Since 2004, our Guild has had fun voting on and weaving projects for an annual weaving “challenge.” We offer up and choose a theme or topic, challenging weavers to weave something that is inspired by that year’s topic. It is completely voluntary and meant only as a fun incentive to weave something that we might not otherwise weave on our own. Since around 2009, we have made our December program the annual Show & Tell of our challenge projects. Although we encourage as many as possible to weave and present their projects at that meeting, that too is completely optional… we look forward to seeing any project, any time!
2025 Challenge: Log Cabin
This year’s challenge focuses on an oldie but a goodie – Log Cabin, which is a plain weave color-and-weave pattern that can be woven on a frame loom, rigid heddle loom, or multi-shaft loom. It can be simple and straightforward or made a little more complicated for those who like an extra challenge. Here are some resources to help you get started:
- “The Log Cabin Formula” YouTube video by Chris Acton of Acton Creative
- “Using Value as a Design Element: Log Cabin” by Susan Horton for Handwoven Magazine
- “Taking Log Cabin to a New Level” by Christina Garton for Little Looms Magazine
- “Warping Log Cabin on a Rigid Heddle Loom vs 4-Shaft Loom” YouTube video by Felicia Lo of Sweet Georgia Weaving
If you are feeling especially creative, you could try mixing your Log Cabin weaving with the two challenge themes that weren’t selected — “Globetrotter Rovings” featuring inspirations from your travels and “Color of the Year – Mocha Mousse.” It’s up to you!
Challenge creations will be shown at our December 2025 meeting. That gives you 10 months to come up with something smashing – we can’t wait to see what you will create!
Past Years’ Challenges
- 2025: “Log Cabin”
- 2024: “75 Years”
- 2023: “Weaver’s Poker”
- 2022: “Color (Black as a major element)”
- 2021: “Longing to Be Let Loose”
- 2020: “Classic Blue”
- 2019: “Everyday Heirlooms”
- 2018: “Texture”
- 2017: “Nothing Plain About Plain Weave”
- 2016: “Hepped on Rep”
- 2015: “Rags to Riches”: weaving with fabric strips
- 2014: “65th Anniversary” (a specific color challenge)
- 2013: “Sewing With Handwovens”
- 2012: “Fear Factor”: tackle something you haven’t dared; up the challenge with the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle
- 2011: “That’s a Fiber of a Different Color!”: color interaction
- 2010: “Thrills with Twills ABC”
- 2009: “Body Language ABC*”: a wearable
- 2008: “Photo Finish”: use a photo for color inspiration
- 2007: “Initial Relativity”: use your initials for color, structure, project
- 2006: “New Yarns Resolution”: fiber never used before
- 2005: “Luck of the Draw”: card from deck and/or 2-Shaft Not Plain
- 2004: “Color: given three paint chip colors to use”
