Quilt Alliance

04/01/2026

Wednesday, April 1, 2 pm EDT
QSOS Interview with Gwen Westerman
Join us for an oral history interview with quiltmaker, poet, and educator Gwen Westerman for the Quilters’ Save Our Stories project (QSOS). The grassroots QSOS project has been documenting the lives of quiltmakers for more than two decades. QSOS is not only the largest collection of interviews with quilters, but also the largest grassroots oral history project of its kind in the world. Gwen’s interview will be archived with the rest of the historic QSOS collection on the QSOS website, at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, and at the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History at the University of Kentucky. Link in profile to register.

03/31/2026

Quilt Alliance members have voted for their favorite entries in the Tell Your Story Quilt Challenge, and the winners are here! See more about our 2026 challenge at the link in our bio.

Congratulations to everyone who entered — and all our sponsors who made these awesome prizes possible. Whether this was your first quilt challenge or your fiftieth, keep going! The process of photographing and writing about your quilts for contests and challenges is a great way to build your documentation portfolio. Getting your work seen in the community has lots of benefits too: finding new friends, connecting with potential buyers or exhibitors, and getting feedback that will help you grow as an artist.

03/21/2026

Happy National Quilting Day! It’s a great day to label a quilt! Keep your quilt’s story from fading away by adding a simple label. If you need some tips, check out our link in profile for a simple guide to documenting your quilt.

02/25/2026

Join us on Mar 4 for this Textile Talk about Transmissions: Quilts for Trans People. Project quilter, knitter, poet, and performance artist D. Allen interviews project lead artist Cordy Joan. In this conversation, they’ll explore themes of gift quilting, quilts as transitional objects, and the many ways quilts can hold hands with other media. Join us as these two share about an expansive project of 175 trans artists sharing quilts and stories with each other and the world. Quilt Alliance board member Frances O’Roark Dowell will join Cordy and D. for a Q&A after their conversation. Free registration link in profile.

02/11/2026

Volunteer and shop at the QA booth in QuiltCon in Raleigh!

The Quilt Alliance will be in booth 243 selling quilt labels, quilt documentation kits and supplies, cute QA tees and bandanas, and every buyer will receive a fab gift with purchase. We are also looking for volunteers to help staff our booth on Thurs and Sunday. We’ll greet members and visitors and hand out quilt label samples and other fun giveaways. No experience necessary; all volunteers receive training, a t-shirt, and other thank-you gifts.

Sign up for a 3-hour shift:
Thurs: 9-12, 1-3, 3-5:30
Sun: 9-12, 1-3

Sign up form linked in profile.

02/02/2026

We need your help! The nonprofit Quilt Alliance is seeking an Interim Executive Director and it might be you (or someone you know)!

The Quilt Alliance seeks an experienced Interim Executive Director to provide leadership and operational continuity during a period of transition. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Interim Executive Director will work to guide the organization for approximately 9–12 months (or longer, as needed).

This fully remote role requires a collaborative leader who can effectively coordinate across a diverse network of board members, partners, contractors, and supporters, while stewarding the organization’s programs, communications, and resources. Application deadline is February 28. Learn more here: https://quiltalliance.org/interim-executive-director/

01/29/2026

♥️Thank you, US Postal Service, for this spotlight on Harriet Powers and her incredible story quilts.

Harriet Powers was a talented quiltmaker and formerly enslaved woman whose story quilts are celebrated as masterpieces of American folk art. Born on a plantation in Georgia, Powers used her fabric to tell stories inspired by history, faith, and community. Celebrate her legacy with the Harriet Powers stamp.

01/28/2026

Have you watched the Quilt Alliance mission in action? In our next Textile Talk on Feb. 4 at 2 pm EST, we’ll share two new Quilters’ Save Our Stories oral history interviews recorded in 2025. You’ll hear QSOS excerpts featuring artists Dr. Tony Dickerson and Sheryl Sims, and the artists will join host Emma Parker for a short Q&A afterwards. Tony and Sheryl’s voices will be included in this historic collection of more than 1,200 interviews. Join us to see how the Quilt Alliance documents our community. Link in profile to register for this free event.