One of my absolute favourite things to do with my quilting is to take part in a challenge. Our guild, the Twisted Stitchers Quilt Guild in Ajax, Ontario has had some really fun challenges over the years. What is a challenge, you ask? I'm about to tell you..

A challenge is usually issued by a quilt guild in order to get their members involved in something a little out of the ordinary, or it could be issued in conjunction with their quilt show. Whatever the reason, it's a lot of fun. My favourite thing about a challenge is how different and beautiful each piece is depending on how each member interprets the theme or uses their fabric. It really is astounding.

Members who wish to take part each purchase a fat quarter of the focus fabric that the executive (or program person) has chosen/purchased specifically for the challenge. They then produce an item (according to any 'rules' set by the guild) that incorporates the focus fabric as well as other fabrics of their choice. A deadline is issued (usually one of the guild's meeting nights) and when that date arrives the challenge pieces are displayed and voted on by the members.

A challenge can also revolve around a theme, word or event, etc. rather than a specific fabric. This way you are not required to use a specific fabric, but anything you have in your stash.

The very first challenge I ever entered was with my former guild Durham Trillium Quilt Guild in Oshawa, Ontario. The executive chose a very pretty striped fabric with red, green, purple and gold...in my eyes a very unusual combination, but I was up for the challenge. The only colour in that mix that I used on a regular basis was the purple, but what to do, what to do? I had always wanted an angel wallhanging for Christmas, but couldn't find a pattern I liked at the time because everything was very folk-arty...definitely not my style. I went to the library, found a book on angels in art and found one that I could modify to suit my needs. My fellow guild members voted my piece as Viewer's Choice. I was thrilled...and hooked on challenges.

The next challenge I took part in with the Durham Trillium QG had both a theme (“Treasures”) and a fabric (an Asian inspired metallic floral). These challenge pieces were to be displayed that year at their quilt show. Those who know me know that I really don't like floral fabrics and the colours were “prettier” than what I usually work with so I was stuck as to what to do.

It took me FOR-EV-ER to figure out what I wanted to make. It wasn't until I got my photos developed from the previous Hallowe'en (yes, this is before I ever had a digital camera!) and saw the pictures of my daughter, Kate, dressed up as a geisha that I knew what to do. The problem...the show was only 3 weeks away!

I got to work right away. I made 6 paper-pieced kimono, did a photo transfer of my daughter wearing her costume, made 3 fabric origami flowers, quilted with metallic gold thread and hand stitched seed beads around the photo and in the centre of the flowers. I titled my piece “The Treasure that is Children”. With all the beautiful pieces entered I couldn't believe that I got a third place ribbon.

The following theme challenges were all issued by the Twisted Stitchers QG:

Crayon Box Challenge: A box of crayons was dumped into a paper bag, you put your hand in to get one and that was the basis of your quilt. I picked a medium green crayon and decided to lay a bunch of different green fabrics, metallic mesh and loose threads onto a foundation fabric, cover everything with a layer of tulle and free-motion quilt the layers. Then I made 3-D leaves using fabric, peltex and organza and hand stitched those onto the top with a few beads. It was so much fun.

Self Portrait Challenge: Kinda self-explanatory...I'm not that proficient on the computer, but I was able to posterize a photo of myself and made it in my favourite colours of teal and purple using fusible machine appliqué. The lenses and arms from a pair of dollar store reading glasses were removed and I used the frames to finish it off. I took home the “OMG...It's Really You” Award!

Song Title Challenge: This was one of my favourites so far. Elton John is my absolute favourite musician so I had to do one of his songs, Crocodile Rock. Again, I used fusible machine appliqué and a triadic colour scheme of green, purple and orange. My son, Alex, was the inspiration for the bass player and the Gnash on the drum kit is an homage to the Clash from the 1970's.

My Other Passion Challenge: Obviously our main passion is quilting, but what is our other passion aside from that? I looooove puzzles...jigsaws, crosswords, sudoku, word games, etc. so that was my focus for this one. Pages from some of my puzzle books were photo-transferred, the actual wallhanging was made in the shape of a puzzle piece and Scrabble tiles and actual jigsaw puzzle pieces were hand-sewn on.

What's Your Sign? Challenge: It could be a sign posted in a window, a for sale sign, a real estate sign, a sun sign, etc. I'm an Aries so I wanted to show both the positive and negative traits of my Zodiac sign and also included the reds and oranges of this fire sign, a colour family that I rarely work with.

Our guild is currently working on the Ugly Fabric Challenge. Unfortunately, because of physical distancing, our guild meetings are on hold until further notice so we’ll be revealing the results next week during our guild’s Zoom meeting.

Whoever wished to take part in this challenge brought 2 fat quarters of what they deemed to be an ugly fabric to guild. Two names were drawn from the bag and those 2 people had to give each other one of their fat quarters...so you now have 2 ugly fabrics that have to “play nice together”. Sue and I were lucky that our fabrics actually didn’t look horrible together...others were not so lucky! I didn’t really find the design of my fabric ugly…it was the colour combinations that I found ugly.

The following month we each had to come back to guild with a coordinate to share as well so we had at least 4 fabrics to work with. Participants are also allowed to add other coordinates to the mix. To the right you will see the mix I used as well as Sue’s two fabrics. Stay tuned...I’ll share mine and Sue’s with you soon.

If your guild issues a challenge I highly recommend that you take part. Get out of your safe little box and try something new...I think you might get hooked like I did.

Next week...Challenges: Part 2- Quilt Show Challenges

Are You Up For The Challenge? | Guild Challenges - Part 1