Quilting In The Country

Whether you visit McHenry County for the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest 2011 or at another time completely, there is an abundance of quilt related site seeing and shopping.

Whether you visit McHenry County in July, August and September of 2011 for the Northern Illinois Quilt Fest or at another time completely, quilt-related sightseeing and shopping is abundant! See amazing quilts, quilted barns, quilt gardens, art exhibits, quilt shops and special events you won’t want to miss. As you explore McHenry County,travel the scenic byways past barn quilts, porch quilts, quilt gardens,quilt shops, quilt shows and quilt displays! Stop off at one of our county’s many farm markets for fresh seasonal produce and shop for hidden treasures throughout McHenry County at Ginger Blossom,Steelheart, Downtown Crystal Lake, the Historic Woodstock Square and Huntley Outlet Center.

DAY 1

Visit Grace Farm Studios in Woodstock, home to an Amish-stylebarn quilt, “Crown of Thorns,” the whimsical 2011 “Great Berry Quilt-Off” exhibit, “Irene’s Morning” (“Best Use of Embellishment,” 2008 Pennsylvania Quilt Extravaganza), organically grown raspberries and a working Icelandic fiber art studio.

Start your shop hop with three of our quilt shops including:Woodstock Quilts and Hopscotch Square in Woodstock and Quilt in Joy in Huntley.

Enjoy your lunch Wild West style at Donley’s Old West Steakhouse, Wild West Town & Museum. Cowboy, law & order, mining and Civil War memorabilia, and an antique phonograph and music box collection judged by the Charles Edison Foundation as one of the finest Edisonia displays in the U.S.

Visit the quilt exhibits at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum in Union. Exhibits will include: “Quilting Optimism Depression Quilts,” “Going Crazy: Crazy Quilts” and “Seeing Red” (an exhibit on political quilts). Union is also home to the Illinois Railroad Museum, America’s largest railway collection. For dinner, try al fresco at Port Edwards Restaurant, a nautical dining experience since 1964. DAY 2:

DAY 2

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the morning along with a refreshing splash at the indoor pool in one of McHenry County’s full- or limitedservicnational brand hotels.

Continue your shop hop to three more quilt shops including: Sunshine & Shadow Quilt Shoppe in McHenry, Pieceful Gathering in Fox River Grove and Material Girl in Crystal Lake.

Spend your lunch hour…or two…relaxing on the Fox River! The Snuggery offers lunch river cruises on their very own pontoon boats. Stop in at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake and enjoy their quilt displays and quilt garden.

View the quilt garden at Countryside Flowershop, Nursery & Garden Center.

See the downtown “Porch Quilts” in Marengo. While there, stop in at Flatlander Market for a great selection of Illinois wines, a sweet treat or grab a gourmet box lunch to go for a yummy meal to enjoy on your way home!

Enhance your quilt experience in McHenry County with our very own local AQS Certified Quilt Appraiser, quilt historian, teacher and quilt maker, Sandy. She offers half-day, one-day and two-day quilt lectures and workshops on a number of quilt-related topics. Her favorite topics are how to protect and safeguard newly-made and older quilts and the importance of labeling your quilts.