Kalona quilt show returns this weekend

KALONA — The quilt show with a reputation for drawing far away visitors returns to town this weekend. Woodin Wheel Antiques Co-owner Katie Karnes, who runs the show, said it would feature around 200 pieces for its 51st year.

“It’s always fun, we’ll have a lot of antique quilts this year, more than in the past,” she said. “It’s always fun to see where all the people come from (and) all the different quilt designs and patterns that they’ve done, the new quilts they worked on over the winter.”

The antique items range in date from as recent as 1940 to as far back as 1850, according to Karnes. All of them are handmade.

“We’re one of the few shows that still only do hand-quilted quilts,” she said. “That makes our show a little more unique … and we’re known for our quilts, so people come from all over knowing that.”

They also vary widely in price.

“The price range can go anywhere from about $200 to about $5,000,” she said. “For the antique ones, it’s the age and condition, for the new ones, they’ll just be spectacular with a lot of hand applications and things like that … the quilters themselves don’t get paid for their hours of work, it’s more for the love of quilting, they put in so many hours.”

Karnes said she hoped to see bigger crowds this year, after 2021’s show was smaller in the wake of the pandemic.

“Last year’s attendance was a little down, so we’re hoping to bounce back,” she said. “You never know with gas prices, but I think people are still ready to travel … I just hope people come out and enjoy the beauty, because it’s an artwork. Some people come to buy, some people come to just look and see what’s new.”

The show opens from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, all day (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Kalona YMCA.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com