Register Now for the 2021 Virtual Great Wisconsin Quilt Show

August 17, 2021 Tara Lovdahl Leave a Comment

As we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show 2021 will again offer a free, digital event to unite and engage our quilting community.

It will include live, interactive educational opportunities from leading experts, a virtual vendor mall and more – all online at quiltshow.com from the comfort and safety of home. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect from this year’s event, Sept. 9-11.

Lectures from Leading Experts

Presentations from nationally known quilting educators will be streamed at quiltshow.com and on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. A live Q&A session will follow each lecture. Participants will learn helpful tips and tricks as they find inspiration for their next projects. Maybe you’ll finally discover what you want to do with that special bolt of fabric you’ve been safe guarding! 

A headshot of Porfiria Gomez next to her Big Block Quilt project

Porfiria Gomez and her “Big Block Quilt” project

Virtual Vendor Mall

Our virtual vendor mall includes 60 knowledgeable vendors offering the latest fabrics, threads, notions and sewing machines. From 11 a.m.-noon and 3-4 p.m. (Central Time) each day during the virtual experience, vendors will live stream video content such as product demos, tutorials and studio tours. You can move from one vendor’s stream to the next, much like booth-hopping at a physical vendor mall.

Quilt Challenges

Quilters of all skill levels were invited to participate in this year’s fun quilt challenges: The Panel Quilt Challenge, The 100 Years of Art Deco Quilt Challenge, The Modern Mini Quilt Challenge and The Kids’ Quilt Challenge. The 2021 virtual quilt show will feature photo gallery exhibits of a juried selection of the entries, and prizes will be awarded to the winners in each challenge.

We will also celebrate the talents of our community’s quilters with a curated showcase of previous years’ quilt contest winners. The full 2021 Quilt Contest will be featured as a special exhibit when we return to the Alliant Energy Center in Madison for the 2022 in-person show. This year’s special exhibit, “Racism: In the Face of Hate We Resist,” is presented by Textile Center and Women of Color Quilters Network.

A portion of the 2014 “Best of Show” quilt

Community Projects

Leading up to the quilt show, participants can join in our community service project, “Quilt to Give,” which will benefit Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) and Enchanted Makeovers. Join us on social media Aug. 23-27 to create bed-sized quilts that will be of use and comfort to others. We will share daily project steps and guidance from Nancy Zieman Productions via our Facebook page.

Additionally, all youth and adult quilters, sewists and fiber artists are invited to contribute to this year’s virtual community quilt, hosted by 4-H and The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. The community quilt is a great way for participants to swap stories and come together through a shared love of quilting.

Online Auction

In lieu of our annual in-person raffle, we will host a four-day online auction during the virtual Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. We are proud to offer a free, virtual experience for our quilting community that provides educational opportunities and a chance for participants to safely celebrate something we all love. We encourage registrants to donate what they can to make sure we come back next year stronger than ever, including monetary gifts and donations to this year’s online auction. Bidding starts Sept. 9!

Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr will discuss “Solids: A World of Color.”

Register Now

Free registration for the three-day event is now open at quiltshow.com. All quilt lovers are invited to draw inspiration and delight from each other in this online and interactive experience.  

The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show is presented by PBS Wisconsin and Nancy Zieman Productions. Proceeds from The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show support PBS Wisconsin programs and community outreach projects.

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