The International Quilt Festival is the South by Southwest of its industry. It may not lead to drunken parties that end at 5 a.m., but it is the converging ground for quilters. Booths will be set up with all kinds of supplies and needlework crafts. Classes and seminars for both the beginner and expert quilter will be offered throughout the festival. And, of course, there will be quilts over a thousand of them, ranging from priceless antiques in traditional patterns to abstract contemporary works, from folk art simplicity to virtuosic complexity in their design. Up-and-coming quilters head to the festival from around the globe and, much like at SXSW, you might just rub elbows with a future star (of course, one more likely to make the cover of American Patchwork than Spin). Festival runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 1, through Saturday, November 3. George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas. For tickets and information, call 713-781-6864 or visit www.quilts.com. $8 to $10 per day; $35 for a full-festival pass.
Wed., Oct. 31, 7-10 p.m.; Nov. 1-2, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 2007