CARP – It’s a quilt that has West Carleton stitched all over it.

And it could be yours. The Carp Fair is auctioning off its 2020 quilt. A quilt that is designed by all the submissions to the 2019 Carp Fair Quilt Block Challenge including the winning block.

It’s an annual tradition at the Carp Fair. Each year the homecraft president picks a theme for the Quilt Block Challenge. All interested quilters pick up a quilt block challenge kit with all the material they need to finish their submission. Entries are judged at the fair (in this case the 2019 fair) and over the winter volunteers, this time Gail Argue and Lana Dean, sew the quilt together with the challenge submissions.

Then, in a normal year, the quilt is a one-of-a-kind draw prize with tickets sold at the fair. 2020 Homecraft President Patricia Boyd picked the theme for the 2019 Quilt Block Challenge, and she went with classic West Carleton – barns.

“I would have to say it’s gorgeous, Boyd told West Carleton Online last Friday (Nov. 20). “I was blown away by all the entries. They were beautiful. Their creativity is pretty special.”

Of course, with the pandemic cancelling this year’s fair, the Carp Agricultural Society (CAS) was unable to sell tickets for the event at the fair.

“My mom used to sell quilt tickets,” Boyd said. “Growing up, that was always one of the stops at the fair. Get your quilt tickets.”

This year’s challenge had so many submissions, the CAS also made a wall hanging and a door hanging that was auctioned off earlier in the year. The 2019 Quilt Block Challenge received 17 submissions and the top 12 finishers made the quilt including the 2019 Quilt Block Challenge champion Gail Argue. The beautiful quilt features 12 panels with each panel featuring a beautiful barn or farm. Red is certainly a theme.

The tradition is several years old. Boyd credits Abbie Findlay with coming up with the idea for the Carp Fair.

“It’s been well-received over the years and we have so many good sewers in the area,” Boyd said.

There are only 1,500 tickets sold for the draw. The beautiful quilt is 66 inches by 86 inches with an estimated value of $1,500. Tickets for the draw are $5 each and the draw will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 at the fair grounds. You can purchase your ticket(s) online by clicking here. You can also buy tickets at the Carp Fair office at 3790 Carp Rd. If you can’t get to the office, give staff a call at 613-839-2172 and they will arrange the purchase for you.

Here is the list of quilters who completed the 2019 Quilt Block Challenge.

• Angie Miller
• Arlene Gillan
• Brenda Davidson Payer
• Brigid Whitnall
• Gail Argue
• Hazel Daly
• Lana Dean
• Lin Dickson
• Lois Timmins
• Sharon Bishop
• Sue Nicholas
• Betty Biesenthal  
• Janet Sayeau
• Janet Whyte
• Kim Butler
• Marie Cheeseman
• Martha Palmer