5 Things To Do with Quilty Friends

Do you have a group of quilty friends? Here are 5 suggestions of things you can do together, just for fun.

1. Join a guild

This is one you can do solo, if you want to make some new quilty friends! Quilt guilds offer many opportunities to learn new things and to share your quilting skills with others. It’s a place where you can say you just made 128  two-inch flying geese and they will know you are not talking about migrating birds. And they will appreciate just how much work you did! You’ll be inspired by the quilts other members bring to share. Many guilds bring in speakers for entertainment and education.

Not sure if there’s a guild in your area? You can start here to look one up. Or ask at your favorite quilt shop.

2. Go to a local quilt show

Local shows are usually put on by local guilds. Once again your quilt shop will be the best source for this information. The Capital Quilters Guild, in my neck of the woods, is having a show in March this year.

Quilt shows are a great place to soak in some inspiration and are even more fun with friends. The vendors offer the opportunity to shop many shops all in one place. Maybe you’ll find a new shop that you didn’t know was in your area.

3. Go to a big regional quilt show

Once you have gotten your feet wet at the local show, you’re ready for a big regional show. More quilts! More vendors! Going with friends is not only fun, it helps to share the travel and accommodation costs. That leaves more $$ for fabric.

Check out the American Quilters’ Society‘s five big shows for 2023. Daytona Beach, FL in February; Branson, MO in March; Paducah, KY in April; Grand Rapids, MI in September; and DesMoines, IA in September. All great places to visit.  You’ll be inspired by award winning quilts from all over the world, with special exhibit collections. Learn new techniques in workshops and lectures from the best instructors. And of course shop the best vendors who bring all the latest fabrics and gadgets.

Handi Quilter will be at all of these shows, so you can catch up with what’s new and test drive the machines. The huge vendor merchant mall will astound you.

4. Go to THE BIG SHOW

You have to put Houston International Quilt Festival on your quilty friends’ bucket list. This show is amazing, featuring classes, quilts, and vendors from all over the world. It truly is an international show. It is held each year at the George R Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX.

You’ll have to make plans for this adventure well in advance. Do your research for travel, accommodations, and transportation. And book early. Area hotels fill up fast. The Quilts Inc website is a great place to start.

5. Do a block exchange

What better keepsake is there than a quilt? Doing a block exchange is the perfect way to remember how much fun you have with your quilty friends. Each quilter makes a set of blocks, enough to give one to each of your group and one to keep for yourself. When the day comes for the exchange you will give a block to each of your friends and each of them will give you a block. Your group can decide on the rules, such as the size of the blocks, the color palette, etc. Once you have your blocks you take them home and make a quilt! It’s so much fun to see all the different ways your friends will put the blocks together. No two will be alike.

The Handi Quilter educators did a block exchange in 2021-2022. You can see some of the quilts on the next episode of HQ Watch and Learn, Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023. A new video premiers EVERY Tuesday at noon Mountain time. (2p ET, 1p CT, 11aPT) on our FaceBook page.

Don’t worry if you can’t watch it live, you can see it on our Facebook page anytime after the premier and you can also find archives on our YouTube channel. Here is one of the fabulous quilts you will see!

Many block exchanges add the extra special touch of adding a signature to your blocks. You can read the story of a special signature quilt here. That way, years from now you will see the names of your friends and remember all the fun and adventures you had together.

Get together with your quilty friends and make a plan for some quilty fun!

Quilt Every Day!

by Mary Beth Krapil