Valley Quilters Guild
"Where Quilters Gather to Learn, Share, and Give Back."
Welcome to the Valley Quilters Guild! Whether you're a new or experienced quilter, we invite you to connect with fellow enthusiasts and contribute to our vibrant community.
Join us for our monthly Membership Meetings for inspiration and learning. Also, don't miss our Open Sew gatherings for a full day of uninterrupted quilting fun! Membership is open to anyone 13 and older, and we warmly welcome beginning quilters. Come stitch with us!
Valley Quilters Guild Elections
Four open positions for 2027—President, Treasurer, Historian and Parliamentarian—will be elected at the October membership meeting. If you are interested in learning more, please contact the Nominating Committee Chair, Paddy Coan, at 907-355-4209.
Events in August 2026
September 10 Thursday: Service Work Party 2-6pm, Depot
September 10 Thursday: Guild Meeting, 7:00-8:30pm, Depot
September 12-13 Saturday-Sunday: 2 days of Open Sew, 10-10pm, Depot
September 17 Thursday: Guild Board Meeting, 6:30pm
September 20 Sunday: Newsletter Deadline
Fair Booth Committee
Fair Booth Reminders
Fair Dates: Aug. 21–Sept. 7, open 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. daily (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, including open on Labor Day). This year's theme is "Celebrating 90 Years with You."
Thank you for your donations, time, and support!
Alaska State Fair - quilts
There are some important changes this year for entering your quilts in the Alaska State Fair. A new entry form and updated fair rules have been introduced, so be sure to review them carefully before submitting your quilt.
Special Santa Program
The Guild will be collecting “toys and stuff” for the Special Santa program this year in December, in addition to quilts. Plan ahead.The organization provides a wish list that child clients can use to indicate their Christmas wishes. This list serves as a guide to the types of toys and other items that are most needed and recommended for donation to the Special Santa program.
Smart Stitches: Embedding NFC Tags in Quilt Labels
with Daniel Hughes
Class Description
Learn how to create a hidden NFC "smart label" for your quilts that lets anyone with a smartphone tap to view a video, care instructions, photos, or a personal message. In this fun, beginner-friendly class, you'll make a ready-to-use smart label for your next quilt—no electronics or programming experience required.
Skill level: Beginner–friendly (basic hand or machine sewing skills helpful)
Take home: One finished NFC-embedded quilt label + extra tags to experiment with at home
More information about the class here.
Saturday, September 26th, 10am-5pm
$20 Guild Members; $40 Non-Members
Sign up for the Circle and Curves Sampler Class
with Maria Shell
Learn improvisational techniques for piecing circles and curves, including braided curves and log cabin circles. Students will create a sampler of unique quilt blocks while exploring ideas for designing original quilts.
Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, 2026
$50 Guild Members; $80 Non-Members
2026 VQG Raffle Quilt
RAFFLE TICKETS
Valley Quilters Guild members are now selling raffle tickets. Please see Tracy Verrall to pick up your tickets to sell! Remember, there is a prize for the member that sells the most tickets!
Education Quilt Techniques
to be offered during Open Sews
Quilt techniques will be offered during our monthly Open Sew sessions. Join us at the train depot at 1:00 PM to learn something new. The techniques presented will be based on the most requested topics from Education's Techniques Survey. You’ll also pick up helpful tips for entering quilts in the State Fair. A BOM demo will follow at 2 pm.
Service Committee News
Just a couple quick notes this month:
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Quilt backing cut-offs make great bindings! Please consider making your cut-offs into bindings for Service quilts. Minimum length 160” please.
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You may turn in your birthday quilt at any time of the year! Minimum size is 45” x 65” please.
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Please use the Quilt Donation Request Form on the guild website (under Service Activities) if you’d like to request that the Guild donate a guild to a charitable organization for their fund-raising.
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We are a bit shy of Youth, Twin and Double sized quilts at the moment - so please consider adding a few borders to make a top a little larger.
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Here are the Service Quilt size guidelines:
Baby: 36-40” x 36-50”
Lap: 40” x 45-60”
Youth: 45” x 78”
Twin: 60-70” x 87-90”
Full: 80” x 87-96”
Queen: 84-90” x 92-100”