First Timer's Guide to QuiltCon
We know that QuiltCon can be a huge investment, not only in time and money, but in planning also! We get a lot of questions from first-time attendees, so we put together the most common ones to help make your first QuiltCon experience a great one.
Do I have to be a Modern Quilt Guild member to attend QuiltCon 2025?
No, you do not have to be a member, but it sure does pay to be an MQG member if you are planning to attend QuiltCon. MQG members get to register early, before registration opens to the general public. Any MQG member who registers during Member Pricing (July 31st, 2024 – November 30th, 2024) can register for a FREE Four Day Pass, as well as get a 20% discount on workshops and lectures. Find out more about becoming an MQG member today!
Registering for QuiltCon
Preparing for your first Opening Day of QuiltCon Member Registration
The opening day of QuiltCon Member registration is quite the experience, so we want to help our first timers plan accordingly!
Make sure your MQG membership login is working. You must use this login to enter our registration system to receive your free Four Day Show Pass and your member discount on workshop and lecture registration.
Use a laptop or desktop computer for registration. The QuiltCon registration system will work on any mobile device on supported browsers, but you will find it is much easier to use the system on a computer! We suggest using Google Chrome for logging into the system.
Be prepared to wait in the queue.
We are really excited to again use the top virtual waiting room system utilized by Ticketmaster, StubHub, Build-a-Bear Workshop, Bath & Body Works, and other high-demand online sales to make sure that QuiltCon registration goes as smoothly as possible! This virtual waiting room will pace the traffic to the QuiltCon registration site to stabilize the system and ensure fair access.
- The Virtual Waiting Room is a first-in-first-out system that will turn on the moment registration begins at 10:00 AM EDT (2:00 PM UTC).
- All members who click on the Register link on the QuiltCon home page at or before 10:00 AM EDT will be randomized at 10:00 AM for entrance into the registration system. Members who click on the link at 10:01 a.m. Eastern time or later will enter the queue in the order in which they click.
- Once your turn begins, if you are inactive for more than ten minutes, your turn will end and you will need to rejoin the line.
- Once you complete your registration checkout, your turn will end, and if you return to the registration system you will be placed at the end of the line, so plan accordingly.
When can I register for QuiltCon? Do workshops fill up quickly?
Member registration opens July 31st, 2024, non-member registration opens September 12, 2024. If there is a specific workshop you see in the schedule that you wish to register for, we highly recommend registering as soon as possible. Many workshops sell out very quickly, some within the first hours of registration opening.
Have your schedule planned and prepped. Before July 31st, make sure you have your schedule for QuiltCon 2025 all planned! Make sure to have a list of the full course codes for any workshops you are hoping to register for to help you locate them as quickly as possible.
NEW THIS YEAR: If you are using the registration system’s search function, you will need the complete course code as the system will not find partial code. Be sure to type the codes just as you see them on the schedule, with no added spaces. Be sure to have a backup plan for workshops you may want in case your first choices are sold out. Some workshops will sell out within minutes of QuiltCon registration opening so be prepared! Need to prep your schedule? Follow the link below and get your plans set.
I am so excited to take as many workshops as I can! How many do you suggest?
There are so many wonderful things to do at QuiltCon! Many first-timers can feel overwhelmed, so we suggest changing up your activities throughout the day. Plan to take breaks, shop the vendor hall, visit the Quilt Show multiple times, and check out the Demo Stage. With all the activities at QuiltCon, you may only want to take 1-2 workshops your first year attending QuiltCon. This way you can experience a little bit of everything. Learning in workshops is great, but definitely don’t overload yourself, and be sure to leave room for other activities.
What if I don’t get the workshops I want? How to waitlists work?
When a workshop sells out, a waitlist begins. You can join the waitlist for any sold-out workshop you hope to get into. When a waitlist spot opens up, the first person on the waitlist will be contacted and offered the spot to them via email. These emails come from register@themodernquiltguild.com. Before December 31st, three business days notice is given for an attendee to respond to a waitlist offer. Starting January 1st, two business days notice is given for an attendee to respond to a waitlist offer. Beginning January 31st, one business day’s notice is given for an attendee to respond to a waitlist offer, and multiple waitlisters will be contacted at once, with the waitlisted who responds fastest being given the spot, due to the short time remaining before the event. When offered a waitlist spot, attendees have the ability to request to drop any sessions that conflict with the waitlist offer with no penalty.
Please note: Waitlist seats can become available at any time, from now until QuiltCon happens! We never know how much or when a waitlist will move so this is why we always recommend registering for your backup workshops!
How do I get a QuiltCon 2025 goodie bag?
All MQG members who register and pay for their registration during the first week of member registration will be entered to win a QuiltCon goodie bag. The bags will be distributed onsite and goodie bag winners will not be notified in advance. Registrants will find out when they check in at registration if they have won a bag!
I wasn’t able to get any of the QuiltCon merch last year because it sold out so fast. How can I make sure I get some this time?
You’ll see several different options in the registration system to pre-order popular merch items, including the commemorative merch pack. All merch pre-orders must be picked up in person, and there are no refunds for merch pre-orders.
Entering a quilt for the first time
Do I have to be an MQG member to enter a quilt into the QuiltCon Quilt Show?
Yes, to enter a quilt into QuiltCon 2025, you must be an MQG member. You can find more information about becoming a member here.
For all the details, including rules, member challenges, important dates, and judging information, please refer to the Quilt Show tab in the menu or click the link below.