Sew Much To See

Why Quilt Shows Are a Must for Every Maker

Soon, I’ll be celebrating four years working at Cotton Cuts. Looking back, I consider those first two years not just a job, but an education. Before joining the team, my sewing experience was limited to a middle school home ec class—where I stitched together a terribly constructed shirt from the wrong fabric choice, which went straight into the trash after grading. Determined to do better, I spent those first years immersing myself in the world of sewing and quilting—researching, learning, and soaking up every bit of knowledge I could to become better at my role.

Armed with two years of learning, I finally took the plunge into sewing myself. I started small, creating the Cotton Cuts monthly Gnomes, and soon after, I ordered my very first PMQ (Puzzle Mystery Quilt). With the encouragement of my coworkers and the support of a welcoming community of quilters, I was hooked. I’m still learning every day—and loving every minute of it.

One of the most joyful parts of this journey has been discovering the inspiration and excitement that come from attending quilt shows. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to attend the International Quilt Festival in Houston through work, and while those quilts were absolutely stunning, I’ve found that every quilt show—big or small—offers something remarkable. Each one displays breathtaking artistry, and there’s always at least one or two quilts that stop you in your tracks and tell a powerful, unforgettable story.

A few weeks ago, I took a short road trip—just about an hour from home—to attend the Threads of Friendship Quilters’ Guild Quilt Show at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri. As with every show I’ve attended, this one was no exception in delivering inspiration. Each quilt told a story, sparking fresh ideas and stirring admiration for the incredible talent on display. The craftsmanship and creativity of these quilters left me in awe, and reminded me just how much there is to learn and aspire to in this beautiful art form.

A few of my favorites:

This one, clearly the judges' favorite, was a marvel in it's simplicity on the front. But the quilting was the star of the show. It you look closely, you'll see that the quilting shows trees and houses and Christmas scenes that make this quilt a masterpiece. 

No quilt show is complete without a gorgeous quilt that honors our military -- probably one made for a specific soldier, to express our gratitude.

And the star of the show:

And the standout for this show is this beautiful quilt made from Hawaiian shirts. The best part – these shirts came from the closest of the maker’s dad, who recently passed away. She took all of her dad’s shirts and cut them up to make blocks. On the front, each block looks like a shirt. She even resewed all of the buttons on each shirt after it was quilted. And on the back, the material of each shirt coordinates to the shirt of front, making a block style backing of each fabric. It was truly a labor of love. And really needs to be in several quilt shows so it can be admired by the masses.

Be sure to keep an eye out for quilt shows happening in your area. You can find details through local quilt guilds, nearby quilt shops, or event listings on Facebook and other social media platforms. Grab a quilty friend—or even a willing spouse—and carve out some time to explore a show. Alongside the stunning quilts on display, most shows also feature local vendors offering a variety of fabrics, threads, kits, and handmade projects. If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon a “garage sale” section with incredible deals. (I scored two large bundles of eye-catching fabric for just $4!) Trust me—you won’t want to miss out on the inspiration, creativity, and maybe even a few treasures of your own.