Have you ever been to the outdoor quilt show in Sisters, Oregon? This was my 10th trip to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show (SOQS) and I’m grateful to be back in the area so I could! The show has been going on since 1975, started by Jean Wells and now run alongside her daughter Valori Wells. Her shop, Stitchin’ Post, is like Grand Central Station for the event, with folks coming from around the world. Over the decades I’ve watched as it’s grown and grown, becoming the place to be on the second Saturday of July.
Quilts were hung on Saturday morning, starting at 7am, by a crew of SOQS volunteers and firefighters. They hung from the side of the Stitchin’ Post (an iconic image for every event) and on the walls, porches and inside businesses throughout the small downtown area. With more than a thousand quilts displayed around the city, it was quite a sight to see!
Each year, there are different featured artists and rotating special exhibits. The Best of QuiltCon is always great to see and it was fun to see some of the quilts that I’d seen (and loved) when I visited QuiltCon in Phoenix, but also several that I’d completely missed there. There’s always a focus on color, value, and graphic aspects in those chosen. Some of my favorites were Reverb by Michaela Romesburg, Vacation Rental by AnnMarie Cowley (a fellow Portlander!) and Light Me Up by Lindsey Berres.
Along with all of the modern quilts featured in the QuiltCon, there are more in specific guild exhibits as well as in the general display. At the same time, you’ll see plenty of traditional styles, blends of both, quilts with all array of construction techniques, small and big quilts. It’s all there!
by Barbara Fortman
If you’re able to get the time away, the Quilter’s Affair happens before the show with a week of classes in quilting, piecing, embellishments and more. This year there were classes with Sue Spargo, Joe Cunningham, Michelle Muska, Scott Hanson, Giucy Giuce, Kathy Doughty, Scott Hansen, among many others. Check it out on their website and get ready to make 2026 plans early–classes and hotels fill quickly!
Be on the lookout for a special edition of QuiltFolk magazine about the 50th anniversary, coming later this year. We saw some of the photographers running around town and, if you’re a fan of QuiltFolk like I am, you know this edition is going to be magical.
Have you been to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show before? Have you submitted a quilt? If not, you should! It’s a wonderful event and I can’t wait until next year
Happy sewing!
