Hello Spring, Goodbye “Iowa Quilts!”
A Note from Director Melody Reels
March marks my one-year anniversary as Director of the Iowa Quilt Museum — and I can hardly believe how quickly the time has flown! While I’m not a quilter…yet…this past year has been an incredible journey of learning about the art of quilting and meeting some truly amazing people along the way.
Running the museum can be a lot at times, but the challenges are always balanced out by the joy of new exhibits, new friends, and the endless inspiration that quilting provides.
This is the last week to experience our current exhibit, Iowa Quilts!, which will come down after we close on Saturday, April 19th. I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all the quilt shops that participated:
- Hen & Chicks Studio (Conrad, IA)
- Mashe Modern (Dallas Center, IA)
- Off the Rails Quilting & Yarn Nook (Bondurant, IA)
- Piece Works Quilt Shop (Winterset, IA)
- Redfield Quilt Shop (Redfield, IA)
- The Quilted Forest (Forest City, IA)
- The Quilted Windmill (Pella, IA)
- TraditionalPrimitives.com (Des Moines, IA)
- Woodside Quilting (Des Moines, IA)
(And as a fun connection — all of these shops are also part of the All Iowa Shop Hop happening June 1st–July 31st!)
This exhibit was truly special — not only for highlighting Iowa’s fantastic quilt shops, but also for honoring beloved local quilters who have passed. It meant so much to share and celebrate the beautiful work of Cindy Hathaway, JoAnn Belling, and Velma Van Scoy. A special thanks to Robert Van Scoy for helping dedicate the exhibit to Velma’s awe-inspiring hand quilting.
Thank you as well to the individual Iowa quilters who helped complete our exhibit: Abbie Allen, Bonnie Nelson, Daniela Maratisovitsova, Debbie Simpson, and Janet Pitman.
And finally, a huge thank you to Tony Jacobson — from Piece Works Quilt Shop, champion of Quilts of Valor, IQM Board Member, and the driving force behind pulling this wonderful exhibit together. We are beyond grateful for his time, energy, and passion.
If you haven’t had a chance to visit, now’s the perfect time — the weather is beautiful and the museum is full of inspiration! And if you can’t make it in person, don’t worry — I post weekly videos highlighting the quilts currently on display.
Tiny Pieces Vast Visions
April 22 – August 3
Tiny Pieces, Vast Visions Has Arrived!
As one exhibit comes to a close, the excitement for the next one is always a sweet relief — and I couldn’t be more excited to share Tiny Pieces, Vast Visions with you! While our current exhibit highlights the beauty of traditional quilting, this upcoming one offers a change with a focus on modern/contemporary. It’s going to be a fun switch-up, and I can’t wait for you to see it!
Sneak Peek Opportunities:
- Monday, April 21: We’ll be hanging the new exhibit, and though we’re officially closed, we’re not closed to you! Come take a peek at what’s being hung — no admission required!
- Opening Day: Join me at the museum for a free coffee and a bag of donut holes to go — the perfect snack for your morning commute. Come check out the new exhibit on us, and take a little something with you to brighten your day!
I’m thrilled to share this new exhibit with you and look forward to seeing you at the museum!
2025 Iowa Quilt Festival
June 4 – June 6, 2025
Don’t miss your chance to be part of one of Iowa’s most colorful and creative events!
RETREAT
Looking for dedicated time to sew, create, and connect?
Our Quilt Retreat during the Iowa Quilt Festival is the perfect getaway!
Bring your own project and enjoy three days of quilting time surrounded by like-minded friends who share your passion. Whether you’re finishing a treasured quilt or starting something new, you’ll love the relaxed atmosphere, the inspiration all around you, and the opportunity to learn a few new tricks from others along the way!
Sew, laugh, connect — and leave with memories (and maybe a finished quilt!) to treasure.
Spaces are limited — sign up today to reserve your table!
CLASSES & LECTURES
Classes, and lectures are filling fast — secure your spot today to learn from nationally recognized instructors like Scott Flanagan, Sharon Wasteney, Tony Jacobson, Pati Fried, Millie Kehrli, and Irene Roderick!
Choose from:
🧵 Hands-on quilting classes
🧵 Inspiring lectures
🧵 Shopping at local shops
🧵 Special events and social gatherings in the evening
Airing of the Quilts
Saturday June 7, 2025
Step into a world of color, creativity, and community at the Airing of the Quilts, the grand finale of the Iowa Quilt Festival!
Stroll through historic Winterset and experience the breathtaking beauty of hundreds of quilts displayed on porches, draped over historic bridges, hanging from downtown buildings, and showcased across our charming parks and venues.
Each quilt tells a story — of tradition, love, creativity, and artistry.
🧵 Your Ticket Includes:
✨ Access to 10 indoor quilt exhibits throughout Winterset
✨ Community quilt displays across historic sites
✨ Special “Meet & Greet” inside the Iowa Quilt Museum
✨ Quilts displayed in local shops & wineries
🎟️ Tickets are on sale now!
Your pass gives you full access to both outdoor and indoor quilt displays — a full day of quilting inspiration!
PLUS — for just $5 more, you can visit the Covered Bridge Quilters Guild Quilt Show — a fantastic local show put on by talented area quilters you won’t want to miss!
Don’t miss one of Iowa’s most beautiful and heartwarming events — celebrate the art of quilting with us in the heart of Madison County!
More Space for Quilting Fun
We have a great space upstairs above the gallery with a great view of our beautiful courthouse. We would love to house classes, retreats or even quilting camps up there, but it needs some additional electrical. Currently, we only have one row of track lighting, we would like to add another row, along with some pendant lights in the middle. Additionally we would need to add electrical outlets for machines, irons and table lights. No quilting space would be complete without adding some planning boards. If you would like to help contribute to raising funds for this project click on the button below.
2025 Exhibits
April 22 through August 3 – Tiny Pieces, Vast Visions
Quilts by Deb Cashatt, Irene Roderick, Niraja Lorenz, and Susan Lapham were on display at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah last fall, and we are thrilled to announce their next display location will be here in Iowa. The artists will also participate in the 2025 Iowa Quilt Festival!
August 5 through November 30 – Mama’s Got the Blues: Nineteenth Century Indigo Quilts
We’re honored to be working with Julie Silber, respected quilt collector, dealer, and appraiser, to showcase her mother’s antique blue and white quilts
December 2, 2025 – April 15,2026 – Rebound, Renew, Reimagine
The Manhattan Modern Quilters’ Guild’s post-COVID exhibit will make a stop here in Iowa at the end of 2025. We were fortunate enough to have 40×40@40 displayed in 2021 and looking forward to displaying the guild’s amazing work again.
2025 Events
Look for continued updates on our website and social media about what we have to offer in the coming year
- Iowa Quilt Festival – retreat, classes, lectures and Airing of the Quilts Tickets on sale now
- 3rd Annual Share Your Stash Sale on November 8, 2025 – we are taking donations now for the upcoming year
- Stitch In at the Museum – every 2nd Thursday of the month
Marianne’s Musings
Founding IQM Board Member Marianne Fons is a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative, a collection of over 70 professional writers and journalists. She writes a (mostly) weekly Substack column titled “Reporting from Quiltropolis.” (Quiltropolis = Winterset.) Check out Quiltropolis by clicking on the button below, and subscribe if you like.
