After a decline during the 1940s when women were working outside the home during World War II, the craft of quilting experienced a slow resurgence during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s, about the time of the American Bicentennial, a new age of quilting began. The serene joys and practical applications of quilting quickly enticed many crafting enthusiasts and quilting became a passionate hobby for many. Because quilting can be both a solitary pastime or one shared with other quilters, it can be enjoyed by all kinds of people. Quilt shows and contests across the country allow quilt makers to congregate and display their work, often competing for sizable prizes.
Quilters today are afforded the modern convenience of watching quilting programs on television. The most popular TV programs about quilting draw tens of thousands of viewers on the Home & Garden Network (HGTV). Programs such as “The Carol Duval Show” on HGTV discuss a variety of handicrafts, including detailed segments on quilts and quilting. Quilters can also tune in to HGTV for the show “Simply Quilts,” by Alex Anderson, which is dedicated solely to quilting.
If you are an avid quilter who also loves to travel, attending quilt shows in person may be for you. Check on the internet for the numerous websites for quilt show production companies, each of which offers information about quilt shows and contests they sponsor. There are also websites with information on quilt shows around the world.
The American Quilter’s Society sponsors the “premiere” quilt show annually in late April in Paducah, Kentucky. The AQS has recently begun additional shows in DesMoines, Iowa, and Knoxville, Tennessee. Along with the displays of outstanding quilts in these juried and judged shows, there are dozens of classes taught by some of the finest quilters in the world. Vendors sell all kinds of quilting equipment, and quilt shows are a good way for manufacturers to introduce new products.
David M. & Peter J. Mancuso, Inc. specializes in quilt festivals. Shows covered by this firm include the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, the Denver National Quilt Show, the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, the Pacific International Quilt Festival, in addition to many others. The company’s website has lots of information about each show as well as the classes available at each venue.
