September Palouse Patchers Newsletter
Palouse Patchers Meeting at 7:00 PM
on
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
1912 Center, 412 East 3rd Street, Moscow
Meeting Program - Nancy Larson-Powers
Sandy Berg will present her program on how she uses Electric Quilt 8 (EQ8) to help design quilt patterns. She will show quilts made from her patterns and created for the book "inspiring Star Block Quilts". Her book was published in 2019 and she would be happy to autograph your copy if you bring it. Sandy designs an annual mystery quilt for Quilts of Valor. She has discontinued her quilt pattern company, Raspberry Bramble Designs.
Spectacular Scraps- as you work on projects this year, if you can get a 2 1/2" X 4 1/2" piece of fabric, cut it and save it for the raffle block for the June meeting.
From the President – Sara Lawrence
Hello! As sad as I am to see the end of summer adventures, I am excited to start a new quilting year as your new Palouse Patchers president. Already, I am so very grateful for all the fantastic people who keep this group on track and moving forward, to provide inspiration, camaraderie and worthy projects! Nancy Larson-Powers has already lined-up an amazing YEAR of programs, with several ideas already in the hopper for ‘27-‘28! Leslie Sprouse has the Latah County Fair quilt display well in hand. Karen Owsley has thoroughly tidied up the membership book and has ideas for new and possibly “lost” members. The small group, Thimble Therapy, with Suzie Davis as co-chair, are deep into many great improvements for the 2027 Quilt Show (including new aprons - gasp!). We’ve got classes, sew days, camps, a “Sewcial” and possibly even a new logo! (And that does even include the less exciting stuff such as a financial review, etc, etc...) In short, it is looking to be an amazing year! I am very honored to be a part of it all and I’ll do my best in any way I can. Please let me know if you have any requests, concerns, dreams or hopes that involve our beloved fiber art! Hope to see you all on September 1!
Latah County Fair
It’s Fair time! Palouse Patchers sponsors the quilt show at the Latah County Fair. For our volunteer efforts, we get to sell raffle tickets for our quilt and advertise our quilt show. We sell a lot of tickets there! Volunteering for shifts at the fair is part of our "dues" as Palouse Patchers.
Sign up to volunteer at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090E4BA5AE29A2F49-65180998-2026#/
If you can't sign up online, please contact Mary Silvernale-Shook with the date and slot you want to volunteer for and she will manually sign you up. We'd also encourage all of you to enter your quilts and any other needlework! You can opt out of being judged and enter for display only. It’s always better to have lots for the public to look at - and show off your skills! Questions? Call Leslie Sprouse, Quilt Show Superintendent.
The fair is September 17-20th. The quilt show is in the National Guard Armory Building on the NE corner of the fairgrounds. Monday and Tuesday are Open Class Exhibit Entry from 3-6 PM each day. Judging will occur Wednesday morning. The fair ends on Sunday at 5:00 PM and quilts can be picked up that evening from 5-7 PM or Monday-Wednesday after the fair at the fair office 9-4 PM.
2027 Quilt Show
– Quilt Show Co-Chair Challenge: Orphan Blocks. Make a quilt incorporating the entire orphan block. You may add to it, cut it apart, or modify it, but you MUST use the entire block on the front of your quilt in some way. Maximum size will be 60” wide by 70” long. Sign out an orphan block (or blocks) at a Palouse Patchers meeting. The blocks have been photographed and numbered. The original block photos will be displayed with the finished challenge.
– Janet Freitag Challenge: Topsy Curvy. Make a quilt using any technique you choose which incorporates “Curves” as a significant design element. The quilt perimeter should not exceed 150 inches. As inspiration keep in mind that the show theme will be a carnival. This challenge is open to Palouse Patcher members only (if you are not a member and want to participate, please consider joining Palouse Patchers).
– Alike but Different Challenge: Participants will each create a quilt using the same pattern but with different fabric choices that are “Alike but Different.” Kits are available at Little Denmark (located in the Eastside Marketplace, 1420 S. Blaine Street, Moscow, Idaho). The cost is $29 for the pattern and 2.5 yards of background fabric. Use your own fabrics to make a 56” x 84” quilt. When purchasing your kit, you will need to decide if you prefer vanilla or chocolate to determine which kit you will receive. (Note: if you run short on the background fabric, check back with Little Denmark).
– Boutique: Show Chairs are planning to update this year's Boutique. Over the next few months, we will share ideas on items to make and what our new pricing strategy will be. Watch the free table for fun projects to complete and donate to the boutique. Don't hesitate bringing boutique items to meetings as you complete them! You can give them to any of the quilt show co-chairs. Thank you for your dedication and continued support of this aspect of the Quilt Show. We couldn't do it without you!
Beginner Quilt Class – Tonia Green
Are you interested in learning a new quilting technique or skill? We are opening up the Tuesday evening beginner class lectures to every Palouse Patcher. See attached schedule to decide which one could be interesting to you. Have you wanted to learn how to foundation paper piece? Suzie Davis will be teaching it during the December class. Want to learn needle-turn applique? Chris Schultz will be teaching it in February. Please feel free to join us.
Comfort Quilts – Jill Huffman
Our Comfort Quilt Program is going strong. Sew days are scheduled for Friday, September 25, 8am to 8pm; Saturday, September 26, 8am to 6 pm at the 1912 Center in the Arts Room. A few kits will be available as well as batting. Lunch is provided on Friday and a potluck on Saturday. Bring your projects and join the fun. We are also in need of a quilt for a non-profit raffle. For questions contact Joan Cass or Jill Huffman.
Pattern Redesign Class – Michele Larson
Uncertain how to use your orphan block for the quilt show challenge? Have a pattern that's just not quite right, but uncertain how to alter it? Join us for an introductory course on pattern redesign at the 1912 Center on Saturday, October 10th from 9:00 am to Noon. In this class, Michele Larson will cover methods for redesigning existing patterns as well as designing for orphan blocks. The focus of this course is on different methods for altering patterns or designing projects with existing blocks, not on resizing patterns. No skill with quilt math is necessary, but curiosity and an open-mind are highly encouraged. There will be a sign-up sheet at the September and October meetings. There is a $10 fee for this class which needs to be paid by cash or check by the October meeting (10/06/2026). You will need to bring a notebook, pencil/colored pencils/markers, pattern for redesigning, fabric, and orphan blocks to the class; sewing machines will not be used. If you have any questions, please contact the instructor.
Upcoming Events
September 1, Palouse Patchers Meeting
September 17-20 Latah County Fair,
September 25-26, Comfort Quilt Sew Days, 1912 Center Art Room
October 28-November 1, Fall Palouse Patchers Quilt Camp
Save the date: Winter Sewcial February 19-21, 2027
Save the date: Palouse Patchers Quilt Show, April 9-11, 2027, Carnival of Quilts
Winter Sewcial – Sylvia Brown
Even though the Winter Sewcial is a few months away, signups will begin at the September meeting. The cost is $150 payable in full at the time of registration. If you have a need to pay in 2 installments we are happy to accommodate you. The Winter Sewcial is our no travel weekend retreat held at the Latah County fairgrounds. First priority will be given to those who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend quilt camp and sleep away from home. Registration will stay open until all 16 spots are filled.
Troy Quilting Friends – Merry Falk
The Troy small group will meet at the Troy Library on September 10th & 24th, 7-8:30 pm. Quilt, Sew or share.
Tool Time - Julie Magelky
Hello Quilters! I’m Julie Magelky and with the start of a new round of Palouse Patchers
monthly meetings, I will be taking on Tool Time. Tool Time offers you an opportunity to
purchase raffle tickets for $1.00 and should you hold the winning ticket, you will be able
to choose from 3-5 quilting/sewing tools. This month you will be able to choose from a
gift basket of notions, A Riley Blake Halloween charm pack, or a Dritz Mighty Steam
Iron. The funds gathered by the raffle will fund tools for the next month. My goal is to
seek out new tools and accessories that you will find interesting and helpful. I welcome
suggestions from members who are excited about a tool they have discovered. In fact,
several of September’s offerings were items members recommended. Stop by the Tool
Time table at our meeting to say hi, add to the list of suggestions, and check out the
raffle items!
Palouse Patchers Library – Karen Schoepflin Hagen
The Palouse Patchers library is now housed at Kascha Quilts, 148 E Ash St, Genesee.
Please check Kascha’s Facebook page for current hours, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077437912128.
Community Share
The Quilting Bee
Located in Spokane Valley, The Quilting Bee is asking for and accepting quilt donations for victims of the Spokane area fires.
Alien Quilters
Alien Quilters has moved to meet at Little Denmark's new location in the Eastside Marketplace (1420 South Blaine, #12) on Thursdays, 12:30 to 3:30. The group is open to all. There is a $5 charge to attend that can be paid to Little Denmark with a card or cash. There are three big work tables in the classroom with lots of room for people working on hand work or bring your machine. There is access to the classroom around the back of the building for unloading.
Palouse Patchers Officers for 2025-2026:
Sara Lawrence, President
Nancy Larson-Powers, Vice President
Chris Schultz, Treasurer
Sarah Morra, Secretary
Newsletter Information: Please send in Palouse Patchers newsletter items by the 4th Tuesday of every month to patchersnews@gmail.com. The newsletter will go out one week before the meetings. Contact for the newsletter is Idgi Potter at patchersnews@gmail.com
Palouse Patchers website at http://www.palousepatchers.org
Palouse Patchers Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Palouse-Patchers/258911240821801