Have you ever thought about attending a quilt show, but weren’t quite sure what to expect?

Imagine walking into a space filled with color, texture, and creativity. Quilts hanging like gallery art. The gentle hum of longarm machines stitching steady lines. Conversations between quilters swapping tips, favorite rulers, and “where did you find that fabric?” moments.

That’s exactly what you’ll find at the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo, happening March 19–21 in Lakeland, Florida.

If you’ve never attended a quilting expo before, this guide will walk you through what to expect, what to see, and why it’s worth marking your calendar.

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Who Should Attend?

One of the best things about the Expo? It truly is for everyone.

• Brand-new beginners who just finished their first quilt top
• Intermediate quilters ready to level up their techniques
• Experienced quilters looking for fresh inspiration
• Curious creatives who simply love craftsmanship

Expos are welcoming, energetic, and surprisingly comfortable. You’ll find people who’ve been quilting for 40 years chatting with someone who just learned how to thread a machine. It’s a shared love of making that brings everyone together.

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Expo Hours & What to Expect

This is a three-day event, and you can attend one day or enjoy the whole experience. The expo is open from 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM on Thursday and Friday and from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM on Saturday. (Tip: give yourself more time than you think you need; there’s a lot to see.)  And if you’re feeling unsure about what to do once you arrive, don’t be. The Expo is thoughtfully organized and packed with a variety of options, including quilt exhibits, shopping, stage presentations, hands-on classes, daily giveaways, and more. There's always something happening, so you won't be standing around wondering what to do next!

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Shopping (And Where to Find Us!)

Shopping, shopping, and more SHOPPING!

Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of any sewing and quilting expo is the vendor hall. There are rows of booths. New quilting tools to test in person. Demonstrations are happening right in front of you. Those “I didn’t know I needed this… but now I do” moments. And yes, we’ll be there!

This year, Grace Company will be represented by Tops Vacuum & Sewing, a long-time partner of Grace with ten locations across Florida and additional stores in Texas. And our booth won’t just be a place to browse — it will be a place to explore. We’re bringing innovative solutions designed to make your quilting smoother, more efficient, and more enjoyable.

If you’ve ever been curious about longarm quilting…
If you’ve wondered what quilting automation actually looks like while it’s stitching…
Or if you’ve questioned whether upgrading would truly change your quilting experience…

This is your chance to see it for yourself. We’ll have longarm machines set up on frames so you can actually try them.

You’ll be able to:

• Test drive a longarm quilting machine on a frame
• See Grace quilting frames up close
• Watch quilting automation stitch in real time
• Ask questions and get hands-on guidance

There is something completely different about placing your hands on a machine yourself. You can feel the glide. Watch the stitch formation. See how automation handles curves. Ask questions in the moment and truly understand how it works.

Throughout the show, you’ll also be able to meet two members of the Grace Company team who will be at the booth sharing their quilting experience and helping visitors explore the machines.

                

Meet Julie! Julie has been part of the Grace Company team for four years. She first started sewing at a young age but never quite got the hang of it. When she began working at Grace Company, she decided to give quilting a try and it finally clicked. Even though sewing had never been her favorite hobby before, quilting quickly became something she loved. In fact, she says quilting is totally addicting… almost as addicting as her other favorite hobby: shopping for fabric! Julie currently quilts on an Evolution Elite 10' frame with a 19X Elite, and she absolutely loves both of them.

 

 Meet Katherine! Katherine has been with the Grace Company for three years. She began quilting at home two years ago and quickly discovered that quilting has become her newest obsession. Katherine quilts on the new 21X Elite paired with a 10-foot Evolution Elite frame, and she absolutely loves the setup. Lately, she has been perfecting her quilting automation skills, and the Font Stitcher feature on QCT6 Pro Gold Card is her favorite! She enjoys adding a small quotes, names, or dates to the bottom of her quilts to make each one more personal. For Katherine, the best part of quilting is the joy that comes from giving a finished quilt to someone else.

Julie and Katherine will be walking visitors through the machines step by step, demonstrating features, and helping you figure out what fits your space, your projects, and your goals.

Whether you’re just curious about longarm quilting or seriously considering an upgrade, we’re excited to meet you where you are. More than anything, this Expo gives us the opportunity to connect face-to-face with the quilting community. To hear what you’re working on. To see what excites you. To show you the innovations we’ve been developing to support your creativity. If you’re attending the Expo, please stop by and say hello.

If you’d like to browse products ahead of time or continue researching afterward, you can visit:

  Grace Company to explore machines, frames, accessories, and quilting automation           Tops Vacuum & Sewing to see available products and stores near you!                                       

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Quilt Exhibits That Inspire

Another one of my favorite parts is the exhibit hall. The hall is lined with exquisite quilts. They’re stories. They’re experiments. They’re months (sometimes years) of someone’s time and imagination stitched together.

This year’s exhibits at the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo include collections like:

• Abstraction: Textural Elements
• The Quilted Art and Poetry of Science
• The Beat Goes On – A Tribute to the Music of the 60s
• Quilt Contest 2025 Collection
• North Texas Quilt Festival 2025 Showcase
• Free Spirit Educator Challenge Quilt Collection
• Water Collection

What I love about these exhibits is how different they are from each other.

One takes you back to a cultural revolution shaped by music and social change. Another pulls you into the microscopic world of science and healing. And yet both are doing the same thing: telling stories through quilting. That’s the magic of the exhibit hall. You’re not just looking at quilts; you’re walking through decades of history, personal journeys, creative risks, and lived experiences, all translated into fabric.

If you attend the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo, don’t rush this section. Let yourself linger. Read the placards. Step closer. Step back. See what you notice the second time around.

You may leave inspired to try a new technique.

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Free Stage Presentations You Won’t Want to Miss

Throughout the weekend, there are free stage presentations you won’t want to miss. Here is a link to the full Presentation Schedule to check out the presentations that would interest you.

Some of the quilting highlight presentations:

Thursday: The K9 Quilt of Honor Presentation with Carolyn Bluhm
If you love meaningful storytelling through quilting, this presentation will stay with you long after the Expo ends. The K9 Quilt of Honor ceremony honors retired and fallen military and law enforcement K9s and their handlers. Seeing how quilts can become powerful tributes is both heartfelt and inspiring, and a reminder that quilting is more than fabric and thread.

Friday: Paper Piecing Revolution with Chuck Ely (Legit Kits)
If foundation paper piecing has ever intimidated you, then Friday’s Paper Piecing Revolution presentation might completely change your perspective. Watching complex designs come together step-by-step is equal parts educational and empowering.

Saturday: My Journey with Denim Quilts with Sandra Chandler
If you’ve ever looked at a pile of old jeans and wondered, “Could this become something beautiful?” this one’s for you. Sandra shares lessons from nearly four decades of working with textiles and clothing, offering practical tips and real-world insight into quilting with denim.

Saturday: Finding Your Creativity (When You Don’t Feel Creative) with Mister Larrie
If you’ve ever sat at your sewing machine feeling completely uninspired, this presentation will feel like a breath of fresh air. Mister Larrie brings encouragement, humor, and simple strategies to help you move through creative ruts and rediscover the joy in making.

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Spot Presentations

The fun doesn't stop there! Check out Spot Presentations, which are close-up how-to demonstrations included with your ticket. These are perfect if you love seeing techniques broken down step-by-step. Some of the demonstrations that caught my eye are:

Turning Quilting Cottons into Fabulous Blouses and Tees with Pattie Otto (Thursday & Saturday)
If your fabric stash is overflowing, but your closet feels a little… predictable, this demonstration might be exactly what you need. Pattie Otto shows how to transform beautiful quilting cottons into wearable blouses and tees that are simple to sew and surprisingly flattering. You’ll walk away seeing your stash in a completely new light and already planning your next outfit.

Perfecting Your Projects: Quilting and Embroidery Tips by Floriani (Friday)
If you’re the kind of quilter who loves clean finishes and thoughtful details, this session is full of those “ohhh, that’s smart!” moments. From embroidery enhancements to quilting techniques that elevate your final result, this demonstration focuses on polishing your projects, so they look as good on the inside as they do on the outside.

Rulerwork Magic: Your Quilting Adventure Begins with Donelle McAdams (Saturday)
If rulerwork feels a little intimidating, this is a wonderful place to start. Watching it demonstrated live breaks the process down into manageable steps. With Donelle’s decades of experience in the quilting industry, you’ll see how rulerwork can move from “that looks complicated” to “I think I could do that.”

Be sure to use the link to check out the list of other demonstrations: Demonstration Schedule

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Can't Get Enough? Take Classes!

If you’re looking for quilting classes in Florida, this Expo delivers. Classes begin on Wednesday (before the main show opens) and run daily. Topics range from technique deep-dives to quilt history to hands-on projects. Classes do have an additional fee of $32.00 plus any materials needed, but they're a wonderful way to grow your skills while connecting with other quilters who share your interests.

Here's a list of a few standouts:

History in the Making: A Study of Quilts from 1886 to Present
Explore how quilting reflects culture, history, and personal storytelling.

Seasonal Charms: Spring Blossom
Create a beautiful spring block you can use again and again.

Scraptastic: Secrets for Scrap Quilts
Practical techniques for transforming scraps into stunning finished projects.

Don't see the class you want? Check the class schedule for the full lineup:Class Schedule

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Daily Giveaways

Don’t forget to enter the daily prize drawings! You will receive your Super Prize Drawing entry ticket each day at the expo. They will be giving away several items from sewing machines to an Expo bag valued at hundreds of dollars, filled with tools and supplies! Prizes will be given away at 5:15 PM on Thursday and Friday, and at 4:30 PM on Saturday. So set an alarm, because you don't want to miss out! Winners must be present with a photo ID to claim their prize.

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Why Attend the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo in Lakeland?

Not convinced enough to attend yet? Yes, there’s shopping and classes. Yes, there are incredible longarm quilting machines and tools to try.

But more than anything, there’s community. Quilt shows aren’t just about fabric and equipment. They’re about meeting someone who’s been quilting for decades. Sharing tips while browsing rulers. Laughing over an impulse purchase. Finding inspiration when you didn’t even realize you needed it. Come enjoy the community of fellow quilters. And if you’re attending the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo in Lakeland 2026, make sure to stop and say hello. We can’t wait to meet you and share the experience together.

Will we see you in Lakeland?

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FAQ: Original Sewing & Quilting Expo Lakeland

Where is the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo in Lakeland held?
The Expo takes place in Lakeland, Florida, from March 19–21.

Are there quilting classes available?
Yes! There are quilting classes in Florida offered daily, starting on Wednesday, covering techniques, history, and hands-on projects. There is a class fee of $32 plus materials.

Can I try longarm quilting machines at the Expo?
Yes , several vendors, including Grace representatives through Tops Vacuum & Sewing, will have longarm quilting machines available for demonstrations and test drives.

Are stage presentations included with admission?
Yes, stage presentations and Spot Demonstrations are included with general admission tickets.

What are the hours of the Expo?

Thursday & Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM and Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM