Quilt show scheduled in October to benefit New Albin Public Library

October 11-13, 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 11 from 4-7 p.m.; Saturday, October 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, October 13 from 12-4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the New Albin Public Library.

Lisa Fruechte and Karen Darling of New Albin have been organizing this show since 2006 and have seen it grow each time. This year, they have some new helpers organizing the show, and it promises to be just as good as ever. 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 the group for this year’s show. Each participant was able to choose a “national holiday” for the month of October. One example is “National Farmers Day” October 17. These national holidays should provide a wide variety of ideas for every quilter.

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 75 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. The raffle quilt this year is embroidered blue bird blocks found at a sale and assembled by the “Loose Threads” group. Other raffles will include the “To Sew” (for the sewers among the crowd) and the “Not to Sew” (for those who would rather just enjoy a bottle of wine and some other goodies). Presentation information for Saturday and Sunday of the show will also be updated periodically through various venues.

For those who have a quilt they want to show, or who know anyone who wants to display a quilt, contact Lisa Fruechte at 563-544-4325. 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. Quilts will need to be received by Wednesday, October 9. Pick-up is Sunday at 5 p.m.