Welcome!

Welcome to the official website of the DeKalb County Quilters' Guild.

Are you a fan of quilting?

Do you live in the DeKalb County area?

NO experience necessary!!
Many of us are beginners!!
But many of us are experienced and that is how we ALL learn.

The DeKalb County Quilters' Guild might be right for you. On this site, you can find the DCQG meeting schedule and information about our guest speakers and their lectures and workshops. Click Meetings here or above.

You can also find information about area quilt shows and events. Click Newsletters here or above.

How to contact our directors is on Directors page.

So take a look around, and if you like what you see, come to our next meeting and join the guild. We'd be happy to have you.

Our meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of every month, with the exception of November (no meeting) and December (special holiday party), at 7:00pm at St. Mary's Parish Activity Center (PAC), 322 Waterman Street, Sycamore, IL 60178.

Harvest of Quilts 2008 Quilt Show

Saturday October 4, 2008 * 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday October 5, 2008 * 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Clinton-Rosette Middle School
650 N. First Street
DeKalb, IL 60115

More information —> Quilt Show

A Brief History of the DeKalb County Quilters' Guild

In October, 1979, six women with quilts on their minds got together to establish a guild which would promote the art of quilting in our community. Word was passed that a meeting would be held and anyone who was interested in joining such a guild was welcome.

Within the year there were eleven active members. Meetings were held at the Woodgate clubhouse on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The name chosen for the guild was The DeKalb County Quilters' Guild with the Golden Corn Patch as the logo. Membership fees were established at $10 per year due in March. The first newsletter was sent out to its members in April, 1980.

Meetings consisterd of sharing quilts, small workshops put on by more knowledgeable members, and getting to know each other as individuals who shared the common thread of quilting as a passion. A fabric box was brought to each meeting where members were encouraged to place unwanted fabrics. During the meetings, members were given the chance to go through the box to see if there was something they would like. The only rule was that if you took something out of the box, you should put something else in it. Patterns were also shared along with general knowledge about quilts, patterns, and techniques.

Field trips were organized and quilt shows and symposiums were attended. A trip to Kalona, Iowa, to share the Amish love for quilts was attended by several of our members. Years later several trips to Shipshawanna, Indiana, were organized for the enjoyment of the Guild membership. This tended to be time our members cherished. We all got to know each other better. After a day at Shipshawanna, everyone boarded the bus with a big grin on her face.

In February, 1981, the first paid speaker to attend our guild was Joan Truckenbrod from the NIU Art Department. She spoke to our group about colors and design. The guild paid $35 for her presentation. The in March, 1981, Ed Larson from Chicago attended our guild to speak to us about his picture quilts. Among the "famous" quilters who have spoken to our guild over the years are Doreen Speckman, Carol Falhert, Nancy Pearson, Ruth McDowell, Kay Sorensen, Crystal Carter, and Harriet Hargrave.

The first quilt show presented by the guild was in October, 1981, during the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival at St. Mary's Church. Quilts from our members and members' families were featured. A raffle quilt was also made by the members. The members of the Guild participated in DeKalb County's 150th Birthday celebration by not only putting on a quilt show, but by also making a historical DeKalb County Quilt which was donated to the County and now hangs in the DeKalb County Courthouse.

The Guild has been incorporated with new by-laws pertaining to non-profit organizations under the State of Illinois. The membership grew from the original eleven members to over 100 members in 1995. Many traditions are still followed as we continue to grow both in numbers and knowledge.