The Minnesota Quilters will be holding their 38th Annual Quilt Show and Conference at the River's Edge Convention Center in downtown St. Cloud from June 9-11. Minnesota Quilters, Inc. is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers who celebrate the craft of quilting. The organization is rooted in learning the history and new advancements in quilting in all its forms, as well as documenting the art and craft of quilting in Minnesota.
The organization was founded in 1978 as a result of renewed interest in quilting, brought on by the U.S. Bicentennial. The first 18 women were assessed $10 dues to battle the seemingly high postage costs of the time. They also worked tirelessly on the task of recruiting for and setting up the organization.
In their first year, the group was invited to quilt at the Minnesota State Fair - a group of 40 women. Despite rain and building and location switches, the booth was manned by volunteers for ten days - at the end of which the displayed quilt was completed. The first official show was held in 1979 in St. Paul. Meetings were held in different areas in order to allow more attendance. One of the largest in the first year was seen at the Dakota County Fair, in which 95 people attended. Now, the annual Minnesota Quilters’ Show and Conference is the largest volunteer quilt show in the U.S., draws visitors from around the world and is one of the premier quilting events in the country.
Once a one-page publication produced from a typewriter, you can now view the MQ Newsletter on their website. The schedule of events for the 2016 MQ Quilt show and conference - which includes exhibits, classes, lectures, awards, actions and more - can be viewed here.
If you’d like to get involved in quilting, check out the 2016 Minnesota “Hail to Thee” challenge fabrics, consisting of two groups - a blue/green/gold group and an orange/red group. Using these fabrics, contestants must make a quilt, clothing item, or three-dimensional piece that depicts something they like about Minnesota. You can pick up your packet at any MQ monthly meeting, at the MQ office in Minneapolis, or by calling (612) 436-0449. Packets cost $18.
Although registration for the show has ended, classes that have remaining space and regular lectures may be purchased at the registration desk. You can contact Minnesota Quilters, Inc. on their website, or send an email to quilter@mnquilt.org for more information.
