Sunbonnet Sues set 33rd Quilt Club for July 19-21

33rd annual Quilt Show

Presented by the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club

Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 19-20, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 21

Location: Sequim Middle School, 301 W. Hendrickson Road.

Cost: $5 admission

For more information, visit www.sunbonnetsuequiltclub.org.

As she continues to coordinate setup for the show floor for the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club’s Quilt Show, Karen Clatanoff moves this year from behind the scenes to front and center.

The 79-year-old retired court clerk is the club’s Featured Quilter, an honor bestowed by past winners, at the show, which runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 19-21 at Sequim Middle School.

“When they told me, I asked, ‘are you sure it’s not someone else?’” Clatanoff said.

But the humbled quilter continues to plan for her display similarly to the show floor.

So far she has about eight quilts picked out, many of which are ribbon winners from previous shows. Clatanoff will setup next to more than 200 quilts from fellow local quilters in the gymnasium.

Setup and seeing the gym transform is her favorite part.

“I love it,” she said. “I think it’s so wonderful.”

Clatanoff oversees all the hanging and take down of quilts for the show.

She said prior to setup, organizers snap photos of each quilt going in the show and prearrange them by color and theme. The Wednesday before each show, organizers tape off the gym floor, and a paid crew sets up posts and sheets for the quilts.

On Thursday morning, quilters bring in their quilts and vendors begin to setup, too.

Clatanoff said it’s not uncommon for organizers to move some quilts around “if something doesn’t feel right next to one another.”

The show

Each club member is encouraged to bring in a quilt for the show, Clatanoff said.

Some of the popular attractions include Art Sue Quilts, a Country Boutique, Challenge Quilts and more. The challenge this year includes making quilts centered around the rock band The Beatles.

Raffle tickets will be available throughout the weekend for the club’s annual raffle quilt “NorthWest Splendors” for $1 each. The winning ticket will be drawn July 21 at the show but the winner doesn’t need to be present.

California quilter

While working in Southern California, Clatanoff didn’t make quilts for an obvious reason.

“You don’t need quilts there,” she said. “It’s too hot.”

But she dabbled in sewing, crafts and making stuffed animals.

She and her husband Frank, a retired Los Angeles Police Department officer, moved to Sequim in 1993, and she quickly took to quilting.

While walking her dog in Sunland, a neighbor introduced himself, Clatanoff said, and invited her to join his wife with the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club.

“I liked sewing and crafts, so it seemed like a good fit,” she said.

She’s been with the club almost consecutively except for a few years when she took care of her aging parents.

Looking back at her first quilts she made, Clatanoff said she’s gotten better thanks to classes offered by the club and local sewing shops.

She mostly focuses on machine appliqué sewing, but said “once in awhile I do something I’ve always wanted to try.”

When not sewing, Clatanoff volunteers one day a week in the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, plays pickleball and softball, and goes to church.

For more information on the Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club, visit www.sunbonnetsuequiltclub.org.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.