A Holiday We Can All Appreciate: National Quilting Day!

If you’re a quilter or a crafter who enjoys celebrations (that would be all of us, right?), March is the month for you.

 First up is National Quilting Day, held on the third Saturday of the month, which this year is March 16. National Quilting Day was first declared in 1991 in Lincoln, Nebraska by members of the National Quilting Association and has since expanded to include the entire month of March.

The theme for this year’s National Quilting Day is Celebrate America! and quilt shops, quilters, and quilt guilds around the country are planning special events. The association suggests organizing a service day, teaching children to quilt, or creating a quilt to give to a member of the armed services (they offer a specially designed Celebrate America! pattern here).

Quilters across the country are getting together to mark the day. One of the biggest celebrations will be  at the International Quilt Study Centerand Museum where their schedule includes free lectures, demonstrations, and tours. If you’re not among those lucky enough to be in Lincoln, check to see if your guild or local quilt shop is planning a special event. In Louisville, Kentucky, 25 guilds will come together for Quilter’s DayOut on March 9, which includes a quilt show, vendors, and support for community organizations. The Cameo Quilters of Troy, Michigan celebrate a little later (April 20) by holding a day where members can start a new project, finish a UFO, or work on a challenge quilt. The Chambersburg QuiltGuild, with members from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, will gather on March 16 to sew quilts for seniors. The Venice, Florida Quilter’sGuild invites the public on March 3 to learn about quilting with demonstrations, make and take activities, door prizes, and the opportunity to earn Girl Scout badges.

And if National Quilting Day and Month isn’t enough, March is also National Craft Month, a time to kick back and spend time on your favorite craft or learn something completely new. Either way, it's a win-win month for those of us who can't get enough of making things.

So, does your shop or guild plan to celebrate National Quilting Day and National Craft Month?  Tell us about it!