Join us for updates from The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show event at the Alliant Energy Center. Deanna Springer of Nancy Zieman Productions gives virtual viewers an inside look through brief interviews and coverage of other event highlights.
Youth quilter Raelyn Schurman on the 2025 Kids’ Quilt Challenge
The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show offers an annual quilt contest open to youth ages 15 and under. The top three quilts are awarded prizes on the last day of the Quilt Show. Youth quilter Raelyn Schurman discusses their entry, “Buzzin’ Around the Flower Fields.” Learn more at quiltshow.com/quilt-contest.
What makes the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show special?
Amanda Balistreri joins Deanna Springer to discuss The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, which celebrates the art of quilting through exhibits, contests, educational lectures, workshops and a large vendor mall for quilters to shop for supplies, sewing patterns, sewing machines and quilting fabrics. Presented by PBS Wisconsin and Nancy Zieman Productions, the show features a juried and judged quilt contest, a Quilt to Give Community Service quilt making project, presentation stage and a raffle that supports PBS Wisconsin.
The buzz from the 2025 show floor
Hear what Great Wisconsin Quilt Show attendees Cindy, Ruth and Cheryl are excited about at the 2025 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show!
Remembering quiltmaker Marquetta B. Johnson
Marquetta B. Johnson (1956-2025) was a textile artist and quilter whose art is in the High Museum of Art collection in Atlanta, Georgia. She mastered surface design techniques such as dyeing, painting and weaving with fabrics. Tamara Howard, a friend of Johnson and quiltmaker herself, discusses Marquetta’s legacy featured in a special quilt exhibit at this year’s show.
Learn to quilt with author and teacher Lina Owen
Lina Owen discusses her bilingual quilting book — “Learn-to-Quilt Bilingual Guide/Guía bilingüe para aprender a hacer quilting” — written with co-author Laura Duran. The author also discusses her sewing classes and Sit & Sew quilting workshops that they are presenting at the 2025 Quilt Show.
Laura Wasilowski on improvised art quilting
Laura Wasilowski is a textile artist that creates free-form hand-embroideries and improvised art quilts. Her special exhibit includes pieces of her work from the early years to the present.
Appraising quilts with Allison Rainboth
Allison Rainboth, certified quilt appraiser, discusses how antique quilts and modern quilts are appraised for insurance, to document a quilt’s historical significance. Allison conducts a “hands-on” examination to assess the quilt’s age, condition and craftsmanship, and provides a detailed written report that serves as a formal record of a quilt’s value and importance.
Maday Delgado on quilting sustainably
Maday Delgado discusses her special quilt exhibit “Trash Talk: Sustainability in Focus” at The 2025 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show. Delgado provides a powerful reminder that a sustainable future is important to responsibly move the quilting craft forward for future generations, and discusses reuse, repair, upcycle and mending as part of her work.
Ann Crowl Meyer on making pictorial quilts
Longtime quiltmaker Ann Crowl Meyer joins Deanna Springer to talk about her process for making her pictorial quilts.
Sew Much More with Wendy Kleman and Brad Kleman
Wendy Kleman and Brad Kleman talk about their Bernina Sewing Machines at the show, as well as their family sewing stores, Sew Much More: the original store, a part of Waukesha since 1973, and their new store opening in Madison. Classes, clubs and events held at Sew Much More help makers bring their ideas to life.
21 years of the celebrating 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 21 years ago by Nancy Zieman and PBS Wisconsin this annual event for quilters is an important fundraising event for PBS Wisconsin.
Quilting to shine a light on cancer survivors
Quiltmaker Francesca Olsen discusses her special quilt exhibit, “No Aesthetic Quilts: My AAW Project About Young Adult Cancer.” Francesca Olsen’s “Witness: Sharing Cancer Stories” is a series of seven quilts exploring the experience of young adults during and after cancer treatment. These striking visuals draw attention to the alarming increase in cancer among young people and offer the perspective of those who have been through it. Learn more at noaestheticquilts.com.
Karla Overland on the Poppy Quilt Design Challenge
Karla Overland, owner and designer at Cherrywood Designer Fabrics, joins Deanna Springer to showcase the Poppy Quilt Challenge. Each year, Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabrics chooses a theme and color palette for the quilting challenge, now in its ninth year. Learn more about the Poppy Quilt Challenge and future Cherrywood quilt challenges at cherrywoodfabrics.com.
The Quilted Fashion Challenge
In the Quilted Fashion Challenge, participants are invited to submit any garment or accessory created with quilting fabrics and or techniques — and then show it off in a fun-filled fashion show on stage! This exhibit and light-hearted fashion show encourages quilters and sewists to express themselves and cheer each other on as they walk the runway.
The latest fabrics and tools for quilters
Mary Alice Van Gemert, Great Wisconsin Quilt Show Vendor Registrar, discusses the variety of quilt company offerings at the 2025 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show, from sewing machines to modern fabrics and quilting tools, as the event welcomes vendors from across the country and even internationally.
Jess Maas on the Hexagon Quilt challenge
Jess Maas, Quilt Challenge exhibit coordinator, showcases the latest quilt challenge at the 2025 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show in Madison, Wisconsin. This year’s theme, “Hexagon,” celebrates a structural design element near and dear to many quilters — and sometimes challenging to many quilters. Learn more at quiltshow.com/quilt-contest.
Gael Boyd on building community around quilting
Gael Boyd, owner of Blue Bar Quilts, joins Deanna Springer to talk about her quilt shop. The Middleton shop offers classes in quilting and sewing projects, and takes pride in featuring local Wisconsin pattern designers and they believe in giving back to the community through service. Learn more at bluebarquilts.com.
Allison Rainboth on evaluating quilts
Allison Rainboth, National Association of Certified Quilt Judge, joins Deanna Springer at the 2025 Great Wisconsin Quilt Show to discuss how quilt show judges evaluate quilts based on quilt design, craftsmanship and quilting execution, assessing factors like neat piecing, straight seams and even binding.