Each year we ask you, our members and supporters, to show us your best stuff. Quiltmakers of all stripes—young and old, modern and traditional, professional and hobbyist—enter quilts in our annual contest. We like a little healthy competition!

In 2017, we celebrate the 11th anniversary of our annual contest. And this year, we want to hear your Voices! A contest for all quilters – we encouraged everyone who makes quilts to enter our annual contest regardless of their style (traditional, modern, art) or technique (longarm, hand quilting, applique, pieced…) –all were welcomed and valued! This year’s theme (deadline is June 2, 2017) is “Voices” and we encouraged entrants to share their opinions, polemics, memories, language, conversation and truths in the form of a quilt. Help us document the state of quilting in 2017—let your voice be heard. Click here for full information about the Voices contest.

What’s in it for you? Our sponsors go all out to entice you with the their best stuff too. Once again, the Alliance is proud to announce that Handi Quilter will provide our top prizes. First, second and third place finishers will receive an HQ Stitch sewing machine (models 710, 510, and 210 respectively). Brenda Groelz, Director of Marketing and Education for the company says “At Handi Quilter, we give quilters the tools to make quilts that last, and we applaud the mission of the Quilt Alliance to save the stories as well as the quilts. This contest allows quilters to further the Alliance mission, while also allowing quilters the opportunity to document and preserve their work in perpetuity.”

The contest quilts are exhibited nationally and are permanently archived on our webiste. And, your donation of your contest quilt helps the Quilt Alliance sustain our projects, like Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories and Go Tell It at the Quilt Show!, by helping us raise vital funds. Each year, we auction off the quilts, raising thousands of dollars that we rely on annually.

See all past contest quilts in the Quilt Index.