2026 Guild Challenges
This year the Challenge Committee decided to try something different by promoting a 'build your own' challenge allowing you to stretch yourself in ways you haven't tried in the past. After challenging yourself, it is our hope that you will share your discoveries at guild meetings to inspire others to take a leap and try something new.
To inspire participation, we created achievement levels based on points earned as you complete personal challenges!
- Track your progress using this form. Submit completed forms to Lynn A or Jennifer S at guild meetings or by email.
Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 achievers at the December 2026 guild meeting.
- 1-3 Wanderer
- 3-5 Explorer
- 6-10 Voyager
- 11-20 Contender
- 21 and beyond Globetrotter
First quarter challenge
- Make a name tag. Earn additional points by incorporating a new to you technique such as FPP, EPP, slow stitching paint, pens, ink, incorporate our guild or national MQG logo and/or colors
Second quarter challenge
- Your Team of 5 members will make this scrap buster Village Quilt and each member will earn 10 points. Pattern compliments of Moda Fabrics and Miss Rosie's Quilt Company or, choose a similar Team quilt pattern. This challenge is being set up as a free "class" and can be found on the Events/Challenge page
- Tracy Mooney has a fun YouTube Sew Along for this quilt.
- TheCatBird Quilts offers another YouTube talk about this fun project using shirts and sheets, as well as scraps and charm packs
Third quarter challenge
- Enter a quilt or quilted item in the county or state fair or the Tacoma outdoor quilt show
Fourth quarter challenge
- Create your own challenge or choose something from the suggestions below
The following are suggestions on how you can earn additional challenge points.
The Challenge Committee is open to adding your ideas
- Share you challenge during show and tell at guild meetings
- Complete a first-time project, technique, or class
- Learn to use your expensive toys or tools. Share your experience with the Guild, good, bad, or? Not a fan? Pass it on to another member, donate to SSMQG library or destash sale or Lost and Found Store
- Check out an item from the SSMQG library
- Explore the MQG and our SSMQG websites and try a new technique or pattern found there
- Share a favorite creator or resource found on social media, Instagram
- Ideas can be used to build up the free patterns and files area on our website
- Try new quilt finishing technique long arm, free motion or straight line on domestic, slow stitch
- Binding: first time adding a flange, piping, hand sewn, machine or hand finish with a decorative stitch
- Enter a quilt or quilts at the county fair, library or show
- Make something using a technique or design from an inspiration from QuiltCon
- Sustainability; upcycle clothing, old linens, or?
- Make something with letters
- Make 2 Sew Powerful purses, earn a point for each additional set you donate
- Quilt a jacket, coat, tote, hat sweatshirt, apron
- Use a quilting technique to create a household items
- Try a media project using textiles, yarn, dye, paint, paper
- Scrap buster projects
- Count how many projects you made with one fabric purchase. Where else did it land besides the quilt you purchased for it?
- The challenge you are most proud of or the biggest fail and share why you feel this way
- Organization: Implement some form of organizing fabric or tools and equipment and share ideas
- Mileage challenge, track how many miles you sewed this year using machine stitch count or hours? Take a picture of your machine stitch screen starting April and ends in December
Create your own team challenge and make a new friend
- Modern Quilt Guild Falling Stars Quilt sew along or one of the many other projects on their website
- National Quilt Museum 'Celebrate/Celebration BOM started April 1st and runs through December. This is their 8th round and a celebration of their 35th anniversary. Block designs remain a mystery until they drop on the 1st of the month at Noon. You are free to choose your own color schemes and fabrics to make your blocks.
- GEasy free Building Blocks BOM
- Block exchange, EPP, FPP, something you want to try but need to be accountable to others on your team.
2025 Guild Challenges
2025 UFO Challenge: Use the UFO list form to keep track of your UFO's and show them during our Guild meeting.
Monthly Challenges:
January/February: Potato Chip Block (betcha can't sew just one!). This is an easy block using 2.5” x 4.5” rectangles that can be laid out in various ways.
March/April: Monochromatic Challenge.
May/June: Beatles! Get creative and make something that represents any Beatles song lyric or album.
July/August: Christmas in July/Summer. Get a jump on a Christmas project.
September/October: Three Favorite Things.
November/December: Paint Chip. You will be given a paint chip and to make a project out of that color.
On Going Challenges
Orphan Blocks:
If you finish a project and have blocks left over, bring them to a meeting and we’ll use them in a community quilt.
Our charities are:
- Assured Home Health
- Interfaith Works (homeless support agency)
- North Thurston Family and Youth Resource Center
They donation quilts approximate sizes: Baby 40x40, Lap 50x60, Twin 60x90.
We can supply you with backing and batting.
Other Quilt Challenges:
- South Puget Sound Community College - 2025 Fine Art Postcard Exhibition
- Modern Quilt Guild Challenges
- QuiltCon Challenges