About Modern Quilting

Modern quilts are primarily functional and inspired by modern design. Modern quilters work in different styles and define modern quilting in different ways, but several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt. These include, but are not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. “Modern traditionalism” or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting.

Modern quilting has existed in many forms for much of the 20th century. It wasn’t until the 2000’s that quilts with a modern aesthetic began to appear in greater numbers and quilters began to describe themselves as modern.

A defining event occurred in 1998 when Martha Stewart Living featured Denyse Schmidt, calling her quilts a “chic, modernist aesthetic.” For many quilters in the early days of the movement, this was a key inspirational moment.

The growth of the movement was facilitated by four factors: the cultural shift of quality design being recognized by the general public, affordable digital cameras, the changing fabric industry and the rise of social media.

In 2009, Alissa Haight Carlton and Latifah Saafir founded the Modern Quilt Guild giving the online community a chance to form in person connections with other modern quilters.

In 2010, Christy Foltz-Ahlrichs started the Boise chapter of the nationwide Modern Quilt Guild. Our guild is a small but growing group of Boise-area quilters that gather each month to learn more and talk about modern quilting.

Boise Modern Quilt Guild Board of Directors

  • Darla Christiansen, President
  • Marilyn Shake, Vice President
  • Kathleen Stockton, Treasurer
  • Shelly Harshman, Membership Coordinator
  • Lindsie Bergevin, Immediate Past President

The Boise Modern Quilt Guild is an affiliate member of the Modern Quilt Guild, Inc. Through a group exemption with the Modern Quilt Guild, Inc., we are a 501c3 tax-exempt entity.