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Local Quilt Shop Day honors the independent quilt shops that serve as vibrant hubs for crafters every fourth Saturday in January. This delightful holiday is an opportunity for quilters to give back to the small businesses that bring them joy. Visit a local shop, attend a workshop, and support the community that stitches us together.
Want to sponsor Local Quilt Shop Day? Learn how
Expected Local Quilt Shop Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that local quilt shops often roll out special deals and events for Local Quilt Shop Day. Expect discounts on fabric bundles, notions, and patterns from shops like Fat Quarter Shop and Missouri Star Quilt Co. Many independent stores, often listed on sites like QuiltShopFinder.com, will host open houses, workshops, and trunk shows. Brands like Moda Fabrics and Robert Kaufman might offer exclusive bundles to participating retailers. Look for special offers on sewing machines from brands like Brother and Singer at local dealers. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 23 approaches.
Platform Guide for Local Quilt Shop Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #LocalQuiltShopDay. Share photos of your latest fabric haul, a finished quilt, or your favorite local shop’s display.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #LocalQuiltShopDay. Join quilting groups to share shop recommendations and showcase community projects.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #LocalQuiltShopDay. Film a ‘shop with me’ video at your local quilt store or share a quick tutorial for a new quilting technique.
Local Quilt Shop Day Hero
Harriet Powers
History of Local Quilt Shop Day
Local Quilt Shop Day was created by The Fabric Shop Network, which has 5,000 members worldwide, including local quilt shop owners. The holiday was created in recognition of the great work that local quilt shops do for the communities they serve. There are over 3,000 quilt shops all over the U.S. providing much-needed materials to quilters in local communities. The holiday has received official recognition from various U.S. states. In 2021, several governors of some U.S. states, including Idaho, Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina, Alabama, and Illinois, signed official proclamations declaring January 23 as Local Quilt Shop Day. Quilting has a rich history in many of the U.S.
Colorado, for example, is home to 71 quilt shops, as well as the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Denver, which has a collection of over 500 quilts in different styles. Similarly, Michigan is the home of the Great Lakes Quilt Center, which is located in the Michigan State University Museum and houses over 500 historical quilts rich in diversity and expression. Quilting is a solid part of U.S. history.
During The Great Depression, quilters made low-cost, much-needed blankets to bring warmth to many families using scrap materials. During the civil rights movement, the famous Quilts of Gee’s Bend were created, one of the most important visual and cultural contributions to African-American history in the U.S. The Freedom Quilting Bee Collaborative stitched its way into history. The Bicentennial celebration of 1976 was also a landmark point for quilting in the U.S. Quilts became a way to express national pride and achievement. You can find some of those quilts in museums across the U.S. today, acting as powerful reminders of our past.
Local Quilt Shop Day timeline
The appliquéing or laid-on style of quilting becomes popular but they can only be afforded by the wealthy.
Powers exhibits her first public quilt, which has 11 panels depicting Biblical stories, at the Athens Cotton Fair.
Jonathan Holstein organizes an exhibition called ‘Abstract Design in American Quilts,’ which launches a new appreciation for quilting.
Quilts Inc. creates the very first International Quilt Market, the only wholesale trade show for the worldwide quilting, textile, and soft crafts industry.
Local Quilt Shop Day FAQs
When is Local Quilt Shop Day?
In 2027, Local Quilt Shop Day will be celebrated on Saturday, January 23. This annual observance encourages crafters to visit and appreciate the unique contributions of local quilt shops to their communities.
How many quilters are there in the U.S.?
Across the U.S., the passion for quilting remains strong, with a 2022 Quilting in America survey indicating approximately 7 million active quilters. This dedicated community drives a vibrant market for fabrics, patterns, and tools.
What is the economic impact of the quilting industry?
The U.S. quilting industry is a robust economic force, with market research often valuing it in the billions of dollars annually. This includes sales from local shops, online retailers, manufacturers, and educational services, highlighting its significant contribution to the craft economy.
What is the difference between a quilt and a blanket?
While both provide warmth, a quilt is distinguished by its layered construction, often featuring intricate designs on the top fabric created by stitching smaller pieces together. A blanket is generally a simpler, single-piece textile, not necessarily involving the same detailed craftsmanship.
How to Celebrate Local Quilt Shop Day
Write a letter
You can appreciate your favorite quilt shop by writing a sweet love letter to them about all the ways they make your life better. You could even win some nice merch in the process. Every year, Fabric Shoppers Unite organizes a Local Quilt Shop Day Love Letter Contest, and if your letter is sweet enough, you could just win something.
Buy something from a local quilt shop
Get out your wallet and get ready to go on a nice shopping spree in your local quilt shop. Take your favorite quilter along and make their day by buying them some stash — and maybe design your own quilt for them to make. That’s a win-win.
Start quilting
If you’ve never made a quilt before, there is no better day to start than on Local Quilt Shop Day. Even if you don’t know where to start from, we’re sure the lovely people in your neighborhood quilt shop will answer all your questions and guide you. If you’re already a master quilter, then keep the quilt going!
5 Fascinating Facts About Quilting We Bet You Didn’t Know
It used to be a rite of marriage
In the 19th century, in certain parts of the United States, it was custom for unmarried girls to make quilts before they got engaged, which would then be placed on their marital beds.
It’s fashionable
During Victorian times, high-brow women would use expensive and brightly colored fabrics to make quilts to showcase their wealth.
Military men do it too
Even though quilting is largely known as an activity for women, some men in the U.S. military use quilting to pass the time, with many creating “convalescent quilts.”
Alice Walker wrote about it
Walker wrote a short story about quilting called “Everyday Use.”
It’s a billion-dollar industry
In 2017, experts estimated that $3.7billion was spent in the quilting industry in the U.S. alone.
Why We Love Local Quilt Shop Day
Quilts are amazing
Quilts are insanely intricate pieces of art that deserve all the recognition they can get. For centuries, people have used them not just to keep warm, but to tell stories and capture history. Local Quilt Shop Day appreciates some of the wonderful people who make these stunning quilts possible.
More people should shop locally
Local businesses foster economic innovation and community well-being while providing jobs. More people need to start shopping from the little corner quilt shops in the community rather than big chains.
Local quilt shops stitch communities together
In times of chaos and problems, quilt shops have been known to keep communities together. From The Great Depression of the 1930s to the troubles of 2020, quilt shops have done their part to contribute to society and provide a spirit of togetherness in times of uncertainty.
Local Quilt Shop Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | January 25 | Saturday |
| 2026 | January 24 | Saturday |
| 2027 | January 23 | Saturday |
| 2028 | January 22 | Saturday |
| 2029 | January 27 | Saturday |
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