Kennewick joines Tri-Cities in quilting celebration

  • 2015-01-13
Quilting fans are hoping to get involved in the trend of supporting small businesses, with Local Quilt Shop Day taking place later this month.

This will be the third year for the event, and the first in which a shop near Kennewick will be participating.

Speaking to the Tri-City Herald, Debi Merhar, the owner of Quiltmania in Richland, said that the goal was to raise awareness of quilting shops such as hers. Merhar could use postcard printing to let her customers know her shop is taking part and spread the word to other area quilters. There are two quilting guilds in the Tri-City area, each with about 300 members.

Quiltmania is one of about 40 stores signed up to participate in Local Quilt Shop Day. The other participants are located across the country, with a few as far away as Australia and England.

Highlights of the event include demos from area quilters, who will show visitors specialized quilting products. A selfie contest is also part of the Quilt Shop Day promotion. People are encouraged to snap a photo of themselves in a participating store, then upload that picture to the website of the global event. One winner will be chosen from around the world, and that person will receive $500 shopping spree and a sewing machine.

The celebrations are scheduled for January 24.