Bloomington Quilters Guild
at a glance: September 2026
OUR Next MEETING is Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Time: 6:00 PM Social Hour
6:30 pm Meeting start
PROGRAM: Nina Clotfelter will present “Threads: What’s the Big Deal” via Zoom.
Location: Congregation beth shalom
3750 E. 3rd Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47401
September Meeting
Nina Clotfelter will present “Threads: What’s the Big Deal” via Zoom. This is a FUN presentation on all the things you didn't know you needed to know about thread! As an educator for WonderFil Specialty Threads, Nina has learned a lot and she wants to share! Thread is like candy! Sometimes you just can't get enough! When we purchase thread it's usually the color we buy, or the thread the shop carries. In this lecture you'll learn about the different weights of thread and why they make a difference. Ply, why is that important? Specialty threads like metallic, monofilament, tinsel threads, how do we work with them? Why do metallics give us issues? This presentation is FULL of information you'll be thrilled to know! For more information
click here NINA CLOTFELTER QUILTS
Raffle Quilt
The 2026-2027 Raffle Quilt will be unveiled at our September meeting. This gorgeous quilt, titled “Pineapple Delight,” is made by Betsy Glassey and quilted by Jane Pitt. Raffle tickets will be available!
Bring canned food items for Hoosier Hills Food Bank!
Thanks to everyone who contributed non-perishable items to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank! We will continue to collect food at every meeting, so, if you forget, you can always bring something next month - food insecurity never goes away. Keep a couple cans in your car after shopping. Anyone interesting in helping please contact Annie Kelly Amnkelly602@gmail.com.This is just one more way our Guild can support our community, especially those in the greatest need.
ORDER BQG Swag
This summer, the Bloomington Quilters Guild is making Guild apparel available for pre-order. The last day for ordering is at our September 1 meeting. You must pay BY CHECK at the time of ordering (no online orders or PayPal payments, to avoid fees)
Please bring your order form found at this link BQG Apparel — Bloomington Quilters Guild and check to the September guild meeting or mail them to our post office box:
Bloomington Quilters Guild
PO Box 5802
Bloomington, IN 47407
Thank you to Maria Schmidt, who spent and a lot of time coordinating this order.
Screen printing by badknees - https://badkneests.com
DUES FOR 2026-2027 Quilt year
We will begin collecting dues for the 2026-2027 Quilt Year on July 1, 2026. Our fiscal year begins July 1, so please pay by the September 1st meeting so we can complete the membership directory. You may pay online, or feel free to bring a check or cash to the July, August, or September meetings! The dues continue to be only $30 ($15 for seniors age 80+ or juniors age 18 and under). We have been able to maintain this membership rate for several years due to the generosity of our membership donating to and buying from the Treasure Shop during our quilt show! Thank you!
MEADOWOOD QUILT SHOW
Meadowood has offered the Guild gallery space to display our quilts during their annual quilt show. They will be displayed in the Art Gallery on the lower level. We are asking that if you so choose to display a quilt, it should be 30 x 30 or smaller as the room is not very big. We will have some of our larger community quilts on display. Table runners, postcards, wall hangings, etc. will work!
We will collect quilts at the September meeting. Please have the Meadowood Quilt Form filled out and pinned to the back of your quilt. If you are displaying small items, you can put the form in a bag with the items. We will hang them on September 3rd. The display will open Friday, September 5 with a reception (TBA). You may pick up your quilts at the October meeting.If you have any questions, contact Cathy McFarland.
October Meeting
Carol Beasley will be with us on Oct 6, delivering a lecture on quilting with fabric & "quilting" on a board - Barn Quilts! She has many samples to share. Check out her Facebook page, “Carol’s Quilts” for examples of her work. Please note that this meeting will be held at First United Church, 2420 E. 3rd St.
Carol will lead a workshop on quilting on a board - “Barn Quilts.” Paint your own 24” X 24” barn quilt. It will be held on Wednesday, October 7, from 9am -3 pm at First United Church. The fee is $100 and covers the cost of the workshop and supplies. You can sign up on our guild register page Carol Beasley Barn Quilt Painting — Bloomington Quilters Guild. Please note that when you register, your name, email and phone number will be shared with Carol so she can send you photographs of the choices for the image on your board. You will choose one and then she will have the image prepared for you on your board when you arrive for the workshop.
This should be a fun day! Enrollment is limited to 20, so don't wait to sign up!
November Meeting
PANEL PALOOZA via Zoom with Cindi McChesney. In this informative and entertaining trunk show, Cindi will show us how to take that panel you fell in love with and turn it into something truly unique. You'll experience AH HA! moments as Cindi demonstrates how adding interesting blocks, borders, patchwork &/or appliqué can result in a truly special quilt. Find out more about Cindi, her patterns & her 3 books at cedarridgequilting.com
SEW Day News!
Sew the day away with friends old and new. We have the guild’s ironing boards, cutting mats, rulers and power cords available for use. Bring a project to work on and anything else you need for a day of sewing! Our sew days are held St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
OUR NEXT SATURDAY SEW DAY will be Saturday, September 12, 9:00 am -3:00 pm.
OUR WEEKDAY SEW DAYS will be regularly held on the Second Tuesday of even-numbered months! Our next date will be October 13, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm. If the usual Sew Days on Saturdays don't suit your schedule, we hope you'll try out Tuesdays!
Community Quilts
We continue to collect and distribute quilts to social programs throughout the Bloomington community. During the month of August, 37 quilts have been donated throughout the community. If you are interested in contributing a community quilt there are resources here. Community Quilts Sizes — Bloomington Quilters Guild
Fall Retreat
Join us at the Fall 2026 retreat! It will be at Waycross Camp and Conference Center from Thursday, October 8, 9:30 am -Sunday, October 11, 2:00 pm. Check out the Fall retreat page to see the costs for both cash/credit, number of days and the commuter options. The Register by Mail button near the bottom of the page will allow download of the PDF for registration. You will be able to sign up online or save some money and register at the August meeting when you pay your dues! Registration ends on September 20th.
Why go to a quilt retreat? “The sense of community you gain is also invaluable. Being surrounded by people who share your passion creates a unique bond. You’ll meet quilters from different backgrounds and skill levels, and these connections often turn into lasting friendships. Whether you’re sharing a laugh over a sewing mishap or admiring each other’s work, the camaraderie is something you can’t replicate at home.” Why You Should Go on a Quilt Retreat - Patchwork Posse
“How should I quilt this top?” Bee
How should I quilt this top? What would be a good motif? Can I can put a motif over more than one block? Does this top need a curvy pattern or would straight lines be more effective? If you would be interested in a bee to discuss these types of questions, please let Karen Levay or Bara Swinson know. We will have a sheet of interest at the September meeting or send one of us an email. We will have an organizational meeting if there is enough interest.
Interested in starting a new bee?
Many guild members would like to participate in a bee, but the established bees are filled to capacity (i.e. space in member’s homes or meeting locations). What’s a quilting bee? AI describes it as a communal sewing gathering where folks come together to work on projects while socializing, sharing skills, and supporting one another, a tradition that has existed in North America since the 18th century. Please consider starting a bee! It can have a specific purpose or charity, target a certain neighborhood, or just build relationships. To get started, attend the organizational meeting led by Susie May at 5:30, prior to our November meeting. You can also partner with a friend, plan a first gathering, then announce it at a guild meeting, and reach out to Kris news@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org to have the announcement put in the At A Glance.
WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
As you interact with friends and attend events around the area, be sure to mention BQG and invite folks to visit our Guild Meetings or try out a Sew Day. At our next meeting, pick up a couple of BQG Bookmarks to hand out as a helpful promotional tool.
Quilt EVENTS
THE SEWCIAL COOPERATIVE
Informal gathering of makers, sewists, artists and crafters. This is a bring your own project style club where you can work together, share resources and help each other learn new skills.
What to bring: Your machine, tools and enthusiasm
When: 6-8pm every 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday of the month (starts March 26)
Where: Brown County Community YMCA (105 Willow Street, Nashville, IN)
Who: all skill levels welcome! Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. There is no fee to join.
Any Questions? Contact KJ Rondomanski at 812-320-6831 or crafter@sewcialcoop.com
Here is a link to their website which is a work in progress Home
QUILT NATIONAL ‘27 EXHIBITION OPPORTUITIES
Quilt National ’27 explores the expanded field of quilting, showcasing textile-based contemporary art and fiber as a medium for material inquiry. The exhibition features works that interrogate surface, structure, labor, gender, and politics. These quilts merge craft, design, and fine art, repositioning quilt-making within contemporary art discourse. The Dairy Barn Arts Center - The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens Ohio
THE INDIANA QUILT SHOW
On September 24-26, 2026 in Richmond, IN the Indiana Quilt Show will be offering free admission at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. The show will feature 45 vendors, over 200 quilts, and three days of classes and free lectures. The quilt exhibits will feature three Indiana guild exhibitions- Batty Binders Quilt Guild, Quilters Guild of Indianapolis and Indiana State Quilt Guild. They will also have a collection of Antique Quilts from the collection of Pat & Arlan Christ entitled "American Pride" , small works from the Hoffman Challange and a SAQA regional exhibit entitled "A Drop if Emerald Poison".
Over the three days of the show they will feature classes every day in both hand and machine work. There will be teachers from all over the U.S. demonstrating lots of different techniques. The half-day classes are affordable and fun! Every day they will also offer free lectures in a wide range of topics.
While you're there, be sure to sign up for the free raffle where you can win over $2500 in vendor merchandise! With free admission, free parking, free lectures and a free raffle, you can enjoy a day of quilting without spending a lot of money!
You can see all the information about the show, vendors, classes and more at: Richmond, IN | AQuiltersDestination
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HELP us keep up to date! We try to include notices of quilt shows and exhibits on the BQG website. If you know of an event, please send mail to news@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org so that either Karen or Kris can update the page. https://www.bloomingtonquiltersguild.org/upcoming-quilt-events