🎉 Happy New Year, sewing friends! 🎉
A fresh year means fresh fabric, fresh inspiration, and… a fresh challenge! I am thrilled to unveil the 2025 Nancy’s Notions New Year’s Sewing Challenge, and this year, it’s all about exploring creativity. Are you ready to join in the fun? Let’s dive right in!
Challenge #1: The Two-Color Quilt
Quilters, this one’s for you! The 2025 challenge is to create and complete a two-color quilt. Whether you choose classic red and white, sophisticated navy and cream, bold black and white, or any other striking combination, the choice is yours!
Here’s the twist: why not incorporate Kona Cotton’s 2025 Color of the Year, “Nocturne,” into your quilt? Pair it with a soft neutral like cream, or make it pop with a bright color like mustard or teal. The possibilities are endless, and the results? Oh-so-stunning!
This challenge isn’t just about making a quilt; it’s about pushing your boundaries and finding beauty in simplicity. Any quilt pattern works, so let your imagination guide you.
Introducing Kona Cotton Color of the Year 2025- Nocturne!! You can shop for Nocturne by clicking here.
Challenge #2: The Patchwork Passport Challenge
The Patchwork Passport Challenge is a fantastic way to celebrate the places you’ve been or dream of visiting. Whether it’s a favorite vacation spot, a hometown, or a bucket-list location, the possibilities are endless for incorporating the spirit of a place into your quilting. It’s a chance to blend personal memories, cultural elements, and creative expression into a meaningful project.
Start by choosing a destination that holds significance for you. It could be a city, country, or natural wonder you’ve visited or a place you dream of experiencing. For me, it would be visiting the island of Svalbard in Norway, near the North Pole, or visiting the country of Scotland. Although I’ve never been to either place, both are high on my list of dreamy locations. For example, I could pick any pattern that appeals to me and then use the colors of Scotland’s flag – blue and white – to make a Scottish-inspired quilt. Or I could pick icy blues, snow whites, and beautiful shades of aurora borealis greens and pinks to make a quilt inspired by Svalbard. Think bold reds and whites for Canada or rich greens and golds for Brazil. Or, take inspiration from the landscapes—use soft sandy tones and ocean blues for a beachside retreat, or warm terracotta hues and sunlit yellows for a desert escape. Or use a pattern that reflects on your destination, like an Irish Chain quilt to represent Ireland.
If you’ve never heard of Svalbard, click here to see it!
These polar-inspired fabric choices would work great for my Svalbard quilt! So pretty! You can find them both on Missouri Star Quilt Co. or just click here!
For those who want to delve deeper into storytelling through quilting, consider using applique or other artistic techniques. You could applique iconic landmarks, like the Eiffel Tower for Paris or the Sydney Opera House for Australia. Alternatively, highlight local flora and fauna or incorporate traditional textile patterns from the region. This approach allows you to not only honor the destination but also learn more about its cultural and natural beauty in the process.
Challenge #3: For the Sewists
Not a quilter? No problem! This year’s sewists’ challenge is to create a custom garment that features embroidery—whether it’s hand embroidery, machine embroidery, or appliqué. Think denim jackets with embroidered florals, aprons with whimsical motifs, or a cozy sweatshirt with a personalized monogram.
The challenge here is to combine both sewing and decorative flair to make something uniquely yours. Choose your favorite embroidery style and get creative! I just love embroidery on sweatshirts, denim, and shoes. So fun and so unique!
Both of these books are full of inspiration and ideas to add hand embroidery work to sweaters, denim, and more! You can find the books on Missouri Star Quilt Co. or just click here!
How to Participate
Remember, you don’t have to do all of these challenges. Whew! That would be too much! Just pick the challenge that appeals to you and get started. When you complete your challenge, we’d LOVE to see what you’ve made! Submitting is easy!
Share your two-color quilts, patchwork passport, or embroidered garments with us through Sew & Tell or Quilt & Tell on Nancy’s Notions. (Find submission details here.)
Join the Conversation
What colors will you pair for your quilt? Where will your patchwork passport take you? What type of garment are you planning to sew? Share your ideas in the comments below and let’s cheer each other on throughout 2025!
I can’t wait to see your creativity soar as we embark on this year’s challenge together. So, grab your favorite pattern, pick your fabrics or threads, and let’s make 2025 a year to remember—one stitch at a time.
Happy sewing,
Beth
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the Nancy’s Notions homepage! That’s where you can find all of the categories leading you to hundreds, yes, hundreds of articles all about quilting and sewing! I think of our website as a super fun sewing magazine – it’s just online and it’s free! Click here!
