Calgary MQG Basics - 2026 Edition

It's been (ahem) two and a half years since we wrote our initial guild basics post, and it was time for a refresh!

If you're looking for a progressive quilt guild that focuses on the modern aesthetic, and want meetings in the Calgary area, you're in the right place. We have a variety of members at the Calgary MQG - from those who've been around for years and attend most meetings to those who pop in once in a while and some who are brand new. We welcome all members, and do our best to be inclusive to everyone who wants to attend our meetings.

With that, we wanted to set out a few expectations that apply to our guild.:

• Our guild meetings begin at 7:00 PM at the Wildwood Community Association. The doors typically open at 6:30 PM, and we greatly appreciate any help with setting up and taking down chairs and tables. The Community Association has been very flexible with us, and we thank you for helping maintain a positive relationship by returning the space to its original condition.

• Meetings run for approximately two hours and include a mix of programming, updates on upcoming events, and important announcements. We always make time for show and tell—our favourite part—where members can share their latest quilts and projects. As a volunteer-driven organization, we encourage members to get involved by joining a standing committee or even spearheading new initiatives.

• The Calgary MQG follows the MQG Community Guidelines, which are a defined set of expectations on behaviour.  We know that the reasons you quilt vary - from those that use their quilting practice to relax to those who engage with challenging topics in their work.  We strive to make the Calgary MQG a place where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

• We also host a give-and-take table at each meeting. If you have fabric, tools, patterns, or other items you no longer use, feel free to bring them for others to enjoy. As we don’t have storage space, we ask that any unclaimed items be taken home or disposed of in the garbage behind the hall.

• We have several block programs that rotate. 

  • In Block Lotto, members receive a ticket for each block they make, and a draw is held.  The winner gets all of the blocks to make a quilt. 

  • In Blocks for Good, the blocks are collected and finished into quilts for our Community Giving program. 

• We've streamlined our Community Giving activities so that Blocks for Good is our primary activity. Donations of full backing fabric or quilt sized batting can be discussed, and we gratefully decline other donations, and refer members to the give and take table at meetings or local thrift store (m)ARTkit Thrift for items you'd like to rehome.

• We love being social! We currently have retreats scheduled twice a year in Canmore, and sew days locally and virtually. Occasionally one of our members will offer up a mini-course or we book an instructor to teach the guild a new technique.

We're excited you've joined the Calgary MQG - and look forward to quilting with you!