Challenge Quilts
We're proud to share Fabricate's 2025 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop competition quilt, Dirigo. Celebrating the service and contributions of Margaret Chase Smith, Dirigo measures 42x52. The quilt was designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, and longarm quilted by Lily Sweeney/The Batty Quilter.
Born in Skowhegan, Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman elected to Congress from Maine, and she served in both the House and the Senate. Smith ran for president in 1964 and was the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party's convention. As a member of the US House of Representatives, Smith began wearing a single red rose on her shoulder, which became a daily fixture of her attire throughout her career in public office. She waged a long campaign to have the rose declared the official flower of the United States, which Congress finally approved in 1987.
For the 2024 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop, Fabricate's challenge quilt celebrates a dreamy day at the beach. "Beach Treasures" is a 48x41 wallhanging designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, and longarm quilted by The Batty Quilter/Lily Sweeney. Moda's "Honeybloom" is the featured fabric line.
Here's Fabricate's 2023 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop challenge quilt: Eat Maine Lobster, a 45x62 wall-hanging designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, and longarm quilted by The Batty Quilter/Lily Sweeney. We are so proud of the fishing families along our storied coast, and wanted to celebrate their hard work and all it brings to our state. Fabrics from Benartex's "Chalk Garden" line.
For our 2022 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop Challenge quilt, Nessa Reifsnyder designed, pieced and quilted In the Bog, a celebration of a Maine springtime delicacy: fiddlehead ferns! Fabrics were from QT Fabrics' "Wildflowers" line.
Here is Fabricate's 2021 State of Maine Shop Hop Challenge quilt: Katahdin Moonrise (43"x44"), designed, pieced and quilted by Nessa Reifsnyder. All fabrics are from the Stardust line by Banyan Batiks for Northcott.
We're really happy to share Fabricate's 2020 State of Maine Shop Hop Challenge quilt: Home at Last. Designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, quilted by The Batty Quilter. This quilt honors Sparky, who came to Nessa's family via a wonderful organization, Old Dogs New Digs. All fabrics are from Robert Kaufman's "Birds and Berries Maine" line, plus select Kaufman blenders.
Born in Skowhegan, Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman elected to Congress from Maine, and she served in both the House and the Senate. Smith ran for president in 1964 and was the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party's convention. As a member of the US House of Representatives, Smith began wearing a single red rose on her shoulder, which became a daily fixture of her attire throughout her career in public office. She waged a long campaign to have the rose declared the official flower of the United States, which Congress finally approved in 1987.
For the 2024 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop, Fabricate's challenge quilt celebrates a dreamy day at the beach. "Beach Treasures" is a 48x41 wallhanging designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, and longarm quilted by The Batty Quilter/Lily Sweeney. Moda's "Honeybloom" is the featured fabric line.
Here's Fabricate's 2023 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop challenge quilt: Eat Maine Lobster, a 45x62 wall-hanging designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, and longarm quilted by The Batty Quilter/Lily Sweeney. We are so proud of the fishing families along our storied coast, and wanted to celebrate their hard work and all it brings to our state. Fabrics from Benartex's "Chalk Garden" line.
For our 2022 State of Maine Quilt Shop Hop Challenge quilt, Nessa Reifsnyder designed, pieced and quilted In the Bog, a celebration of a Maine springtime delicacy: fiddlehead ferns! Fabrics were from QT Fabrics' "Wildflowers" line.
Here is Fabricate's 2021 State of Maine Shop Hop Challenge quilt: Katahdin Moonrise (43"x44"), designed, pieced and quilted by Nessa Reifsnyder. All fabrics are from the Stardust line by Banyan Batiks for Northcott.
We're really happy to share Fabricate's 2020 State of Maine Shop Hop Challenge quilt: Home at Last. Designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, quilted by The Batty Quilter. This quilt honors Sparky, who came to Nessa's family via a wonderful organization, Old Dogs New Digs. All fabrics are from Robert Kaufman's "Birds and Berries Maine" line, plus select Kaufman blenders.
Fabricate is proud to present Freedom's Beacon, the viewer's choice first-prize winner for the 2017 Maine Shop Hop Quilt Challenge. Designed and pieced by Nessa Reifsnyder, and quilted by The Batty Quilter, it depicts a stirring American landmark from Nessa's native New York City.
