On Saturday, September 11th (rain date: Saturday, Sept. 25th), the sixteenth annual Stories of the Stitch will paint the hills of Matthews Living History Farm with quilts of every imaginable color and pattern. This year’s festivities will showcase a wide variety of disciplines within the world of traditional fiber arts. Live demonstrations, include quilting, weaving, spinning, felting along with celebrating the Matthews LHFM Heritage Day!  Admission to the day’s activities is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.  In addition to the celebrated judged Quilt Show, we’ll have local musicians, arts & craft vendors, food & drinks, and entertainment for the whole family. There will even be a “Kissing Booth” with Mr. Belcher, Matthews Farm’s resident Donkey – donations from the Kissing Booth will benefit the Farm’s free public programming.

The Arts Council and Matthews Living History Museum is joining forces this year to remember the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, and to honor Peter James Ganci, Jr.  Peter was a Vietnam Veteran who rose up the ranks of the FDNY to become Chief of Operations.  Peter died helping to save fellow firemen when the North Tower collapsed.  Joining in on the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony will be members of the Ganci Family, representatives of Quilts of Valor and the Jr. ROTC Cadets from Carroll County.

Quilters are welcome to enter their creations the day of the event in the following categories: Hand-Pieced & Hand-Quilted, Half & Half (Hand & Machine Worked), Machine-Pieced & Machine-Quilted, Appliquéd (Hand or Machine), Foundation Paper Piecing, Other (art, clothing, pillows, etc.), Classic Quilts (created before 1940), Youth (for quilters under 20), Best Story or ‘Quilt Tale’, People’s Choice.  Quilts may be offered for sale. Quilts should not be mass-produced, manufactured or store-bought. We do ask that winning quilts from previous Stories of the Stitch shows not be entered.

Each quilt may be accompanied by a story or “quilt tale” (optional). The story should be pinned to the quilt front, but not reveal your name and should be typed if possible. Stories may be about the history of the quilt, the pattern, the personal significance of the quilt, the quilt-maker, or a tall tale. A ribbon will be awarded for the best story.

As a special incentive to dig-out your best quilt – or even Granny’s Best Quilt that you’ve stashed away in the old cedar chest, each quilt entered in the show will also be entered for a custom-made quilters bag stuff with quilting notions and goodies.  Enter one quilt, get one chance.  Enter 12 quilts, get 12 chances to win this marvelous prize, donated by Ashley Jurney.

There is no limit on how many quilts a family may pre-enter, as long as there is a person to hang each quilt before 11:00am. Quilts must remain hanging until 3:00pm, weather permitting. Bring enough clothes pins to secure the quilt to the line and remember to pin your name to the back of each quilt.  Quilters are reminded that this is an outdoor event. The Arts Council & Matthews Farm are not responsible for damage by mother nature or her creatures. If rain is imminent the judging will conclude in the pavilion.

Directions to Stories of the Stitch/Matthews Farm from Galax: take US 58 West toward Independence. Turn left onto Meadow Creek Road (1/2 mile after the blinking light at W. Stuart Drive). Continue on Meadow Creek Road 1.5 miles & turn right onto White Pine Road. The Farm is .3 miles on your right.

The Arts & Cultural Council of the Twin Counties is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts throughout the Twin Counties.  The Arts Council is funded in part by area individuals and businesses, local municipalities, The Twin County Community Foundation, The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.  For more information, please visit the Arts Council website, www.artsculturalcouncil.org or call the office at 276-238-1217.

2021 SOTS Entry Forms – Download your quilt entry forms here!