Quintessential quilt show, where every quilt tells a story

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
It’s an exhibition, a sale, and a showcase of the finest quilting skills, artistry and creativity out there, and it was all on display for the public to browse and enjoy for just two days.

For those seeking to explore a true expression of visual art at its finest, the 2026 A Stitch in Time quilt show was the place to be this past weekend, and with some 250 or so quilts on display, it did not disappoint given quilting enthusiasts have had to wait three years since the last show (and that show welcomed 1,000 visitors).

Best in Show 2026 went to Janet Reader Day’s “Persephone”, a 73×85-inch display bed quilt. “I fell in love with the simplicity and elegance of the pattern. I hope you do too.”

Filled with a quantity of quintessential quilts, the Wellington and District Community Centre, including the arena space, was transformed both weekend days, and it was all made possible by the Prince Edward County Quilters’ Guild and its member quilters.

“This is the result of our work collectively, we have 84 members, six or seven of which are often at the national level and so we had a full row of finalists from the Canadian Quilters Association national juried show over the years,” said Viktoria Brave, show chairperson.

Gaining a first-place ribbon was Viktoria Brave’s 92×96-inch “Colour Flow”.
“I simply love colours. Love, Love, Love. My inspiration was a ‘colour wash’ style quilt, although I did each four-inch block improvisationally and staggered the blocks to allow for a better flow between prints.“

Whether it’s a fascination with fabrics, a desire for design, or a charm for creativity, the show brought a bit of everything from the tiniest sewn examples of just a few inches square, to king-sized creations, but among the mostly traditional square and rectangle-shapes, there was also a few irregular-shapes, such as a triangle.

“Wild Women” is a display wall quilt created and quilted by Deanna Gaudaur, 45×45-inches.

The Guild celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, but this marked the 20th quilt show, which is usually held every few years, having switched from every two years to now every three years. Brave indicated this is due to an aging membership and the capacity of its members as well as the labour involved in the quilt making process.

Reader Day, one of two featured artists in the show, stands beside one of her many quilting creations. This one is 62×81-inches and is called “Chromaquilt”.

While the show surely attracts like-minded quilters, sewers, makers, creators, artists and the like, and those who like to quilt regularly, for those who have never quilted, or even sewn, before, can still share equal enjoyment in viewing the perfectly-curated gallery of artistic pieces displayed. Many were also available for purchase by the individual quilter.

Quilted by Elisabeth Norris, “County Blooms” is a 90×92-inch machine quilted bed quilt receiving a second-place ribbon. “I enjoy hand work, so with a large collection of Kaffe Fassett fabrics, I hand needle turned the applique and used my collection of threads (some from my grandmother’s sewing box) to enhance the flowers.”

With each very individual in design, it is also the story behind many of the quilted creations that enhance the sewing and design expertise and skill, where every quilt really does tell a story, Visitors can also read about the story behind the quilt and its creator, and how it all came to be. And it is along with that story that comes also a piece of art that radiates skill, artistry, expression and a passion for the craft.

And while it was preferred visitors not touch the quilts, for those unable to resist, gloves were provided.

Colette Lancaster’s 78×128-inch bed quilt (quilted by Deanna Gaudaur) picked up a first-place ribbon for “Canada: Exploring the Galaxies” and was made for her grandson.

While not every one of the 80-plus members submitted a quilt for the show, many did, and while there were singular entries, others entered multiple quilts. Prolific contributors included Jane Perry with 38 entries, Janet Reader Day with 22, Bill Stearman with 12, Viktoria Brave with 23 entries, and Geraldine Rorabeck had 24 entered quilts, among them.

Also ribbon-worthy was Lyne Lusk’s “Remembrance”, a 72×92-inch display bed quilt. “This was made early in my journey into quilt making. It was the first piece of significance. I used all the skills I had learned by then and proved without a doubt that I had succeeded. It won first prize in the 2004 quilt show.”

Stitching stories, advocacy messaging, or just making a pretty pattern for the sheer joy of it, each piece of cloth, and every tiny perfectly-stitched thread holds significance, a unifying semblance whether depicting love or family, a silly cartoon character, beautiful bouquets or sending a powerful message. Some are cute and funny, others more serious, perhaps sentimental, even courageous, but all have purpose and hold validity.

A 54×72-inch display wall quilt “Empire” designed and quilted by Viktoria Brave where she notes how it was inspired by a visit to London and all the fabrics that were purchased (mainly tea towels and bags).
“The British Empire was a very efficient ‘colonizing’ machine. In this quilt, I reflect on what it takes for a nation to gain power over others, ironically showing a road map to world domination. What I love most about this quilt is the contrast between the seriousness of the topic and the playfulness of the letters, images and overall composition.”

The Guild’s mandate is to promote quilting within the guild and community, to preserve quilting as an art form, to establish, maintain and upgrade quilting standards, to encourage an exchange of ideas and methods, to participate in community projects, and to research and preserve the history of quilting in Prince Edward County.

“We love to be showcasing our work, and quilting is important in our community through the heritage of the Loyalists,” added Brave. “There is such a variety of styles, very traditional patterns, to activism.”

-Dream Bigger raffle quilt image from website

Each time the show is held, the Guild picks a raffle quilt (made by a Guild member(s)) to be raffled off where this year it was a king size (99 x 103 inches) whole cloth quilt, “Dream Bigger” quilted by Janet Reader Day. Half the raffle proceeds go the Guild to help with their pursuits and activities, the other half goes back to community initiatives.

Brave said quilts are often considered a craft, rather than art.

“There is still a bit of a debate between arts and crafts, but they are all expressions of creativity, and that’s all that really matters,” explained Brave. “It never really was craft, it was a gender politics always to begin with so, depending on the artist, there is some taking the best element of sometimes very old tradition, like collectively we make a “crazy quilt”. This is a 1920s style but we appropriated it for today and we express some of our environmental concerns through this group project – we keep it alive.”

“Let’s make a quilt that symbolizes the times in which we live… through fabric, embroidery and
everyday symbols. The quilt emerged as a group reflection on what is affecting our lives in 2026.” (Pieced by Sonia Dalby and Viktoria Brave, collectively quilted by several members of the PECQG).

“We feel blessed to have an active community because it takes a lot of work to set up this show, but we are happy with attendance. The show looks amazing, so we are happy,” concluded Brave.

“Chemo” is a 19.5×19.5-inch display wall quilt by Audrey Tomick.

Audrey Tomick brought “Joy to the World” with this 40×40-inch wall quilt (quilted by Deanna Gaudaur). “Such an amazing place is our world. Imagine my delight when the photos the Artemis II sent back from their space ship looked like my quilt floating in space!”