Aurifil is honored to partner with Hoffman Fabrics for the 2017 Hoffman Challenge. This annual contest was created to honor and recognize the talents of quiltmakers and sewists. The 2017 event will focus on Mastery, a brand new collection inspired by the Old Masters era of magnificant artworks created by illuminaries such as DaVinci, Michelangelo, Carvaggio, Rembrandt, and Leyster. The coordinating Aurifil Thread collection was hand-selected to highlight and accentuate the stunning large scale prints. For more information about the challenge, please click here.
We are head over heels for this year’s fabrics & threads and can’t wait to see what you all do with them!
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
2017 Hoffman Challenge
12 Large Spools – 100% Aurifil Cotton 50wt, 1422yds each
Colors included:
2024 – 2692 – 2615 – 2210 – 2350 – 2270 – 1133 – 1135 – 2730 – 2805 – 2865 – 5017
To view this info on our website, click the image above. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
HOW THE HOFFMAN CHALLENGE BEGAN
(excerpt from The Hoffman Challenge Turns 21 by Kelly Gallagher-Abbott, published in American Quilter)
For two decades, Hoffman California Fabrics has challenged quilters, sewers, and crafters of all skill levels to transform a distinctive fabric into a work of fiber art. Known as the Hoffman Challenge, this annual event welcomes quilts, dolls, clothing, and accessories made with the company’s specially -designer fabric to be judged for a contest and display at northern American fiber art venues.
It all started 21 years ago, with a casual comment from one friend to another at a quilt show. Betty Boyink and Hollis Turnbow were fellow vendors and NQA certified quilt judges working at a quilt show in 1988. Betty store patterns dan books, and was speaking with a third vendor about a Hoffman fabric that wasn’t selling as fast as some other Hoffman fabrics. She took the bolt to her booth and pondered design ideas when Hollis asked her what she was holding.
“A challenging fabric,” Betty said.
Hollis answered that he’d accept that challenge. He asked her to buy him the same amount of fabric she bought for herself and they’d have a friendly competition. They mentioned the idea to the other vendors at that show and word spread. A year later, the pair presented finished quilts from 94 makers at a show each quilt using some of the original “challenging” fabric, and the Hoffman Challenge was born.
THE INTERVIEW (with Michelle Flores of Hoffman Fabrics)
How did the Hoffman Challenge first begin and what inspired its creation?
The Hoffman Challenge first began in 1988 when Betty Boyink and Hollis Turnbow – fellow vendors and NQA-certified quilt judges – challenged each other to design a quilt to help merchandise a Hoffman screenprint. The two started a friendly competition and the idea took off with other vendors at the show. According to the article written by former curator Kelly Gallagher-Abbot, the first Hoffman Challenge offered 94 quilts. Today it is the longest-running annual contest of its kind.
What is the most fun part about the Challenge?
I feel these two aspects distinguish the Challenge: 1.) quilters and sewists truly enjoy testing their skills to design a quilt, garment, accessory or home décor item using the Challenge fabric. Each contest helps them grow as a designer and maker. Many take the opportunity to commemorate an event or honor a loved one with their unique artwork. 2.) Participants look forward to the opportunity to see their artwork shown at a quilt show near them, and they “track” where their quilts/garments/accessories have traveled around the country – from Houston Quilt Festival to a regional guild show to a museum or library.
How is the focal fabric selected?
The focal fabric is selected from fabric lines developed for Hoffman’s summer release to retailers. The final decision is made by a team of people that includes the art director, sales and merchandising director, sales manager, marketing assistants, creative content director, and Hoffman family executive-team members.
What do you love most about Aurifil threads and how they partner with Hoffman’s digitally printed fabrics?
Hoffman Fabrics is beyond thrilled to have Aurifil as co-sponsor because both companies share the same goal of offering the highest quality in products and in design to their customers. Both companies show their passion for design on their sleeves. The incredible array of richly colored Aurifil thread perfectly complements the vibrancy of Hoffman’s digitally printed fabric collections. The special collection thread boxes that Aurifil has produced for the Challenge focal fabrics and coordinates have been spot-on for the variety of colors and light, medium and dark values.
What are you most excited to see with the 2017 Challenge?
Since the first digital-print fabric (the butterfly print from Crystalia) was so well received by retailer and consumers for the 2016 Challenge, Hoffman is excited to offer a new digital print for the 2017 contest. It is the gorgeous floral (#P4299) from Mastery, a line that celebrates the era of stunning, masterpiece still lifes. Participants again can choose to create with the multicolor version of the focal (562-Blooms) or the grayscale (55-Charcoal) – or use both in one piece. And we’re also looking forward to seeing the different ways quilters will thread paint, embellish and bead the Challenge fabric for the Best Use of Aurifil category.
2016 BEST USE OF AURIFIL THREAD WINNERS
1st place – Cassandra Beaver for Crystalized Citrus
2nd place – Jolene Shindler for Thank My Lucky Stars
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win the 2017 Hoffman Challenge Thread Collection, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Saturday, October 15! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Sunday, October 16. Good luck!
UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed — Congratulations to our winner Melissa Weisleder LaGreca!
FIND HOFFMAN ONLINE
Website — Facebook — Hoffman Challenge Facebook — Instagram — Pinterest — Twitter — YouTube