Poppy Challenge 2024
The Poppy Cherrywood Challenge
Ninth Annual Art Quilt Contest!
The wildly popular Cherrywood Challenge is back for its 9th year! The striking exhibit creates a cohesive visual impact with artwork using the same theme, same size, same fabric and same colors.
$56.00 Includes:
• Eight FAT QUARTERS of hand-dyed cotton
• Sample of Mistyfuse fusible "Zips"
• One spool of Black Aurifil 40 wt thread
• Collectible Challenge sticker
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$100.00 Includes:
• Eight HALF YARDS of hand-dyed cotton
• Sample of Mistyfuse fusible "Zips"
• One spool of Black Aurifil 40 wt thread
• Collectible Challenge sticker
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• THE CHALLENGE
What can you create with just eight colors?
• THEME
Use your insight and personal style to design the quilt. We will select quilts based on originality, creativity, design, impact, workmanship and overall variety of the exhibit.
• SIZE
Finished measurements must be 20 inches square. The name of the game for this challenge is continuity, so we need this exact size.
• COLOR
The challenge is to use a limited color palette. Your entry must use ONLY the eight colors of fabric in the official Challenge Bundle. Thread color, ink/paint color and colors of embellishments are not limited in their color.
• FABRIC
The entire quilt top and binding must be made out of the Cherrywood Challenge Bundle. No other brand of fabric may be added (with the exception of backing). This challenge is about using your talents to show off the suede texture and color of Cherrywood.
• TECHNIQUE & EMBELLISHMENTS
ADD COLOR WITH EMBELLISHING TECHNIQUES: quilting, thread painting, embroidery, couching, beading, fabric painting, drawing, etc! Any technique or fabric manipulation is acceptable as long as it maintains the official challenge colors and character of a textile quilt. Embellishments must stay within the 20-inch size. Must withstand packing and shipping.
• SPONSORS
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Aurifil is a well-known name in the quilting industry and we are thrilled to INCLUDE a spool of BLACK thread in the bundle. www.aurifil.comMore from Aurifil: Poppy Collection Thread in different weights to compliment the challenge bundle.
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DUE DATE:
May 15, 2024
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Need more fabric?
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1- 0220 Poppy2- 0215 Red-Orange3- 0130 Red4- 0120 Salsa5- 1315 Gunmetal6- CHP01 Poppyseed *NEW7- 0780 Sage8- 0775 Tarragon |
The symbol of the poppy was first associated with the First World War. This bright red flower became a common sight to see on the battlefields of northern France in 1915. Soldiers on the Western Front would even send pressed poppies in letters to their loved ones. 1915 saw fierce fighting at places like Loos and Ypres in France and Belgium. Poppies grew well in the churned-up soil of the battlefield shell craters.
The constant bombardment not only churned up the soil, and brought seeds to the surface but the nitrogen of the explosives helped to fertilise the earth and give the poppies enough nutrients to grow and bloom.
In 1915, after losing a friend during the Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a Canadian doctor, wrote a poem inspired by the colorful display of poppies that had sprung up on the battlefields. It's called 'In Flanders Fields'
BUY SYNTHRAPOL HERE
Synthrapol: hard to pronounce, easy to use.
In the dyeing process, we use hot water and a Concentrated Surfactant (detergent) called Synthrapol to remove excess dye. This product suspends dye particles in water that have not bonded to the fibers. It does not change the color of the fabric. Darker colors have a high concentration of dye so pre-washing our fabrics at home is highly recommended to ensure color does not migrate. Cherrywood has already been washed 4 times with Synthrapol before it leaves our studio. Please follow the directions below to make sure everything "behaves."
FIRST TIME Washing (Prewashing):
We encourage you to prewash all of your Cherrywood in a full load of WARM or COLD water with 2 teaspoons of Synthrapol. If you see a large amount of color in the rinse water, a second wash may be necessary. Synthrapol keeps those released dyes from reattaching onto other fabrics. If you have a front-loading machine, you may need to wash more times or use a laundry tub. Similar colors may be washed together as long as you use Synthrapol, but is wise to make keep very dark colors separate from very light colors while prewashing. Super dark colors may need to be washed several times if there are concerns (depending on your water). We have tested Color Catcher Sheets by Shout: they work well but may leave a lint residue on the fabric. There is no harm in using both products at once.
SUBSEQUENT Washing (Finished quilts, garments, etc.):
Wash finished projects in Synthrapol in COLD water for the first several times. Complete the COLD cycle. This is a good practice to ensure the dyes behave. Synthrapol is an inexpensive product to have on hand to use whenever washing hand-dyes and batiks.
Drying and Pressing:
Remove fabric from dryer when slightly damp and press with a dry iron. If dry, lightly mist with water and iron to remove wrinkles. DO NOT let finished quilts/garments air-dry as this may cause wicking (the dyes are pulled from one fabric into the next if they dry too slowly). It is recommended to dry projects in the dryer. Use steam, or lightly spritz with water and use a dry iron when pressing Cherrywood garments to keep them looking crisp.
• Cherrywood is preshrunk. It has been washed a minimum of four times and dried in a hot dryer before it is sold to you. Be sure to pre-shrink any other fabrics that you are combining with Cherrywood in a project.
• Cherrywood is colorfast. As with ALL textiles, keep Cherrywood out of prolonged harsh sunlight, and it will retain its rich color.