The Hoffman Challenge

This year's Hoffman Challenge fabric and coordinating pieces has arrived! The challenge piece is a gorgeous turquoise and gold. The coordinates are equally as beautiful.

For the 2010, the Hoffman Challenge has a new curator, Julie Breidt. In addition, Hoffman Fabrics will be donating $1 for every entry received to breast cancer research. New curator Julie Breidt is matching that dollar, so breast cancer research will actually receive $2 for every entry received.

Every year a team from Hoffman Fabrics chooses an upcoming fabric design and then issues a challenge to quilt, clothing, doll and accessory makers to create an original item using the fabric. The challenge curator and a group of assistants jury the entries and then a select team of judges chooses the award winners and cash prizes are given.

The juried collections then travel to be exhibited by quilt and other fiber guilds, shops, museums and textile shows. The exhibits are displayed and enjoyed in several hundred locations across the United States and Canada.

Started in 1988, the Hoffman Challenge has grown to be a premiere traveling quilt, clothing and doll collection. The quality of entries and a growing number of exhibit requests have led Hoffman to establish additional traveling collections. Currently, twelve collections travel coast-to-coast within the United States and Canada.

In 2010, the Hoffman Challenge celebrates its 22nd anniversary. In 1987, the Challenge began with 94 enthusiastic quilters. Some years the number of entries have been more than 700. In addition to the three quilt categories (pieced, applique and mixed technique), new categories include clothing/wearable art, accessories and dolls. While the majority of the entries come from the United States, many international entries are also received.

Deadline for entries in this year's Hoffman Challenge is July 23, 2010. Click here for more information on how you can join the fun.