Madison’s own internationally best-selling author Jennifer Chiaverini is the author of the “Elm Creek Quilts” series and ties her love of quilts and Wisconsin into many of her books.

She will discuss her quilts and novels at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, Sept. 8-10 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, and an exhibit of 18 quilts from Chiaverini’s novels will be on display throughout the event. Tickets are available to purchase now at quiltshow.com.

In her daytime lecture, “‘Harriet's Journey’ from ‘Elm Creek Quilts’” she will discuss a sampler quilt that was first inspired by a fictional quilt in her ninth novel, “Circle of Quilters.” Chiaverini made the quilt, and made a pattern book of it called “Harriet’s Journey.”

And, on Friday, Sept. 9 Chiaverini will give a special evening program in which she will talk about all of her novels and her journey as a writer. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

“It’s usually a very lively Q&A that really is the most fun part of the discussion,” shares Chiaverini. “They let me know things that readers would like to hear more about, and sometimes someone will ask a question about a favorite character, and if my answer is, ‘I don’t actually know what did happen to that character,’ then I’ll start wondering about it and maybe I’ll give that character their own book later on.”

The quilts featured in Chiaverini’s books are sometimes made by her and other times are the result of a collaboration between author and readers. For some of the sampler quilts, people from Wisconsin and across the country donated blocks to make one collaborative quilt.

“That’s one of the things that comes through, I think in the ‘Elm Creek Quilts’ novels, that one of the great joys of quilting is quilting together and sharing what you know with other quilters and learning from one another and collaborating on a wonderful masterpiece,” Chiaverini says.

For the first time in three years, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show will return to the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin, as an in-person event, welcoming quilters from across the state and throughout the United States to join together and share their love for quilting.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the Quilt Show in person,” says Chiaverini. “And I look forward to meeting long-time and brand-new readers there.”

The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show includes dozens of educational lectures and workshops led by expert quilters; beautiful quilt exhibits; shopping opportunities from trusted vendors, featuring the latest fabrics and notions; and a community service project — Quilt to Give — in which attendees donate their materials and skills to create quilts for those in need.

Visit quiltshow.com to register and explore the event schedule now.

Event organizers will continue to monitor updates from health officials regarding COVID-19 safety guidelines and will share the latest information about their protocols at quiltshow.com.

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.

Thank you to our Premier Event Sponsors: Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines and Pfaff Sewing Machines. Additional thanks to our Associate Event Sponsors: Ana's Sewing Studio, BERNINA of America, Blue Bar Quilts, Brother International Sewing Corporation, Janome, Juki America, Inc. and Linda Z's Sewing Center.

PBS Wisconsin is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

PBS Wisconsin is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.

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