Everybody Wants to Be a Cat

This is the ninth year I’ve participated in the Utah State Fair Quilt Challenge. The rules are simple: Use at least half of the fat quarter provided (18x22”) in the front of a 24x36” (or smaller) wall hanging. Provide a hanging sleeve and dowel, and a label with my name, the quilt’s name and year. Every bit of the quilt – from the original design to the final stitch in the binding – must be my own work. This last little detail makes the challenge both difficult and rewarding. Ten years ago I’d never designed, quilted, bound or labeled a single quilt. I smile when I look back on my first few entries and think how far I’ve come. Perhaps the most difficult part of the challenge is that the quilt must be turned in ON TIME. I’ll probably be riding Trax to the fairgrounds today, so I can add the last few stitches in transit.