Our in-person meetings will be held at the Chanhassen Recreation Center, 2310 Coulter Blvd., Chanhassen, MN. The regular meeting night will be the second Monday of the month. See the individual meeting information for any changes to time or place for special meetings. Our meeting social time starts at 6:30 pm, the business portion starts at 7pm unless listed otherwise for an individual meeting. Some in-person meetings will feature a speaker presentation over Zoom.
NOTE: If the Eastern Carver County School District calls a snow day, the Community Center is closed, and our meeting will be canceled.
Meeting News
Upcoming 2025 Meetings
November 10th meeting featured speaker Tom Maidl
December 8th meeting Holiday Party
2025 Meeting Details
The November 10th meeting featured speaker will be Tom Maidl. His presentation will be "Country Classic Quilting: It’s All About the Journey"
Tom learned to quilt from his grandmother when he was in 4H in Nicollet County. He also was the 4H champion in Hardanger in 2012. He worked at Sewing Seeds Quilt shop in New Ulm until he acquired his Gammill-Statler long arm.
Tom's "Radiant Star" quilt took third place at this year's Minnesota Quilt show. Tom is a member of the New Ulm guild and was the guild president in 2024. He is also a pianist and self-taught organist. His other interests include raising and showing Clydesdale horses (handling the lines of a 6-horse hitch), and he has two St. Bernards.
Dates to Put on Your Calendar
• November 22, 9 – 3, Mount Calvary Quilt Group
• November 24, CAQC Board Meeting 5 pm Wilder Room, Chanhassen Library
• December 8, CAQC Holiday Party
• January 15-18, 2026, CAQC Retreat
• January 20, 1-3, Try Something New meeting
Check out the newsletter for more information on the following:
Resolution Quilts News:
Just a reminder Resolution Quilt participants should send a snapshot of their finished piece to Kim A, and include “Resolution Quilts” in the subject line. Text submissions should include the participants name as well as the picture.
This year you have until December 31st to finish your quilts. Good luck!!
Our last gift certificate drawing of the year will be at the January 2026 meeting. At that time, we will also have the grand drawing for the black and white fat quarters.
Comfort Quilt News:
The Comfort Quilt Committee has requested Holiday Placemats to be made to brighten many needy people’s holidays. They will be distributed to seniors through CAP and possibly Bountiful Baskets. The suggested size is 14” X 17”, but other sizes are also welcome. 26 placemats have already been received but we would love a few more. Some Christmas fabric will be available at the November meeting for those who can make a placemat before December.
Our completed pillowcases were turned over to Ruth R. to be delivered to The Closet for children entering the foster care system. The remaining completed quilts will be donated to a charity by end of November before the holiday rush.
Once again, thank you for your generosity.
Making a comfort quilt at home? Approximate sizes desired
Kid’s size – 40 x 50”
Lap size – 50 x 60”
Twin size – 60 x 70”
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 2025 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). Send emails to caqcmembership@gmail.com or use the USPS mailing address contained in our monthly newsletters.
Mystery Quilt 2025 News:
Yes, there is a mystery quilt again this year since it’s a non-show year for the Club. The finished quilt measures 60 x 60 with a medallion type center and several borders, some of which are block rows. It’s not a sampler, but there are several different blocks. The quilt is a straight set, not on point, and has five fabrics – a print, two darks, and two lights. The print should be relatively small, and can be floral, swirly, or just something you like. Then pick out two darker coordinates that will be both parts of blocks, as well as narrow borders, and two lighter fabrics for blocks and background.
March 2025 Newsletter -- contains an intro and fabric requirements
April 2025 Newsletter -- has a cutting instruction attachment
May 2025 Newsletter-- attachment contains instructions for making 20-- 1 1/2" half square triangles using the 4-at-a-time method.
June 2025 Newsletter-- attachment contains instructions for making 80--2"x4" flying geese
July 2025 Newsletter-- attachment contains instructions for making 80--2" Half Square Triangles (HST)
August 2025 Newsletter-- attachment contains instructions for making 20-- 4½” Square-in-a-Square units
September 2025 Newsletter-- attachment contains instructions for assembling the center medallion
October 2025 Newsletter-- attachment contains instructions for making 16 "Birds in the Air" blocks
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. Please include what the event was for and any names you want included.
Small Group News:
Try Something New Group: The Try Something New Group meets quarterly. We work on specific challenges that test our creativity, skills, and (sometimes) patience. All are welcome to join. Please consider joining us, even if you don't do the challenge.
The next challenge for the Try Something New Group is to contribute to a group quilt. There are enough participants that we can get 2 quilts done, possibly for the MN Quilt Show and/or for our own September quilt show. There are 2 options for blocks.
1. Variations on the Shoo Fly Block. Have fun with this. Play. Experiment. Seeattached for Shoo Fly instructions. If you need more help, there are many tutorials on the internet. Make a 9-inch finished (9 1/2 unfinished) block with dark and light corners (high contrast). The center is your choice. The middle section on each side is the piece you can vary. All four squares should match within one block, but you are invited to try several variations from one block to the next. See newsletter attachment for more information.
2. Free Hand Curves. Make a 12-inch finished (12 1/2 unfinished) block with multiple free hand curves and multiple colors. Use fabric that is solid, or that reads as solid. There is a great YouTube tutorial on this technique from 2015 featuring Rob Appell. Search for Quilts with Curves: Curved Piecing with Rob Appell of Man Sewing. We are already thinking ahead to a future challenge. Please bring 1 fat quarter of the ugliest fabric in your stash. It will go to a new home and be used as the dominant fabric in a future project.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 20th, 1-3 in the Longfellow Room, Chanhassen Library. Contact person: Kathy W.
DAGS Small Group - All CAQC members are welcome to join+.
Meets: 1st Wednesday of the month
Place: Meet at Christ Community Church, 897 3rd Ave, Excelsior, MN 55331, (the gray building)
Time: 10:00-1:30/2:00
Cost: $5.00 Contribution to the church; this is a donation not a requirement.
What to bring: A 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 be sent out before the we meeting. Please 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 they 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, November 22, 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.
2026 Quilt Show 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 November 2025 Newsletter to see a description of the challenge and the necessary requirements.
Holiday Party 2025
The club will be celebrating the December holidays and all the festivities that go with it at our December meeting.
Our Club party will be held Monday, December 8, at 6 pm at Turtles 1890 Social Club, 112 Lewis Street, Shakopee.
Cost will be $35 per person payable at sign up. Members can sign-up at the November meeting.
The deadline for signing up for the party is 12/1. If you are unable to attend the November meeting or you make a decision later to attend, a check for $35 can be mailed to Debbie T. See her mailing information in the November newsletter.
Please plan on joining in the merriment and good food with your quilting friends.
As a club President finishes up her term, the Chaska Area Quilt Club has a tradition - members can choose to make a block as a thank you gift.
This year our outgoing president has chosen:
• Any star block, any pattern
• Any even size - finished size of 6, 8, 10, or 12 inches
• Light low volume background
• Bright jewel-tone stars - can use multiple fabrics in stars
• Please attach name to block with a safety pin
Blocks can be turned in to Sue W. at the November meeting or at the December party. Blocks will be presented at our Holiday Party. (Note: If needed, blocks can be turned in to Sue after the New Year.)
2026 Retreat – January 15 – 18
The retreat filled at the October meeting, but a wait list has been started. There are always unexpected cancellations. If you have any interest in going to the retreat please send in a completed registration form and a check.
Find the registration form and mailing instructions attached to the November newsletter.
• The retreat will be at Green Lake Camp in Spicer, MN on January 15-18, 2026
• Cost will be $330 for 3 nights. This includes meals, bedding, and a great place to sew.
• Payment must be made with your registration.
• You must be a current member of CAQC.
Any questions, please contact:
Diane B., Kathy D., Beth H., or Anne A. at the addresses on the registration form.
Previous 2025 Meetings
January 13th meeting. This will be an organizational meeting for 2025 Committees. Two CAQC members, former math teachers, shared math tips and tricks to make your quilt project planning clearer in their presentation "What’s Math Got to Do With It?!".
January 16 – 19, 2025 The 2025 Retreat was held at Green Lake Bible Camp near Spicer.
February 10th meeting The featured speaker was Diane Murtha Diane presented her lecture "License to Play".
March 10th meeting The featured speaker was Heidi Parkes.
April 14th meeting This meeting was our annual Comfort Quilt Work Night. Members stitch quilts that will make their way into the hands of refugees, abuse victims, veterans, elder care residents, and children who are severely sick or injured.
May 12th meeting The featured speaker was CAQC member Penny Kaspszak. Penny presented an entertaining view of her quilting journey.
June 9th meeting A small reception was held to honor CAQC member Sharyn Resvick.who was selected by the Minnesota Quilters as the 2025 Minnesota Quilter of the year.
The regular meeting featured a presentation by speaker Debby Boyles who described her artistic journey and shared a trunk show of her quilts and textile works.
July 14th meeting The annual CAQC potluck picnic was held on Monday, July 14 at Lake Ann in Chanhassen in the Klingelhutz Pavilion.
August 11th meeting The featured speaker was Jean McElvain, a curator of the Goldstein Museum of Design. Jean discussed the impact of quilting on fashion through photographs of quilts and wearables from the Goldstein Museum of Design’s collection.
September 8th meeting A last minute speaker cancellation changed the meeting plans. Attendees were treated to a trunk show of the many Comfort Quilts that have been turned in. Then we broke up into small groups and shared quilting histories, favored quilting styles, quilters that we followed online and in general got to know more about fellow CAQC members.
The October 13th meeting The featured speaker was MJ Kinman presenting "Gems of the Smithsonian and the Quilts They’ve Inspired". MJ shared the history and lore of these gems and introduced their eccentric, intriguing and often outrageous owners throughout the ages. Then she lead us through the step-by-step process she uses to transform images into quilt designs and shared her quilts based on these gems. She says, “It’s all about the faceting pattern!”