Every year the Modern Quilt Guild hosts a convention for members, designers and enthusiasts to tour a carefully curated (juried) exhibit, visit vendor booths, social hours and have a chance for quilters to be with other quilters from around the world in person. Quilting is a fairly individual and alone craft, yet very social and thrives on the community aspect. There are bees and guilds and swaps, but for the majority of quilters, the day to day life of a quilter is spent alone at the sewing machine. So a four day event to just be surrounded by quilts and fabric and creativity along with the individuals that are the creators is such an amazing experience.

I’ve been involved with the Modern Quilt Guild since 2010, pretty much since it was started back. When local chapters started popping up, I was a founding member and at the very first meeting held in Knoxville when I lived there. When I moved to Virginia, I started a guild here since there wasn’t one yet. After about 5 years, I had to step away from the guild due to family obligations. Then after covid, the chapter folded and I finally decided to just join as an individual member. So being an individual member, the need for community in person is even stronger.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have had the chance to be there. I’m a fairly extrovertedintroverted person and pretty quiet and reserved until I get to know people. So traveling to an event with over 3,000 people with just me, myself and I is slightly unlike me. I can honestly say this was the best traveling alone experience since I wasn’t ever actually alone! One of the cool things about Quilt Con is even in the area outside of the convention center, the places are all taken over by quilters. One day I left to get a mid afternoon treat, and when I walked into the crowded restaurant and sat at the bar, there was a fellow quilter that walked in and sat there too and we had the greatest conversation for an hour. The freedom of not being in a large group gave me the chance to talk to and meet people that I probably wouldn’t have done if I wasn’t alone. I met so many people that have been instagram friends for years but finally got to have actual conversation in person!

I had participated in a sew-along for a badge holder and we arranged to all meet up and get a picture before the MQG sponsored mini quilt swap.

On Thursday and Friday evenings, there are sponsored social hours where everyone just mingles and get to know each other. I wasn’t there Thursday, but was Friday and it was one of the highlights of the weekend for sure! There weren’t any class schedules or shopping or exhibits or vendors to distract. Everyone was there to just talk and it was great! (And if you are reading this and have a copy of the group picture, I would LOVE to have it, I didn’t catch it pop up online anywhere)

Another thing I did since I was going alone was to sign up for a volunteer shift the very first thing. This was one of the greatest ideas I had because I immediately got to meet people and had a purpose. That just might be the volunteer loving side of me coming out, but it was such a wonderful way to kickoff the weekend.

Now that I’ve had the experience that I had, next time I go I know that I’m not going alone. I‘ll be going with the quilting community and I can’t wait to see everyone again!!

If you are ever on the fence about attending quilt con alone, don’t be, just go! It’s such a great event!!!!! My only regret is that lack of pictures that I took. I was too busy taking it all in and talking to get pictures. Guess I’ll need to go again. Darn.