International Quilt Festival, Houston

Last week we were at International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX. It is the big show that we look forward to every year. (Except last year (2020)). But nothing could keep us back this year! We love connecting with old friends, making new friends, and introducing new products to help quilters finish more quilts. This year was no exception. Attendees were so glad to be at a show, to see quilts, shop, and take classes that they happily followed all safety measures in place.

Handi Quilter Bags!

We start each day off by giving away our giant, iconic, quilt-sized tote bags. We have a different color each year and quilters look forward to seeing what the color will be for this year!  Since Moxie is the run-away hit this year, we had to go with Moxie green.

Introducing!

Pro-Stitcher Lite was the star of the show. This is the robotic quilting system specially designed for our smaller, lighter longarm machines on our smaller frame systems and we were so pleased to introduce it at the show.

Classrooms full of Handi Quilters

Two classrooms filled with Handi Quilter longarm machines featured world-renowned quilting instructors. The HQ Amara classroom and the HQ Capri classroom. Lucky students enjoyed hands-on quilting education at its finest.

Best of Show Award

The International Quilt Festival Best of Show award, sponsored by Handi Quilter is a $12,500 prize. This year’s winner was stunning!  Sachiko Chiba of Japan created this lovely quilt using multiple techniques.

MY favorite quilt of the show was this heartwarming quilt by Handi Quilter Ambassador, David Taylor. David quilts on the HQ Capri stationary machine to create his amazing art quilts. He based the quilt on a photo from another Handi Quilter owner, Margo Clabo.

Apparently many show goers liked this quilt best as well. It won the Viewer’s Choice Award!

Join us next year!

by Mary Beth Krapil