For generations, the women of Gee’s Bend have turned scraps of everyday life into extraordinary works of art. Now, you have a chance to experience that tradition firsthand—and even take a piece of it home with you. This September, festival registrants have the chance to win one of three one-of-a-kind quilted bags handmade by Gee’s Bend quilter Annie Lou Square.

The Gee’s Bend Tradition

The women of Gee’s Bend didn’t set out to make museum pieces. They were making bedcovers for their families from whatever materials were available: worn work clothes, denim, feed sacks, fabric remnants, whatever the season and household could spare. Out of that necessity came a visual language all their own, and one that was bold, improvisational, and alive.

That language has continued to evolve across generations. Even after inexpensive, ready-made fabric became widely available, Gee’s Bend quiltmakers continued reaching for old work clothes and used materials. Recycling isn’t a limitation here; it’s part of the creative tradition.

Rather than following a strict pattern, quiltmakers often begin with a basic form and then follow their own instincts, combining unexpected shapes, colors, and materials to create what is locally known as a “my way” quilt. That instinct, passed from grandmother to mother to daughter, is what transformed something functional into something extraordinary. Today, Gee’s Bend quilts hang in more than 40 museums across three continents through Souls Grown Deep’s Collection Transfer Program.

Come Experience Gee’s Bend

That spirit comes together every October at the Airing of the Quilts Festival.

The 5th Annual Airing of the Quilts Festival takes place Saturday, October 3, 2026, bringing visitors to Gee’s Bend for a day of quilt displays, workshops, guided tours, and opportunities to meet the women whose hands and stories continue to shape this living tradition.

For Doris Mosely, one of the community’s quilters, that connection is what makes the festival so special. “Meeting people from around the world and sharing my quilts in person makes the Airing of the Quilts Festival truly special,” she says. “It’s more than just selling quilts—it’s about connecting with visitors and sharing the story of Gee’s Bend.”

The festival is organized by the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy and Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders. Both organizations are based within the community of Gee’s Bend and Alberta and are dedicated to preserving and uplifting the history, artistry, and economic impact of the original Freedom Quilting Bee and the Gee’s Bend Quilters. Their work helps ensure that the creative labor and legacy of these women are recognized, protected, and sustained for generations to come.

Wearable Art, Made by Hand

Among the quilters carrying that tradition forward today is Annie Lou Square, whose work embodies the same bold, improvisational spirit that has made Gee’s Bend quilting so distinctive.

Her quilted bags transform that tradition into something you can carry with you: handmade, functional, and completely one of a kind.

“I love what I do, and I hope every quilted bag I make brings someone joy,” Annie Lou says. “I’ll always give back to this community because I love where I live, and I’m proud to share a piece of Gee’s Bend with everyone who carries one.”

This September, three people will have the chance to carry a piece of that story themselves.

Three One-of-a-Kind Bags. Three Winners.

Everyone who registers for the festival at the $40+ General Admission level during September will automatically be entered to win one of three handcrafted quilted bags made by Annie Lou herself.

These aren’t reproductions or mass-produced pieces. The three bags pictured are the actual one-of-a-kind bags that will be raffled off to three lucky winners at this year’s festival, each carrying the same “my way” spirit found in the quilts of Gee’s Bend.

And you don’t have to be at the festival to win. The three winners will be announced live from the festival stage on October 3.

More Than a Giveaway

When you register for the Airing of the Quilts Festival, you’re supporting the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy and its work to preserve the history, artistry, and economic impact of the Freedom Quilting Bee and the Gee’s Bend Quilters.

You’re also giving yourself a chance to experience this extraordinary community firsthand—and perhaps carry a little piece of it with you when you leave.

Register by September 30 for your chance to win one of three handmade quilted bags by Annie Lou Square, and join us in Gee’s Bend on October 3 for the 5th Annual Airing of the Quilts Festival.

Register today: www.airingofthequilts.org.

Want more stories like this? Join our newsletter for more stories rooted in Alabama, delivered to your inbox every Friday.