Our current understanding of the rich history of quilting in Minnesota is largely due to the Minnesota Quilt Project (MQP). MQP participants conducted Quilt Discovery Days at various cities and towns throughout Minnesota in the late 1980's and 1990's. Some of those quilts were featured in the book "Minnesota Quilts: Creating Connections with Our Past." MQP has continued to document quilts for individuals and for public institutions; more than 4000 quilts have been documented. The documentation information has been made available on the public database The Quilt Index based at Michigan State University.

The Minnesota Quilt Project (MQP) is a standing committee of Minnesota Quilters, Inc. Any MQ member is welcome to take part in our meetings and activities. Meetings are held monthly, remotely or in-person. To learn more, contact [email protected].

MQP members are quilt lovers who are interested in one, some, or all of the following:

• Preserving quilts and quilt history
• Understanding the historical significance of quilts
• Learning about the fabrics, tools, and methods used in quilt making
• Collecting and preserving the stories of quilt makers yesterday and today

Goals and Projects:

• Identify and document quilts that have a Minnesota connection
• Preserve photographs and information
• Make our collected data available to interested parties via The Quilt Index, and by facilitating access to documentation records by interested persons
• Collect the stories of Minnesota quilters and share them in the newsletter and on the website, at The Quilt Index, and in outreach to news services.
• Share information on the history of quilting and quilt makers at the MQP booth at The Minnesota Quilt Show, in invited lectures, online, and in the MQ newsletter