QUILT SHARE LIVE! MARCH 7

Time to dig out your quilted heirlooms and head to the Craft in America Center for our own spin on Antiques Roadshow!

Quilt experts, artist Joe Cunningham and curator Julie Silber, will lead an on-the-spot analysis of audience members’ quilts made before 1960. Cunningham and Silber will give as much information about each quilt as can be gleaned including, date, region, pattern name, condition and more. They will also present a selection of antique quilts and a few of Cunningham’s own creations.

Join us and learn more about the treasures in your own home!

Julie Silber is a lecturer, author and curator with more than forty years’ experience collecting and studying quilts. She is the curator of the former Esprit Quilt Collection in San Francisco, and was the guest curator of several major quilt exhibitions including American Quilts: A Handmade Legacy at the Oakland Museum and Amish: The Art of the Quilt, at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Her business, Julie Silber Quilts (formerly The Quilt Complex), specializes in antique quilts: selling, appraising, and writing about them.

Joe Cunningham has been a professional quilt artist since 1980. After a long apprenticeship in traditional quilt history and technique, Cunningham has developed a unique, personal approach to quilt making. His quilts are in corporate, private and museum collections nationwide. The author or co-author of 12 books on the subject, he has been widely seen on television and video, including his appearance on the Peabody Award-winning PBS Documentary series “Craft in America.” Cunningham travels nationally and internationally to lecture on and teach how to make quilts.

This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP: [email protected].

Next Quilting Pattern:

Quilting meets the timeless artistry of Navajo and tribal designs in this roundup of breathtaking patterns inspired by the rich traditions of the Southwest. These quilt patterns channel the bold geometry, vibrant colors, and storytelling heritage of Navajo art, offering a blend of cultural beauty and creative expression.

Whether you’re drawn to the iconic Lone Star designs, the intricate layers of the Sunset Star, or the symbolic details of the Navajo Seasons quilt, there’s something here to capture your imagination. From beginner-friendly blocks to advanced patterns that challenge your quilting skills, these projects invite you to explore the harmony of shapes, hues, and traditions.

The patterns in this collection are more than just quilts—they’re a way to connect with the past while crafting something uniquely your own. Use earthy tones, striking contrasts, or even your stash fabrics to create quilts that echo the landscapes of deserts, mountains, and wide-open skies. You’ll also find tutorials and free resources to guide you as you stitch these timeless designs.

So, if you’re ready to add a touch of tribal beauty to your quilting repertoire, these patterns will inspire you to create something extraordinary. Which one will you start with? Let us know in the comments, and let’s celebrate the artistry of Navajo and tribal quilting together.

Quilting was introduced to the Navajo people through trade, boarding schools, and missionary efforts, where European settlers and American missionaries taught sewing and quilting techniques. Over time, Navajo quilters began incorporating their artistic sensibilities into quilting, blending traditional patterns with this new medium.

Navajo artisans were famous for their intricate woven rugs and blankets. Using upright looms and hand-spun wool, they created bold geometric designs, often inspired by nature and spiritual beliefs. These weavings carried deep symbolism, with colors and patterns reflecting sacred meanings, family stories, or connections to the land.

Lone Star Quilt Free Pattern – Jordan Fabrics

Navajo Seasons Quilt Pattern – Jinny Beyer Studio

Navajo Quilt Block

Homestead Star Quilt

NAVAJO ROAD Quilt Pattern – Chris Hoover – Whirligig Designs

Navajo – Traditional Quilt Block Tutorial LIVE – Video # 46

Tribal Musings

6 Stunning Southwest Inspired Quilt Patterns

Quilt Pattern – Tapis Quilt by AGF Studio