Judith Yorke of Halcomb, New Brunswick won Excellence in Workmanship for a First-time Exhibitor for Sparkler at Quilt Canada 2025. After seeing each winner’s work, we asked how they take a quilt from good to great. Judith shares her experience here.

​Sometimes, it’s funny how a quilt happens. You may plan some, like wedding quilts, for years, while others, like baby or charity quilts, take mere days.

For me, “Sparkler” was a quilt that just “happened.” This quilt seems to burst with sparkle, shine and energy.

I had taken a workshop from Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis a few years ago. When she posted an expression of interest for pattern testers, I replied almost immediately. After all, I knew it would offer me a new experience!

When I received the test pattern, I was a bit overwhelmed. Upwards of 16 seams converged together. I learned many things during this exercise:

• Never cut all the pieces as directed at the start since you will probably discover errors!
• Do not follow the diagrams without double and triple checking.
• Don’t be afraid to contact the pattern designer. 

With a three-week turnaround for completion of the quilt top, I had to hustle!

After several attempts and much research, I found trimming the seam allowances even 1/16 of an inch reduced the bulk at the intersections. If 10 pieces converged together, it removed ⅝ of an inch of bulk but didn’t affect the seam’s integrity.

Also, careful ironing and seam spinning made a difference. Within three weeks, I completed the quilt top and forwarded the required pictures, corrections and feedback to Tammy.

Then Sparkler sat for a while at the back of my mind and closet. To be honest, it did not reflect a style I would have chosen.

​Quilting Sparkler

However, when the local quilt show rolled around, I needed an entry – something “different” –  out came Sparkler. But how to quilt it?? I generally let the quilt’s pattern and fabric inspire me.

I have always admired the work of Judi Madsen. Her style seemed to match the lines of Sparkler, so I got out my straight quilting rulers and began.

I let Sparkler show me where angular lines should extend; it was almost too easy. Once I completed my lines, I turned off my stitch regulator and began micro quilting. All along, I tried to stay within the lines, making it challenging but fun.

To maintain the energy, I filled the negative space with strong angles and diamonds containing semi-micro-quilted whirls and swirls.

Next, I washed and blocked the quilt before attaching the binding. By the way, Kathy K. Wylie’s article “Finishing Steps: Washing and Blocking is extremely useful.

After washing, I placed Sparkler on rigid Styrofoam insulation and used a carpenter’s 90-degree level to square and pin it. With a pin every 1 to 1 ½ inches, it was dry and square in a few days

Finally, I machine sewed the binding to the front and hand sewed it to the back. I love the symmetry of the quilt as it seems to brighten any area where it is displayed.

Gloria Bunn, a lovely quilting friend, encouraged me to enter a quilt in the CQA show, so I did. I never expected it to be an award winner! Yet, it thrilled me when it went into the National Juried Show and was completely stunned when I received the award.

More details about Sparkler

Dimensions: 48” x 72”

Techniques and materials: Machine piecing, ruler work; cotton batiks, 80/20 and wool batting, cotton and polyester thread

Quilting: Machine quilting frameless with a stitch regulator, free motion quilting

Credits: Commercial Pattern by Tammy Silvers from Tamarinis