The first challenge of 2026 is EVOLVE
It is the same title as the Contemporary Textile Special Interest groups challenge for 2026/2027
Our challenge involves making a 20cm x 20cm quilt. You could go on to enter the main competition and use this quilt as your sample piece which is required or just make the 20cm x 20cm sample for our challenge. The choice is yours.
Please see all the details below.
The national QG Contemporary Textiles challenge 2026 is EVOLVE.
2027 is the 25th anniversary of Contemporary Textile Special Interest Group of the Guild and Evolve challenge entries are hopefully going to be shown at Festival of Quilts 2027. This is a curated event, open to all members. There are two parts to the submission; a 20cm square sample, using the same fabrics and techniques as the finished work (which must be 120cm x 60cm finished size). It must be a quilt with at least two layers.
You may have been thinking of entering this but, with an end date of March 2027, have put it on the back burner. We have therefore decided that for the CQS first challenge in 2026 we will ask you to produce the equivalent of the 20cm square sample. You can then decide if you would like to complete the full challenge (or not)!
You will need to present your 20cm square piece, demonstrating the same look and feel as your proposed quilt, at our June 2026 meeting. We will be looking to follow three P’s – prepare, progress, present. In other words:
April meeting any preparation you have done
May meeting any progress you wish to bring to the group
June meeting a 20 x 20cm sample quilt
In the Oxford dictionary ‘Evolve’ is to unfold, open out, set forth in due sequence, develop by natural process from rudimentary to more highly organised condition. When something evolves, it changes, or develops over time, like seasons moving from winter through spring etc. There has been evolution within the natural and man-made world or even in your own personal journey through textiles and quilting. Please interpret in any way you want!
Have fun and we hope you enjoy the challenge (and remember that if you do want to complete the larger quilt that you need enough of the same fabric to do this too).