Winter Is Here
from Director Melody Reels
The final weeks of November were busy and full of activity at the museum. We kicked off the holiday season by participating in the Cocoa Crawl, offering fudge treats to visitors, and we were honored to receive a generous donation from the Jewel Box Quilters Guild from Grinnell. We closed on Thanksgiving Day, then joined the community for Winterset’s festive Festival of Lights on Friday. Unfortunately, winter weather forced us to close on Shop Small Business Saturday, but we were able to welcome visitors again on Sunday, November 30th—the final day of our beloved Mama’s Got the Blues exhibit.
December arrived with new energy as we opened Rebound – Renew – Reimagine: Manhattan Quilters Guild Reemerges. Opening day included a well-attended sneak peek event featuring free coffee and donut holes. We also had the privilege of hosting a meaningful Quilts of Valor ceremony and offered a “redo” of Shop Small Business Saturday, complete with free giveaways to support our gift shop and local makers.
It has been a full and exciting transition into the holiday season, and we’re grateful for everyone who continues to support the museum and our programs.
Holiday Gift Ideas
This holiday season, give the gift of creativity with our digital gift cards from the Iowa Quilt Museum!
Choose from a variety of beautiful quilt-inspired designs, and send it instantly via email—perfect for last-minute shoppers.
And for that special quilter who truly has it all… consider our “Donation in Their Honor” card! Make a donation in their name, and we’ll send them a lovely printed card by mail while proudly sharing their name (and your thoughtfulness) on our social media. It’s a heartfelt way to celebrate their love of quilting while supporting the museum.
Shop our digital gift cards and browse even more unique gift ideas in our online gift shop today: https://www.iowaquiltmuseum.org/shop Or stop by and visit us in Winterset for more inspiration!
New York In Iowa
Rebound – Renew – Reimagine: Manhattan Quilters Guild Reemerges
As we bid a fond (and bittersweet) farewell to the vibrant Mama’s Got The Blues exhibit, we’re thrilled to open our doors to something truly inspiring: Rebound – Renew – Reimagine: Manhattan Quilters Guild Reemerge!
This powerful collection from the Manhattan Quilters Guild captures the spirit of recovery and renewal after the isolation of the pandemic. Each quilt tells a personal story of resilience, creativity, and community—reminding us how art can heal and reconnect us. From intricate designs symbolizing hope to bold expressions of reimagined futures, these works are a testament to the enduring power of quilting.
We are thankful to those that attended our free sneak peek on opening day and be sure to visit our social media to see more on this fabulous exhibit.
Three-Part Virtual Lecture Series
with Diane L. Murtha
Join us online for an engaging lecture series with award-winning quilter, author, and international instructor Diane L. Murtha, hosted by the Iowa Quilt Museum
Challenge Accepted: Expanding Your Creative Boundaries, January 24 | 2:00–3:00 PM
Diane combines her popular “Challenges I & II” into one insightful, humorous session. Discover how quilt challenges can build your skills and spark new creative energy.
Peaceful Stitching, February 21 | 2:00–3:00 PM
Learn how to incorporate slow stitching techniques—like big stitch quilting, embroidery, and decorative darning—into your quilting practice for both creative and meditative benefits.
License to Play, March 21 | 2:00–3:00 PM
From modifying a pattern to designing your own, Diane offers fun, fearless strategies to help you unlock your creative potential.
Cost:
• $20 per session
• Or $50 for all three
This is a virtual event—attend from anywhere!
Your participation directly supports the Iowa Quilt Museum and helps us continue sharing the art and history of quilting.
More to offer this Winter
Tickets are already on sale for Diane L. Murtha’s popular online lecture series, and we’re thrilled to announce that more exciting online classes are coming your way soon with Sujata Shah. Plus, don’t miss our hands-on Featherweight Maintenance class (in-person!) scheduled for March.
Stay tuned—details and registration links will be dropping in upcoming newsletters or on our social media!
Volunteer Opportunity
Calling All Quilt Lovers – We Need YOU in Our Gift Shop!
The Iowa Quilt Museum’s little gift shop is growing, and our wonderful board members can’t quite cover all the shifts anymore. We’re looking for friendly, reliable volunteers who love quilts (and tourists!) to help staff the shop a few hours a week or month—whatever fits your schedule.
In return for your regular help, you’ll receive a complimentary Iowa Quilt Museum membership and the best perk of all: you’ll be the very first to see each new exhibit as it’s installed!
If you’d enjoy greeting visitors, ringing up sales, and being surrounded by beautiful quilt-related treasures, please reach out to us at director@iowaquiltmuseum.org or stop by the museum and ask for the volunteer coordinator. We’d love to welcome you to the team!
Campaign Update
As we look ahead to the Iowa Quilt Museum’s 10th anniversary in 2026, we’re grateful for how far we’ve come—and energized by what’s next. Over the past decade, the museum has welcomed thousands of visitors, curated nationally recognized exhibitions, and celebrated the art and tradition of quilting in meaningful ways.
Our 2025–2026 Capital Campaign focuses on two goals:
(1) Reducing the debt we took on during the Covid-19 pandemic, and
(2) Expanding our capacity by finishing the top floor for classes, clinics, and community events.
We’re excited to share that progress is already underway. A new air exchanger has been installed, and we are now reviewing bids to add additional outlets, improved lighting, and expanded electrical access so the space can support sewing machines, irons, and full workshops.
Thanks to early supporters, we’ve already raised just over 15% of our overall goal, giving us strong momentum as we move forward.
This campaign is about more than reducing debt—it’s about building a sustainable future for the museum and ensuring we can continue to serve quilters, visitors, and our community for decades to come.
If you’d like to support this effort, you can contribute today through our website. Every donation—large or small—helps move us closer to this exciting next chapter.
Swatch Book from Windham Fabrics
If you missed it in our previous newsletter, we’re still over-the-moon excited about our collaboration with Windham Fabrics! It all started with a generous donation: a stunning 100-year-old shirting swatch book that walked through our doors like a time capsule. Thanks to the creativity and persistence of our board, those gorgeous vintage prints are now coming back to life as a brand-new fabric collection—and a portion of every sale supports the Iowa Quilt Museum.
The collection is open for quilt shops to order now and will be landing in stores from late spring through early summer. Look for precut bundles in our Museum Gift Shop and yardage at Piece Works Quilt Shop (and many other shops nationwide!).
Please help us spread the word—ask your favorite local quilt shop to bring in this special line. Every yard sold helps preserve our quilting heritage right here in Iowa. Thank you for being part of this exciting journey!
2025 – 2026 Exhibits
December 2, 2025 – April 5, 2026 – Rebound, Renew, Reimagine
The Manhattan 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 are looking forward to displaying the guild’s amazing work again. We’ve received the quilts, and they are spectacular!
April 7, 2026 – July 5, 2026 – In Flanders Fields The Poppies Grow: Cherrywood Poppy Quilt Challenge & Quilts of Valor
This exhibit will showcase all the quilts from the Cherrywood Poppy Quilt Challenge; the challenge is an annual event inviting quilters from around the world to create 20-inch square quilts using a select palette of Cherrywood’s hand-dyed fabrics. The 2024 challenge theme was “POPPY,” and features a stunning collection of reds, greens, and grays inspired by the symbolic flower. The quilts honor U.S. veterans and their sacrifices, and will be displayed alongside several Quilts of Valor, whose motto is “Quilts = Healing.”
July 7, 2026 – October 18, 2026 – Iowa Quilt Museum Retrospective
In 2026, the Iowa Quilt Museum will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special exhibition featuring quilts by artists who have shown with us over the past decade. This commemorative exhibit will highlight the creativity and craftsmanship that have shaped our story—from traditional works to contemporary innovations. We look forward to celebrating this milestone and honoring the makers who have inspired our first ten years.
2026 Iowa Quilt Museum Events
Look for continued updates on our website and social media about what we have to offer in the coming year
- Stitch In at the Museum – every 2nd Thursday of the month.
- Three-Part Virtual Lecture Series with Diane L. Murtha – January 24, February 21 & March 21
- Featherweight Maintenance Class March 28, 2026
- Barn Quilt Paint Classes will start back up in the Spring
- Save the date for 2026 Iowa Quilt Festival – Kicking off with a bus trip on Tuesday, June 2, to the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. Wednesday, June 3 – Friday, June 5: Quilt retreat, classes, & lectures. Grand finale on Saturday, June 6: Airing of the Quilts.
- 4rd Annual Share Your Stash Sale on November 7, 2026 (tentatively) – we will start taking donations for the upcoming year on December 10th.
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.
