Hundreds of handmade quilts on display at Prairieland Park

The passion for fabrics, thread and needles will shine through in almost 400 quilts at the Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild’s 2023 show.

Joyce Hansen, this year’s featured quilter, said being selected for a special place in the show feels just like winning the lottery.

“We have over 180 members, so what are the odds that you would be chosen to be the featured quilter?” she asked with a smile.

The Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild Quilt 2023 Quilt Show is on now at Saskatoon’s Prairieland Park. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Hansen said her passion for fabric goes back to her childhood years, learning hand embroidery from her mom. When she finally was old enough to reach the treadle on a sewing machine, she learned how to sew herself.

Sewing her own clothes eventually turned into quilting, which has been a passion of Hansen’s for the past 30 years.

She said she still remembers the first quilt she ever made.

“It’s still in the ‘unfinished’ pile,” Hansen said with a laugh.

The Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild Quilt 2023 Quilt Show runs until Saturday at Prairieland Park. (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

Hansen’s display at the weekend event includes some 30 quilts, with several of them even winning prizes. The quilter said she’s made around 150 quilts in her lifetime.

She said the quilt she is most proud of is titled “OMIGOSH!” and the intricate design won her first place and a viewer’s choice award at the Saskatchewan Art Showcase.

Such a large and complex quilt would be seen as quite the task for some, but Hansen said her passion for quilting made the work easy.

“There was nothing hard about it. I love working with tiny pieces,” she said.

Hansen said what she enjoys most about quilting is the peace it brings her while she’s working.

“It’s just the feel of fabric and having a needle and thread in my hand,” she said.

Quilter Joyce Hansen says she’s most proud of her piece called “OHMIGOSH!” (Mia Holowaychuk/650 CKOM)

For those looking to delve into the world of quilting for the first time, Hansen suggested joining a quilters’ guild and taking an introductory class, just like she did.

“I still have the little block that I made the first time,” she said.

From there, Hansen said it’s about finding out what type of quilting each person is passionate about. Over time, she said her interest has switched from traditional quilting techniques to hand embroidery.

The Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild 2023 Quilt Show runs until Saturday at Prairieland Park.