Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent
He’s nine-years-old, and he’s a champion quilter.
Oliver Waite from Grafton was thrilled to win first place in the Quilts Across Australia section at EKKA earlier this month with a stunning creation he has been working on for the past eight months.
Measuring 180cm x 200cm, the perfect size for his single bed, Oliver’s award-winning masterpiece encapsulates the bright colours of fire and heat and caught the attention of the judges with his precision and skill.
A keen quilter since the age of five, Oliver and his mum Casey Waite attend weekly quilting classes in Grafton with local teacher Chris Timmons.
Naturally gifted and with an eye for detail and design, Oliver said he became interested in quilting after watching his mum bring her own unique creations to life.
Describing quilting as a craft which requires a lot of patience, Oliver said it can take between six and 12 months to complete a quilt, depending on how much time he dedicates to the creative process each week.
And winning blue ribbons for his outstanding work adds to the fun and enjoyment he experiences from his much-loved pastime.
Oliver told the Clarence Valley Independent this year was the first time he had entered a quilt at EKKA, and he was very excited when he learned he had won.
While he is still deciding if he will give his winning quilt to a friend or family member, or snuggle with it on the lounge at home, Oliver said he enjoys the process of choosing different colours and sewing them together.
He has already made three quilts, including his winning entry at EKKA, and is currently working on another quilt he hopes to finish by October for an upcoming competition.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said of quilting.
“You do need a lot of skill and patience, but I really like doing it.”
His proud mum said she enjoys their time together each week at quilting class and hopes Oliver’s interest in the craft continues as he grows older.
Oliver’s older brother Elijah and younger sister Thea are also talented quilters.
“I am very proud of what they do, and we all enjoy sewing together because it is a good skill for them all to learn,” she said.
“I hope they still want to do this when they’re older.”
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 31 August 2022.
