This September, hundreds of quilters from across the country will gather in Chaska for FamFest 2026, a two-day gathering hosted by Minnesota-based GE Designs. With classes, a gala, live music and performances, and a massive fabric tent sale, FamFest gives quilters a chance to connect, learn new techniques, meet fellow makers, and, of course, stock up on the materials.
Courtesy of GE Designs
The event is hosted by Gudrun Erla, founder of GE Designs, whose path into quilting began in her native Iceland. Erla discovered quilting when she was 23 and eventually opened Iceland’s first online quilt shop. After moving to Minnesota with her family in 2003, she continued growing her business and developed GE Designs into an international quilting company known for its modern patterns, tools, books, and online presence.
One of Erla’s best-known creations is the Stripology Ruler, a quilting tool she developed after looking for a faster and more accurate way to cut fabric. The ruler became the foundation for a collection of GE Designs tools and techniques and helped shape the company’s focus on making quilting more approachable. For FamFest guests, the weekend is about more than a shopping trip. The lineup is packed with opportunities to get behind the scenes at GE Designs, take part in special events, and spend time with other quilters who have traveled from around the country.
The festivities will be happening from Sept. 10-12, beginning on Thursday with quilting activities and a special Paisley Park tour. On Friday, visitors can go behind the scenes at the GE Designs warehouse and studio before joining a live taping of the company’s Happy Friday show. That evening, the FamFest Gala will feature dinner, music, raffles, demonstrations, show and tell, and bingo. Saturday brings one of the weekend’s biggest draws: the annual GE Designs tent sale. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the company’s Chaska headquarters (125 Columbia Court N., Bay 8, Chaska) will open to the public for a free event featuring discounted fabrics, quilting kits, tools, live demonstrations, food trucks, music, and special guests.
Courtesy of GE Designs
GE Designs’ reach extends well beyond Minnesota, with its patterns, products, videos, and online programming connecting quilters around the world. FamFest offers those followers a chance to step away from the screen and meet the people in their community face-to-face. So, whether they come for the fabric, the classes, the special events, or simply the chance to spend a weekend surrounded by people who share their interests, FamFest is the perfect place to experience what GE Designs has built in Minnesota.
