I'm looking for ideas to use as a challenge for my quilt guild. Last year we had a "monochrome challenge" that worked well. Everyone picked a paint chip at random out of a bag and then had to make a quilt using light, medium and dark tones of that colour plus white and/or black. The suggested size was small (8.5 by 11 in) so that people could usee fabric from their sashes more easily.
This year I need some inspiration for a new idea. I know this has been discussed in the past but I couldn't find the thread. So can you help me out by repeating some neat ideas that have worked for you and your guild?
Our challenge last year was similar to yours, though not identical. We had two FQs of black/white prints we were required to use (at least one piece of identifiable size), along with only one other color. In addition, the quilt had to be embellished in some way. My finished piece is on my site at ; one of our Pat on the Hill/Back's patterns had jumped out and hit me in the face; I just knew I had to make this one for that challenge. :)
This year we were given a FQ and a smaller piece of two fabrics that really don't "go together". Both went from a dot of one color on a background of another color, then transitioned to the opposite. One of the fabrics was red/yellow, and the other was purple/green. This quilt must be beaded, too.
Since I'm not really into embellishing or beading, this is difficult for me. I've finished this year's quilt (a mini) except for the beading, and I'm waiting for inspiration to strike for that part.
black and white fabrics, add one color favority story depiction a house America use a photo for inspiration embellishment required require some image, e.g. star, flower, barn, child, farm a garden
Did you see in Quilting Arts Magazine (August/Sept 2009) the "whisper" challenge? This wouldn't really work for a guild, but would be fun in a small group. The first person makes a quilt based on a photo, sends the quilt to the next person who makes a quilt based on the quilt received. Only the first person sees the original photo; the others see only the quilt they receive. Even with a group of 12 and a one-month time limit, this could take a whole year, but sounds like fun. Lobo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Delete the obvious to reply to me personally. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love the idea you used last year! I think I will suggest that to my committee chairman - could be a terrific result. This year we had a cushion challenge, with a 6" square piece of challenge fabric. The variety achieved was fantastic, and much admired by our visitors. . In message , Allison writes
Another variation on the colour idea (done by a different local guild) is to get two paint chips that match the initials of your name. And then see if anyone can guess who did what!
I saw the final quilt done by someone from our guild who is also in the other guild. It was essentially a black and white quilt - but the paint chip names were Gorgeous White and Lovely Black (or the equivalent) which fit her initials of GL. :)
Allis> I love the idea you used last year! I think I will suggest that to my
I like the idea of starting with a one word theme....house, star, etc etc. Lots of scope for interpretation.
We've already used the photo idea - had some very nice quilts from that one so I recommend it to others. A variation on the theme is to start with a piece of artwork for inspiration - we did that too.
And yes, I did see the whisper quilt series. That was so cool! And if you're a member at the QA website you can see other pictures of the series of quilts. I think our guild is too small for that particular challenge though.
Here are two challenges I have participated in plus one that I have read about that I think would be fun.
Brown Bag Challenge: Participants put at least two yards of fabric (two or more pieces) in a brown bag along with a slip of paper with their name on it. The bags are shuffled and everyone takes someone else's bag home; you keep it a secret whose name you get! Add fabrics as necessary to make a quilt top (sized from 60" by 60" to 80" by
80"). In six months we bring the projects back and present them to the originator of the bag. There are always some great quilts and even greater stories. Both times I have received amazing quilts!
Border challenge: We were given three fat quarters; we had to use a recognizable piece of all three. We were to make a wallhanging 18" by
18" that had at least three borders. This ended up being a multiple challenge by the time you added up using the fabrics, the size limitation, border designs, and then what the heck to put in the middle.
What was I thinking?: Each participant brings in a piece of fabric that they have had in their stash and falls under the category of "what was I thinking?" It doesn't have to be an "ugly," of course, since it could just be outdated taste or "why did I buy five yards of this?" Participants stand in a circle and pass the fabrics while music is played. Someone stops the music... Optional: There could be three rounds of music; if you think you can do something with the first piece then leave the circle with it. If you want to take your chances then go for the next round. Real risk takers could stay in for round three!
Bert in Rice, WA who always gains some knowledge and experience out of the angst that goes with a challenge
the "suhn-dey" challenge -- we were provided a FQ of a yellow fabric -- then had to make a quilt that represented "suhn-dey" in one way or another -- could be Sunday or sun day or son day or sundae... we got some really great quilts. Some were included in our quilt show this year -- you can see them on my webshots page -- in the show album -- pictures #144 - 150 - starting at the bottom of page 12.
Another was to depict a song title in a quilt -- some of those were also in the show... page 12 =- numbers 135 - 143.
Here is a place that might also give you some ideas:
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if you Google Quilt challenge -- you'll get lots and lots of ideas!
Our Guild once passed out a sort of, well, ugly fabric....it had to be included in any project...quilt, bag, pillow, etc. It was amazing to see how well it went with so many colors and patterns! Another time we had to use the same block in two different sizes in a quilt. Some were very apparent, and others had the smaller block almost hidden in a border, etc. This year's challenge resulted from a vote by the members. We voted for our favorite block, color, and shape. Our quilts will have to include the Log Cabin, blue, and a star. Those are due in March, so haven't got any ideas yet!
Well, I just received a notice that my first response didn't go through. I hope I'm not repeating myself!
My guild once passed out a, well, ugly fabric. We had to use it in a project which didn't have to be a quilt. Another time, we had to use two of the same block in two different sizes in a quilt. This year we voted on our favorite block, color and shape. Consequently, our challenge quilt will have to include a Log Cabin block, blue, and a star. It's not due until March, so I haven't come up with, or heard about any of the projects.
Anyone else remember when Debs in Ky gave us the Food Quilt challenge? Wallhangings representing some of our favorite foods, a meal, crops, veggies, fruit- whatever we wanted, as long as the quilt said "food". Feed Me is hanging on the wall beside me (had to remove the big pink lips that were in one corner, so I could stand to live w/ it ).
For a fabric exchange: one year we did a picnic theme here on RCTQ. I chose fast food (Taco Bell) as my buddy's picnic. We were required to include at least 4 fat quarters (didn't have to look like food, just represent food; cream for flour tortilla, brown print for fried chicken, red for tomatoes), and could include smaller pieces to complete the meal (a little green for the lettuce, a bit of yellow for cheese). It was a hit.
Oh, yeah, I remember that! It was a *long* time ago.
(My free server thing ended up not working out very well (msn kept blocking the outgoing ports and such) so I'm giving up and using the google interface. A few messages are better than none!)
Ours is essentially always the same. You get a sealed envelope with three fabrics in it. We can make anything - small quilt, table runner, wearable, doll dress - but we must use recognizable amounts of each fabric.
Some years we can add other fabrics, some years they limit us as to how much or how many other fabrics.
The past few years the coordinators have added a twist. One year we had to also use ric rack, another year we had to use a yo yo somehow, once a piece of gold trim from the fabric store was in the envelope (though we could buy and use a different gold trim of our choice it had to be on there).
Some coordinators have chosen tricky fabrics to work with and others have not.
We keep ours pretty simple, but it's always fun to see what people come up with.
I saw the Hoffman Challenge at the Rocky Mt Quilt Festival on Sunday. I thought the fabric was ugly last year when I first saw it and I still thought it was ugly on Sunday! BUT ... there were some amazingly beautiful quilts made from it. I liked best the ones that disguised the ugly fabric. ; )
Lobo ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Delete the obvious to reply to me personally. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I remember this challenge. I still have mine. A wall hhh with chocolate. Chocolate pie, cake, brownies, hot chocolate etc. Fun. There used to be pic of some of them through Google, but can't find it now. Anna Belle
I was thinking of suggesting heliotrope but didn't know how to spell it or what it looked like. Also considered heather but that might be more of a muddle than a color. Polly
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