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 Mouse 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: