Quilt show to benefit New Albin Public Library

October 8-10, over 200 quilted items will adorn the New Albin Community Center, located at 137 Railroad Avenue SW in New Albin. There will be an array of quilts, including antique  quilts, baby quilts, t-shirt quilts, wall hangings, table runners and wool work on display. Hours for the show will be Friday, October 8 from 4-7 p.m.; Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, October 10 from 12-4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the New Albin Public Library.

New this year will be a variety of quilts for sale. A portion of the proceeds from those quilts sold will also benefit the New Albin Public Library.

Lisa Fruechte and Karen Darling of New Albin began organizing this show in 2006. With a number of helpers each year, they have seen it continue to grow. It is not required to be part of a quilt guild to display an item in the New Albin show.

“Loose Threads,” the local quilting group, has created a challenge for its group members for this year’s show. Sixteen participating quilters were challenged to each create a Friendship Quilt using Christmas quilt blocks that were shared with each of the quilting group members. All of those quilts will be on display throughout the event.

Also on display will be the “Quilts of Service” made for New Albin area veterans. The ladies in New Albin have been issuing quilts to the local veterans since 2014 at a total of well over 100 quilts thus far.

The show will once again have the antique room, where quilters are able to display heirlooms, from great grandma’s treadle sewing machine to grandma’s hanky quilt, and the difficult-to-sew Dresden plate of years ago. This year’s antique room will also feature a collection of vintage children’s clothes.

For those who have a quilt they want to display at the show, or who know anyone who wants to display a quilt, contact Robin (563-544-4272) or Peg (507-429-1693). The quilted item can be self-made or a gift received, handed down from ancestors, or even purchased; any size, hand- or machine-stitched, etc. Quilted items for display can be dropped off at the Community Center between 12 noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 6. Pick-up of those items will take place following the end of the show Sunday, beginning at 5 p.m.