Quilt Show

Quilt Entry

Quilt entry is now closed. If you entered quilts, thank you!! We can’t wait to see your quilts!

Quilt Entry Delivery:

• Non-judged and Special Exhibit Quilt drop off is at the Iowa Quilt Block, 325 5^th Street, West Des Moines, from September 10-20, 2026.
• Judged Quilt drop off is at University Vacuum and Sewing, 5739 University Avenue, Des Moines, from September 11-17, 2026.
• All quilts must have a 4” sleeve stitched to top edge of the quilt with two exceptions. Quilts LONGER THAN 85” do not need a sleeve. Quilts LESS THAN 20” WIDE do not need a sleeve.
• Place your entry form in a plastic bag and pin it to the lower left-hand corner of the BACK of your quilt. Please fold your quilt so the entry form is visible.
• Each entry must be in a separate pillowcase. Pillowcases will be available at the August 25^th Guild meeting and at the dropoff locations. You will not get your pillowcase back.
• Be sure to check the business hours of the shops before dropping off your quilts. Thanks to the Iowa Quilt Block and University Vacuum and Sewing for their support!

The 2026 Quilt Turning will feature Friendship Quilts. Join us to see and learn about quilts celebrating friends and family.

Mini Classes at DMAQG 2026 Show by Woodside Quilting

These Mini classes are 2 hours for each class and $39 each which includes a kit with all the supplies needed (unless noted below). Classes are held in a classroom space at the show. Quilt Show entry ticket is required for entry to the classrooms. These classes are also all hand work requiring no sewing machines. Register for these classes at WoodsideQuilting.com.

Thursday Sept. 24, 10:00 am – Noon
Cartonnage Magic Wallet – beginner class with DMAQG (Certified Instructor – Brenda M)

Learn the art of Cartonnage – the art of making projects from fabric and chipboard – while constructing a fun Magic wallet. The class will use professional kits by ColorWay Arts. Cartonnage is a technique, originated in France in the 19th century, to create decorative and functional boxes or projects  Using precut chipboard, fabric and glue, this no-sew technique is a wonderful way to create useful storage items or gifts. We will be making this beautiful and useful fabric Magic Wallet during class. There is no sewing required to make this box. You can use your own fabrics or purchase fabrics at a store in the vendor mall  or Woodside Quilting with your 15% class discount. Brenda will show you what the “Magic” is all about in class. The chipboard kit provided is part of your class fee. Class fee $39

Thursday Sept. 24, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Beginning Sashiko Hand Stitching with DMAQG (Sashiko Educator – Sarah Armstrong) 

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 2 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 project. Join us and learn a way to unwind with a “Slow Stitching” method that will enhance your future hand stitching. Class fee $39

Friday Sept. 25, 10:00 – Noon
Beginning Sashiko Hand Stitching with DMAQG (Sashiko Educator – Sarah Armstrong) 

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 2 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 project. Join us and learn a way to unwind with a “Slow Stitching” method that will enhance your future hand stitching. Class fee $39

Friday Sept. 25, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Beginning English Paper Piecing (EPP) with DMAQG (Instructor – Diane T) 

Learn the basics of English Paper Piecing and go home with a fun small project that is uniquely yours! Come learn 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, 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! Class fee $39

Saturday Sept. 26, 10:00 – Noon
Gingerbread Friends: Beginner Wool Applique Holiday Ornaments with DMAQG (Instructor – Calle’ F.)
Description: Celebrate Christmas at the DMAQG Show by creating this adorable pair of gingerbread friends ornaments. This project is a perfect introduction to wool applique and creative stitching, combining the basics of wool applique with an opportunity to practice simple stitches considered foundational to embroidery. The class kit includes all materials needed for both ornaments. Class fee $39

Saturday Sept. 26, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Vintage Quilt labels with DMAQG (Instructor – Calle’ F.)

Come learn at the Des Moines Area Quilt Guild Show. Introduction to embroidery and creative stitching. Try your hand at creative stitching with this lovely, customized quilt label project! The class kit includes a pre-printed quilt label featuring elegant floral lines. We will learn the six most prominent embroidery stitches used in creative needlework to embellish and personalize vintage styled quilt labels. Class fee $39

Extend your show experience by attending the Show Banquet on Friday, September 25, at the West Des Moines Christian Church, featuring a quilted garment fashion show.

Menu:
USDA Choice Roast Beef
Roast Chicken Simmered in Wine
Penne with Italian Meatballs and Sausages
Italian Roast Potatoes
House Garden Salad
Fresh Baked Bread and Butter
Iced water, iced tea and coffee station
Cake for dessert

Cost: $35.00

Schedule: 
5pm -6pm Social Hour
6pm      Dinner
7pm      Fashion Show

Location:
West Des Moines Christian Church, 4501 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA

Deadline to buy tickets: September 11, 2026

2026 Special Exhibits 

In addition to judged and non-judged quilts made by DMAQG members, be sure to enjoy the following special exhibits:

OH, MY STARS – There are all kinds of stars, from celestial to Hollywood.

WRITTEN IN THE STARS – Quilters have been stitching names and words on quilts for decades.

SASHIKO AND BORO – See contemporary interpretations of these classic Japanese folk arts.

MY FAVORITE THINGS – Enjoy notions and sewing accessories from a Central Iowa collector.

STARS OF OUR HEARTS – The Central Iowa Textile Artists have curated a collection of their favorite art quilts.

STAR STRUCK – 2026 President’s Challenge. Members have been challenged to create a quilt incorporating elements from a provided list of criteria.

2026 Sponsors and Vendors 

Gold Sponsor – Bernina USA/Woodside Quilting

Silver Sponsors – Off the Rails Quilting

Creekside Quilting

The Iowa Quilt Block

In the Beginning Fabrics/Jason Yenter

Janome/University Vacuum and Sewing

Treasured Gifts

YLI Threads

Vendors

Among Quilting Friends – amongquiltingfriends.com

Cedar Creek Quilts

Cottonwood Creations – cottonwood-creations.com

Debbie’s Quilt Shop & Gifts – facebook/debbies-quilt-shop

F.O.G. Wood Turning

Hingeley Road Quilting – hingeleyroadquilting.com

Humble Heart – humbleheartquiltshop.com

K & K Logo – www.kklogo.com

Mashe Modern – mashemodern.com

Nebraska Quilt Company – nebraskaquiltcompany.com

Off the Rails Quilting – offtherailsquilting.com

Purple Pincushion – purplepincushion.shop

Quilted Steeple – quiltedsteeple.com

Quilted Strawberry

Something Stitched – somethingstitched.com

The Meandering Thread –  etsy.com/shop/meanderingthread

The Woolen Needle – thewoolenneedle.com

Tillie’s Quilts – tilliesquilts.com

Treasured Gifts – treasuredgiftsllc.com

University Vacuum & Sewing – 255dust.com

Woodside Quilting – woodsidequilting.com

Volunteer

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.

We’re using SignUp (the leading online SignUp and reminder tool) to organize our upcoming SignUps.

Here’s how it works in 3 easy steps:

1) Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp: https://signup.com/go/xSAJvOq
2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
3) Sign up! It’s Easy – you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.

Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Julie Hanel (Julie.hanel.quilter@gmail.com) and she can sign you up manually.

It takes many volunteers to set up and take down the show and to staff the show. We hope that everyone who is able will volunteer for a shift. Members get in free on the day they volunteer. If you volunteer on a set up day, you may choose any one of the days of the show for your free admission.  Again this year, for each shift for which you volunteer, your name will be entered in a drawing for $20 gift certificates from YLI Threads.

Thank you for volunteering and making our show a success!

Quilt Judging

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:

GENERAL APPEARANCE

• The quilt makes an overall positive statement upon viewing.
• The quilt is clean and “ready to show” – (no visible marks or loose threads, no pet hair or offensive odors, no bearding).
• The quilt’s edges are not distorted (e.g., no rippling).

DESIGN AND COMPOSITION

• All individual design elements of the quilt are unified (including top, quilting, fabric and thread choices, sashing, borders, embellishments, binding)
• The design is in proportion and balanced.
• Borders or other edge treatments enhance the quilt’s appearance.

WORKMANSHIP

• Piecing is precise, corners match and points are sharp. Appliqué has smooth curves and sharp points. Stitches are hidden.
• Seams, including those of sashing and borders, are secure, straight, and flat.
• Quilting stitches are straight where intended and curved where intended.

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

Congratulations to the Ribbon Winners!

Click to download list of 2025 winners and be sure see their quilts at the show, they are amazing!

How To Videos

Click to watch these informative videos on our YouTube channel, or scroll down to see them here.

How to register your quilt

How to put a sleeve on your quilt

Where does the tag go?

Volunteers: Set up instructions

Volunteers: Take down instructions

Quilt Show Closing & Quilt Pick-Up Information

The quilt show will close promptly at 5:00 PM on Saturday.

• If you will be attending the show on Saturday, at 5 pm, please make your way to the tables on the west end of the Food Court, by the Quilt Makers Market.
• If you are coming ONLY to pick up your quilts, plan to arrive after 4:45. Go to the south side of the building and enter through the door by the Food Court and wait at the tables by the Quilt Makers Market. You will not be able to enter by any other door.
• If you are bringing a suitcase or wagon, they are only permitted through the south door by the Food Court.
• You will be given a number for your place in the takedown order. Numbers will be handed out beginning at 5:00.
• A volunteer will escort you to your quilts and assist in taking them off the hanging system. Make sure you know where your quilts are hanging.
• If you have entries in the Quilt Turning, Written in the Stars, or Sashiko/Boro displays, those items will be available for pick up in the checkout area at the east end of the building.
• Check out all your quilts at the checkout stations.
• Exiting will only be by the door at the east end of the building. You will not be able to exit by any other door.
• NOTE: If someone else is picking up quilts for you, they must have a note, text, or email giving them permission to take your quilts. Also note the designated doors for entering and leaving are quite a distance from each other. If mobility is an issue for you, please use this option to have someone else pick up your quilts for you.