Have you ever been to a Quilt Festival or Quilt Show! These events are a great source of inspiration!
This past summer I was able to go on a big creative adventure (fully vaccinated and carefully socially distanced) and travel across a large portion of the United States. On the way home, I visited the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival in June 2021. This was an exhibit of quilts from more than a dozen guilds in the states of Kansas and Missouri. There also was a large vendor hall, several exhibits of Special Collections and dozens of workshops and lectures over several days.
The photos in this blog post are just a tiny sample of the quilts on exhibit. They are not a representative sample but instead they are what caught my eye at the time. You can see from my choices that I am often drawn to more modern quilts that have a playful or graphic feel to them.
The festival included quilts from all different facets of quilting. From traditional to modern to art quilting, there was some thing there for everyone to enjoy and be inspired by.
Here are almost a dozen quilts that inspired me. Please watch the short video below or go to my YouTube channel at DKohn Designs (https://youtu.be/2SElfiXLM0k) to watch the video for the details and stories about these quilts and why I like each one.
1) This medallion quilt really caught my eye. It’s medallion shape and colorful design were enhanced even more by the very detailed exquisite machine quilting:
2) This paper pieced quilt was a monochromatic beauty with a gorgeous black background and detailed machine quilting:
3) I love how the quilter chose cacti for the subject of this quilt. As someone who lives in the American desert southwest, cacti are something that I see every day. The quilter elevated this mundane desert plant by using lots of color and prints to bring sparkle to the quilt:
4) This unusual Christmas quilt used a simple cranberry and cream color palette. The design works so well with the traditional star blocks that framed the Christmas scenes that were beautifully embroidered on the quilt. The custom quilting only adds to the beauty of this quilt:
5) This modern design is a clever layer cake pattern. It would look great in solids or batiks as well:
6) This was my favorite quilt of the show. I love how the quilter took notice of leaves, just every day objects, in her environment and made them the focus of a beautiful embroidered quilt! It has the feel of an artist’ sketchbook:
7) Here is a vibrant and striking crumb quilt. The quilter’s careful use of color kept the quilt from looking muddy and the thin, white sashing really set off the vibrant blocks:
8) Look at this whimsical quilt of animals wearing glasses! So cute!:
9) Here is a quilt of traditional style houses interwoven with beautiful floral vines. The subtle colors and gentle quilting curves have the feel of a calm and orderly life:
10) I love this selvages quilt! I love the on point setting and the dark background. Both of these really set off the selvage blocks. The curved quilting softens the geometric design and adds movement to the quilt:
11) Last but not least, look at the glorious colors bursting from this boutiques quilt! It’s a stunning New York beauty style Quilt that draws you in words it’s vibrant colors and energy:
Free Pattern!
I’ve got a free Tablerunner Pattern just for you! Go to the top of my blog to the patterns menu tab to download your free PDF copy of my garden Petals Tablerunner or Pattern. It’s fast easy and pre-cut friendly!
Upcoming Pattern Sneak Peek!
Here’s a sneak peek of my upcoming new quilt pattern called Double Framed Fun. It’s simple, easy, precut friendly and very versatile. Look for it for sale in my Shop in October 2021.
Please leave me a comment and tell me: which quilt was your favorite? I’d love to know!
Please enter your email address below to be notified by email every time I publish a new post on my blog. That way, you won’t miss my latest creative adventures, plus news about my latest patterns, shop updates and upcoming Quilt Alongs.
Please go to my YouTube Channel at DKohn Designs and subscribe to my channel, and Tell A Friend!
Thank you very much!