Community Quilts

QuiltCon Community Challenge Quilts

The Modern Quilt Guild holds a challenge each year whereby groups of quilters (e.g., members of chapters) collaborate to design, construct, and submit a Community Challenge quilt to be displayed at the MQG's annual QuiltCon convention.  SSMQG has participated in many such challenges....

Quiltcon 2022 Community Challenge Quilt - "Gems in the Stream"

In October 2023, this quilt finally made its way to its intended recipients - Puget Sound Estuarium! The Estuarium was able to hang the quilt for display during Fall Arts Walk 2023, and the quilt will feature as an item in the Estuarium's April 2024 annual auction.

Members of South Sound Modern Quilt Guild, located in south Puget Sound in Washington State, are close to nature and tend to choose nature themes for our QuiltCon Community Challenge submissions. This year, SSMQG chose diamond and kite shapes consistent with the "angles" theme, provided members with fabrics from the MQG palette, and let members choose fabric colors and color placement when piecing their blocks. The design of the quilt top represents floating "gems" that remind us of salmon migrating upstream in their fall colors. The quilting represents the stream and vegetation along its banks. SSMQG plans to donate this quilt to a local salmon conservation nonprofit to use for their fundraising efforts.

Contributing Blocks:   Amy, Angelina, Barbara, Cassie, Cecile, Cindy L., Jody, Kelly Ann, LeeAnn, Mary Heather, Mary, Michelle, Patti, Sandra F., Sue C., Teresa, Teri, Tina

Piecing:  Teresa & Angelina

Quilting:  Quilted by Angelina, with support from Dianne and Debbi

Quiltcon 2020 Community Challenge Quilt - "Orca Selfies"

Members of the South Sound Modern Quilt Guild chose killer whales, or “orca” as the subject of the Modern Quilt Guild’s 2020 QuiltCon Charity Challenge quilt. Members became inspired by the idea for individual blocks representing the kinds of “selfies” these distinctive black-and-white whales would take of themselves and family life (if only they had more traditional fingers and thumbs with which to handle a phone or camera).  The blocks that were submitted express respect and affection for these whales and meaningful or playful depictions of orca in the acts of living their daily lives.  This quilt was displayed at the February 2020 Modern Quilt Guild QuiltCon conference and quilt show in Austin, Texas along with over 100 other quilts using this same color scheme.

There are several populations of killer whales worldwide, but each of the members of Puget Sound’s “Southern Resident” orca population are especially beloved as icons of Pacific Northwest culture.  At the time this quilt was made, the Southern Resident population numbered 73.  Each of their nicknames is quilted onto the quilt.

Update: In early February, 2020, the Southern Resident population dropped to 72, because Mega (L-41) was identified as lost and presumed deceased.  Mega was an elder male and an important breeding member of the orca family.  This quilt is especially dedicated to Mega and those who have gone before him.  See if you can find Mega’s name quilted into the quilt.

QuiltCon 2019 Community Challenge Quilt - Bubbles

Designed by Marti, members were asked to make pieced circle blocks, some of which had insertions.  Proceeds from the sale of this quilt were donated to Friends of the Lacey Library.

QuiltCon 2018 Community Challenge Quilt - Stephanie's Bowties

In 2018, members were given fabric and a bowtie block pattern and asked to make standard bowtie blocks as well as some broken bowtie blocks.  The colors were a rich gradient of purple, red, orange, and yellow.  SSMQG donated the quilt to Friends of the Lacey Library, who raffled the quilt.