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!
2026 Challenge: Edgings
This year’s challenge focuses on Edgings – those creative touches we put on handwovens to finish or embellish the edges. These can be fringes, selvedges, hems, bindings, crochet, knitting, beading, braiding, kumihimo – you name it! The possibilities are as limitless as your imaginations!
Two resources to help you get started are Heather Winslow’s 2006 Primer for Adding Knitted and Crocheted Trims to Handwoven Cloth from Handwoven Magazine and Gist Yarn’s How to Twine: Exploring a Different Edge Finish.
Challenge creations will be shown at our December 2026 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”
Illinois Prairie Weavers Guild 