What is Pinwheels and Friends?

Pinwheels and Friends (PNF) began as a continuation of our local Shop Hop after several shops closed. We initially started the concept of Pinwheels and Friend as a One-Stop Shop Hop under one roof. We continued the concept of playing a game, receiving a pattern, getting a goody bag and raffling a grand prize while visiting vendors in the setting of a Hotel.

Similar to traditional Shop Hops, attendees receive a “passport” which the vendors checke as attendees visit their booths. Vendors pass out a FREE pattern to all attendees. Attendees are able to take their time, visit with the vendors, see their quilts, their products and shop before going to the next vendor without the pressure of “racing” from store to store.

Where is Pinwheels and Friends held?

Our first Pinwheels and Friends was held in 2013 in Mount Kisco, NY. We chose the Holiday Inn as the perfect venue to hold our intimate One Stop Shop Hop. Being a smaller space, we were fortunate to provide a personal shopping experience to our attendees. 

In 2016 we expanded Pinwheels and Friends to Sturbridge, MA at the Sturbridge Host Hotel. The Host provided a bigger room for vendors along with several rooms for classes and lectures realizing a larger show. 

What activities are at Pinwheels and Friends?

Mini-Classes 

Coming from an educational background, we felt offering short “technique” classes would be an invaluable way to share our vendors’ expertise while building on quilting skills. The Mini-Classes fit this bill. Each class is approximately 45 minutes and are the catalyst in teaching a technique our vendors specialize in. These techniques can be in constructing a pattern, a special tool, or stitch. Mini kits are provided to all students in class to teach these skills. Students aren’t expected to finish the project in the Mini-classes, but should be able to walk away with the knowledge and understanding of the technique.  

Classes and Lectures

We are fortunate to have met many distinguished teachers and lecturers throughout our travels in the quilting world and are very pleased to be able to bring their expertise to our event.

Quilt-cation  

A popular event at Pinwheels and Friends is Quilt-cation. This is your time to bring your quilting projects and be able to “rent” a chair for the weekend. Your chair and table will be available to you all weekend without interruptions, so, bring your friends and project to quilt all weekend long.

What’s in the future?

We will continue to hold our NY event at the Holiday Inn Mount Kisco.

We are also procuring a larger space so we can provide a unique quilt display to our Sturbridge, MA event. We strongly feel quilts and quilters should tell a story, and those stories need to be heard. In 2017 we will be able to bring the first of those stories to Sturbridge, MA.