrong side of the fabric, folding the fabric over the paper template, stitching the shapes together, and, then, peeling off the paper.
Linda Rowe offered the paper-piecing star pattern as an opportunity to create a showpiece quilt and to encourage new techniques and opportunities to quilters. Cathy Howell assisted Linda at the paper-piecing workshops, guiding and teaching the detailed and precise quilting technique.
The 2023 opportunity quilt is especially stunning, with each star projecting a sharp level of detail and precise points. Volunteer quilters donated their fabric, choosing to follow the color value similar to the picture in Doak’s book. Creating the 10” star blocks involved sewing 80-150 individual pieces of fabric together. Attention to detail and a love for learning motivated the 50 volunteers to create a spectacular quilt that won second prize at the 2022 Arizona State Fair.
Carol Moonan sewed the sashing to the blocks and the strips together to finish the quilt top. Linda Rowe sewed on the binding and hanging sleeve. Karen Bogodi dedicated 80 hours of quilting on the long arm.
Opportunities to purchase the 2023 Opportunity Quilt will be offered soon. The drawing for the quilt, “An Homage to Carol Doak,” will be held at the PCQs’ Christmas luncheon on Dec. 11.
Proceeds from the Opportunity Quilt ticket sales help the club continue their mission to donate needed items to shelters and local hospitals. Mary Hill, community service chair, reported that in 2022, the PCQs donated 727 items that include 319 quilts, 129 dog/cat beds, 123 receiving blankets, and a great number of other items that bring comfort and protection to those in need. The PCQ members love to quilt, but their joy comes from giving.