The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to present Inspiring Stitches: Embroidery Quilts by Millie Sorrells, celebrating the artistry and creativity of one of the region’s most accomplished quilters. The exhibition features new embroidery quilts, many with festive winter and holiday themes, showcasing Millie’s joyful use of color, intricate stitching, and imaginative design. Each quilt reflects her enduring dedication to the craft and her ability to transform fabric and thread into stories full of warmth and beauty.

Now in her nineties, Millie Sorrells continues to explore new techniques and push the boundaries of quilting. Her work demonstrates innovation and craftsmanship, from dimensional flowers and tiling to precise machine embroidery. Millie’s quilts combine traditional methods with contemporary techniques, creating pieces that are visually dynamic and emotionally engaging.

Sorrells is a charter member of the American Quilters Society and a past president of the Land of Lincoln Quilters. She remains active in several regional quilt guilds and has earned national recognition. Her quilts have been exhibited across the country and are part of the permanent collections of the Illinois State Museum, the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska, the National Quilt Museum in Kentucky, and the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. In 2022, Millie donated several of her quilts to the Western Illinois Museum, ensuring her hometown community can continue to enjoy her artistry.

This exhibition highlights both the beauty of the finished quilts and the creative processes behind them. Millie’s work demonstrates how color, texture, and composition can be combined to create quilts that delight the eye and stir the imagination. Explore her innovative techniques and appreciate the skill, patience, and problem-solving that go into each piece.

Special thanks to volunteers Sandi Bolster and Dona Lantz, and Collection Manager Karen Mencel, for their support with research and installation.

Funding for this program is provided in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.