Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Exhibit organizer Patty Halla, left, hand embroiders a piece while Quilt Show co-chair Mary Ann Wolf, right, works on the binding of a quilt.

NEW ULM — The New Ulm Quilt Show is an opportunity for quilters of all stripes to gather, trade ideas and appreciate the beauty of the craft.

This year’s show begins Friday, March 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and continues Saturday, March 24, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids between 12 and 18 and free for children under 12.

“You do not even have to be a quilter to be inspired by beauty, to want to go home and produce beauty yourself,” Quilt Show co-chair Mary Jean Janni said.

The newest addition this year is featured quilter Doris Crone. She has quilted since 1982, including professional long-arm quilting, and founded the Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild.

“She is in her 90s and she had this crazy notion of starting the guild a long time ago,” Janni said. “She and her friends organized it, and she was the first president. She is just an exquisite quilter.”

Crone’s work will be on display throughout the show, and she will make an appearance.

The guest artist this year is quilter and author Tony Jacobson. He learned how to quilt from his grandmother when he was 10 years old and never quit.

Jacobson wrote a book with his wife, Jeanne, in 1992, titled “Quilting Around Your Home.” He is nationally recognized and spends his days managing Pieceworks Quilt Shop in Winterset, Iowa.

His speech is titled “Let the Fabric do the Work.” Jacobson will hold a trunk show at 2 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday.

There are two raffles, that guests can purchase tickets to win. The large raffle costs $1 per ticket, or six for $5, with a quilt decorated in a deciduous tree motif called “O Christmas Tree” as a prize.

The small project raffle costs $1 for two tickets and gives participants a chance to win baskets, wall hangings, wine and more.

About 400 pieces will be on display. Jacobson and honorary judges Mayor Bob Beussman and his wife Cheryl will each award a guild member-made ribbon to their favorite quilt.

The show will include special exhibits such as the mystery quilts from 2016 and 2017 — where the guild hands out clues to a quilt until they are revealed by the final clue in April — as well as the Kids Who Quilt show that encourages young quilters by displaying work from youth under 18.

Charity quilts made by the guild also will be on display. Some examples of quilts from the Stitch of Hope, Quilts of Valor and Tummy Time Quilts programs will be displayed. The fourth charity quilt, Compassion Quilts, will not make an appearance.

“Making the charity quilts is a huge part of our guild,” Patty Haala, who organized this year’s demonstrations, said.

Stitch of Hope and Quilts of Valor are both made during special quilt days. The former are given to every new patient at the New Ulm Medical Center’s Oncology Unit.

The guild has made over 125 Stitch of Hope quilts in the last six years.

Quilts of Valor go to veterans to honor their service. The guild has given over 100 quilts to the Brown County and state veterans’ organizations to give to veterans.

Tummy Time Quilts and Compassion Quilts are made by individual members and donated to the guild.

The Tummy Time Quilts go to Brown County Public Health to give to new mothers during home health visits. The quilts are for babies to spend time on their bellies to improve muscle strength.

Compassion Quilts are quilts that the guild donates to anyone who has suffered trauma. That can range from the death of a loved one to a house fire.

The Quilt Show raises money for the Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild and its charity quilt activities. Guild members meet once a month from September to May.

The roughly 75 members usually meet in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (201 N. State St.) the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.

“Our meetings are just fun, because you are meeting with other people who share the same passion with you,” Haala said.

Membership is $20 for a year, and guests can visit one meeting for free, unless there is a speaker that month.

To find out more, visit newulmquiltshow.com or search for the Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild on Facebook. Make sure it is the one located in New Ulm.

“Prairie Peacemakers Quilt Guild is a very supportive group of quilters,” Quilt Show co-chair Mary Ann Wolf said.”We support new quilters — it is just an absolutely wonderful organization to belong to.”

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.