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Upcoming events

    • September 11, 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield

    *Please note date:  this is the second Thursday of the month to accommodate those going to the Wisconsin Quilt Show.                    

                     

    Lecture: Two-Block Combos to Create Secondary Designs

    Tired of making the same block over and over?  Make stunning designs by combining two quilt blocks to create visually complex results. Rebecca’s trunk show and patterns are truly inspirational.

    Rebecca's website, Studio R  Quilts (https://www.studiorquilts.com/) has lots of pictures of her quilt patterns, her blog and other information. She states, "A love for quilting runs deep at Studio R Quilts. It's at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is simple: to help you discover, create, and enjoy quilting!"   

    • September 19, 2025
    • September 20, 2025
    • 2 sessions
    • to be announced
    • 12

    Learn to dye your own fabric!

    Long-time quilter and IQI member, Martha has been experimenting with ice dying.  Her results yield crystal-like images on fabric.

    Biographical Statement: Martha has been sewing since junior high school and continues to create and touch fabric most days. She received a BA in Studio Art from The College of Wooster and taught art K-12th grade briefly before moving on to other pursuits. Martha loves color and design and enjoys creating her own fabric with the ice dying process. Experimenting with ice leaves crystal-like images and patterns along with color bursts on prepared for dying fabric (PFD). The ice dying isn’t complicated, and the results come quickly.


    The workshop will introduce participants to the basics of using powdered dyes and the ice process. Safety will be paramount, and participants will follow safety instructions to ensure the protection of themselves and others. Using primary colors, participants will experiment with sprinkling powered dye or mixing dyes and using the liquid to create interesting patterns. The use of ice brings some unknown into the process as we can’t control how the ice melts and the dye spreads!

    Kit includes:  dust mask, Nitrite gloves, soda ash solution, 1 yard of dye-ready fabric, the dyes we use in class (various colors) and a plastic bag for transport.                       

    Additional fabric may be available @$10 per yard.


    supply LISt:

    Dyes, some fabric and some supplies will be provided by the teacher.  Bins, dripping racks and drying lines/racks will be shared. Martha encourages Good Will etc. to find racks and bins for only dye use, old clothes and an apron. 

    Please Bring:

    Bag of ice

    Apron

    Safety glasses

    Rubber bands if you want to try tie-dyeing

    Wear old clothes.

    • October 09, 2025
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield

    *Please note date:  this is the second Thursday of the month with respect for the holiday in the first week.

    Set your quilts apart from the rest.  Ilene will present her amazing trunk show and share her tips for giving your quilts that award-winning look.  Come prepared to take home some ideas for your next quilt or bring finished blocks to discuss alternate sashing/border ideas.  Ilene will also show her finished kits which we will use in Friday and Saturday’s workshops.

    Ilene has an interesting and colorful website. https://www.ilenebartos.com/

    She has many patterns. See the "Waves" and "Under the Ginkgo Tree" patterns below for two of these colorful works of art.

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    • October 10, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield


    Ilene Bartos, in her Colors of Fall/Summer workshop, teaches piecing with “ladders” and piping over cording.  Your improvisational 9” blocks will be sewn on stabilizer for easy construction and then assembled as a 27” by 36” quilt. 



    Kits are available in two color-ways, $78  or  Pattern, $23 and bring your own fabrics.

    supply list:

    Pattern or Kit may be purchased in advance at:

    https://www.ilenebartos.com/available-classes

    map:



    • October 11, 2025
    • 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension

     

    Learn raw-edged stacked fusible applique with Ilene Bartos.  Your choice of 12 leaf designs come ready to fuse with minimal stitching for a 25”x25” wall hanging. 



    Supplies:

    "Seasons of the Heart" kit of your choice, $56  or  Pattern, $15 and bring your own fabrics. Preorder choice of 12 leaf designs (25”x25”) at:

    https://www.ilenebartos.com/available-classes


    Map:




    • November 07, 2025
    • November 09, 2025
    • Chicago Botanic Garden

    The Fine Art of Fiber (FAOF) is one of the oldest and most prestigious needle art shows in the Midwest. FAOF is the combined efforts of 

    llinois Quilters Inc.North Suburban NeedleArts Guild

    and Weavers Guild of the North ShoreThe combined show and sale is an outgrowth of earlier exhibits and sales that date back to 1981.

    Each guild is a not-for-profit organization with a focus on education and awareness as well as the promotion of fiber arts. Please visit fineartoffiber.org for more information.


    Tickets for  IQI's Raffle Quilt, "Sunshine and Spice" are available at the guild's program meetings and will also be available at the Fine Art of Fiber Show. Tickets are 1 ticket for $1 and 6 tickets for $5. Proceeds support the work of the guild. The drawing will be held on November 14, 2025. 

    The quilt is an original pattern by IQI guild members

    and measures 54 x 68.



    • December 04, 2025
    • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension

     Free Snowflake Winter photo and picture  Join us for our annual holiday party. Be sure to mark your calendar now. Be a part of good food, good quilts,  prizes, and Great Company!! 

    • January 08, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • ZOOM Lecture

     

    Please note: This is a Zoom Lecture. The lecture will start at 7 p.m. The Zoom meeting will open at 6:30 and you can visit with IQI friends. 

                       

        Karen will bring us a fun demo of her playful designs that includes        top-stitched curves and fabric collage.  Wild curves and dramatic          angles may look difficult but the process is easy and quite relaxing.     

        Sit back and let Karen inspire you with her top-stitching technique        to create wiggles & waves, twists & twirls and logs & leaves in                small quilts and wearables.

       Virtual workshops are available individually through her website       $30-$60 karen@quilted-lizard.com

       


    • February 05, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Asencsion, Northfield

       

    Maureen brings us a wealth of tips and tricks from her years as a quilt shop owner. What makes a successful scrap quilt?  How do you choose a pattern?  And how do you keep a little pile of scraps from becoming a big pile of scraps?

    Maureen is the owner of Quilter’s Heaven, 1747 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL . She has a YouTube as The Opinionated Quilter on YouTube. There are over 100 episodes. It is very amusing, helpful and fun to watch. 


    • March 05, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield

        

    Enjoy a light-hearted presentation of Sally’s large collection of art and traditional quilts – how the quilts were made and special materials used.  Sally uses confetti art, raw edge applique, fiber painting and other embellishment.  This will be an engaging blend of fun, inspiration and education.  Sally may inspire new directions for your own quilts.

    Be sure to read Sally's blog and see her many ideas on quilting, threadwork and other interesting additions to a quilt. https://www.sallymanke.com/blog

    See some of her many quilting styles and themes below.

    Ring-Necked Pheasant Art Quilt, 10 X 15 inches, Quilted Painted Mixed Medium, Textile Wall Hanging, Nature Lovers GiftQuilted Wall Hanging, Fiber Art, Woodland Trail, Confetti Quilt Landscape, Spring Green, Birch Tree Decor, Sally Manke FIber Art, OriginalFlower Power Art Quilt with Original Quilted Inktense Bloom, 9.5 by 12 Inch Fine Art Wall Hanging

    • April 09, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield



             

    Bold, bright African fabrics inspire quilt designs and can be used in quilts to make a social statement.  We’ll look at African prints used in patchwork piecing and in pictorial applique.  Quilts with African Adinkra appliques will be shared and the history and meaning of those symbols will be explained.  Dorothy will share wall hangings which express outrage to recent events.

    Dorothy Burge is a multimedia artist and community activist inspired by history and current issues of social justice. Dorothy is a native of Chicago, and a descendent from a long line of quilters from Mississippi who created beautiful quilts from recycled clothing.

    Be sure to check out an interesting interview and more pictures of Dorothy and her work. https://www.tempestthazel.com/on-the-many-lives-of-dorothy-burge

    A virtual exhibit at the Textile Center in Minneapolis showcases many quilts by Dorothy. 

    https://textilecentermn.org/iwishiknew-virtualexhibition/

    • May 07, 2026
    • 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield

     Nina will share some funny stories about her creative adventures. She has lots of samples in this inspiring lecture encouraging you to  listen to your creative voice.  Nina is an educator for Wondefil Specialty Threads.

      


    Picture

     Be sure to visit her website and see her many quilts, bags, and other   items that truly express her joy in quilting. She writes: "I have a   passion for free motion quilting!  There is SO much freedom to do   anything you wish and ability to express your creativity.  Free motion   quilting does NOT have to be an expensive endeavor!  NO long arm     is necessary!  You can use your DOMESTIC sewing machine!  ALL the   quilts on this website have been sewn and quilted on my domestic   sewing machine! "  https://www.ninaquilts.com/

    Picture

    • June 04, 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    • Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield

      

    Free Photo picnic goodies on wooden chopping board  

    Wrap up the year with the June Potluck, election of officers and other guild business, challenge quilt display and voting, and show and tell.  It is always fun and a great way to welcome the summer. More details to follow  


Meetings and Workshops:

Lutheran Church of the Ascension

460 Sunset Ridge Road

Northfield, IL  60093


Contact Information:

Info@illinoisquilters.org

Illinois Quilters, Inc.

P.O. Box 39

Wilmette, IL  60091





Service Quilting:

Immanuel Lutheran Church

School Building (2nd driveway)

1850 Chestnut Avenue

Glenview, IL  60025

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