Quilting has a very long history. From hand stitched bits of this and that to machine sewn, every quit has a story. There is so much to tell but many of the tales behind the fibers are sadly lost.
The Quilt Alliance, nonprofit 501c3 organization took on the mission, in 1993, of making certain that the stories attached to quilts are documented, properly stored and shared with as many people as possible. This is a massive undertaking!
Year after year, they find ways to help fund this spectacular historical documentation to preserve the heritage of quilt making. This creative group of dedicated members have a wonderful way of bringing the quilting community together from the industry leaders to the quilters that make the treasures they are preserving.
Six years ago they started Quilters Take Manhattan as a way to bring the fun into fundraising! They were hugely successful and have continued to bring exciting ideas to the quilters that make their way into the Big Apple!
The event has blossomed into not only the main event but have had fabulous add ons over the years!
There are shop hops, Broadway shows, an evening cocktail party, museum outings, bonus lectures and so much more! It is a full weekend event that is not to be missed if you have the opportunity!
If you are unfamiliar with the programs the Quilt Alliance is currently running, here are just a few of the events that the Quilt Alliance has created to help support the quilting arts:
Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories (QSOS)
Ardis James QSOS Scholar Program
and National Quilting Day
This year the Main Event at FIT includes a full day of lectures, interviews, vendors, an exhibition of quilts, trunk shows, and the Quilt Match Manhattan quilt design challenge. QTM 2016 will be held September 23-25 with Main Event speakers Kaffe Fassett and Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi, and emcee Mary Fons.
In the past, QTM speakers have included:
2011: Marianne Fons and Jay McCarroll
2012: Denyse Schmidt and Jennifer Chiaverini
2013: Hollis Chatelain
2014: Amy Butler and Mark Dunn
2015: Ricky Tims and Victoria Findlay Wolfe
I have been fortunate enough to have been able to attend three of the QTM. Each has been more exciting than the previous one.
Here are a few photos of what can be seen at QTM...
Mark Lipinski and Marie Bostwick are photo bombed by Luke Haynes ( and me). It is all in good fun, can't you tell by Mark's expression!
This spectacular quilt is by Hollis Chatelain. It was moving to see this quilt in person. The quilting was dhm free motion quilting and was all images. There were images of people throughout the quilt. Simply breathtaking.
My first QTM in 2012. The quilt is by Denyse Schmidt who was interviewed by the wonderful Meg Cox.
Board members creating blocks for assembly for a charity quilt by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.
Victoria and me in her loft with stunning quilts in the background!
Quilters Take Manhattan is an outstanding organization run by people that not only care about the quilters but ARE quilters! I adore them!
If you have not had the chance, make sure to go and visit the other members of this blog hop to find out why we all LOVE the Quilt Alliance
Day 1 - Monday, September 5
Chris Dodsley @made by ChrissieD
Pat Sloan
AccuQuilt
Freespirit Fabric
Day 3 - Wednesday, September 7
Moda Fabrics @Moda Cutting Table
Denyse Schmidt on Instagram @dsquilts
Debbie Jeske @A Quilter's Table
Day 4 - Thursday, September 8
Jacquie Gering @tallgrass prairie studio
Jessica Skultety @Quilty Habit
Day 3 - Wednesday, September 7
Moda Fabrics @Moda Cutting Table
Denyse Schmidt on Instagram @dsquilts
Debbie Jeske @A Quilter's Table
Day 4 - Thursday, September 8
Jacquie Gering @tallgrass prairie studio
Jessica Skultety @Quilty Habit
Gotham Quilts @Fabric Nerd
Day 5 - Friday, September 9
Kim Niedzwiecki @my go-go life
Leslie Tucker Jenison
Day 5 - Friday, September 9
Kim Niedzwiecki @my go-go life
Leslie Tucker Jenison
John Kubiniec @Big Rig Quilting
Did you know there is a fabulous giveaway?
One lucky winner will be able to enjoy the At Home version of QTM!
*You will receive a Moda Take Home ticket
*A Quilters Take Manhattan reusable bag ( I LOVE a good bag!)
* FILLED with all of the goodies that are in the bags that are at the event mailed to your home and links to the Quilt Match Challenge ( this is so much fun to watch)!
*And Home Ticket holders receive priority access to the online video of the 'Sunday with Sponsors' event. That access is sent via email link 2 weeks after the event. (Please note: the Home Ticket does not include footage of QTM lectures and interviews due to prohibitive cost).
To enter for your chance to win please:
*Sign up for the Quilt Alliance Newsletter!
*and leave a comment on my blog sharing who you inspired you to start quilting!
That is it!
If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your contact information in your comment! The giveaway closes on 12 September at 6am EST and a random will be selected and announced!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope after reading about all of the good work Quilt Alliance is doing, you will also consider becoming a member!
40 comments
I love QTM. Wish I could be there. My mother was probably my inspiration to begin quilting. She taught me to sew which (naturally) led to quilting.
Nice post. Thanks for sharing such a useful post.
non woven bag machine
My grandmother and mother inspired me to keep quilting. Thanks for sharing.
Looks like great fun! My mentor is my sister-she freely gives her quilts as gifts, and I am lucky to have received a quilt & mini wall hanging-so talented, I hope to be so too, one day.
My mom was my inspiration, she didn't quilt but she taught me to sew. Thanks for the giveaway. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
I didn't no anyone that quilted so I guess it was seeing other quilts that inspired me to learn.
vwayne@aol.com
Quilting was the last thing I wanted to do. My mom spent years of nagging me -- oops, I mean encouraging -- to start quilting, I reluctantly gave in. A trip to the fabric store with her resulted in a purchase of several fat quarters for a Rail Fence throw. It went together well. As I was finishing the top, my mom & aunt told me to quilt it myself. I thought they were out of their minds, but decided to give it a whirl. I did pretty good with a free-motion flower design. My mom and aunt were convinced I was a natural. I admit I had fun with the entire process. That was 5 years ago. I haven't stopped creating. Now, I love quilting. I love that my mom and I get to spend time together quilting (from for fabric to creating). Not a day goes by that we don't talk about quilting. We even created a quilt for a raffle with proceeds benefiting domestic violence programs.
My sister started me quilting. She has made such beautiful quilts and she is a great teacher. She has a love of quilting and a love of sharing her knowledge. Matsche.christine@yahoo.com
The person that inspired me to quilt was probably my grandmother, she made beautiful quilts. Alas, I have none to keep-sake. Most of hers were sold to make money for the family. Her husband was bed-ridden with cancer and she had a daughter that fell asleep when she was 12; when she awoke a couple of years later she was a non-functional person. So my grandmother supported her family of 10 children on her own. I am on a long journey to find one of those quilts but I've started making my own to calm the desire for hand-made in my home~
Thank you, Kim! You can sign up for the Quilt Alliance newsletter here: https://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001-C0KnEtb87csIo1Dtz5ppciSjf8-9HDseFapbJJmUSrbk2du_RpSSU7LB0j492WoNEl3vYIY9sFDCYAPo6TQkzGr0_pQqPr3rFz-8wfIMGXeU8ffX5kxULb3divm5lVw
My best friend Michelle got me to start quilting. I have now made dozens more quilts than she has! Thanks for the opportunity to win the great prize.
This event sounds so exciting! My sister in law inspired me to quilt. As a young Mom, I never had extra money for crafts or hobbies. My SIL gave me a copy of Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day Log Cabin book, a rotary cutter and mat, and I was on my way. She helped me with that first quilt and I've been quilting ever since. Thanks for sharing.
A quilt show inspired me to become a quilter. 24Tangent@gmail.com
Signed up for newsletter. 24Tangent@gmail.com
No one inspired me. It was a childhood love of double wedding ring that got me. Have one on progress, 26 years later.
I've signed up for the quilt alliance newsletter. I sewed clothing from my teen years. I took a triple rail fence quilt class with a couple of friends when I was in my early 30's and have been hooked ever since. Love to work with color and texture. Love to experiment with design.
I didn't no anyone that quilted so I guess it was seeing other quilts that inspired me to learn.
10 Years a go I couldn't sew a button on a shirt. My friend Nancy begged me to go to a beginning quilt class with her. She loaned me an older sewing machine to use. We went to the class, bought all the supplies needed, sharing tools. After that first project I was hooked. I am now a Longarmer! mburnette912@bellsouth.net
My inspiration to quilt came from wanting to make a gift for a new baby. now there is no going back!
My friend Barb, a quilter, talked my into quilting 25 years ago. Thanks Barb. I think I signed up for the newsletter, couldn't find a link, may have missed it?
cork@pa.ee.com
I am a member of the Quilt Alliance. My mum and aunt and grandmother all quilted, and I loved it since I was a child.
Hi,my Mom+Aunts all sewed and quilted, so it was in my genes! Love doing baby charity quilts right now! Thanks for sharing!
msstitcher1214@gmail.com
That would be my Grandmother almost 60 years ago. Rest in Peace Grandma.
I've been to QTM (and may have spoken to you) :). I hope to go this year. And I get the Alliance newsletter. Thanks for the fun photos.
My inspiration came from my grandmother.
My grandmother inspired me to start quilting.
I have signed up for the Quilt Alliance newsletter. I was inspired to start quilting by an older woman I used to teach with. Her hobby was making quilts. Each time she finished one, she brought it in to school to show us. It was always amazingly beautiful and I would be in awe. She encouraged me to try a small project following a book she loaned me. I made a set of placemats, brought them to her for critiquing and got better with each one. I think of her often as I sew and her awesome talent. Thanks Dee!
I have signed up for Quilt Alliance newsletter. I cannot say for sure what interested me in quilting as I had made quilts over 25 years ago. Many women in my family quilt and sew so I grew up with for most of my life. I have been sewing over 40+ years. I started exclusively quilting about 8 years ago inspired by the internet.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I signed up for the Quilt Alliance Newsletter :) And I have a few Friend's that have encouraged me to quilt, but my daughter is my Inspiration. She decided to learn & asked me to join her...even tho she lives in NC & I am in Ohio! lol We have had soooo much fun!! We pick a pattern..the we each make one..in whatever fabrics we think suit the other one...then usually at Christmas...we exchange them all wrapped...and they become our Gifts to each other! :) We have done a few Wallhangings & Throw-size Quilts...so far! :)
I signed up for the Quilt Alliance Newsletter; thanks for pointing me in that direction. My grandmother was a lifelong quilter--she quilted with the same group of women at her church for over 70 years, can you imagine? She was the greatest inspiration to me to become a quilter. I think of her when I'm quilting now--I have so many luxuries that I take for granted as a quilter and she still managed to produce such magnificent quilts.
My MIL inspired me to start quilting and then helped me learn along the way. Little did she know that quilting would become such a big part of my life! I've signed up for the newsletter.
I love the Quilt Alliance too! My mom was the one that inspired me to start quilting!
My sister inspired me to start quilting and then helped me learn along the way. We both attend the after dark party, where she has gotten to meet some of the other people who have inspired me along the way. Love the Quilt Alliance, attending QTM, and the chances to document, preserve, and share our passion.
One of the church ladies kept prodding me to attend a local guild and what a adventure it has been, kathy in colo repzjratplainsdotnet
Signed up. I must said Bonnie Hunter and other talented quilters from the blog lands.
My Mom!
My grandmothers. They did everything from crocheting to knitting. and of course sewing. Now my mother was a seamstress but she basically created clothing. So I had inspiration from two generations.
Thanks for sharing this as I hadn't heard of it before. My sewing journey started with embroidery, then sewing my own clothes, then sewing for my kids and then I found an vintage quilt at a thrift store. It was torn and tattered but oh so wonderful, I loved looking at the stitching, feeling the worn fabrics. And even in it's tattered state it was cozy, beautiful and made me happy. This quilt is what inspired me to make quilts, to create something that could be used and loved and then hopefully passed on to make someone happy, feel safe and warm and cozy. Signing up!!
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