Contests honor creative creations of skilled sewers, crafters
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A steady stream of Alabama Farmers Federation members cycled through displays of quilts, table runners and wreaths, hoping to see winning ribbons hanging next to entries created by peers from their home counties.
Across five sewing and wreath-making contests, 13 talented seamstresses and crafters received top prizes, including Randolph County’s Pat Norred who won first place in the hand-stitched quilt division.
“I’m still on cloud nine,” Norred said. “I’ve always said to keep trying. I’ve entered 13 years. I’ve won third-place three times, and this is my first time winning first place.”
The annual contests are sponsored by the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Women’s Leadership Division and take place during the Federation’s Farm & Land Conference. The city of Montgomery hosted this year’s conference Aug. 1-3.
“These contests are always the heartbeat of our Women’s events. It’s great to see the creativity of our members, but the best thing is that the display of entries gives our people the chance to gather in the exhibit hall, swap stories of their sewing successes and failures, and celebrate the efforts of talented, like-minded folks,” said Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood.
To promote Alabama agriculture, fabric entries must be made of cotton. Table runners and wreaths must feature a specific commodity.
First-place winners receive $150, second-place $100 and third place $75.
The winners for each division are:
Lydia Haynes of Cullman County, right, placed third in the Commodity-Themed Wreath Contest at the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference Aug. 3 in Montgomery. Her forestry themed wreath of colorful pinecones netted a $75 cash prize. Haynes is pictured with Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood. (Alabama Farmers Federation)
Roberta McClellan of Cullman County, right, placed third in the Machine-Stitched Quilt Contest at the Alabama Farmers Federation Farm & Land Conference Aug. 3 in Montgomery. Her triangle pattern quilt made of cotton netted a $75 cash prize. McClellan is pictured with Federation Women’s Leadership Division Director Kim Earwood. (Alabama Farmers Federation)
McClellan’s quilt (Alabama Farmers Federation)
Hand-Stitched Quilts
- First Place — Pat Norred, Randolph County
- Second Place — Martha Jordan, Monroe County
Machine-Stitched Quilts
- First Place — Tamara Rashleigh, St. Clair County
- Second Place — Janet Massey, Geneva County
- Third Place — Roberta McClelllan, Cullman County
Commodity Table Runner
- First Place — Terri Brown, Wilcox County
- Second Place — Dawn East, Cherokee County
- Third Place — Twyla Smith, Crenshaw County
Commodity Table Runner, Youth Division
- First Place — Hannah Grace Aldridge, Fayette County
- Second Place — Trevor Wicks, St. Clair County
Commodity Wreath
- First Place — Pat Sexton, Crenshaw County
- Second Place — Phyllis Johnson, Calhoun County
- Third Place — Lydia Haynes, Cullman County
