2026 Quilter’s Unlimited Members’ CHALLENGE
Theme: Americana to Celebrate the Semi-quincentennial of the United States of America!
Download a pdf of the 2026 rules.
Jump to the ENTRY FORM
RULES:
1. The 2026 Americana Challenge is open to all current Quilter’s Unlimited (QU) members. Challenge committee members may also participate.
2.Challenge entrants remain anonymous and do not share their project with anyone prior to member voting at the August 2026 meeting.
3.A “QUILT” is defined as a warm bed covering, made of padding/batting enclosed between two layers of fabric, held together with stitching through the three layers, typically applied in a decorative design, and bound with fabric to secure the raw edges.
4.The QUILT must be an original design and not a copy of an original work or the direct result of a class, workshop or published pattern. Entry is to be newly constructed and quilted by the entrant for the 2026 challenge.
4a. Keeping with the Americana theme, quilts may be Traditional (pieced, FPP or EPP), art or a combination. ALL must have three layers joined by hand or machine (stationary or moveable) quilting. Raw edges can be bound or faced.
4b. A label must be sewn on the back with the following information:
QUILT TITLE
“QU 2026 Americana Challenge”
Name of Quilter, City, State
(Please cover label with a scrap fabric before member voting.)
4c. QUILT must be 20″ x 26″. Entrant can choose a portrait or landscape orientation.
4d. QUILT must have a STAR element. This STAR element can be pieced (traditional, FPP or EPP), appliqued, embroidered, folded, embellishment, button or any other method. Quilter must include at least ONE star. Multiple stars are allowed. HOWEVER: Fabric print (a star print or design) will NOT count toward the star element condition.
4e. Please include a 4″ sleeve at the top, on the back of your quilt.
4f. And lastly, please include the story behind your quilt. There will be an online entry form to include your information, a picture of your quilt and your story. Entry deadline and turn-in to chair is JULY 25, 2026.
Guild members are encouraged to try new techniques while keeping with this year’s Americana theme. Think back to the women in this country’s history and your own family history who made quilts to keep their families warm. The women who used needle and thread to help with the Underground Railroad, passing the 19th amendment, and using what they had to support their communities. Check with our guild’s library for more inspiration.
ALL entries will be displayed in Leon County public library locations in September 2026 through October 2026. QU members are highly encouraged to participate in this year’s Americana challenge to celebrate the Semi-quincentennial of the Declaration of Independence.
THANK YOU for participating in this year’s challenge. Please encourage your QU friends to participate and challenge themselves. Let’s get started and have the most challenge entries we’ve ever had! Happy Birthday USA!
IF you have any questions, please email, call, or text the Challenge Coordinator,
Carole Gentry.
ENTRY FORM
QU 2026 AMERICANA CHALLENGE
REGISTER A QUILT! Theme: Americana to Celebrate the Semi-quincentennial of the United States of America!
2025 Challenge Quilts are mixed in with the other entries to the show at LeMoyne Arts. Photos by Bob O’Lary can be seen on his FaceBook page