Introducing Our 2026 Challenge

The focus of the 2026 Challenge is for you to increase your knowledge/proficiency on a new technique, tool, or method that you really want to use to complete a project. You may have taken a class but not taken the next steps to proficiency. You may even have started a project that languishes in your UFOs, awaiting your attention to take it to completion. Or be wild and crazy, and overcome your apprehensions to take a class or watch a YouTube video to complete that quilt project on your bucket list.

Please be clear: this is not a technique, tool, or method that you can perform in your sleep as of today.

You will have 11 months to complete this challenge.

Stretch yourself!

If you need more information, don't hesitate to get in touch with Lorrie Green or one of the other Sew Buddies Bee members.

Our 2024 Challenge, Everything's Better With Cheddar, was a wonderful success!

Challenge Quilt History

2002

No theme available. Hosted by Adele Williams. Prizes included cash from CQG, gift certificates and books from local fabric shops. There were only two entry categories: Experienced and First Time Entrants. Winners:

Experienced: 1st - Kathy Chamberlin; 2nd - Connie Gasvoda; 3rd - Gwen Jordan

First Time: 1st - Sue Harmon; 2nd - Jane Campbell; 3rd - Wanda (no last name available)

2003

Crayola Challenge. Hosted by Judy Livingston. Pick at least two Crayola Crayon colors that start with the first letter of your names (first, middle, last, or maiden) and use those colors to design a quilt or a quilted garment that expresses something in your personal history. Winners were not recorded.

2004

Pieced Patterns Using Fabric with Matching Designs. Hosted by Gwen Jordan and Adele Williams. Create a quilt, wall hanging, or quilted garment using a chosen block design with fabric that has that block name in the fabric, e.g., flying geese has geese fabric; a star block would have patriotic or stars and moon fabric. Winners were not recorded.

2005

Garden Party. Hosted by Adele Williams. Anything flowers, pollinators, or picnics. The quilt could not have been made prior to 2005 and could not have been shown previously at Show & Tell. Winners:

Experienced: 1st - Pat Moore; 2nd - Gwen Jordan, 3rd - Alice Kime

First Time: 1st - Kathy MacQueen; 2nd - Diana Logan; 3rd - Dee Vigil

Garment: 1st - Suzanne McGuirk; 2nd - Marcie Emily

Overall Votes - Wanda Roberts

2006

Dream Vacation. Hosted by Kathy MacQueen. No other information recorded.

2007

Black & White Plus One. Hosted by Kathy MacQueen. No other information recorded.

2008

Log Cabin Quilt. Winners:

Experienced: 1st - Sandy Reinke; 2nd - Jean Bandel, 3rd - Kathy MacQueen

First Time: 1st - Eileen Fowler; 2nd - Joan Duncan; 3rd - Pat Cleveland

Garment: 1st - Connie Kummerzell; 2nd - Connie Napier

Chairman’s Choice - Marcie Emily

2009

Flora & Fauna Applique. Hosted by Brenda Breadon. Items must be 60% applique. Item must be larger than a potholder but can be any quilted/appliqued item (quilt, wall hanging, garment, bag, etc.). Winners:

Experienced: 1st - Kathy MacQueen; 2nd - Gwen Jordan, 3rd - Joan Duncan

First Time: 1st - Vi Davis; 2nd - Kim Pyott; 3rd - Connie Giambrocco

2010

Seasons of the Year. Hosted by Melinda Harris. Choose any of the four seasons or a holiday. Quilt must be greater than 120” but less than 160” in perimeter. Must be made in 2010. Winners:

Previous Winners (in last three years): 1st - Joan Duncan; 2nd - Marcie Emily, 3rd - Robbie Price

Previous Entrants: 1st - Maureen Gamble; 2nd - Sue Lewis; 3rd - Joyce Chevarria

First Time Entrants: 1st - Kathy Ruppert; 2nd - Jan Sammons; 3rd - Zoe Ann Brown

2011

UFO. No other information recorded.

2012

Crayon. No other information recorded.

2013

Panel. Hosted by Milly Burkhart. Winners:

Previous Winners: 1st - Robbie Price; 2nd - Joan Duncan, 3rd - Sandy Smith

Future Winners: 1st - Janice Scanlon; 2nd - Lorettann Keith; 3rd - Marilee Thompson

$50 Winners: Mary Yadon and Pat Patrick. No information recorded about how these were determined.

2014

Spot the Spots. Hosted by Sally Blanchard. Spots, dots, blobs, bubbles..whatever fits the spots theme. Must be created in 2014 and cannot have been shown to anyone! Winners:

Previous Winners: 1st - Joan Duncan; 2nd - Janice Scanlon, 3rd - Cathy Goodman

Future Winners: 1st - Susan Oursland; 2nd - Judy Pearce; 3rd - Susan Kent

2015

Putting on the Glitz. No other information recorded.

2016

Patchwork Forest (trees). Create any sized quilt using a tree block, motif, or fabric. Hosted by Jan Tsurumi and Mary Yadon. Winners:

First Time Entrants: 1st - Angie & Kare Cure; 2nd - Carmen Chongway, 3rd - Cindy Pierson

Previous Winners: 1st - Joan Duncan; 2nd - Karen Sullivan; 3rd - Susan Oursland

Everyone Else: 1st - Steve Bowley; 2nd - Scottie McCarthy; 3rd - Pam Ballard

2017

Batiks. No other information recorded. Winners:

First Time Entrants: 1st - Betty Andrews; 2nd - Nicki Natzke, 3rd - Joan Aguilar

Previous Winners: 1st - Steve Bowley; 2nd - Kathy MacQueen; 3rd - Joan Duncan

Everyone Else: 1st - Diane Figlewicz and Aurora Lowell (tie); 2nd - Sally Blanchard; 3rd - Ellen Baranowski

2018

Flower Power.

First Time Entrants: 1st - Sue Ryman; 2nd - Joanne Leetmae, 3rd - Chris Pennel

Previous Winners: 1st - Susan Oursland; 2nd - Kathy MacQueen; 3rd - Aurora Lowell

Everyone Else: 1st - Judy Lanza; 2nd - Terry Gonzales; 3rd - Judy Padgett

2019

State Pride. No other information recorded.

2020

Pimp Your Panel. No other information recorded.

2021

Sunshine. Hosted by Stitchin Sisters Bee. Let the sunshine in! The color yellow must be included. The size cannot exceed 160 inches in perimeter. Examples would be 40 x 40, 35 x 45, etc. Write a brief description of the inspiration for your quilt. Winners

First Time Entrants : Was a tie awarded to Debi Grundmeier and Rhonda Cratty

Previous Winners: Chris Pennel

Everyone Else: Linda Kennedy

2022

Book Mark. Hosted by Happy Hearts Bee. Quilt must be 12(w) x 36(l) and reflect a favorite book. Winners:

First Time Entrants: 1st - Anne Conry; 2nd - Peg Rogers, 3rd - Sarah Hardy

Previous Winners: 1st - Debi Grundmeier; 2nd - Sandy Reinke; 3rd - Rhonda Cratty

Everyone Else: 1st - Sharon Kent; 2nd - Gretchen Heugan; 3rd - Caryl Thompson

2023

Name that Tune. Hosted by the 13ers Bee. Quilt must be smaller than 200 linear inches and reflect a song. A random drawing was added for all entrants who did not win 1st in their category. Winners:

First Time Entrants: 1st - Cathy Rathbun; 2nd - Joan Aguilar, 3rd - Annette Falvo

Previous Winners: 1st - Caryl Thompson; 2nd - Annie Conry; 3rd - Cathy Goodman

Everyone Else: 1st - Peg Rogers; 2nd - Rhonda Cratty; 3rd - Brenda Lantz

Random Drawing: Irene Guthrie

2024

Everything's Better with Cheddar. Hosted by the No Name Bee. Quilt/wall hanging must not be more than 24” square and must use some cheddar fabric. Winners

First-Time Entrants: 1st - Heather Wiebel; 2nd - Linda Wiedenhoff; 3rd - Paula Pahl

Previous Winners: 1st - Kathy Rathbun; 2nd - Linda Kennedy; 3rd - Peg Rogers

Everyone Else: 1st - Sally Blanchard, 2nd - Rhonda Cratty, 3rd - Annette Falvo

Random Drawing Winner: Veronica Russell

2025

There was no Challenge Quilt activity in 2025.

2026

Increase your knowledge/proficiency on a new technique, tool, or method that you really want to use to complete a project. The quilt you create must use a tool, method, or technique that you are NOT proficient at already. The goal is to stretch yourself. There are no size restrictions.

First-Time Entrants: Results coming January 2027

Previous Winners:

Everyone Else:

Random Drawing Winner:

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