Quilting and hopping in nine towns in north central Washington

In case you didn't notice, Odessa's quilt shop, Experience Quilts! was a bit busier than usual during the past couple of weeks. That was because of the 12th annual North Central Washington Quilt "Shop Hop," an event that brought at least 140 quilters to several towns including Odessa.

For those who aren't familiar with the world of quilting, a shop hop involves traveling from quilt shop to quilt shop. Usually a "hopper" carries a "passport" with her (or him), which is stamped at each shop visited. When the hopper receives a stamp from each shop, the passport becomes an entry in a drawing for one of several prizes.

This year's North Central Washington Quilt Shop Hop ran from September 26 through October 5 (except Sunday, September 29) and included shops in Almira, Chelan, Odessa, Omak, Oroville, Reardan, Twisp, Waterville and Wenatchee. Some shops reported as many as 158 hoppers, while others reported as few as 120.

Each year, one of the participating shops provides a quilt pattern which is then distributed in part by each shop along the route. The 2013 quilt was designed by The Attic Window Quilt Shoppe in Wenatchee, and each shop distributed the pattern for one block. When a hopper turned in a completed passport, the finishing instructions for the quilt were given in turn. Most shops had the completed quilt top on display using the fabrics of their choice.

Also included in the fun of the shop hop was the opportunity to participate in a scavenger hunt contest. Each hopper received a list of items, one of which was on display at each shop. A completed entry gained the hopper an entry in another prize drawing.

It is known that hoppers from as far away as Penticton, B.C. and Bend, Oregon participated in the shop hop this year, although the shop owners are still waiting for more detailed statistics.

Shop owners met in Chelan, October 7, to draw prize winners from the qualified entries.

Grand prize, a Pfaff Ambition 1.5 sewing machine, was won by Warner Barteson of Oroville, Wash. The first prize gift basket went to JoAnn Hardt of Marlin, second prize to Arline McDonald of Bend, Ore. and third prize to Janet Hashberger of East Wenatchee. Debbie Anderson of Wenatchee won the scavenger hunt prize.

Experience Quilts! co-owner Lise Ott said that the shop hop was fun, although she missed being able to "hop" herself. "We had lots of new people come through the shop," she added, "and most of them purchased something." Ott also remarked that as a new shop owner, she really didn't know what to expect from the event. She was especially pleased by the response to an a cross-business promotion proposed by Wendy Meise of Crab Creek Coffee Haus, who provided coupons which were very well received by shoppers. "I think more retail businesses in Odessa should think about combining their efforts like this," said Ott.