The Festival of Quilts

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The Festival of Quilts

🌎 Europe’s largest Patchwork & Quilting Event
🧵 29th July - 1st August 2027
Sign up for 2027: https://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/register-for-2027/
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From the 3rd - 6th August, the NEC, Birmingham will be transformed into a colourful showcase of everything patchwork and quilting for The Festival of Quilts 20th Birthday show! Stock up on quality patchwork and quilting supplies, admire Textile Galleries by some of the world’s most renowned textile artists and groups, or be a part of the show and enter the Europe's largest open quilt competition. This will be a year to remember - don't miss out on Europe's biggest celebration of quilting!

12/09/2026

Congratulations to this year's 3rd Prize Winner in the Young Quilter (aged 5-9) category, sponsored by Thread & Ink: Wilfred Williams 'Bonfire Night'.

Artist Inspiration: I wanted to do a quilt to celebrate bonfire night and fireworks. I love fireworks. I really enjoyed stamping the felting stamp to make the quilt top. I really like how the bonfire and fireworks look. My sister is really good at quilting and she encouraged me to make a quilt.

11/09/2026

Congratulations to the 3rd Prize Winner of the Two Person category: Catherine Millar and Tim Millar's 'Canterbury Tales'.

Artist Inspiration: "Inspired by our love of Geoffrey Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" we show eight of the pilgrims described in the Prologue in costumes and colours based on figures in the Ellesmere Manuscript of 1405. Design and applique by Tim Millar. Dyed fabrics and stitching by Catherine Millar"

10/09/2026

Congratulations to this year's 3rd Prize Winner in the Modern Quilts category: Vendulka Battais 'Spring'.

Artist Inspiration: "Inspired by Emily Van Hoff's work, I was drawn to explore a more organic interpretation of her interlocking strips, creating movement in a spring palette. They weave together and vanish, only to reappear — just as the season itself quietly returns each year."

09/09/2026

Congratulations to the 3rd Prize Winner of Original Design, sponsored by Bernina UK, Judith Lyons and Vendulka Battais' 'Better Together'.

Inspiration: "Better together is a work in two parts, exploring the practical and emotional aspects of collaborative quilt making. Through quilting, text, morse code and sound, we reflect on the challenges and joys of working together to design and make a unique, original, quilted artwork."

08/09/2026

Congratulations to the 3rd Prize Winner of Sustainable Quilts, sponsored by CLOVER MFG.CO.,LTD., Sinéad Smith's 'The Luck of Friendship'

Sustainability statement: Tea towels collected from friends; drop cloth from a deceased friend's studio as backing. Bamboo & wool wadding offcuts from previous projects. Overdyed with donated indigo from a studio clear out. Paper templates drawn & cut by hand from an old magazine. Hexagons hand pieced. Some hand quilting.

07/09/2026

Congratulations to this year's 3rd Prize Winner in the Contemporary Quilts category, sponsored by Janome, Jung Sun Lee's The Return of the King.

Artist Inspiration: "I have redesigned the dragon motif - the traditional symbol of the Korean monarch. This piece was crafted with a heartfelt longing for a true leader-a king whom we can trust, rely upon, and respect in the midst of this chaotic and turbulent world."

06/09/2026

Congratulations to this year's 3rd Prize Winner in the Young Quilter (aged 10-13) category, sponsored by Thread & Ink: Ava Williams 'The Night of Fire'.

Artist Inspiration: "I have always loved that fireworks are big and colourful but I never really liked how loud it was. So pictures and ear defenders were my solution until I got sewing then it felt like I could create anything. In a way this piece is of my way of enjoying that feeling without compromising on comfort."

04/09/2026

Congratulations to the 3rd Prize Winner in the Traditional category, sponsored by Vlieseline Freudenberg UK, Naomi Otomo's Peacock.

Artist Inspiration: "I like the colour of the peacock's feathers. This quilt was created with the image of a peacock spreading its wings. These quilting designs were also created with the image of its feather."

03/09/2026

Congratulations to this year's 3rd Prize Winner in the Art Quilts category: Julia Green's 'Yet Fate Weaves its Silent Threads'.

Artist Inspiration: An observation of my grandmother’s family in the early 1900's, shaped by love, loss and chance. The image shows three of nine siblings, Muriel, Jack and Nora, with stitched and gilded text honouring the fragile threads that bind us across time.

02/09/2026

Congratulations to the 3rd Prize Winner of Miniature Quilts, Lesley Gibbs' Leaving Amberley.

Inspiration: "I walked the South Downs Way last year, which is 100 miles from Wi******er to Eastbourne and probably my favourite leg of the walk was from Amberley to Upper Beeding. My little applique scene at the heart of this quilt is based on a photo taken as we left Amberley."

Address

NEC
Birmingham
B401NT

Website

http://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/

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