Wind your bobbins and toot your horns, it’s National Quilting Month! March is set aside each year to celebrate quilts and quilters. While technically quilts are defined as a layer of batting or padding between 2 layers of fabric that have been stitched together to hold them in place, we know that they are so much more!
Quilts are Art
Quilts are an art form, a way for the creator to express their creativity. Quilters share their message through color, form, fabric and thread. Quilts are a way to share warmth and love with others. Quilts are often celebrations of landmark events such as weddings, births and graduations. Quilts personalize and decorate our homes. Memory quilts offer support and love, helping to ease the pain of loss.
Quilts are Love
Quilters invest time, energy and love in their creations, whether working with scraps and up-cycled materials or all new supplies purchased specifically for a given project. Quilters put a little piece of themselves in each and every creation, so it’s only fitting that we quilters take a month to celebrate!
What is National Quilting Month?
Since 1992, the third Saturday of March has been set aside as National Quilting Day. According to the Quilt Alliance, this observance was inspired by the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society and their “Quilter’s Day Out” celebration of quilt making in the state. The National Quilting Association voted to make the day a national event at their show in 1991.
Ways to Celebrate!
This year, National Quilting Day is on March 2. While many traditional group activities may not be held this year, there are still plenty of ways you can join in the celebration.
The Quilt Alliance
The Quilt Alliance encourages quilters to observe the day by documenting their quilts by adding labels to projects, or interviewing others about quilts as part of their Go Tell It! Project.
International Quilt Museum
Located less than an hour from AccuQuilt’s headquarters is the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, NE. It is home to the world’s largest publicly held quilt collection. This year, they are celebrating virtually with lectures, tours, activities and more that you can watch throughout the day on Facebook and YouTube.
AccuQuilt's Quilt Artist Gallery
AccuQuilt's own gallery hosts a variety of shows throughout the year. Since we aren't able to welcome visitors into our facility at this time, we've been sharing these wonderful exhibits with quilters around the world virtually. Check out our current show by quilter Emily Bailey.
Quilts of Valor
Quilters have generously and tirelessly shared their skills with others over the past year by making protective masks for their family, friends and communities. If you are looking for a new way of sharing your skills, consider Quilts of Valor. Their mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with the comfort and healing of a quality, handmade quilt.
AccuQuilt Live Events
If you haven't been to one of our live events, catch the next one! Each week, Pam Heller and I have one to two live shows covering inspirational trunk shows, how-tos, product releases and patterns. Sometimes we even get to speak with amazing guests like Eleanor Burns, Luke Haynes, GO! Getters and more. We love to give you tips and tricks and even share how to get more out of your AccuQuilt products. Visit our events page and mark your calendar because you won't want to miss them!
And you don't have to wait! Watch our National Quilting Month kick off show, Why We Quilt, here and now:
Even More Ways to Celebrate
What are some other ways to celebrate? Here’s a list of some ideas you might want to try this month!
- Try a new technique. Expand your horizons by trying something new like English Paper Piecing, foundation paper piecing, applique or free motion quilting.
- Finish your oldest UFO (UnFinished Object)
- Start a new project
- Donate time, money or materials to a charitable quilting organization
- Visit a quilt shop you’ve never been to before
- Have a sew day with friends – either in-person or virtually
- Start a quilting journal to track your projects past, present and future
- Clean and organize your sewing space
- Treat your sewing machine to a spa day
So, gather your quilting supplies (don’t forget the chocolate!) and start celebrating, quilters! We hope you’ll share your celebration plans with us below!
– Happy Quilting!
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