2016 – 2026 IQM Celebrates 10 years
from Director Melody Reels
This new year is especially meaningful for the Iowa Quilt Museum, as 2026 marks our 10th Anniversary! To celebrate, we will host monthly anniversary giveaways throughout the year. We’ve already kicked things off with January’s giveaway, our 2016 inaugural exhibit poster. I have fewer than 20 left, so be sure to get yours today at: https://iowa-quilt-museum.square.site/10-year-anniversary-give-away.
February’s giveaway is already underway, featuring a wonderful Linzee Kull McCray bundle. Email director@iowaquiltmuseum.org with your name, address, and phone number to be entered into the drawing. One lucky winner will receive Linzee’s book The Colorful History of Frugal Fabric Feed Sacks, a jelly roll of her 30’s Playtime fabric, and book darts from Quiltfolk to mark your favorite pages.
We’re also excited to announce a special 10th anniversary exhibit curated by museum board members Randall Parkin and Marianne Fons. The exhibit, titled “Iowa Quilt Museum Retrospective,” will run July 7–October 18 and features quilts from 35 artists and collectors who have exhibited with us over the past decade. This one-of-a-kind collection celebrates the creativity and community that have shaped our museum, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you!
We’re also making wonderful progress on our 2025-2026 Capital Campaign. Thanks to generous support, we have already raised 25% of our goal! Every gift, no matter the size, helps us get closer to completing this important project. If you’d like to support the campaign, you can contribute here:
Lastly, we’re in full Iowa Quilt Festival mode! Tickets are now available for the bus trip, retreat, classes, lectures, and the Airing of the Quilts. Space is limited, reserve your spot today:
2026 Capital Campaign
As we look ahead to the Iowa Quilt Museum’s 10th Anniversary in 2026, we’re excited to share great news from our 2025–2026 Capital Campaign. Thanks to generous support, we have already raised about 25% of our goal and are now within $10,000 of paying off our mortgage, a huge milestone!
Our campaign goal is to strengthen the museum’s sustainability by paying off our mortgage, addressing pandemic-era expenses, and completing our upstairs space for classes, workshops, and community gatherings. With recent improvements already underway, we’re building strong momentum toward a more sustainable future for the museum.
Every gift, no matter the size, helps move us closer. Thank you for being part of this exciting chapter!
IQM-IA to IQM-NE
International Quilt Museum Bus Trip
Tuesday June 2, 2026
Sign up today to join us for a fun day trip from the Iowa Quilt Museum (IQM-IA) to the International Quilt Museum (IQM-NE) in Lincoln, Nebraska. Relax and enjoy the ride on a motorcoach, with games and prizes along the way!
At IQM-NE, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the main galleries, a behind-the-scenes look at quilt storage and preservation, plus free time to explore additional galleries and the museum gift shop. Lunch at the museum is included.
The day also features stops at two amazing quilt shops, Cosmic Cow (Lincoln) and Celtic Quilter (Omaha) making this a can’t-miss trip for quilt lovers.
Trip includes:
• Motorcoach transportation
• Museum admission & guided tours
• Lunch at IQM-NE
• Quilt shop stops
Depart Winterset at 7:00 am | Return around 9:00 pm
Space is limited, reserve your seat today!
Three Two-Part Virtual Lecture Series
with Diane L. Murtha
We recently kicked off our online lecture series with award-winning quilter and author Diane L. Murtha with her first lecture on Saturday, January 24. Participants enjoyed Diane’s insightful, engaging, and often humorous approach, it was a big hit!
You can still join the fun with two more classes in the lecture series:
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
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.
Spring Events
We’re excited to share that the dates are now set for our upcoming classes! Online classes with Sujata Shah will be offered as a two-part series on Friday April 3 & Saturday April 4, and our in-person Featherweight Maintenance class is scheduled for Saturday March 28.
Tickets will go on sale in mid-February, so be sure to watch for registration details on social media!
2026 Exhibits
Now – April 5, 2026 – Rebound, Renew, Reimagine
The Manhattan Quilters Guild’s post-COVID exhibit is now on display here at the museum, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. We were fortunate to host 40×40@40 in 2021 and are delighted to once again showcase the guild’s incredible work. The quilts are here—and they are absolutely 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 – February 21 & March 21
- Featherweight Maintenance Class March 28, 2026
- Sujata Shah’s Raw Edge Kawandi Appliqué Online Class April 3 & 4
- Barn Quilt Paint Classes will start back up in the Spring
- 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.
- 4th 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.
