A stitch in time keeps Bob Watts, Superintendent of Needlework and Home Arts committee busy as a bee, a quilting bee that is.
Every year since 1985, Watts has been judging and competing in the Richland County Fair home crafts division with entries in Crochet, Knitting, Canning and Baked Goods. Watts began crocheting after he was discharged from the Army, in 1972, where he served three years as a Specialist 5, cooking for a three star General and through two tours of Vietnam. A close friend named Ruth Ann Daniels introduced Watts to the art of crocheting and he has been ‘hooked’ ever since.
He later took classes to learn the art of knitting and has been serving as superintendent for the last ten years.
Watts commented on the quality and talent of this years entries saying,”We have had better quality this year than we have ever had.”
Watts credits the surge and quality of entries to the recent trends. Quilts are being sought after for home décor and an increased interest from the younger generation in the art of needlework as a whole. Watts added that he believed young people are creating and or buying more needlework because of fashion trends, whereas he has seen even older people pick up the craft on the advice of doctors recommending the activity for the range of motion benefits.
Whatever the reason for the surge in interest, Watts is pleased ”We are up over 25 entries this year over last year,” he stated. According to Watts quilt entries were up from a typical 10-15 entries to this year a total of 41 entries. There are two classes in the quilt category, machined and all hand-stitched. Watts added that typically it will take approximately one year to complete one king-sized quilt and maybe a child-sized as part of the same project. There are two classes for quilts that judges hand-sewn and machined made because of the time and effort put into the pieces.
Despite the recent flooding and heavy rains that took a toll on local farms and gardeners, the entries for canning were pleasing to Watts who noted there was a lot of talent and passion in every jar.
“I think we are doing a good job, even with the flood and all,” Watts added, “ A lot of gardens got washed away, ruined, and still, we have some very nice work here.”
Watts paid accolades to the many people who took the time and care to enter goods in categories that have seen a decline in the past few years, such as baked goods, particularly scratch-baked cakes. “Pies are up, cakes are down this year,” said Watts. He attributes that to the time and effort needed to bake a ‘from scratch cake’ to,”People just don’t have the time anymore and pies are a bit easier,” Watts said.
Rebbecca Bigley of Mansfield and her daughter Brooke had a total of over 150 entries in the areas of baked goods,canning and the pie auction and took home Best of class, Best of show and most winning entries with compliments from Watts.
”I bought her (Bigley) Pecan pie in the auction and it was ‘the best’ I have ever had,” Watts said.
Quality, tradition and a time when knit one, pearl two is displayed and ‘preserved’ as the art of home at the Richland County Fair one cross stitch at a time.
