SISTERS —

Floral and geometric patterns, animals and abstract designs, every color of the rainbow: The 2018 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show had every imaginable pattern and print — and a few you might never have imagined. Quilts hung on storefronts Saturday, displaying not only their style, but their stories.

“It is a unique thing because it’s a show-and-tell,” said Valori Wells, co-owner of Sisters’ Stitchin’ Post and quilt show organizer. “There’s no jury; there’s no judge.”

Well, except for the hundreds of experienced quilters meandering the streets admiring the work of their peers. Not to mention the plenty of inexperienced quilters — and non-quilters — who took in the event for the first time Saturday morning, including myself.

Yes, it’s true. I am a Central Oregon native and have lived in Sisters for the last 16 years, but I’ve never been to the largest outdoor quilt show in the world, held right in my own little town.

I met Judi Mendelssohn, one of 45 quilters visiting the show from the U.K. Mendelssohn has years of experience in both quilting and guiding quilt-oriented tour groups. She was able to explain the art of making quilts, as well as the significance of this particular show.

And trust me, I needed it to be explained.

Mendelssohn pointed to one of the quilts her group brought to Sisters.

“This is a good quilt,” she said.

To me, it looked like that blanket everyone’s mom or grandma keeps in the closet because it’s too valuable to actually display. You know, the one that you pull out and think: Why have I never seen this? Why do we even have it if it never leaves this closet?

Mendelssohn pointed to a raised portion of purple fabric shaped like a violet. “Where something is put on top of the fabric, that’s called applique,” she said.

Next she directed my eyes to a place where a brown textile met a white one with a smooth, nearly invisible seem. “Where these are put together is called piecing,” she said. Now things were becoming more complex.

Finally, Mendelssohn showed me the delicately sewn floral pattern that held it all together. “When you stitch through all three layers, that makes the quilting,” she said.

I had to admit, the quilt was far more fascinating than I originally thought.

But what makes quilts so intriguing that an estimated 12,000 people come to gawk at them every year?

Turns out, it may not be just about the quilts.

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show began in 1975 with Jean Wells, Valori Wells’ mother, starting with only 12 family quilts. Now in it’s 43rd year, the show displays more than 1,400 quilts from quilters with every level of experience. The show has gained popularity internationally, gathering quilt-lovers from 27 countries.

No experience is required to enter a quilt, said Valori Wells, 43. There’s a reason for that.

“We want it to be about sharing your first quilt,” she said.

Everyone I met told me the spirit of this community-oriented, celebratory, all-inviting event is what makes the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show special. I had to agree.

“There is no comparison, it is just breathtaking,” said Ann Wendinger, co-owner of Sewing Seeds Quilt Co. in New Ulm, Minnesota. Wendinger, part of a 52-person group from the Upper Midwest, has been to several quilt shows throughout her life, but returns to Sisters fondly. After her first visit in 2016, she knew it wouldn’t be her last.

Wendinger was joined by another co-owner of Sewing Seeds, Jackie Forst. “Coming from a small community, it’s nice to see what a small community can execute,” Forst said. “We know the kind of work that goes into an event like this.”

While the Midwest group was only admiring, Mendelssohn’s group from the U.K. exhibited about 20 quilts. The group’s theme was Crown and Country, which was brought to life in many unique ways. From the London skyline to the fields of Wales, the array of art presented by the quilters was truly astonishing. I was starting to see just what makes this craft so special.

Hours of work go into some quilts: choosing the fabrics, designing a scene or pattern, stitching, piecing and quilting. The patience and creativity required to develop the quilts I saw was suddenly difficult to grasp. After hearing such incredible stories of Sisters and the history of its quilt show, I actually began to take pride in an event that I had never desired to even attend.

People come to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show from all 50 states, and from all over the world, and now I understood why.

“The things that I remember most of 2016 was the beauty of the quilts, obviously,” Wendinger said. “But (also) the kindness and the love and the gentleness of this town. These people are wonderful.”

That’s when I realized something unexpected: This may be my first visit to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, but it certainly won’t be my last.

— Reporter: 541-382-1811, echandler@bendbulletin.com