September 25-27, 2025; 9 am – 5 pm all three days
Iowa State Fairgrounds
4-H Building, free parking
Non-Judged, Special Exhibit and Presidents Challenge Quilts should be dropped off at The Iowa Quilt Block, 325 5th Street, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 from September 11th to September 21st.
Iowa Quilt Block HOURS:
Tues-Sat: 10am-4pm
Sun: 1pm-4pm
Monday: Closed
Judged Entries should be dropped off at University Vacuum & Sewing, 5739 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50311, from September 12th to September 18th.
University Vac & Sewing HOURS:
M, T, T, F: 9am-5:30pm
W, Sat: 9am–2pm
Sun: CLOSED
Thursday Sept. 25th – 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Instructor: Sarah Armstrong
Class Description: Want to learn the ancient art of Japanese Sashiko hand stitching? Then this is the class for you! We will start with the basics and an all in one beginners kit that is part of your class. With 2 needles, thread, thimble, a starter panel (12″ X 12″) and wonderful instructions. Then you can use this finished panel to make a small pouch or sewing kit for your future Sashiko stitching. Your instructor will first start with a little background of what Sashiko is all about and the numerous ways you can use Sashiko hand stitching in your future projects. In this 3-hour class you will come away with an understanding of the basics of Sashiko hand stitching and well on your way to complete your first Sashiko small panel. Join us and learn a way to unwind with a “Slow Stitching” method that will enhance your future hand stitching
Cost $39
https://www.woodsidequilting.com/module/class/608270/beginning-sashiko-hand-stitching-with-dmaqg
Friday Sept. 26th – 10am – Noon
Class Description: Learn the basics of English Paper Piecing and go home with a fun small project that is uniquely yours! Come learn and stay as long as you want in this 2 hour make and take. If you’ve ever had the itch to hand stitch, this is the perfect project to take along traveling, for a waiting room, or something to keep hands busy to grow into something beautiful. We will have examples of different shapes and techniques to try out, as well as supplies to stitch while you’re here enjoying the show. You will learn basic stitching techniques, the use of EPP Papers and how to hand sew a simple block. You will also learn how EPP blocks are put together. If you like hand work or hand sewing you will love this class!
Cost $39 (Kit Included)
https://www.woodsidequilting.com/module/class/495838/beginning-english-paper-piecing-epp-with-dmaqg
Friday Sept. 26th – 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Instructor: Calle’ Friesen
Class Description: Introduction to wool appliqué and creative stitching – This project combines the basics of wool appliqué with the opportunity to practice six stitches considered foundational to hand wool appliqué work. All the materials needed for this class will be supplied in a wool kit.
Cost $39
Saturday Sept. 27th – 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Instructor: Calle’ Friesen
Class Description: Introduction to embroidery and creative stitching. This class provides students with a step-by-step introduction to hand embroidery. Participants will create and embellish one customized quilt label using a variety of stitches and special techniques. All the materials needed for this class will be supplied in a hand embroidery kit.
Cost $39
Woodside Quilting
woodsidequilting@yahoo.com
5360 NE 14th Street, Ste. A Des Moines, IA 50313
M-F 10-5, Sat 10-4 515-777-3500 Ask for Marty or Warren
Curators: Andrea Henson andreahenson65@gmail.com and Barb Aldeman cmjbbja@aol.com
This exhibit will showcase quilts that feature houses as the central design element. This theme has a wide range of interpretations from house quilts, schoolhouse quilts to village or city scenes, and even traditional log cabin quilts. Quilts that tell stories of home and community, depicting rural homesteads or urban landscapes. The quilt does not have to be new, feel free to dig through your cupboard for a quilt that fits the “Quilt Makers Village” theme. You can even submit a quilt that you’ve previously displayed in the DMAQG Quilt Show, as long as it meets the exhibit criteria.
Size: Minimum of 24” on any one side
Curators: Jill Reber and Lisa Zbylicki
How exciting is it to spot a Barn Quilt on a Sunday Drive? We will be showcasing a collection of authentic quilts in the Barn Quilt style. Makers will choose one quilt block with a size between 20” and 40” square. All quilts must be crafted with two layers of fabric and batting in between, and each piece must be quilted and bound.
Collection made and gathered by the DMAQG Block Study Group.
Curator: Janet Pittman
A garden adds special texture, color and fragrance to our home. With fabric and thread many of our members have chosen to reflect on this with various genre of quilting including piecing, hand and machine appliqué, English paper piecing and collage. Then embellishing along the way with embroidery and decorative stitches to make the designs come to life.
Curator: Peggy Kirk pegquilt@icloud.com
“Carry Me Home” Special Display will be showcasing bags crafted by our Guild Members, including totes, purses, backpacks, and project bags—anything designed to carry you home.
Curator: Beth Freeman
Quilt Turning (or in some parts of the country a bed turning) is an opportunity to see and hear the description of a quilt in a unique way. Quilts have a long history of not only being used for warmth, but also as a way to express the maker’s art. This year’s Quilt Turning will feature Best of Show quilts from the Iowa State Fair. Please plan on attending one of the show’s quilt turnings to learn about the inspiration and the story behind these award winning quilts.
Curator: Susie Martin, DMAQG President
Guild members have chosen a 1/2 yard cut of one of Riley Blake’s many beautiful Confetti Cotton solids. In making their quilt, they have been asked to explain how their fabric choice inspired them to make this particular quilt. Quilts must be between 32 and 52″ wide and 32 and 64″ long. They can be pieced, appliquéd, or any mix of techniques. Embellishments are allowed, but their beginning fabric must be prominent in the quilt. A 3″ square of the fabric must be attached to the label.
Gold Sponsors – Woodside Quilting /Bernina
YLI
Riley Blake
Leo 9 Textiles
Off the Rails
The Woolen Needle
The Iowa Quilt Block
Creekside Quilting
Click to watch these informative videos on our YouTube channel, or scroll down to see them here.
How to put a sleeve on your quilt
We can’t do the quilt show without you, please consider volunteering to help set up and/or work the show. There are many different kinds of jobs, with details of what is necessary for each before you sign up.
This year as a special thank you we are adding a drawing where you could win a $20.00 gift certificate for YLI thread just for volunteering for 1 or more shifts. To have a chance to win, sign up for a shift, that gives you 2 chances to win. Want more chances? A name will be drawn once each day, as well as once per shift. We will also give out a gift certificate to the person with the most volunteer signups. Winners will be notified after the show through the mail. Contact Julie Hanel with questions.
Our guild has offered judging for our members’ quilts since 2006 and each year around 50% of the show entries are entered to be judged by a certified quilt judge– someone who has spent years studying all aspects of quilt making and the process of judging, completed a series of steps set out by the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (https://www.nacqj.com), and then been certified as able to professionally judge. No matter how new or experienced, we can all learn a lot from these judges. We strongly encourage all members to have their entries judged.
The primary elements and standards used by judges are:
This is not an exhaustive list, these are just the most commonly remarked upon areas. Art quilts and modern quilts are more design focused, rather than workmanship focused. Each of the elements/standards has many more specific points, depending on quilt type.
The judge tries to recognize and comment on the positives of each quilt being judged and to identify one or more areas that could benefit from improvement. When the judge is ready to decide on ribbon winners in each category, there is some agreement that design is probably most important — the quilt with the greatest visual impact (the WOW factor). This is often determined by the complexity of design (COD) and degree of difficulty (DOD). But even the quilt with the greatest visual impact cannot rescue poor workmanship.
Please contact a member of the judging committee with any questions about the judging process, best category for a particular quilt, or other questions.
Judging Committee – Eva Marie Evans
Friday evening, September 26, 2025
West Des Moines Christian Church, 4501 Mills Civic Parkway, WDM
Join us Friday evening for a special dinner event featuring a presentation by quilt artist and author Janet Pittman, titled “Nature as Inspiration.” Janet, the creative force behind Garden Trellis Designs, is known for her stunning art quilts, which have been featured in several top quilting magazines. She will be sharing a visual journey of her work—beautiful quilts inspired by her own gardens, as well as those she’s discovered during her travels.
Dinner Buffet Catered by Christiani’s:
Tickets are 35.00 each and still available!
Don’t miss this inspiring evening of creativity and community!
The quilt show will close promptly at 5:00 PM on Saturday.
If you plan to arrive before 4:45 PM, please note that you will not be allowed inside the building until that time. You may wait in your car or outside.
At 4:45 PM, you may enter the building through the South entrance (near the food court), where volunteers will escort you to the designated waiting area. Please do not attempt to enter through the main (West) doors — entry will not be permitted there.
Volunteers will be stationed at entrances to help direct you to the correct door.
At 5:15 PM, we will begin escorting members from the waiting area to retrieve their quilts. Pick-up order will be random — not based on arrival time.
Here’s a better option:
Arrive at 5:30 PM and enter through either the South or East entrance. Your quilts will be folded and ready for checkout, and you can walk straight to the checkout table. This will be the easiest and most efficient way to pick up your quilts.
You must bring a signed note from the quilt owner to remove their quilts from the building.
Wagons, rolling suitcases, or large carrying cases are not allowed through the main doors at any time. You may bring them into the building after 4:45 PM through the South entrance only.
Thank you for your cooperation — and for making the quilt show a success!
Click to download list of winners and be sure see their quilts at the show, they are amazing!
