North Bend quilter in international contest
March 19, 2009
By Laura Geggel
Diane Becka started quilting because she wanted a homemade quilt and didn’t know how to acquire one, other than by sewing it herself.
Now, 25 years later, the North Bend resident is not only sewing quilts, she’s teaching quilting and entering her creations in nationwide competitions.
“I usually design my own patterns,” Becka said. “I start with something kind of traditional and put different elements together.”
She entered her latest original design in the American Quilter’s Society International Quilt Show in Paducah, KY. Out of 709 quilts, judges selected her quilt, called Star Chain, as a semifinalist.
Becka’s quilt will be displayed with 388 other quilts at the Paducah Expo Center from April 22-25. Three quilting judges will evaluate her quilt against others in the same category. The individual with the best-rated quilt will receive $20,000, and all of the quilts will become part of The National Quilt Museum’s permanent collection.
Becka came up with her Star Chain design as part of a project for the Issaquah Quilters Guild. She often uses quilting software, like Electric Quilt, to experiment with geometric patterns. After presenting her idea to the guild, they split the work and each worked on a square.
Becka liked the pattern so much, she decided to sew a smaller quilt of her own. She chose blues, yellows and a green teal to highlight the work.
“I generally pick colors that have really good contrast in value and a striking color combination,” Becka said. “In a miniature, if you don’t have it, it doesn’t get noticed.”
Although only 16- by 16-inches, her Star Chain quilt took her two months to piece together.
“I quilt every day,” Becka said. “I don’t track the hours, because it would probably scare me away from it.”
Her dedication to quilting has earned the respect of her peers.
“I think they’re incredible,” said Janice Hurr, class coordinator for Bellevue Pacific Fabrics and Crafts, where Becka teaches quilting techniques. “I love to see her stuff at quilt shows. There’s a lot of precision work when you do miniature work.”
The International Quilt Show will be Becka’s sixth quilt show.
“I’ve been entering contests for probably 10 years,” Becka said. “I did the fairs and local things before that.”
She has twice received an honorable mention at the International Quilt Show, placed third at the International Quilting Association in Houston, won outstanding miniature at the Road 2 California contest and has received an array of ribbons at local shows.
Because she tends to enter the miniature-quilt category, Becka said many of her quilts grace her walls rather than keeping her warm at night.
“They’re not much use for a bed,” Becka said. “Maybe one for each leg.”
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