Quilting By the River Friends

Quilting By the River Friends began in 2004, when two friends united by their love of quilting set out to honor veterans in a meaningful way. They recruited other quilters, found a meeting place, and now gather at the Stoughton American Legion.

Best of Show Quilt

Congratulations to this year’s Best of Show winner, Margaret E. Solomon Gunn of Gorham, Maine, for her beautiful quilt, “Adventures in Aquamarine and Amethyst.” Hand-guided quilting adorns this exquisite silk quilt top. Crystals add sparkle, drawing the eye to the intricate detail work.

Reflecting on Jon Miskowski’s Quilt Show Legacy

Mary Sarnowski joins Deanna Springer to discuss the legacy of Jon Miskowski, PBS Wisconsin’s emeritus director of television, at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. Presented by PBS Wisconsin and Nancy Zieman Productions, proceeds from The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show help support PBS Wisconsin.

Black Diamonds Quilt Exhibit

In 2025, Bill Hoernke led a Sit & Sew workshop demonstrating how to make a “Black Diamonds” quilt in honor of Klaudeen Hansen. Completed quilts from this class will be exhibited this year at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, displaying the wide variety of ways to customize Klaudeen’s signature pattern.

Quilt Classes

Judy Gauthier, owner of Bungalow Quilting, joins Deanna Springer to explore the many classes and educational opportunities available at this year’s Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. Judy’s class, “Fun with Flight Packs,” is offered all three days of The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show.

Sewing Machine Innovations

Deanna Springer talks with longtime Quilt Show vendor and sponsor Jen Mulder about new innovations in sewing machines. The Electric Needle is a sewing, quilting and embroidery machine dealership located in Madison, Wisconsin, and is certified in machine repair, fabrics, classes and long-arm quilting rentals.

Quilt Education

The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show offers hundreds of educational opportunities, including workshops, lectures and stage demonstrations.

Deanna Springer speaks with Kate LeRoy, owner of Barn Door Quilts, about her class “Quick and Easy Quilts” being offered all three days of the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show!

Cosplay Entrepreneur Yaha Han

Yaya Han, cosplay entrepreneur and award-winning costume maker, joins Deanna Springer at the 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show to discuss the creative world of cosplay where costumes and accessories are created to look like specific characters from anime, video games and movies. Yaya shares how she learned to sew and how she turned her sewing hobby into a business.

Celebrate the Art of Quilting

Kristin Korevec, events manager at PBS Wisconsin, and Deanna Springer, vice president of Nancy Zieman Productions, talk about The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show in Madison, Wisconsin, founded over 20 years ago by Nancy Zieman and PBS Wisconsin, and how this annual event for quilters is an important fundraising event for PBS Wisconsin.

The Creator’s Cottage, Catrina J. Sparkman

Catrina J. Sparkman, artistic director of the Creator’s Cottage, joins Deanna Springer at the 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show to discuss the Memory Collectors Storytelling Project: Fighting Alzheimer’s with Art.

This project at the Creator’s Cottage was created to address the disproportionately high rates of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) in the Black community — where older Black adults are nearly twice as likely to experience cognitive decline as white adults.

Quilted Fashion

Jess Maas, Quilt Challenge exhibit coordinator, joins Deanna Springer at the Quilted Fashion Challenge Exhibit at The 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show.

Participants submit any garment or wearable accessory created with quilting fabrics and/or piecing and quilting techniques. Entries are due in June, and a jury meets in July to accept quilted fashions to be exhibited at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show in September.

Thank You to Our Volunteers

Brooke Day, volunteer coordinator at PBS Wisconsin, joins Deanna Springer to discuss the many different volunteer opportunities at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show.

As a fundraising event for PBS Wisconsin, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show relies on the invaluable contributions of community volunteers to fill more than 500 shifts across various event operations.

Semiquincentennial Quilt Challenge Exhibit

Jess Maas, Quilt Challenge exhibit coordinator, joins Deanna Springer to showcase the Semiquincentennial Quilt Challenge at the 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show in Madison, Wisconsin.

Each year, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show hosts a themed quilt challenge. This year’s theme, “Semiquincentennial,” celebrates America’s 250th birthday. All quilts must measure 30” x 40” and represent patriotic or Americana designs in red, white and blue fabrics.

Volunteer Support

Tracy Rucka, a volunteer at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, talks with Deanna Springer behind-the-scenes at the 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show.

As a fundraising event for PBS Wisconsin, The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show relies on the support and generosity of volunteers to fill more than 500 short shifts across various event operations.

What Quilt Judges Look For

Kate Eelkema, show judge and member of the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges, joins Deanna Springer at the 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show to discuss how quilt show judges evaluate quilts.

The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show’s annual Quilt Contest features 10 categories that are juried and judged. Ribbons are awarded and winners are announced the following morning, when The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show opens to the public.

Quilt Artist Victoria Findlay Wolfe

Victoria Findlay Wolfe joins Deanna Springer at the 2026 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show to discuss her special quilt exhibits, “The Quilting Experience and Virtual Voyage: Pixels & Patchwork,” from her book, “The Quilting Experience,” which celebrates the memories, connections and life experiences that are captured in quilt making.