Come November 8, 55,000 enthusiasts from dozens of countries will descend upon the George R. Brown Convention Center for the 44th International Quilt Festival—the largest event of its kind in the country—to admire the artful bedspreads on display, submit their own blankets, and compete for thousands in cash prizes. To mark the occasion, Houstonia hereby submits its own plans for a humble sampler quilt, a classic genre that pieces together a variety of colors and images in a manner that perfectly reflects Mutt City’s hodgepodge identity.

The festival runs November 8–11. For information, visit quilts.com.