QuiltCon attendees look at award-winning modern quilts on display at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (Photo by Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News)
PHOENIX – Quilting, traditionally, is about mastery and precision. Following well-known geometric patterns is crucial to the craft.
For modern quilters, especially those from younger generations, it’s about innovation, bold designs and artistic expression. Some create complex landscapes or portraits, while others use the medium to make a statement; stitching together letters instead of patterns to make their voices heard.
QuiltCon, one of the largest quilting shows in the U.S., highlighted this shift at its recent national show in Phoenix. Hosted by the Modern Quilt Guild, the event received more than 2,000 quilt entries and displayed 483 quilts. More than 23,000 people attended the four-day event.
The 2025 show took place in February at the Phoenix Convention Center, where quilters of all ages had the chance to showcase their work, attend presentations from industry leaders and explore a wide range of vendor offerings.
As quilting evolves, the influence of contemporary art becomes more evident in the designs.
“Modern quilters tend to be inspired frequently by modern art,” said Elizabeth Dackson, director of events at Modern Quilt Guild. “They tend to prioritize modern design over the replication of a block over and over again as you see in traditional quilting.”
Fifteen-year-old quilter Lorelai Kuecker, who won first place in the Youth Quilts category, said that since she started quilting in fifth grade, she has seen the change happening in the industry.
Lorelai Kuecker poses next to her first place quilt, titled “Magnetized,” for a photo taken by an attendee of QuiltCon on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025 at the Phoenix Convention Center. Kuecker also made the matching quilted jacket and jeans. (Photo by Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News)
“Everyone’s just taking it in a whole new direction than it was … the landscape is changing so quickly and all the artists are such amazing people.”
Brandy Maslowski, editor of QuiltCon Magazine and Quilting Arts Magazine, said that for younger generations, quilting offers something that digital entertainment often lacks.
“Sometimes the youth are watching TV or on their devices more and more, and when you’re doing something like an arts and craft, you’re getting that delayed gratification that you’re missing when you’re scrolling,” Maslowski said. “The younger generations are feeling those feelings and jumping all over it because they love it.”
Modern quilting is where tradition meets transformation; as younger generations breathe new life into the craft, it creates a new space for generations to connect.
Dackson sees these connections firsthand, as quilting has become a new way of connecting with her daughter through a shared creative outlet.
“With my 9-year-old, it’s something that she sees as special that she gets to do with me,” Dackson said. “We made a quilt together for her teacher last year. She sees it both creatively as an outlet but also as a special way to spend time together. I think that’s really common among families that have quilters and children in them.”
La Paloma Academy – South Campus in Tucson hosts a sewing and quilting club for elementary and middle school students called SEWcial Club. This year, students attended QuiltCon, where they were able to explore the possibilities as they continue to develop their skills.
For the past three years, they have been creating quilts both individually and as a group, and submitting their work to the Tucson Quilters Guild’s Quilt Fiesta.
The club members said they find quilting enjoyable because of the variety of patterns and fabrics that can be used, as well as the endless possibilities for what they can create.
Members also said that quilting gives them a relaxing escape after a long day, offering a meaningful way to unwind and support their mental health.
“It makes me calm to have something to do in the day,” said club member Sophia Barraza. “It relaxes me from those burdens from going to school.”
Their advisor, Mena Mendoza, emphasized that quilting gives students a chance to relax while fostering mental growth, teaching them that making mistakes is a part of life and can be fixed.
“It allows them to still make mistakes and be okay with those mistakes,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza also said sewing and quilting help build children’s skills in traditional subjects, like math.
“Being a fiber artist, you have to use math,” Mendoza said. “I tell them all the time, even if you don’t know what you want to make, let’s break it down by the math.”
Avery Trinidad sews fabric at the Cotton+Steel Fabrics booth at QuiltCon at the Phoenix Convention Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. Trinidad connects with generations of women in her family through quilting. (Photo by Sydney Lovan/Cronkite News)
The students in the club said quilting not only helps them relax and de-stress, but also fosters a stronger sense of community within the group and deepens their connection with the teachers that advise them.
“We’re like a big family,” said club member Rosalee Cornidez.
Avery Trinidad, a modern quilter from Phoenix, shared that the craft has become a meaningful tradition for the women in her family.
“I think it gives us a reason to come together,” Trinidad said. “It’s put together five different generations for our family.”
Trinidad said she has come to love modern quilting because of the artistry, enamored with the emotion you are able to convey with each new piece.
“You see a design and, just like you see a piece of artwork hanging in the museum, it hits you in the heart,” she said.
Trinidad and her mother started a small business, called Sassy Snippers, two years ago to sell custom commissions they’ve quilted together. Trinidad said that when quilting anything for their business, whether it’s a baby blanket or a purse, it creates a unique connection with their customer.
“We’re sewing love into these things,” Trinidad said. “With every piece that’s sewn, it’s not only calming to sew, but it actually feels like that person becomes your family.”
