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Congratulations to all the winners of the Hoffman 2025-26 Challenge!

Every year, the Hoffman Challenge inspires quilters to create something extraordinary—and this year was no exception. We were amazed by the imagination, detail, and artistry sewn into every submission. Join us in celebrating this year’s winners and the beautiful artworks that captured our hearts.

All entries were evaluated using a numerical scoring system across several categories including Visual Impact, Use of Challenge Fabrics, Design, Creativity & Originality, Quilting, Craftsmanship and Workmanship.

Each judge naturally brings their own perspective and experience to the process. Some may respond more strongly to precision piecing and finishing details, others to visual impact, creativity, or quilting execution. Because judging panels change from year to year, the emphasis and outcomes can vary slightly as well, which is part of what keeps the Challenge dynamic and interesting.

And the winners are…

APPLIQUE CATEGORY

First Place: SAKURA SUNRISE by Joyce L. Cambron of Boise, ID

“For several years I have been hanging on to a tiny picture of a small metal sculpture (wall art) from a gift catalog. This year’s collection of Hoffman Challenge fabrics was finally the inspiration I needed to enlarge the picture and actualize my version of that artwork.” Joyce L. Cambron

According to the judges, Sakura Sunrise was especially admired for its composition, handwork, and overall execution. The use of Aurifil thread and the quality of the appliqué work helped it stand out in multiple categories.


Second Place: AMUS – GUARDIAN OF THE PRAIRIE by Liz Wagstrom of Faribault, MN

“The American bison serves as the guardian of the prairies both ecologically and culturally. I wanted to portray the majesty of the species in this quilt. I was inspired by the painting Inner Light by Megan Wimberley who graciously gave me permission to utilize her work. I constructed the eye first and felt like he watched me for the hundreds of hours I worked on him, so I gave him the name Amus – full of love. While sometimes I felt like he was judging me as I worked, I also felt like he welcomed my admiration and dedication!” Liz Wagstrom

Third Place: DAISY FIELD by Linda Bealmer of Mapleton, IL

“I was inspired to create this design after seeing a wall hanging in a pizza restaurant. I couldn’t tell what it was made of because it was too high up on the wall. It could be painted wood, canvas, or cloth, but was large. I was given permission to take a picture, and when I saw the Hoffman Challenge colors, I thought it was a good opportunity to create my version of the wall hanging.” Linda Bealmer

PIECED CATEGORY

First Place: LOLLIPOPS by Kadee Porter of Boise, ID

“Lollipops is a playful, sugary-sweet quilt. Picture it centered on a round table, surrounded by stacks of birthday presents, pink and purple balloons, and a chocolate cake topped with pink and purple sprinkles – pretty please! This whimsical design originally began as peppermints, until my husband remarked that the swirling shapes resembled the all-day suckers he remembers from his childhood. Since “All-Day Sucker” is a terrible name for a quilt, the idea evolved into “Lollipops” and was a perfect fit for this year’s Hoffman Challenge fabrics.” Kadee Porter

Second Place: CELESTIAL COMPASS by Elaine F. Class of Aurora, CO

“I drafted this quilt myself after not finding a suitable pattern. I also pieced it and quilted it on my Elna sewing machine. I like to see depth and motion in my work, and I believe that I accomplished it in this quilt.” Elaine F. Class


Third Place: HOFFMAN CELEBRATION by Barbara Stover of Waldo, OH

“This pieced quilt features freehand quilting with a double-top thread. The “gems” are salvaged from sweaters. I wanted to represent joy in the fabrics with this design.” Barbara Stover

GARMENT CATEGORY


First Place: CORSET CURVES by Dorothy Floral of Signal Hill, CA

“My chosen Project was quite the challenge for me. I decided to make a bustier, based on the corset construction but with a modern twist. I draped the style, made the pattern. Then proceeded to make my own fabric. By cutting 2 ½” strips and sewing them together creating “Curved Strips” (a new method for me) Then using the random sewn strips, cut the bodice. The skirt I wanted something short & “Flirty”. Using my own pattern with an elastic waist. Finding the notions was as challenging. The zipper, downtown Los Angeles, the trim, Hawthorne, the grommets and Coutil from Richard the Thread.” Dorothy Floral


Second Place: PINK & PURPLE by Denise J. DuBois of Dunbarton, NH

“I have two grown daughters. One daughter has always loved pink, and the other daughter has always loved purple. I also have two granddaughters. One granddaughter loves pink, and the other granddaughter loves purple. This pink and purple jacket is a tribute to my four most favorite girls. May love and positive energy always swirl around them!” Denise J. DuBois

Third Place: BIRDS AND AMETHYST BATIKS by Patricia Dews of Daytona Beach Shores, FL

“Making wearable art allows me to express my creativity and originality. The fabric choices for this year’s challenge are beautiful batiks. I put the challenge fabrics on my design wall until I was inspired, and an idea popped into my mind. I recently moved to Florida and became enamored with the large, beautiful birds I encountered. The challenge fabric’s pink colors were perfect for flamingos. I wanted to include pelicans because they fly by my condo windows.” Patricia Dews

ACCESSORIES CATEGORY


First Place: STYLISH DOG by Patricia M. James of Fredericksburg, VA

“For the dog that has everything, why not a quilted coat? Why not a leash and a poop bag?” Patricia M. James


Second Place: HAPPY FEET by Karen Mazowiecki of Wayne, NJ

“These custom sneakers celebrate Hoffman’s stunning 2025/2026 Amethyst collection. By crafting these fabrics into wearable art, I’m taking the joy of quilting beyond the studio and into daily life. Each step becomes an opportunity to share the artistry and craftsmanship of textile design, proving that gorgeous fabrics can be both functional and fashionable.” Karen Mazowiecki


Third Place: WINE & ROSES by Denise J. DuBois of Dunbarton, NH

“The fabrics used in this handbag reminded me of the beautiful Wine & Roses Weigela bush in our yard with its dark purplish burgundy leaves and electric pink flowers, thus the name, Wine & Roses.” Denise J DuBois

MIXED CATEGORY

First Place: PAPA BEAR by Luana D. Rubin of Boulder, CO

“This piece is my thank you to the Hoffman family. I have known 3 generations of their family and have appreciated how this S. California business has managed to navigate the changes in our industry and still have that California Surfer vibe. This challenge really inspired me because purple is my favorite color! It is also a nod to the bear on the California flag. I used my bear photos from a couple wildlife photo trips to Alaska. This Papa Bear is giving us a steady gaze, recalling an experience I had in the forest with an adult bear.” Luana D Rubin

Papa Bear is also the winner of the Hoffman Family Award. This award is separate from the formal judging categories. Since Hoffman is a family-owned business, the judges invite participating family members, schedule permitting, to personally select a piece for special recognition.


Second Place: STILL BLOOMING AND GROWING, NO MATTER WHAT by Orit Modiano of Ramat Gan, Israel

“Despite the hardship, I go on creating and seeing life in color.” Orit Modiano

Third Place: THE RAINBOW CROW by Cherri Kincaid from Merritt Island, FL

“The idea was to make a deliberate confusion between the two structures. Creating a sort of surrealist interpretation where the bird is turning into the plant. Each square is a self-contained design, which when put together using different colors of fabric reveals another larger design. The Rainbow Crow sacrificed his beautiful colors by carrying fire from heaven to warm the animals on earth from the snow.” Cherri Kincaid

MODERN CATEGORY

First Place: LIKE A TREE FIRMLY PLANTED by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer of Aurora, CO

“This stylized, modern work is Inspired by Psalm 1:3… “…He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water…” I had wanted to make a quilt with a single large tree for a long time so started sketching the plans for this piece. The amethyst collection of batik fabrics is so beautiful, 14 of them were used in the form of ‘tiles.’ A lovely fabric in my ‘stash’ complimented the challenge batiks beautifully but I couldn’t make myself cut into it; thus, the whole-cloth backdrop. Dense quilting fills the background to both accentuate the trapunto, and to give the raw-edge, fused appliqued elements a little more dimension.” Sharon L. Schlotzhauer

Second Place: NOURISH THE HEART by Becky A. Grover of Ann Arbor, MI

“These are just some of the many ways we can nourish our hearts.” Becky A Grover

Third Place: MAE MAES BLOOM by Katherine M. Dossman of Belton, TX

“I challenged myself to design a modern flower with improv piecing. Purple is a fabulous color and feels like royalty as does my cat Mae Mae. She was my inspiration.” Katherine M. Dossman

AURIFIL CATEGORY

First Place: AMETHYST IN BLOOM by Jacqueline Styner of Levittown, PA

“Amethyst in Bloom reflects my passion for quilting and designing unique pieces. I imagined amethyst crystals blooming into light, surrounded by delicate flowers. Using raw edge machine appliqué, free motion quilting, and hand embroidery, I combined bold shapes, flowing textures, and fine details to bring this vision to life. The quilt celebrates resilience and transformation, echoing how amethyst forms under pressure and blossoms into beauty through patience and creativity.” Jacqueline Styner

Second Place: FLAMINGO IN THE FLOWERS by Laina Strohm of Fayetteville, NC

“I love bird watching and these bright pink and purple fabrics were perfect for a flamingo. I used the arts and crafts style to create a floral background with simple stylized flowers and leaves.” Laina Strohm

Third Place: GOOD MORNING, MOTHER EARTH AND FATHER SKY THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIFTS by Linda W. Boynton De Sepulveda

“In the First Nations beliefs we give thanks for our gifts. Father Sky is the source of stars, rain, thunder and the teacher of tenderness, sternness and gentleness. Mother Earth is the source of all life. The morning glory was used to represent spiritual guidance. The flower opens at dawn and withers by evening. A poignant reminder to cherish the present moment, embrace beauty as it is fleeting.” Linda W. Boynton De Sepulveda

HOFFMAN HONORABLE MENTIONS

Hoffman Honorable Mentions are pieces that were personal favorites of individual judges or Hoffman family members. Papa Bear, Sakura Sunrise, Happy Feet and Amethyst in Bloom (shown above) were all selected, as well as the pieces pictured below.


ELEPHANT IN PARADISE   by Renata Beason of Craig, CO
LOROPETALUM IN BLOOM by Joyce Ryder of Baton Rouge, LA

AMETHYST FENDER GUITAR by Julie Atlas from Reno, NV
BOTTLED by Mikie J. Bair from Phoenix, AZ
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A Quick h+h 2026 Recap

I’m back from a wonderful, inspiring, exhausting and FUN trip to the h+h show! I made many new friends, reconnected with old friends, and saw lots and lots and lots of creativity. I really loved the format of the show, as opposed to the “old” Quilt Market, since it combined crochet, knitting and other needle work crafts with the quilting side of things. One thing I learned is that crafters don’t limit their creativity to just one medium! After a day or two of “collapse days” (that’s a new priceless term from my New Zealand friend, Susan Claire), I’m almost recovered from my whirlwind trip.

A calm moment in the booth. The featured quilt is Moving Emotion by A Lee B Creative using the Hoffman Bali Batiks Deep Blue Reefs collection.

I saw lots of opportunities to make new connections, uniting designers, vendors and teachers with outlets to sell, promote and distribute.  Fabric manufacturers and distributors were both on the hunt for the latest and greatest, and I saw lots of new faces getting some well-deserved attention. That’s a hint for you to attend the next event, in case I’m being too subtle! The show had record attendance, and I’m sure Houston (October 1-2) will be even busier.

I looked for trends, and asked several of my fellow attendees for their thoughts. And if you were there, please comment and share below! I can’t say much about the yarn side, except that the variety and quality were phenomenal. I did notice lots of Amigurumi, or in other words, miniature stuffed creatures (yes, I looked that up). Since I can’t imagine even knitting a sock, and as Susan pointed out, the problem is that even if you finish one sock, you still have to knit another, I was impressed with the infinite detail and fine workmanship.

Aroma Primavera, the newest Palette of the Season project, made its debut.

Speaking of tiny things, I did notice that several quilt pattern designers used miniature quilts to display their patterns. With the ability to print a high-res image on fabric, this was a brilliant idea. With a little quilting they truly looked like they were pieced, and easily showed multiple quilt patterns in a small space. On another note, I thought the full-size quilts on display were quilted much more densely than I’ve seen in the past few years, and also quilts with smaller pieces were more prominent. Curved piecing is also picking up steam, in my opinion, as the next generation of quilters is flexing their skills.

Thimtec Thimble Tape comes on a roll and will protect your fingers from heat and punctures.

Since applique and three-dimensional sewing appeared to be a bit more popular, I have to mention the best new to me notion: Thimtec Thimble Tape. It can mold to your fingers, sticking to itself, not you, and comes in multiple colors. It’s even reusable! From someone who constantly burns their fingers doing appliqué, I’m debating how many rolls I really need.

There was always a friendly face in the Hoffman California Fabrics booth! Margaret Jones, rep extraordinaire, may or may not have had an eye on the new plaids…

Checks, plaids and wovens from yarn-dyed to digital prints are back, and Hoffman California Fabrics was not one to miss out. Their new line, Secret Garden Tea Company, features luscious plaids that were featured prominently in a quilt, but I noticed more than one rep surreptitiously eyeing them for future garments.


Each of the 20 projects guides you through the simple process of creating adorable pincushions.

The overall industry focus of the event was on sustainable crafting, with the prestigious Golden Scissors Award for Sustainability (presented by the Craft Industry Alliance) going out to Smart Art + Craft Supplies, an organization that keeps thousands of pounds of art supplies out of landfills and gives them a second life with artists, teachers, and students. While your stash probably doesn’t weigh thousands of pounds, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that Susan Claire’s new book, Put a Pin in It, was right on target, encouraging makers of all levels to use scraps from their fabric stash and be creative with choices. See, you too can do your part.

Until next time, Karen


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Best Loved: McKenna Ryan

McKenna at work in her studio

I reached out to McKenna Ryan, aka my new best friend (girl crush wishful thinking), and asked for a bit of insight into her latest collection for Hoffman California Fabrics, Best Loved:  Recreating the Past, Designing the Future. She was inspiring, so of course I had to share!

“Every quilt I design begins the same way: on paper. I sketch until I understand the composition, until the structure feels right and I know what I’m trying to build.  But the design doesn’t truly come to life until I move to my fabric table.  That’s where everything begins to come together.  Fabrics are laid out, shifted, layered, as color and texture slowly form a story.  

In the early years of Pine Needles, my design company, I discovered Hoffman California Fabrics’ beautiful batiks and fell in love.  Their batiks became the foundation of so many of my early quilt designs, and I still love and rely on them today.  However, as I grew as a quilt pattern designer, I began searching for fabrics that could bring my nature-inspired designs to life beyond batiks, but what I needed didn’t really exist at that time. I was looking for subtle gradations, depth and various textures; the kinds of fabrics that could create dimensional wildlife like bears, moose, eagles and deer, as well as other elements and textures of nature.  I wanted soft ombres that would make fur feel alive and dimensional, sky-tree-water prints for landscapes of pine forests and mountain lakes in all seasons, and the bark, aspens, ferns and fish textures that would enable me to create my layered appliques.

At Home in the Woods, 62″ x 69″. The complete set of 12 patterns for this quilt can be found on the Pine Needles website.

I realized that to fully express what I was envisioning, I would need to create my own print lines with the textures I’d been longing to find.  That realization began a treasured partnership with Hoffman California Fabrics, as I developed collections such as At Home in the Woods, Silent Inspirations and Painted Forest. These fabrics became my signature palette, and helped me “paint” the stories in some of my most meaningful work.  And while I love creating new collections and exploring new directions, there are certain textures I always return to; the ones that feel essential, which is what led to my Best Loved collection.

Best Loved is a gathering of the fabrics I’ve used the most, trusted the most and loved the longest, all brought together into a cohesive collection.  Not just as individual prints, but as a working foundation for creating.  They are also the fabrics customers have loved most and have asked for over and over.

With Best Loved bringing McKenna’s archival fabrics back to life, quilters can finally recreate Calling Me Home using its original prints. Traditional kits for the full quilt are in stores now, as well as individual block kits, each designed to stand alone beautifully as a wall hanging. Check with your local quilt store for availability!

When I began pulling the Best Loved fabrics together, something clicked. I could see how they all connected—not just to each other, but to the quilts they helped me create, such as Dog Park and Wind in the Whiskers and Calling Me Home. Those quilts hold meaning not just for me, but also for so many quilters.   For years, I’ve been asked if my Calling Me Home quilt could be recreated exactly as it was originally designed. With my Best Loved collection, that is finally possible.

But it isn’t only about looking back, it’s also about moving forward. From these same beloved fabrics came something entirely new:  Among the Birches. This design carries the same language, those nature-based textures that have defined my work, but expresses them in a fresh, new way. But in many ways, Among the Birches could not exist without everything that came before it, which is also what makes my Best Loved collection so meaningful to me.

Among the Birches is a 6 month series; the five interior blocks with a Birch Grove Border and finishing pattern as the 6th pattern.

Best Loved isn’t just a fabric collection; it’s a bridge. A bridge between quilts like Calling Me Home, which carry years of memory and connection, and new designs like Among the Birches, which reflect where my work is going. The same palette is used to tell both stories, to recreate the past, and to design the future. And to me, that’s what gives the work continuity over time.  Not repeating what came before but building from something that continues to evolve. Because the things that matter to me most, story, texture, nature and connection, don’t really go out of style, they just deepen over time. And they continue to find their way into new work.”

But wait, there’s more! Don’t miss out on the new McKenna Ryan Look Book, featuring her latest collections and project inspiration. Most are in stores now, so be sure to check with your local quilt shop.

Until next time, Karen

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Behind the Scenes: Meet Sandy Muckenthaler

In my last post, I talked about the Spring Catalogs, featured on the Hoffman California Fabrics’ website. I’m expecting that by now you’ve had a minute to look them over, and if not, I highly recommend you do! My favorites are the Project Catalogs, and not just from this season. If you ever need an inspo nudge, they are a perfect place to start! They are packed full of projects that are sure to inspire a myriad of future quilts.

If you ever wondered who is the creative genius behind these catalogs, let me give you a little peek behind the curtain. Meet Sandy Muckenthaler, the Director of Creative Projects. She’s been with Hoffman California Fabrics for over 40 years, starting with them as an order puller, and moving through different roles including receptionist, working in the design department, customer service, and finally spending the last 15-plus years in her current and favorite role.

Sandy Muckenthaler, Director, Creative Projects. The background quilt is “Winter Birds” by the Gourmet Quilter.

I’ve had the pleasure to work with Sandy over the past several years, and let me tell you, she is the most generous, tactful and encouraging person that I have ever worked with. I just had to grill her a bit about the process of putting the catalogs together, which to me, seems like a massive task, since many of the catalogs are over 150 pages. That’s a lot of designers and projects!

Sandy told me the catalog process starts three to four months before the fabric release date, which is about the time she gets the fabric strike offs and Bali Batik blankets. What? Blankets? “Yep, that’s the term,” she said, “it’s funny, since some of the so-called blankets are about the size of a fat quarter!” 

From there she begins the task of pulling together coordinates for each line, which by my count was about 12-14 different lines for each catalog release. Coordinates are pulled from a combination of 24/7 Blenders, and Bali Basics, such as the 1895 Watercolors, 885 Dots, 1384 Smoothies and 839 Mottles. Full disclosure: If Smoothies and Mottles were not known terms to you, I didn’t know them either. Talk about learning something new every day! Anyway, Sandy pulls at least a dozen (usually more) coordinates per line, 12-14 lines…are you getting the math here? For me, the coordinates can really help “pop” the fabrics, so Sandy’s creative pairings are really helpful.

Choosing coordinate fabrics for the Secret Garden Tea Company collection (coming soon!)

Eventually, everything ends up as digital files, which are then made accessible to her roster of 20-25 designers. As she explained to me, “My intention is to make it as easy as possible for them to work their magic.” The designers have approximately six to eight weeks to submit their ideas, along with fabric requirements. The images and info all go into a spreadsheet, which is then passed on to the in-house graphic design team, who “Make everything pretty.”

The process is easy enough to understand, but yet I had questions. And here’s where you’re going to learn just how diplomatic and personable Sandy really is. When asked what is the biggest challenge is in putting the catalogs together, she was hard pressed for an answer. (Trust me, I’d be whining about oh, so many things.) “Actually,” she said, “The hardest thing is not publishing every single pattern that is submitted. We simply run out of room!”

I wondered what happens if they get submissions that are too similar? “Surprisingly it doesn’t really happen because our designers are so creative. I do look for new designs, and it’s a bonus when there’s a connection between the fabric and the quilt design. I also look for pattern designs that show off the fabric, versus patterns that cut the fabric into little tiny pieces that are beyond recognition.” She went on to add, “The designers have the option to work with fabric lines that speak to them, so luckily, it all evens out, and we get a lot of variety, across all the lines. I feel that our designers are the ones who bring our fabrics to life. I’m really so grateful to them for all they do.”

I had one last question I had to ask: Do you have any teacher’s pets? While she answered that “I love all the designers equally,” I can vouch that she makes each and every one of us (yes, I am a member of the pattern design posse if you didn’t get that yet) feel like we’re the favorite. If you’re interested in designing projects in the future for Hoffman California Fabrics, look for Sandy at the h +h show. Now that you know what she looks like, she should be easy to find.

Until next time, Karen

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Spring Inspiration

Whoo Hoo! The new 2026 Spring catalogs from Hoffman California Fabrics are here and they are drool worthy.

Start off with the Product Lookbook, and you’ll get a firsthand look at what’s up and coming. You’ll be able to peruse the best of Spectrum Digital Prints that range from Patriotic (Freedom Ring) to out of this world (Wish Upon the Night). And while Land, Sea, Sky, Trout About and Rise and Cast are three separate collections, I wouldn’t hesitate to bring them all together to make an outstanding outdoors-person grouping. And of course, the eleven(!) new batik releases are beautifully coordinated.

Yes, the fabrics are lovely. I want them all. But let’s face it. We all need a little inspiration sometimes, and that’s where the Project Catalog comes in. Every collection in the Product Lookbook is well-supported by several project samples. I think I counted at least six different projects for just one batik line!

One of my personal favorite digital print projects is featured on the Project Catalog cover: In the Nest, by Quilted Garden Designs, featuring the Nesting Hour collection. You may also appreciate the simplicity (as in let the fabrics work for you) of two more projects (see, I told you there are lots of ideas!) from the same collection: Happy Thought and Journey from Villa Rosa Designs. All three of these quilts can be made up as quick and easy samples, and are great one-day classes suitable for beginners and advanced beginners.

I’m here today to let you in on a little secret. Hoffman California Fabrics has years of project catalogs on their website, and each one is simply brimming with inspirational quilt projects. Don’t get caught up that some of the fabric lines and panels are no longer available— with a little creativity you can adapt almost any project to work for you.  It’s all the more reason for you to take a good look at your shelves or fabric stash and get busy! (Need a little help making different panels work? You may want to read “How Are You Coping?” a post from February 26, 2026.) However, if you’re still worried about needing the exact panel or fabric, don’t miss a quick look at the Ongoing Collections catalog. You may find a few prints and panels that are just what you need to round out a collection.

If you don’t feel like you can make the leap from past year’s patterns to this year’s fabric collections, I have another hint for you: Palette of the Season patterns. Featured in the Bali Basics catalog, along with 296 Hoffman Bali Watercolor 1895’s, you’ve got multiple FREE (everyone’s favorite price tag) patterns made with fabrics that will never go out of style with your customers. Trust me, you will be tired of the sample long before your customers are! (And at that point, it’s simply time to rearrange your displays.) 

This post is getting a wee bit long (sorry I’m writing this while visiting Ireland), but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the new Kits & Pre-Cuts catalog, which features Abide, an amazing nine-month BOM program designed by Lizard Creek Quilting. Shops can order it now; customers, tell your favorite shop how much you love it!

I’m not purposely skipping McKenna Ryan’s Spring 2026 Lookbook, but with over 60 pages of ideas and fabric favorites, it will require a post of its own. Included in that thought is the Tropicals and Conversationals catalog, which I adore. Take a peek for yourself and let me know your thoughts at quilt.hanson@gmail.com. More to come, I promise! Until next time, Karen

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Let the Countdown Begin!

Have you booked your flights? Reserved your hotel? Made an appointment with your favorite Hoffman California Fabrics rep? It’s time to finalize your plans for the h+h americas show now!

The show itself runs May 6-8 (Wednesday through Friday), in Rosemont, Illinois (just outside of Chicago). This is THE event for the professional crafting industry, encompassing not just quilting, but also fiber arts such as knitting and crochet, and cosplay, garment and accessory sewing. There’s more, I promise, but you can learn all about the exhibitors and events on their website, hh-americas.com.

More importantly, why should you attend? Let me count the reasons!

Make in-person connections. You may even meet one of your idols (or me! Meet me!) Seriously, over the years I’ve met many designers who were willing to take the time to visit with me. Of course, you then have the opportunity to later tell a story or two about that designer’s personal approach to a new line that they designed, and what made it personal to them. Trust me, it makes it personal to your customers, too.

Time to try a new trending palette?

See the latest trends—in color, design and products. While you may have a favorite color palette, it can pale in comparison to the latest palettes that will be dominating collections in the future. Be in the know, and plan accordingly. Years ago, at a Quilt Market far away, I was told that the best way to spot industry color trends was to look through bridal magazines. While not a bad idea, I disagree. Go to the industry show. Walk the floor. Take lots of pictures and you’ll come up with a fresh new palette that works for you and your market.

Design trends and products are just as important as color palettes. One past piece of advice I do agree with is to come away from the show with at least one new product to take back to your shop. It doesn’t have to be showy, and it may only be new to your store. It’s just fun for you, and fun for your customers to see something new. A new notion, a bag, stuffed animal or clothing item (as in something you don’t normally sell) with the appropriate patterns,  or something so new I can’t even imagine it to tell you about it (so be on the lookout) are just a few ideas.

McKenna Ryan’s Seasonal Fat Quarters from Hoffman California Fabric’s are a great go-to bundle

Compare products. Everything all at once pretty much sums up the show floor, so it is good to have a plan. I personally like to walk the whole show floor once over before I start ordering. It gives me a chance to spot trends (see above) and compare products. See which products you like the best, and decide which products will be compatible with each other. Don’t forget to mark down where you saw them! It’s frustrating to spend time later looking for that one perfect thing that you saw somewhere!

Take a class and learn something new. h+h is offering a plethora of classes. Don’t feel comfortable discerning new trends all by your lonesome? Attend the Craft Trends for 2026 lecture by Renee Froerer on Thursday, May 7, from 10:30 to 11:30. Yes, that’s a.m. (they’re not monsters!) The list of classes is amazing; I’d like to attend them all and I don’t even have a store anymore. From Integrating AI into your business to using Instagram to build community (on a personal note I’d really be happy to not have my daughter-in-law stand behind me and sigh whenever I try to make an “Insta” post), there really is a lot to choose from if you can break yourself away from the show floor.

Get refreshed and get inspired! This may be the most important reason of all. We all need a boost every now and then, and there’s no better way to get it than hob-knobbing with your own kind. I for one, can’t wait to be among fellow quilters and crafters. I’ll be spending part of my day in the Hoffman California Fabrics booth, so please stop by and prove there’s actually someone who reads this! I’d really like to meet you and hear your thoughts about the show, the industry, the trials of running a business, or anything else you’d like to share.

Until next time, Karen

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Espresso Yourself

Grab a cup of joe and get creative! There are prizes to be won, and awards to be garnered!

The 37th Annual Hoffman Challenge fabric will be delivered to stores this month. Quilters, textile artists, accessory artists, artists of any kind, start your creative engines! Online entries are due by September 15, 2026. And while you may think that’s eons away, I can guarantee you it will be here in a flash!

It’s fitting (pun intended for the Clothing Category) that this week I had the immense pleasure of catching up with Jean Impey, the Curator (her title) and Woman in Charge (my title) of the Hoffman Challenge. And she fits it all in on top of her busy teaching, lecturing, and private commissions schedule. She is one very creative, inspiring lady!

For most of our conversation, I focused on her role in the Hoffman Challenge. I learned that if you name it, she does it. And IT is a huge job, with entries coming in from all over the globe. She starts with curating entries from digital submissions, and gets busier from there, from notifying contestants they’ve been accepted (pop the champagne!) to organizing accepted physical entries arriving daily for judging. Then there’s the actual judging, notifying, awarding…the list goes on. And that’s just for the latest Challenge. Past challenge entries need to be managed as well, from being packed up for various shows to being returned to their owners. It’s a massive task that requires a tremendous amount of organization and attention to detail. I immediately informed Jean I would never be interested in taking on her job. 


DANCE OF THE ‘WILD’ FLOWERS!
by Sharon L. Schlotzhauer, Aurora, CO
Last year’s first place winner in the Appliquéd Quilts Category


I asked Jean if she had a favorite category. “That’s hard to say. Clothing is such an interesting category since entries range from wearable clothing to Shakespearean costumes, integrating theatrical textiles and multiple layers. But for my favorite category, I guess I’d say Mixed Techniques or Appliqué Quilts because that’s where I typically see the most creativity.”

She went on to add that the Mixed Techniques category gets the most entries, “But I sometimes think there’s a misunderstanding about which category the piece actually fits into. Sometimes I will change the classification of an entry, especially if I think it’s really good and would have a better chance of winning in a different category.”

By the way, Jean also said “The Modern Quilts category gets the fewest number of entries.”  Now if that’s not a hint for the strategic entrant, I don’t know what is!

Jean Impey, the Curator of the Hoffman Challenge, is stylish as ever. I swear her outfit was not purposely coordinated with the Challenge fabrics!

This year’s Challenge is titled “Coffee Shop”, and the delectable fabric and color palette definitely supports the theme. However, Jean explained that while she and the panel of judges would love to see the use of only Hoffman fabrics, entries can contain fabric from any manufacturer in addition to the challenge fabrics.  She dropped another subtle hint, “Don’t be afraid to add color!”

On that note, I asked Jean what is her best advice to someone who wants to enter the Challenge. “Have fun and be as creative as you can. You don’t have to be the best quilter or sewist; sometimes the best pieces win on creativity versus perfect techniques.”

For more information on how you can enter the Challenge, please visit https://www.thehoffmanchallenge.com. If you’d like to know a bit more about Jean Impey, visit https://sewjean.com. You’ll be glad you did! Until next time — Karen

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Beach Bliss on a Snow Day

Three Breeze features three panels in an easy to stitch pattern.

I had a lovely snow day yesterday. I ironically used it to stitch up “Three Breeze,” a new quilt pattern I recently designed. The pattern features the new Seas & Greetings collection, by Hoffman California Fabrics, of course. The collection features a panel with a delightful vista of a sandy beach, complete with surf boards and palm trees. Ahh! I can almost feel the warm breeze. The prints that accompany the panel, featuring snowmen on the beach, seashells and more palm trees are just plain fun, and of course, well done. While it was super easy to stitch up, I’m always thinking of a few tips that might make you or your customers more successful.

The first tip is included in the pattern, complete with a little picture of how to use a triangle square up ruler to make those dreaded quarter-square triangles easy and perfect! It all comes down to using a tiny speck of water-soluble glue at the seam corners of your untrimmed half-square triangles before you sew the next step. See the arrow?

I like to use Quilt in a Day’s Triangle Square Up ruler (my favorite tool next to Elmer’s Clear School Glue–more on that later) to square up to the size you need. Place the base line of the ruler on the horizontal seam, and center the vertical line where the seams nest. Trim. TaDa! That tiny dot of glue will have kept the seams together and you’ll have perfect quarter-square triangles.

While I’m at it, allow me to share one more tip. If you know me, you know that I’m always harping about sewing an ⅛” around the outside of the quilt top with a longer stay stitch. But did you know it is also really helpful to do the same around the interior blocks of the quilt before you add the borders? Turn the quilt top over and stitch with the seam side up. Your quick little trip around the edge will keep all the seams in place, and also stabilize the outer edge, eliminating any stretching as you add the borders. And speaking of borders, you of course measured through the center of the quilt top to get the correct length, right?

I now have to fall on my sword and admit my shortcomings. In the pattern, I mistakenly said to make five “B” four-patch blocks. You only need to make three. I understand this error will put some into a tizzy, and I apologize. There is enough fabric to cut a few more squares for blocks you won’t need, but it does create a moment of panic. Or a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach, which frankly put a damper on my beach bliss. Again, I’m sorry! The error is noted on the pattern corrections page of my Quilt Boss Design website.



If you need a little more inspiration, check out the Boardwalk pattern by Tourmaline & Thyme Quilts. What a great use of the border print to make a quick and fitting frame for the panel.

Seas & Greetings will begin shipping in June 2026.

Please leave a comment to let me know you’re here! I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Karen

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How Are You Coping?

I’m not asking you about your reaction to the State of the Union address, or the things that may be stressing you out in life. Nope, I’m talking about using those magnificent little borders or “placeholder” strips in your quilts that make everything fit together, perfectly.

Now while my basic motto has always been “If it’s too big, cut some off; If it’s too small, sew some on,” it is nice to have everything fit together perfectly. Plus, coping strips can make almost any panel pattern work with a panel that is close (0″ to 4″ in either direction) in size. Since we all love the stunning panels produced by Hoffman California Fabrics, it’s a good idea to know a bit about coping strips.

Grizzly Trail Quilt
Grizzly Trail pattern. Look closely, and you’ll see there are not one, but two! coping borders around the Eagle panel.

As a pattern designer, I’m often working with digital panel images—not the fabric panel. It’s not until I get the actual panel in my hands to make a sample that I may have an “Oh No!” moment. Hence coping strips and borders. You or your customers may have had a similar experience. Maybe the panel is just a tiny bit smaller than the pattern calls for, or it got pre-washed and shrunk a bit too much. As a shop owner, you’re supposed to know how to fix all the problems!

The basic premise is simple, but you do have to work backwards a bit. For example, if the panel is surrounded by 6″ finished blocks, you know (ok, use a calculator) that seven 6″ finished blocks can frame a 42″ finished size panel. That’s easy. But if you really want to use all 43″ of the finished panel height, you’re going to need to add some coping strips either between the blocks, or at the top and bottom to make up 1″ in height. That’s awkward. Go the other way and make eight blocks. Eight 6″ blocks mean you need the panel “hole” to be 48″ tall. Adding a 2 ½” finished size strip at the top and bottom of the panel (43″ + 2 ½” + 2 ½”) makes it the perfect size. Notice that I’m always working in finished sizes. It’s easier to calculate everything that way, but don’t forget to add ½” to the finished size for cutting. In this case, you’d cut 3″ strips.

White Pine Lane Quilt
White Pine Lane Quilt with Medallion Center. Note the coping border around the center stars. There’s a second coping border (the purple one) before the block borders were added. Fabrics are from the Whispering Ferns collection.

If you’re not so hot on the math, there’s an easier way. White Pine Lane, is a new pattern featuring Hoffman California Fabrics՚ Whispering Ferns collection.  It has a pieced medallion center, and on point, no less. The center is framed by a coping border, and while I wish everyone, including me, sewed perfectly, the best instructions I could give were to measure the pieced center medallion and then cut the coping border strips wider (or narrower) than the specified width if necessary. The unit can be trimmed to the correct size after the borders are added. Problem solved, and on to the next step!

BTW, coping borders do not have to be from just one fabric, and they do not need to be the same width on all four sides. And last but not least, you don’t have to have a coping border, even if it is of different widths, on all four sides. Yes, I know, that last one is a bit paralyzing for those that like to play by the rules.

So go ahead, and cope with whatever comes your way! Until next time, Karen

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Welcome to the Re-Launch!

Hello! And welcome to the official re-launch of the Hoffman Happenings blog. After a bit of begging, pleading and maybe a little cajoling, the powers that be at Hoffman California Fabrics are allowing me to be your spiritual fabric advisor. Okay, so that may not have been their exact job description, but editor and chief contributor sounds so boring!

Karen Hanson, Quilt Boss Design

Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Karen Hanson, and I am the main pattern creator, printer, folder, bagger and shipper at Quilt Boss Design. In other words, it’s just me. I’ve been lucky enough to have designed the past five Hoffman Palette of the Season projects, so you may have seen one or two of my designs. I am a bona-fide Hoffman California Fabrics fanatic; I love their batiks, hand-dyes and digital prints (more on that later), and am thankful I have the opportunity to design new patterns to show off their fabrics. After fifteen years of owning a brick-and-mortar quilt store, I’ve taught, lectured and written patterns for almost every aspect of quilting, and am a little bit more than excited to share my thoughts and experience.

Present Company, A Palette of the Season Pattern exclusively from Hoffman California Fabrics

Enough about me. Let’s talk about you. And this blog. Stop by or follow the blog to get a preview of the latest collections, learn a little bit about the designers you love, and of course get a few behind the scenes sneak peeks to learn a little about what goes in to creating, producing and delivering those delicious fabrics to your store. With a little arm twisting, and possibly a bit of bribery, I’m hoping to share this platform with my pattern design cohorts, so stay tuned. I’d really like to know what inspires them! Wouldn’t you like to know?

If you’re a quilt shop that carries Hoffman California Fabrics, I’d love to hear from you. If you have an opinion of what you’d like to see here, I’d love to hear from you. Heck, if you’re just feeling like you need a friend, I’d love to hear from you, too.

In the meantime, ICYMI (in case you missed it), Crown and Vine, Hoffman California Fabrics’ newest blender collection, will begin shipping May 2026. Did you get your order in? 

This metallic blender is ideal for adding subtle shimmer and sophistication to any design. Just check out a few of the projects below!

Ornamentea by Bear Hug Quiltworks
Timber and Town, by Quilt Boss Design (aka, yours truly)