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Quilt Con's Ruby Bee Fabric Challenge

Summary

Take a look at some of the entries from QuiltCon 2025 and their Ruby+Bee fabric challenge. Each year, quilters are challenged to create a design using only 3-6 specific fabrics.

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Quilt Con's Ruby Bee Fabric Challenge

At the 2025 QuiltCon show, sponsored by Modern Quilt Guild, there was an inspiring display of quilts entered for the Ruby+Bee Solids Fabric Challenge. For the 2025 show, six specific colors from Windham Fabrics were selected. Quilters had to use at least three of those six fabrics, and only those fabrics to create a design. The colors were Unicorn, Rain Cloud, Poppy, Slate, Tumeric, and Stormy. It was interesting to see which colors the quilters used and how they designed their pieces.

Quilt Con's Ruby Bee Fabric Challenge

 

The specific rules were:

Quilters may create their quilt using 3 to 6 colors in the palette. Any other fabric, neutrals, etc., may not be used on the quilt top or binding. Makers may use any fabric of their choice for the quilt backing. The maximum quilt size is 94" per side.

 

Reverb

In a previous post, we showed the first place winner, but it bears repeating here. The winning quilt, "Reverb" by Michaela Romesburg, sought harmony, balance, and depth by using warm and cool colors from the fabric choices. (Insert Reverb)

Reverb

 

Here are some other quilts that captured the colors and made unique designs. Often, it is hard to recognize that the quilters used the exact fabric swatches. This challenge shows what imagination and skill can do with just a few color options.

 

Red Giant

"Red Giant" by Joshua Dunn took advantage of three colors to create this image representing an ocean's view of the sun on the horizon.

Red_Giant

 

Renewed

Elizabeth Ray submitted this quilt entitled "Renewed." It was part of her ongoing series, with two-color stripes and plus signs added. She used five of the six colors offered in the competition.

Renewed

 

Matisse

I can see why Jane Stokes called her quilt "Matisse." She used five of the colors for her blocks, and the sixth fabric was used for the lines. She hand-quilted the fabric with threads to match the colors of the fabric.

Matisse

 

Normal is an Illusion

It took me a moment, but "Normal is an Illusion" finally popped out of this quilt by Elaine Cawadias. She explained that her quilt was her representation of normality and its variations.

Normal_is_an_Illusion

 

Pinwheel Daze

"Pinwheel Daze" by Jennifer Boling definitely caught my eye. The recurring pattern offered some stability in the chaos.

pinwheel_daze

 

Take A Bow

I must admit I needed the maker's explanation to make "Take A Bow" fit in my mind, but once I read the note, it all made sense. Leslie Swearinger's quilt is her view of a ballerina taking a bow at the end of her performance. Now it makes sense!

Take_A_Bow

 

Tales of Timeless Threads

Jen Sorenson's "Tales of Timeless Threads" primarily used two of the colors with accents from three more. The result was a quilt with a lot of movement and a hint of color.

Tales_of_Timeless_Threads

 

Unboxed

"Unboxed" by Paula Steel took a standard log cabin quilt block with an off-center frame. This represents that not everything fits in a tidy box. She added, "This is my love letter to all of those who never quite fit where they are expected to..."

Unboxed

 

Whispers of the Acacia

I loved "Whispers of the Acacia" for its simplicity while still being a complex work. An acacia and its elegance inspired Tzitzi Bejarano. The lines and shapes represent the tree's branches and ability to sway with the blowing winds.

Whispers_of_the_Acacia

 

I can see how the judges had difficulty selecting just one quilt to claim first prize in this category. Which would your choice have been?

 

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Glossary

Backing
The fabric on the back of a Quilt Sandwich (Top, Batting and Backing).

Same As: Lining
Binding
Binding is used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun it is the fabric that's used to cover the raw edges of the quilt sandwich after it's quilted. This edging fabric is referred to as the Binding (noun). As a verb it is the process of putting on this fabric, and it referred to as Binding a Quilt.
Block
The basic unit of a quilt top, usually square but can be rectangular or other shapes. Blocks can be pieced, appliqued or plain.
Frame
Four strips of wood that supports the layers for quilting.
Log Cabin
A quilt pattern in which narrow fabric strips, or logs, surround a center square to form a block. These may be pieced from strips or sewn onto a foundation of paper or fabric.
Pinwheel
Consists of four right triangles forming a square and then joined together in an alternating fashion.
Quilt Top
The top layer of a quilt Sandwich.
Author
Mark Bach
Mark Bach is an accomplished freelance writer covering multiple fields and embroiders on his wife's projects. He features new trends in the quilting industry and is always on the lookout for new tools and tricks to make quilting easier.
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