August 2026 Program

Michelle Freedman - Doll Quilts   Quilt Detectives: Unlocking the Secrets of Antique Doll Quilts.  Put on your sleuthing hat and step back in time!

Michelle Freedman - Doll QuiltsQuilt Detectives: Unlocking the Secrets of Antique Doll Quilts
Put on your sleuthing hat and step back in time! Examine a fascinating collection of 19th- and 20th-century doll quilts, with Michelle Freedman of Maywood Studio. We will uncover the stories behind these tiny treasures together, using fabrics, construction techniques, and design clues. Michelle will share a presentation on the history of doll quilts from the Jan Gessin Doll Quilt Collection.


Michelle Freedman is a quilt maker, designer, and educator based in Portland, Oregon, working with Maywood Studio in marketing and education. Known for blending traditional techniques with modern color palettes and unexpected fabric pairings, Michelle draws inspiration from personal history, pop culture, and vintage textiles. With a background in apparel, textile, and costume design, she brings deep knowledge of fashion history and fabric traditions to her quilt work.
Michelle’s quilt designs have appeared in numerous books and magazines, and she creates original quilt patterns to showcase Maywood Studio’s fabric collections. She is also the steward of the Jan Gesson Doll Quilt Collection, a remarkable collection of 54 doll quilts dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. She has lectured on the collection for quilt guilds and at national events including Missouri Star Academy and the Original Sewing & Quilt Expo, and has written about the collection for Block Magazine.
Through teaching, designing, lecturing, and collaborating, Michelle is passionate about sharing the stories behind textiles and fostering creativity and community within the quilting world.