Spend a weekend in historic Muncy
10th Annual Quilt Show & Challenge
July 18 -19, 2014
Judith Cole Youngman
The quaint and beautiful river town of Muncy once again is the setting for Muncy Historical Society’s annual Quilt Show. Slated for July 18-19, visitors will have the opportunity to view antique and contemporary quilts at the Quilt Show, to be held at Muncy Elementary School, 125 New St.
This location features an air-conditioned facility with convenient and ample parking. Admission to the two-day show is $5 for a single day or $8 for a multi-day pass. The hours have been expanded and the show runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 18 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 19.
More than 120 stunning antique, vintage and traditional quilts will be displayed, representing virtually all styles. Now in its 10th year, the event is a showcase of spectacular hand- and machine-workmanship, appliqué and quilting techniques, reflecting the originality of the makers and their expertise with needle and thread, as well.
To commemorate the show’s 10th year, the 2014 Quilt Challenge theme celebrates the theme “anniversary.” Tin, aluminum and diamonds are perfect gifts for a 10th wedding anniversary and quilters could choose one, two or all three of these for their “challenge” inspiration. Since an anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial one, quilters were also encouraged to be creative in their interpretation of this year’s theme.
In addition to the quilts, this year’s show will feature three, special-themed exhibits. As an anniversary year, the society will be exhibiting an assortment of its wedding gowns, spanning more than 150 years, and related paraphernalia from its extensive collection. In addition, 19th and 20th century wedding traditions and photographs will be posted in and around the gowns and quilts.
A second exhibit area will be devoted to a sampling of quilts with patterns often attributed to playing some kind of role in the Underground Railroad movement. Historians, frustrated by myths that will not die, have found that the best they can do is to offer an alternative, accurate history about these patterns – one that allows people to choose which “history” to accept. Were quilts hung on clotheslines or along fence rows to signal escaping slaves of a “safe house?” Were quilts used as maps to show escapees the route to safety? Were quilts used by runaways as a code to communicate the timing of escape? It will be up to the show guests to draw their own conclusions.
The Quilt Show weekend also marks the official launch of Muncy’s Heritage and Underground Railroad Barn Quilt Trail. While taking a leisurely self-guided touring excursion to view quilt patterns on barns located throughout Muncy’s rural countryside, guests will be invited to participate in a Scavenger Hunt. In keeping with the 2014 focus on the UGRR,quilters will have the opportunity to participate in a Scavenger Hunt that will take them to several locations in Muncy’s rural community for answers. Those who complete the hunt will receive a collection of 15-block patterns attributed as signals or codes to guide slaves on their way to freedom. All completed passports will be entered into the grand prize drawing and the winning entry will receive a framed print titled “Dream Quilt” by Bruce Storm, a nationally recognized artist.
A three-person panel will judge the quilt entries and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons will be awarded in the Quilt Challenge, Appliqué, Other Techniques, Use of Color, Hand Quilting, Domestic/Hand-Guided Machine Quilting, Computer-Guided Machine Quilting, Wall Hanging, and Youth categories. The judges will award only one winner for Best of Show, selected from all first-place winners, a Best Original Design winner and a Judge’s Choice winner. Friday show attendees will nominate their personal favorite for the Viewer’s Choice award. Best of Show, Viewer’s Choice, Best Original Design and the 1st place Challenge winners will each receive original artwork by Roger Shipley, another Lycoming County nationally recognized artist.
In addition to the availability of Muncy Historical Society’s five historic patterns, representatives from the Rose of Sharin’ Quilt Shop, specializing in quality fabrics, kits, patterns and notions, and Happy Valley Quilting, an online store specializing in reproduction fabrics, will provide a well-rounded shopping opportunity.
The show’s activities have been selected to appeal to all ages and young people are encouraged to attend. This event is a glorious, colorful, educational and celebrated occasion.
Special Workshop
The Lycoming Lily Basketpattern is featuredin this year’s workshop which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 19. In this workshop attendees will complete (at least) one lily basket block and will formulate a plan for their quilt. This is a paper-piecing class of intermediate complexity so basic paper-piecing technique is a requisite. Attendees must bring to class:
- Fabric chosen for the four positions in the block (background, lily, foliage and basket): 1/4 yard of each, or one’s whole stash.
- Sewing machine in good working order with a new size 90 needle
- Rotary cutting equipment: cutter with new blade, ruler, mat, “add an eighth” ruler and scalpel-style seam ripper.
- Basic sewing supplies, neutral No. 50 thread.
On workshop day, the Lycoming Lily pattern may be purchased at the Muncy Historical Society’s rummage sale. Papers for one 10-inch block will be furnished. The workshop fee of $20. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Registration forms available by calling 570-546-5917.
Quilter’s Rummage Sale
The Historical Society will host its third quilter’s rummage sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 19, at its 40 N. Main St. location. A wide variety of material (being sold by the pound) plus books, quilter tools and other quilt-related paraphernalia will be on sale. Judith Cole Youngman’s two books, note cards and patterns will also be available.
Quilt Registration
Antique and vintage quilts, both from private collections and from the museum’s collection, are exhibited at Muncy Historical Society’s quilt show. Anyone wishing to exhibit a quilt from their private collection must complete a quilt show registration form, available by calling 570-546-5917 or online at www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org. Check in for all pre-registered quilts, including “Challenge Quilts,” will be from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13, and Monday and Tuesday, July 14 and 15, 9 a.m. to noon or earlier by advance appointment. Quilts should include a cloth label with the name of the quilt, the owner’s name and address sewn to the back of the entry. A 4-4 one-half-inch hanging sleeve should be affixed to the quilt. Quilt pick-up is scheduled for 3-4 p.m. Saturday, July 19 or between 9 a.m. and noon Monday, July 21 at the museum.
Admission to the Quilt Show is $5 per day, or $8 for a multi-day pass.More information is available by calling the Muncy Historical Society at 546-5917. On the Internet at www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org or www.MuncyQuilts.com.
Directions to the Quilt Show at Muncy Elementary School are: I-80 to exit 212W to I-180 exit 13A, Rt. 405 to Muncy. Turn left on South Main Street, one-half mile, left on New Street. Drive three blocks to the school entrance. Please wear comfortable, flat-heeled shoes.
Program support made possible in part through donations and grants from the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau, the PA Council on the Arts and quilt enthusiasts.
