Local Quilter Sweeps Ekka Awards

Local  Beachmere resident Margaret Shingles has been making quilts for over twenty years and recently swept the pool at the “Ekka” winning in three categories.

Margaret has been machine quilting using her Avante Handi Quilter for about three years but, prior to that, made her quilts and patchwork on her domestic sewing machine.

This year Margaret’s entry in the Royal Brisbane Exhibition won First in Section 5 – Applique & Other Techniques and First in Machine Quilting.  Margaret then took out Best in Show as well.  Needless to say Margaret is overjoyed and very proud.

Photos of the winning quilt are not available yet, as it will be entered into further competitions, but Margaret gave us a detailed description. 

“It was my very own design and in my favourite colours.  I wanted to highlight the quilting technique rather than piecing or applique,” Margaret said of the quilt which took around twelve months to make.  “It features a pieced eight point star on a white background with a circle of needleturn applique flowers in the centre, circled by quilted feathers with four sprays of flowers on the border in purple and grey.”

This will be Margaret’s second straight year of wins at the Exhibition after winning First in Section and Best Machine Quilt last year with another quilt (pictured).  This quilt was one of five which was then sent to Melbourne representing Queensland.  It is an Adita Sitar pattern in autumn tones of black and grey featuring needleturn applique.

Margaret teaches machine quilting at the Ningi Crafty Shed at Ningi Community Hall, and says she loves quilting and never stops learning.