2026 CAQC Quilt Show News:

The next Quilt Show Organizational Meeting will be February 24, 5:30 at the Chanhassen Library in the Wilder Room.

The 2026 Quilt Show Raffle Quilt was revealed at the January Meeting. The Raffle Quilt Committee chairs designed the raffle quilt with these goals:

1. Incorporate the show speaker Amy Pabst’s influence - Log cabin & Pineapple designs. Amy also works in miniatures. The committee wanted a quilt that was a nice wall size. The finished block size is 5”.

2. Involve as many members in the construction of the quilt as wanted to participate. Using the paper-piecing technique opened it up to all skill levels.

3. Keep the cost down. This was possible because members donated all the cotton fabrics that were used.

4. The final goal was to make a quilt that one would look at and say, “I'll never make that quilt, but I will buy raffle tickets."

The committee found a pattern by Japanese quilter, Yoko Saito. (Permission was received from her editor to use her pattern). The pattern incorporated Log Cabin and Pineapple blocks. In addition, Yoko’s pattern included appliqué, embroidery, and beading. Some of Yoko Saito’s embroidery and applique elements were changed and were reduced by 20% to get the desired scale for the Raffle Quilt. Yoko’s evergreen or Juniper embroidery and the petaled flowers were used, but the eucalyptus and the orange flowers were substituted in by the committee, who wanted to feature winter flowers. Yoko's flowers became Hellebores and Protea flowers. The committee wanted the floral elements to be winter flowers.

Amy Pabst likes to count all her pieces in her quilts, so FYI this gorgeous embroidered, hand quilted raffle quilt contains:

• 36 log cabin blocks – 324 pieces

• 85 pineapple blocks – 2805 pieces

• 44 half pineapple blocks – 924 pieces

• 4 corner blocks – 52 pieces

This is a total of 4105 pieces not including all the applique pieces. It took about 13 months from start to finish.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to this gorgeous quilt.

• Donation of fabric: everyone! There was a great response.

• Piecing of blocks: 52 members

• Applique and Embroidery: Nancy G., Beth H., Joan G., Barb L.

• Section Assembly: Sue W., Jill S.

• Binding and label: Jill S.

• Hand Quilting done by: Chris P.

Raffle Quilt Ticket Sale News:

In support of CAQC we are once again selling tickets for our member-made raffle quilt. Our expectation this year is that every member buy a $20.00 packet of 10 tickets to be sold for $2.00 each. Raffle tickets hopefully will be available to sell at the February or March meeting. Please bring your $20.00 and plan to pick up a package of tickets then. Members can keep the tickets for themselves or sell those tickets to others. Members can pay for additional tickets if they'd like to sell more. Tickets will be available at every club meeting except the picnic until the show. All filled out subs or unsold tickets must be returned and accounted for per Minnesota lottery rules. Please bring them to club meetings or make arrangements to get them to a committee person. Minnesota rules to be aware of are: No one under the age of 18 is allowed to sell or buy a ticket, and all ticket sales must occur in Minnesota and be sold in person.

In order to increase ticket sales and advertise for our upcoming show, CAQC tries to take the quilt to guilds and community events throughout the state prior to the show. A signup sheet will be available with opportunities for members to participate. Please sign up or let a committee member know if you are willing to take the raffle quilt on an outing or have an idea where we could take the quilt.

2026 CAQC Quilt Show Boutique News:

It is not too soon to be thinking about items to submit to this September’s Quilt show. New ideas, fun items, along with old favorites, will gladly be welcomed. The Boutique committee has collected numerous patterns that they will gladly share. At present there is no plan for a silent auction. Items can be turned in starting at the March meeting. Attached to the current newsletter is a form to attach to each donation to help keep track of the donations.

Finally, if anyone has an interest in coming to a crafting day, to help make boutique items, let Kim A. know. We are trying to set up sewing days at the Chanhassen library.

Quilt Show Challenge News:

The 2026 Quilt Show Challenge Quilts has been announced. This is a voluntary project, and all members are welcome to participate. Quilts will be hung outside the theater in the Chaska Community Center about a month before the 2026 show. There is no fee to enter, and all member quilts are accepted as long as they meet the requirements set out in the challenge description. See the current 2026 Quilt Show Newsletter (or earlier 2025 newsletters) to see a complete description of the challenge and the necessary requirements. There is also a link in the newsletter for registering to enter the challenge.

Non Show News:

Resolution Quilt News:

The 2026 Resolution Quilt Committee has proposed a goal to resolve to complete up to ten quilts during the year! You will have TWELVE MONTHS to finish them – until December 31, 2026. For each project on your list, submit a quilt shop quality fat quarter (FQ) to Joy H. or Jenny D. by the March meeting. These FQ’s will be used for the Grand Prizes Drawn in January 2027. For instance, if you register three projects, you need to turn in three FQ’s. eceipt of your FQ’s confirms your participation and eligibility for prizes.

To sign up:

• Complete the Resolution Quilt form and return it in person, or by email or snail mail, by February 28th.

• Turn in your Fat Quarters. In keeping with our Country’s Semiquincentennial (250 years), this year's colors are Red, White, OR Blue (not “and”). Each FQ should be tone-on-tone in one of the three colors, rather than large flag prints, etc. Bring your FQ’s to the February or March meeting. Turn in one fat quarter for each resolution on your list. The FQ's must be received by the March meeting.

• Start working on your projects. “Finished” includes quilting and binding.

• Text or email a photo of your completed project with its registered name to Jenny D. Please submit a photo even if you bring the completed project to Show & Tell.

Incentive Rewards:

In May, September and January each completed project will be eligible for a chance to win a gift certificate--

• In May, projects completed January through April are eligible for the May drawing

• In September, projects completed May through August are eligible for the September drawing

• In January, projects completed September through December 31st are eligible for the January drawing

Each registered project completed in 2026 also gets entered in the Grand Prize Drawing which will be held at the January 2027 meeting. Fat Quarters submitted with each resolution will be used for the Grand Prizes.

Comfort Quilt News:

2026 is off to a great start. Many finished blocks for our April Comfort Quilt Sewing Night were turned in at the January meeting and many more were made at the retreat. Download this year's block pattern here or check the newsletter attachments.

15 pillowcases were turned in to Ruth R. for The Closet, an organization helping children enter the foster care system. Quilts will be given to several of the same organizations that we gave to last year including the Hopkins Welcome Home program for Veterans , which took our biggest number of donations last year. The veterans could use quilts for twin or full size beds. The Sleep in Heavenly Peace program and Crescent Cove Children’s Hospice request twin sized quilts (60x80). We can still use lap sized and baby quilts for nursing homes and day care centers. If you have a suggestion for a new place to donate to, please let one of the committee members know.

Any requests for batting or backing can be texted to Linee M. or Rosemary W. See contact information in the newsletter.

Once again, what a generous start to 2026. Thank you

Making a comfort quilt at home? Approximate sizes desired

Kid’s size – 40 x 50”

Lap size – 50 x 60”

Twin size – 60 x 80”

Fidget quilts – 18 x 20”

Kid’s/Teen’s pillowcases – Cut 27” WOF and a 9” WOF border

Quilts of Valor – minimum size 55 x 65

Placemats -14" x 17"

Membership News:

Please be sure your dues are up to date so that you do not miss any important information. We have great speakers lined up for 2026 and don’t want you to miss out. Per our bylaws, your name will be removed from our monthly newsletter and monthly meeting roster if your dues are over two months late. However, it is easy to get back on. At our monthly meetings, bring your check or use Clover to electronically renew. If you wish to pay dues with a credit card, but cannot attend the meeting, you may request an invoice be sent from membership OR you can send mail a $35 check (made out to CAQC). The mailing address is in the monthly newsletter.

Questions and changes in your contact information can be sent to Sandi M. at caqcmembership@gmail.com

Social Media News:

Please submit pictures to show others via our Facebook and Instagram accounts all the fun that we have. Send any pictures you want posted to Penny K. at the addresses listed in the newsletter. Please include what the event the entry is for and any names you want included.

Zoom News:

To all members: The club pays for a zoom account all year. If you want to meet for a club meeting or small group on zoom, you are welcome to use it. Please contact Eva V. for help setting up, or training and passwords.

Sunshine News:

If you know someone who would appreciate a card from CAQC (get well, sympathy, special birthday, or other occasion), please contact Sue W. Sue will acknowledge your email so you know it was received and that a card will be sent.

Small Group News:

Try Something New Group

Next meeting: Tuesday, April 21, 1-3 in the Longfellow Room of the Chanhassen Library.

Contact Person: Kathy W

The Try Something New Group is a small group that meets quarterly. The group works on specific challenges that test their creativity, skills, and (sometimes) patience. All are welcome to join.

The Ugly Fat Quarter Challenge

The current challenge is to make something beautiful for the boutique out of an ugly fabric. Ugly fabric fat quarters were exchanged at the January meeting. The ugly fabric should be dominant (or at least very noticeable) in whatever you make.

Please refer to the newsletter for information about the kinds of things that sell at the boutique. For anyone else who wants to participate, additional ugly fat quarters will be available at the February 9th club meeting. Alternatively, you can pick one of your own fabric out of your own stash. Have fun with this one!

DAGS Small Group

All CAQC members are welcome to join us.

Meets: 1st Wednesday of the month

Time: 10:00-1:30/2:00

Cost: $5.00 Contribution to the church; this is a donation not a requirement.

Location: Meet at Christ Community Church, 897 3rd Ave, Excelsior, MN 55331, (the gray building)

What to bring: Your sewing machine, sewing supplies or hand work and lunch

Supplies provided: Iron, ironing board, cutting mat, fridge and microwave available for use.

Contact people: Kim S or Kathy W

An email will go out before the meeting; interested members should contact Kim S or Kathy W to be added to the email list. (DAGS has been known to take field trips instead of sewing)

All quilting skills are welcomed, come be inspired by the joy of quilting together.

DAGS stands for the Day After Girls, back in the day when we met the day after the CAQC meeting.

Mount Calvary Saturday Group is an open quilting group. An RSVP to Eva V. is required.

Location- Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 301 County Rd. 19, Excelsior, Mn 55331

The next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 7th, from 9:00 - 3:00 pm.

Attendees can drop in and sew and chat throughout the day. Attendees need to provide their own lunch if they stay all day. Some people often walk across the parking lot to Kowalski's to pick something up.

IMPORTANT - Attendees must RSVP to Eva V. by the Wednesday prior to the meeting if they plan to attend. The meeting will be canceled if there aren't 6 confirmed attendees.

Some people hand sew and some bring machines, your choice. There is a convenient side door to the room where we sew on the north side of the church on William Street. This group generally meets one Saturday a month. Email Eva V. to be put on the email list to receive emails about future dates. Eva's email address can be found in the newsletter.