AQS QuiltWeek returns to Ocean Center
After a year-hiatus in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, QuiltWeek returns to the Ocean Center Feb. 23 through 26. The event is the first of six annual shows hosted across the country by the American Quilters Society (AQS.)
And whether you’re an avid quilter, are interested in learning the basics or simply want to admire the hundreds of skillfully crated quilts, there’s something for everyone at the event. Like art at a museum, quilts are displayed throughout the 93,000-square-foot exhibit hall, with exhibits including The Diana Cherrywood Challenge, inspired by Diana, Princess of Wales; New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Wheel of Fortune, an exhibition created by the National Quilt Museum; and The Ties that Bind, a series of quilts created using men’s ties.
Along with showcasing their skills, quilters will vie for $54,000 in cash awards, with the Best of Show receiving $10,000. Quilts range from traditional designs that everyone knows, like Lone Star and Log Cabin, to Modern and Art quilts that reach outside the box with new designs and techniques.
Attendees will also be able to attend workshops and lectures with the best instructors, as well as enjoy a huge Merchant Mall with dozens of vendors in categories including fabric, machines, patterns, tools and more.
"Quilters around the world have been stitching during the pandemic, and wait until you see the beautiful quilts that will be displayed in the Ocean Center during AQS QuiltWeek – Daytona Beach 2022," said Bonnie Browning, AQS executive show director. "Spectacular piecing, beautiful appliqué and magnificent quilting are just some of the details you will want to look for in the more than 400 quilts on display. The Merchant Mall is stocked with the very latest in supplies for making quilts, and there are classes and lectures for those who want to learn from our national quilt instructors."
The American Quilter’s Society, founded in 1984, is the largest quilting membership organization in the world with over 70,000 members. The organization gives national recognition to quilters and their work and sets the standard for excellence in the quilting industry.
The event also gives back to the local community, providing a booth and supplies for Racing Fingers Quilt Guild of Ormond Beach. The group creates small fidget quilts, complete with tactile and manipulative objects—think textured fabric, spools, zippers and buttons— for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients to keep their hands occupied during care. At the show, attendees of all skill levels are encouraged to stop by the booth and create or contribute to a fidget quilt.
AQS QuiltWeek is open to the public; admission includes access to all special exhibits and the merchant mall. Event hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, through Friday, Feb. 25; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. Tickets are available online or at the door. For additional information and to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.quiltweek.com/locations/daytona-beach/.
