After seeing each winners’ work at Quilt Canada 2025, we asked how they take a quilt from good to rosette-worthy. In this case, Wendy Anderson of Tavistock, Ontario took inspiration from the quilt pattern Starburst. As a result, she won the award for Excellence in Workmanship for Piecing.
When asked about my process, but I must confess that I really don’t have one. I work from patterns, making adjustments as needed, depending on the size and intended purpose.
I have never set out to make a quilt that might be show worthy. After all, I have enough quilts in my house that I really don’t need any more. Also, I am easily bored.
At this point in my quilting journey, a quilt pattern has to really challenge me for me to consider making it. This was the case with my Starburst.
The challenge of this quilt pattern
I love choosing colours and exploring how they work together. For me, this Starburst pattern offered the ultimate design challenge. Why? The technical aspects of the construction combined with the placement of colours and values within the stars themselves. Together, they made for quite a ride over two years of work.
For me, the key to making an impactful quilt lies in the colour choices. I worked with fabric from fat quarter bundles so I was confident that ultimately the colours would play together nicely.
I approached the project by carefully selecting the fabrics for each ‘star’ to make it as beautiful as possible, To do so, I considered contrast and value in fabric placement.
Each star that I completed became my favourite — until I finished the next one.
Next, I faced challenges in assembling the quilt. I had to adjust the pieced sashing strips to fit the blocks that I had made without benefit of templates. Considering the time that I had spent making the stars, I was determined to see it through to completion.
Many months later, I finished the top. Once I settled on a quilting design and executed it, I loved it.
Sharing her Starburst
I felt that it deserved sharing with others so I entered it in the Stratford Fall Fair. There, it won for Machine Pieced and Quilted by Exhibitor, then again at the Ontario Agricultural Society District 8 competition.
Afterward, it qualified for the Ontario Agricultural Society Provincial Competition in February 25, where I received a participation ribbon.
Given my success, I encourage quilters to enter their work in fairs, guild shows and even the National Juried Show. If that feels daunting, perhaps you could start by bringing your work to Show and Share at your local guild.
Starburst will appear again at our guild’s Piecemakers Quilt show in St Mary’s, Ontario from April 23 to 25, 2026. Then I’ll proudly display it in our home.
Hopefully, everyone who quilts will find the confidence to fill out that entry form. You may end up with a rosette or a participation ribbon – or both as I have for this quilt. Either way, you need to happily bring your quilt home to use as you wish. In my opinion, personal satisfaction should solely measure any success that truly matters.
Details about Starburst
Dimensions: 73.5” x 96”
Techniques and materials: Machine piecing; commercial cottons, Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 cotton batting
Quilting: Machine quilting frameless
Credits: Commercial quilt pattern with an extra row of stars to balance the design and borders for the larger size.
