Challenge: Denim & Lace
Challenger: Lisa Anderson
Due Date: July 2021 Meeting

If you happen to have some old doilies you don’t know what to do with, or handkerchiefs with lace that you treasure but never use, or table napkins that are too pretty to use, or extra lace from bridal gowns or old clothes, or….. any other lace.  (I happen to have quite a lot of this kind of stuff.)  And the lace doesn’t have to be  old!!!  Quilt shops have lace!!!

Also if you happen to have old, frayed denim jeans or pieces of denim, now you can put them to use!!!    (Spoiler Alert  –  It doesn’t have to be “real” denim).

Then this is the challenge for you….

There are so many beautiful blue and white quilts and so many great quilters in Cotton Patch… I hope that some of you will be inspired to make a blue and white quilt with the slightly different fabrics described below. 

Challenge Rules

1.         Your quilt may be of any size and may be either a “traditional” or “art” quilt, (or    even a bag, if you want to make something really practical).

2.         Materials

                        The lace should be light in color (white, cream, ecru (is that the word?),                             ivory, etc.

                        Actual denim, used or new, is good.  Equally good are fabrics that have a                           similar color to denim (a somewhat darkish blue, not a pastel.)

                        You may use small amounts of additional (nondominant) colors.

                        Any kinds of small embellishments (decorative stitches, beads, buttons,                             etc.) are welcome but not required. 

3.         The purpose of this challenge is to create a blue and white quilt that showcases      the beauty of your lace.

Inspiration!!

If you have any questions about the challenge, you may email or call  me. 

Lisa Anderson

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Challenge: Silhouettes
Challenger: Lisa Anderson
Due Date:  December 2019 Potluck Meeting

Silhouettes Challenge

1. Your quilt may be of any size.
2. Silhouettes should be either black, white/ ivory. That is, either very dark or very light and should not have noticeable patterning. Fabric does not have to be technically a solid, but only have a more or less uniform look.
3. The background is really the focus of this challenge — it should enhance and provide a setting for your chosen silhouette(s).
4. Quilt may be either a traditional pieced quilt or an art quilt.

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Challenge: When You See A Tree!
Challenger: Jodi Seila
Due Date:  June 2019 Potluck Meeting

When You See A Tree Challenge

When you look at a tree what do you think about? Our challenge this spring is to make a quilt which represents your emotions about a tree. What does it say to you?. To me a tree show strength, courage and growth. You may make your quilt using applique, piecing, fused any season of the year. Quilting techniques is your choice.

The tree should measure at least 16 x 24. It will be due at our June meeting. If you have questions you may contact Jodi.

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Challenge: Art Minis Quilt
Challenger: Nupur Kittur
Due Date:  December 2018 Potluck Meeting

Art Minis” Quilt Challenge

The Fall Cotton Patch Quilters’ Challenge is to create mini quilts inspired by art! You may choose any piece of art to inspire you- it can be classical or modern, anything from a masterpiece from a famous artist, a painting by a local artist hanging in a small gallery or folk art. Just take a specific work of art and translate it into fabric and thread using your unique artistic vision.

For example, the first picture below show a quilt made by Australian quilter Cath of Wombat Quilts, inspired by the second picture, The Starry Night painting by Vincent Van Gogh.

SIZE: Your mini quilt should have dimensions from 9×9″ to 20×20″…any size or shape in between.

CONSTRUCTION: Pieced or appliquéd, quilted by hand or machine; and bound.

INSPIRATION: Please bring a photo of the artwork that your quilt was inspired by.

Download PDF Version of the July 2018 Challengeby

Challenge: Idiom Quilt Challenge
Challenger: Jodie Seila
Due Date:  June 2018 Potluck Meeting

Download PDF Version of Idiom Challenge

Below are idioms with their definitions. Please make a quilt that measures 24”x36”, which
represents one of the idioms. You can use any technique you like, pieced, appliquéd, or
both. You may use any colors you like, but must include black and white, and there should
be enough black and white fabrics mixed into the colors so that the black and white are
recognizable. No borders are allowed on the quilt. You may add any embellishments you
would like. The quilt will be due at the June Potluck meeting.
Jodie Seila, Co-Chair, Challenge Committee

A hot potato
Speak of an issue (mostly current) which many people are talking about and which is usually disputed
A penny for your thoughts:  A way of asking what someone is thinking
Actions speak louder than words: People’s intentions can be judged better by what they do than what they say
Add insult to injury: To further a loss with mockery or indignity, to worsen an
unfavorable situation
At the drop of a hat: Without any hesitation, instantly
Back to the drawing board: When an attempt fails and it’s time to start all over
Ball is in your court: It is up to you to make the next decision or step
Barking up the wrong tree: Looking in the wrong place, accusing the wrong person
Be glad to see the back of: Be happy when a person leaves
Beat around the bush:  Avoiding the main topic, not speaking directly about the issue
Best of both worlds: All the advantages
Best thing since sliced bread:  A good invention or innovation, a good idea or plan
Bite off more than you can chew: To take on a task that is way too big
Blessing in disguise: Something good that isn’t recognized at first
Burn the midnight oil: To work late into the night, alluding to the time before
electric lighting
Can’t judge a book by its cover: Cannot judge something primarily on appearance:
Caught between two stools: When someone finds it difficult to choose between two
alternatives
Costs an arm and a leg: Something is very expensive
Cross that bridge when you come to it: Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before
Cry over spilt milk: When you complain about a loss from the past
Curiosity killed the cat: Being inquisitive can lead you into an unpleasant situation
Cut corners: When something is done badly to save money
Devil’s Advocate: To present a counter argument
Don’t count your chickens before the eggs have hatched: Don’t make plans for things that might not happen
Don’t give up the day job: You are not very good at something, you could definitely
not do it professionally
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket:  Don’t put all your resources in one possibility

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Challenge: Fifty shades of Play: The Ombré Quilt Challenge
Challenger: Nupur Kittur
Due Date:  December 2017 Potluck Meeting

Ombré (pronounced omb-ray) is a French word meaning “shaded”. It means having tones of color that blend into each other, graduating from light to dark. Think of the color gradations on paint chips, for instance. Ombré is a trendy and popular design element in everything from clothing to nail polish to hair color, and of course, quilts.

The first part of your challenge is to play with color values and create a quilt with ombré design elements. It could be monochromatic, showing shades of a single color. It could be a two tone quilt with one color blending into another or a rainbow quilt involving a whole spectrum of colors- we just want to see gradations in color, no matter how you choose to do it.

The second part of the challenge is to dive into your scrap basket and include them in this quilt. Your challenge quilt should have at least 50% fabric scraps, defined as smaller pieces of fabric left over from other projects. We are working on the honor system here. Feel free to swap fabric scraps with your friends! 

There are no size restrictions. This challenge is due at the December 2017 meeting.

Download PDF of this challenge informationby