Sterling Public Library opens 23rd annual Quilt Show with 35 quilts

Sterling Public Library opened its 23rd annual Quilt Show in early March 2026, bringing 35 quilts and quilted pieces into the library’s galleries and inviting patrons to cast daily votes for a People’s Choice Award. The display runs through the end of March and lines one of the library walls with historic and modern work spanning heirlooms to novelty pieces.

This year's show features 35 entries. The purpose of the display is to celebrate the art and techniques of quilting, and a brochure for the show highlights the range of makers and motives: “This year, as in past years, we have quilts executed with a wide variety of skill levels. No one starts out as an expert quilter and we want to show that a quilt made by a beginner is loved and enjoyed as well as the highly technical, expertly done quilt. Every quilter has their own reason for quilting and their own skill sets that let them enjoy the process, as well as treasuring the finished product.”

Among the pieces drawing local attention is the 104-year-old Baby John Quilt, a 28.5-by-47-inch coverlet entered by Sue Lambrecht. The quilt was made by Lambrecht’s Grandma Eva for her baby son John, was given to Lambrecht when her first son was born 51 years ago, and was stored for safekeeping until now; Lambrecht plans to pass the quilt on to a daughter for her new baby son, preserving an intergenerational connection through textile craft.

Visitors will find named works and makers throughout the galleries: a Quilt of Valor made by Jeannette Lininger, a Fresh Cut Garden quilt entered by Sharon Tseu, a Pretty-In-Pink Floral Basket Heirloom Quilt on display, and an Adorable Puppy Quilt made by Carrie Mann that was gifted to the show. Additional entries include a Christmas themed wall hanging made by Sharon Palmer, a quilt depicting a bookshelf made by Leslie Rosa, and a quilt displayed by Kelly Blecha. The “Life Is Better at the Barn” theme appears in at least one entry, underscoring the show’s mix of local motifs and traditional subjects.

The library points out that the older quilts in the show reflect how the quilt was treasured; some pieces were loved and used while others were stored so they could arrive in pristine condition. Patrons are invited to vote daily for the People’s Choice Award; in past years the library noted a prize for that award. A library notice from 2021 advised that “Quilts will be displayed throughout the library for everyone to enjoy” and that “Entry forms are available to pick up now at the library or you can email library@sterlingcolo.com and we will email a form to you,” though current-year entry deadlines and voting mechanics were not specified in the materials released for 2026.

The exhibition brings visible craft and family history into downtown Sterling for the month, offering both longtime quilters and newer makers a public forum. With 35 entries on view through the end of March, the show foregrounds quilting as a living practice in Logan County and a tangible way families and neighbors pass skills and stories across generations.