Quilt Extravaganza shines spotlight on Saskatoon textile artist

They were made by her grandmother, a woman who quilted by hand in the 1930s, before rotary cutters, long-arm machines or fancy fabric dyes.

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Barlow never got the chance to sit beside her grandmother and stitch. But those quilts, those tangible pieces of love and labour, planted a seed that would grow into something extraordinary.

Today, Barlow is one of Canada’s most accomplished quilters. She’s long-arm quilted over 3,000 blankets and wall hangings, creates stunning art pieces that look more like paintings than textiles and is one of only 14 nationally certified quilt judges in the country.

Barlow has a background in floral design, and says many of the same skills are used when creating quilts. She has an eye for colour and composition. (Submitted)

But when you ask her how it all began, she doesn’t mention awards or accolades. She talks about the matriarch of her family.

“I was told that when Grandma went to work on a quilt, somebody came over and did the cooking and stayed for like a week so she could focus on working on it,” she said, laughing. “And honestly, I’ve said the same thing. When I’m working on a quilt, I’ll say, ‘Don’t expect me to cook every night. You need to cook. I can’t focus on anything but getting this piece done.’”

This week, almost 100 years after her grandmother stitched the quilts that inspired her, Barlow is being celebrated as the featured quilter at the 2025 Quilt Extravaganza, hosted by the Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild.

Listen to the story on Behind the Headlines:

Debora Barlow has spent thousands of hours behind this long arm sewing machine over the last two decades. She has quilted over 3,000 blankets and wall hangings for herself and others. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Stitch by stitch: A creative life unfolds

Barlow didn’t begin quilting seriously until adulthood. She was a farm kid, taught to sew at age 10 through 4-H, where she made clothes instead of quilts.

For years, she poured her creativity into competitive floral design, even representing Canada at the FTD Interflora World Cup in Amsterdam in 1997.

But when that chapter closed, another quietly opened.

“I made my son a quilt, and I enjoyed it,” she recalled. “I picked up a magazine one day and thought, ‘Well, I could make a quilt instead of making clothes.’”

It wasn’t long before quilting became more than a hobby. It became a calling.

This quilt, titled Bountiful Land, was inspired by Barlow’s memories of her father walking in the field on their family farm. (Submitted)

Binding it together: Finding her people

Not long after she began quilting, Barlow found the community that would support and inspire her for decades to come: the Saskatoon Quilter’s Guild.

“It was life-changing,” she said. “I joined 25 years ago and found out how much diversity there is in this craft. The Guild is such a diverse group of women. We enjoy the simple craft, but there’s such an artisan group of art quilters too. The mix is just incredible and they support one another.”

That support shows up in every meeting, every workshop, every shared tip. Education and encouragement are stitched into the fabric of the Guild itself.

“Anybody will share anything. They are always about educating and giving tips,” Barlow said. “They’ll do programs where you learn a new technique for an hour or two… and then it’s about where you take it.”

One of the Guild’s most beloved traditions is “Show and Tell,” a time at the end of each meeting when members unveil their latest creations.

“You’ve got to stay for Show and Tell!” Barlow said with a smile. “It’s the highlight.”

Barlow’s art quilts may be decorative, but they still bring comfort to those who own them. This quilt, Walking With Mom, is a treasured memorial piece. (Submitted)

Threading the needle: Art quilts that challenge and inspire

Barlow doesn’t just make quilts. She creates fabric masterpieces that blur the line between craft and fine art.

Her most ambitious piece to date is Weir Fishing, a layered art quilt based on a photograph of pelicans she saw in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix. Every detail — from the birds’ feathers to their reflections in water — was recreated using hand-dyed fabric and delicate layers of organza.

“I toyed with the idea of changing the composition,” she said. “But every one of them had a different body language, a different tension in their feathers. I had to do it how it was.”

Barlow’s art quilt Weir Fishing was inspired by a photo taken by Jeff Lyons. This piece won Best In Show at Quilt Canada in 2024. (Submitted)

What followed was a creative marathon.

“It was layers and layers. I dyed the fabrics. Every little piece is appliquéd on by hand… I spent 21 days, six or seven hours a day, just quilting it. That one burnt me out. I haven’t touched another art quilt since.”

And yet, the piece stands as a testament to Barlow’s dedication and her ability to translate vision into fabric. It will be on display at this year’s Quilt Extravaganza.

But Weir Fishing is just one example of her fearless experimentation. Over the years, Barlow has worked with suede, plush, tea-stained cottons and mixed media to create deeply personal quilts. That includes one for the Saskatoon Western Development Museum’s centennial, rich with prairie symbolism: wheat, lilies, northern lights and flying geese.

Each quilt tells a story. Some take months. Some take years. All are stitched with intention.

Piecing the pattern: A show for everyone

What can you expect at the upcoming 2025 Quilt Extravaganza? According to Barlow, just about everything.

“A quilt show is an exhibition of the craft of making quilts,” she explained. “You’ll see everything from baby quilts to king-sized, from very simple piecing to incredibly complex designs.”

The details in this art quilt are breathtaking when you pause to take a closer look. Barlow freehand quilted the entire piece on her long arm machine, spending three full weeks perfecting every single inch of stitching. (Submitted)

“It’s a very big honour to be selected from this large group of women to be highlighted at the show,” she said, her pride unmistakable.

For Barlow, quilting isn’t just something she does. It’s part of who she is. It’s a way to express herself, to connect with others and to leave something meaningful behind.

“It’s good for the soul. Makes you feel good,” she said. “There’s nothing like sleeping under a handmade quilt. It’s the best, isn’t it?”

The Quilt Extravaganza this weekend is an opportunity for those unfamiliar with the craft to walk among the quilts. See the colours, the textures, the stories stitched into every seam. Meet the makers. Watch a demonstration. Try your hand at something new.

And maybe you’ll feel something shift, like it did for Barlow all those years ago when she picked up a quilting magazine and thought: “Well, I could do that.”

She did. And look where it led.

Full circle: A legacy in stitches

Barlow may not have sat beside her grandmother with a needle in hand. But in the quiet folds of those two nearly century-old quilts, something was passed on all the same.

Not a technique. Not a pattern.

A love for the process. A reverence for the time it takes. The understanding that sometimes, everything else has to pause — the cooking, the chores, the noise — so the work of the heart can get done.

“I’ve often thought of her,” Barlow said softly. “And I’ve done the same thing.”

The creation of Weir Fishing took seven years from start to finish. Barlow said the process was painstaking, but worth it. (Submitted)

Her grandmother’s quiet dedication helped spark a life devoted to quilting, one that has blossomed into art, community and legacy.

This October, those decades of devotion will be on full display at the 2025 Quilt Extravaganza, hosted by the Saskatoon Quilters’ Guild. From intricate art quilts to cozy bed-sized pieces, hundreds of creations will celebrate the craft, the makers, and the stories woven into every seam.

And at the heart of it all is Debora Barlow, a woman whose work is both a tribute and testament to the generations before her and an invitation to anyone curious enough to pick up a needle and thread.

Quilt show quick facts