Join us for the Calgary Quilt Festival 

2026 Postcard Exchange 

So, it's a LONG time until May 2027 and we want to get to know you - Calgary area quilters, and other quilty friends from all over!

Let's do something fun to exercise our creativity, and build some community.  Quilting is a great way to be creative!

Let's make some quilted postcards.  And send them to a new friend or two.  And enjoy receiving a handcrafted "hello" in the mail.

How it Works (the basics):

• Registration for this postcard swap closed on May 1, 2026. 

• The sign-up form allows you to exchange 1 or 2 postcards with a fellow quilter (or 2).

• We'll match you up with another quilter (or 2) and exchange contact information by May 8, 2026.

• Participants can be from anywhere!  We do ask on the signup form if you are okay to mail outside Canada or not...

• Postcards should be roughly 4x6 inches to 5x7 inches in size.

• Use any quilting technique or techniques to create the postcard (see photos and expanded details below for ideas).

• Your postcard should have a backing that can be written on, be stiff enough that it could be mailed, and have a finished edge.

• Mail the postcard to your new friend(s) by the deadline of May 29, 2026.

• To keep the postcards clean and safe, consider using an outer wrapper or envelope.

• Share your creations on our social media - we'd all love to see the ones you make, and the ones you receive!  Please be mindful to obscure any personal information when you post - last names, addresses, etc should be hidden.  Thanks.

Here's a little gallery of some of our team's postcards in progress!

Expanded Details/Inspiration:

• Size: The pieces are intended to be mailed to the recipient, so we recommend something between 4x6 and 5x7 inches.  

• Front - We encourage you to be creative with this textile based art form!  You're welcome to use traditional block piecing, but also consider improvisational piecing, embellished art (embroidery, beading), english or foundational paper piecing, whole cloth quilting, applique or any other expression of quilting arts.  Depending on your technique, you may want to incorporate quilt batting in this layer.

• Middle - The middle layer of any quilt adds structure and texture, and postcards are no exception.  Depending on your other layers, you may want to add batting for texture, interfacing for structure or both.  For the finished piece, we're aiming for something that is stiff enough that it could be mailed, even if you choose to enclose it in an envelope.

• Backing - Postcards are about communication, so please incorporate something that can be written on.  Plain cardstock is a popular choice, as it's easy to obtain and write on.  We've created some printable templates for you.

• Edging - The simplest technique to produce a finished edge is to zigzag or satin stitch around the edge.  If you're using a cardstock backing, you may want to use a looser zigzag stitch or incorporate the paper separately to avoid perforating the paper completely.  In the resources section, there's also a tutorial for a bound edge.

• Mailing - There are a few practical aspects to mailing postcards. In order to keep the postcards clean and expedite them through the postal service, you may want to place the pieces in a cellophane or paper envelope.  If your piece is very textural or delicate, you may want to consider a padded envelope.

Resources:

• Optional printable Calgary Quilt Festival backing templates - print at "Actual Size"

• Sarah Ruiz has a great overview of quilted postcards, with a free tutorial and free PDF download

• A YouTube video walkthrough by CraftyGemini

• Suzy Quilts has a technique to bind the outside instead of zig-zagging it

• Michelle Wilke has another technique with no raw edges

Have fun with this project - we hope it inspires joy and creativity in your sewing room!