2026 Uhuru Quilt Guild CHALLENGEs


Challenge 1: What Does Freedom Mean to You?

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. To commemorate this event for our first challenge of the year, we encourage everyone to make a quilt about what freedom means to you. Your quilt can be any size and can use any technique. This challenge is designed to be flexible and inclusive, so you have the freedom to include any idea related to freedom that is important to you. This challenge is due at the June 2026 meeting.

Challenge 2: “SEW MANY BEAUTIFUL QUILTS!”
 

2026 Uhuru Quilters Guild Challenge

The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo
Fredericksburg, VA 
September 24, 25 & 26, 2026

Good news, quilters!

For 2026 I’m taking a nice, relaxing turn with our Challenge quilt exhibit for Expo.

Instead of creating something new, members are invited to submit one quilt you’ve already made—just be sure it has not been displayed at Expo before.  Think of it as shopping your own quilt stash!

Because of the limited display space at Expo, final quilt selection will be based on the size of the display area we are assigned.  I don’t have those specific dimensions yet, but I expect to receive the information around March/April 2026.  More details will be shared once space requirements are confirmed and to see which beautiful quilts get their moment to shine!

Right now, I’m just gauging interest. If you’d like to be part of the Sew Many Beautiful Quilts! Exhibit, please let me know you’re interested. Email me at Luvqilts@aol.com.

Thank you all again for your continued creativity, generosity, and support over the years.  I truly can’t wait to see which quilts you’ll choose to share!

Happy quilting,
Renea Bailey
 
Challenge 3: A River Runs Through It
A River Runs Through It invites Uhuru members into a bold, collaborative adventure where creativity flows as freely as water itself. Each quilt becomes a living segment of a larger, ever‑moving river—entering and exiting at the same height, shifting in width, and carrying the energy of mountains, cities, farms, or imagined worlds. When these pieces hang side by side, they transform into one powerful, continuous current of color, story, and artistry, showcasing the collective vision of a community stitched together by imagination and flow. 

The guild will provide the river fabric to everyone who is interested in participating. Everyone who participates will create a wall hanging that incorporates your personal idea of a river. It can be modern, abstract, a cityscape, mountains, art nouveau, a landscape...What will you create? 

Uhuru will host workshops to assist with planning, design, and finishing techniques for anyone who is interested. Quilts will be due at the November Guild Meeting. Your quilt will be 18 inches wide x 24 inches in height and will incorporate the provided river fabric in your design. If you are interested in participating, please complete the signup form by March 31st to help us plan for the purchase of sufficient river fabric for all participants.

Challenge 4: Winter Holiday Party Quilts
For our December 2026 Winter Holiday party, let's deck the halls with our festive holiday and winter-themed. Show off your recent or older items that bring holiday cheer. If you have a large quilt, please bring your own quilt stand. Smaller pieces can be grouped together on other stands.

Uhuru Quilters Guild Challenges
2025

  • Reinterpreting Alma Thomas, due Saturday, March 15, 2025
    Our first challenge of the year is a mini quilt just in time for Women's History Month. For this challenge, please create a 12 x 12-inch quilt inspired by the work of Alma Thomas (1891-1978). A long-time DC resident, Thomas was the first person to earn a fine arts degree from Howard University. After retiring from more than 30 years as a DC Public School art teacher, she focused on her art career and began to exhibit her work. At the age of 80, she became the first African American woman to have a solo exhibit at the Whitney Museum in New York.

    When designing your quilt, you can draw from the colors, theme, titles, or any element of Alma Thomas' work or her life. You can choose inspiration from an individual painting or think of her works collectively. Please remember to adhere to all copyright laws.  

    Check out the following resources to learn more about Thomas and view her works:   


    Mocha Me, Due Saturday, June 21, 2025

    The Pantone Color of the Year 2025 is Mocha Mousse. For this challenge, choose Mocha Mousse-colored fabric and create a quilted item of any size and style that incorporates the fabric in a significant way.

    To help you brainstorm ideas, the Pantone website describes Mocha Mousse as “a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort.” For more information about the color see the Pantone Color of the Year site: https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year/2025?gad_source=1

    You can find Mocha Mousse fabric on the Spoonflower website https://www.spoonflower.com/en/inspiration/collaborations/pantone-color-of-the-year-2025#shop-fabric or choose a matching fabric from your stash or a favorite fabric store.
     
    Honoring Nikki Giovanni, due Saturday, January 17, 2026
    Our final challenge of the year will honor African American poet, author, activist, and educator, Nikki Giovanni. For this challenge, you can create a quilt of any size using any technique, and we encourage you to explore resources about her life as well as her work. To help you meet this challenge, Uhuru will provide education and support throughout the year. Please remember to adhere to all copyright laws when choosing elements for your quilt.  

    The final quilts for this challenge could be used for Uhuru’s participation in Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026. See Renee Anderson for more details about our involvement with this program.

    Challenge Committee Members:
    Angela Lanier
    Linda MacKenzie
    NiYa Costley
    Renea Bailey
     

    2025 UHURU EXPO CHALLENGE
    MEN OF COLOUR
    ORIGINAL SEWING & QUILT EXPO
    FREDERICKSBURG, VA
    SEPTEMBER 25, 26, 27, 2025


    It’s about time to do something to honor the men of our lives (fathers, uncles, brothers, sons, etc.) or those we admire throughout history, entertainment, science, ministries, etc. Let your creativity flow once again Uhuru. Step out of that box of Traditional Quilting and into creating a masterpiece. Use any technique to make your quilt: piecing, appliqué, fusing, embroidery, handwork, machine work, thread painting, fabric manipulation, small amounts of paint, ink, or pencils, etc. The details on creating your Challenge quilt are as follows:

    • The quilt MUST be 18”x18” or 24”x24” or 36” x 36” (not to exceed) from binding to binding.

    • Your quilt MUST have a sleeve and a label with your name and title on the back.

    • Provide a brief description in 50 words or less on what inspired you to make your quilt and why you chose the particular design for this quilt. Please fill out the Quilt Registration form with a picture of your quilt on the form that can be found on the Uhuru Quilters Guild website.

    • Your quilt is due at the September 20, 2025 Uhuru meeting for display at Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Fredericksburg, VA, September 25-27, 2025.

    • Please let me know that you will be participating in this year’s Challenge. My email address is LUVQILTS@aol.com

    I can’t wait to see your quilt and thank you in advance for participating!

    ~Renea Bailey

Questions? Contact a Challenge Committee member: