QS-Featured Quilter

Ruth Hutmacher

Ruth learned to sew in Home Ec class and on her mother’s Singer Featherweight (which she now has and is her machine of choice!). She received a sewing machine as a college graduation gift as well. A lot of clothes for her two daughters and their Cabbage Patch dolls were made on that machine!

Ruth’s husband Bill was a Coast Guard officer and so that meant moving every three to four years, mostly around Alaska. When he retired, they decided it was time to leave the dark, cold, snowy winters behind and chose Newport as their “forever” home in 2006.

Ruth joined a Curves exercise class about the time the owner suggested making quilt blocks for charity. With Fran Whited and Nancy Payne helping, Ruth made her first blocks and then joined OCQG at Fran’s invitation.  As co-chair of the 2007 quilt show, Nancy quickly snagged Ruth to head up the Door Prize Committee (later called Treasure Hunt)–a committee of one person! Ruth spent thirteen quilt shows in that position and has also participated in making raffle quilts, challenge quilts, and quilts for the guild’s silent auctions as well as in other guild activities.

After Ruth made a few baby quilts, Nancy encouraged Ruth to make a sew-along quilt with her: Nancy would make a block and then Ruth would use it as a sample. That quilt became “Winter Memories,” her first pieced quilt. “Glaciers”  won Ruth her first quilt show ribbon in 2009. In 2011, “Snowman Collector” sparked Ruth’s love of hand applique. It was followed by “Waves,” which won Best of Show at the guild show and was also juried into the American Quilt Society show in Paducah, Kentucky. “Round the Garden” was honored as Best of Show in 2022.

Now Ruth is thrilled and honored to be OCQG’s 2023 Featured Quilter. Please stop by her display at the show and follow her quilting journey–a journey she thanks/blames Fran and Nancy for starting her on!