Results of the 2026 WELCA Quilt Challenge

Do you remember Vessel? Made for the Women of the ELCA 2026 Triennial Quilt Contest, the challenge required quilters to interpret the gathering's theme, I Am Worthy, using the pink and yellow colors from the event logo. Selected finalist quilts (including Vessel) were on display during the event, and were auctioned, with 50% of proceeds supporting WELCA and 50% going to Lutheran World Relief. According to the quilt challenge rules, "Final winners [would] be selected for originality, adherence to selected themes, workwomanship, creative use of materials and overall design execution."

Well, I just received a letter from Jennifer Hockenbery, Interim Executive Director of WELCA, that Vessel was awarded third prize at the gathering. Yay!

There was even a judges' statement:

"The idea taken from Japanese culture of mending broken crockery with gold is obvious in this quilt. Borrowing from another culture, this quilt shows the practice of kintsugi which reflects the concept of wabi-sabi, an embracing of the flawed or imperfect and uplifting the broken by mending it with gold. Using only the two colors of the Triennial logo makes for a striking presentation. The quilter is skilled in piecing small slivers of fabric and quilting evenly and intensely."

Photo by Janice Stepp; used by permission

Photo by Janice Stepp; used by permission

Well, that was nice to hear. The letter confirmed that my quilt was purchased by a "very happy quilt lover."

One of my followers, Janice Stepp, just happens to be the secretary of the local chapter of the WELCA organization, and was able to attend the gathering. She sent me photos of my quilt (up above), as well as other entries in the challenge, which I thought you might enjoy seeing. (Thank you Janice!!) From what I heard when the winners were announced, I think the two above were awarded first and second place, respectively. Below are more of the entries.

I'm grateful for the acknowledgement for Vessel, and also the chance to see other entries. I'll miss that little quilt, and know at least two other people in my life who would have gladly taken ownership of her. But I'm also glad to know Vessel found a good home, and contributed to good causes. 

ETA: Link to photos of all entries.

Vessel

Twice before, I've participated in the WELCA (Women of the ELCA) triennial gathering quilt challenge - in 2017 with Refiner's Fire; and in 2023 with Both Sides Now - so I was eager to participate again. This year's challenge was to create a quilt interpreting the I am Worthy gathering theme, incorporating the pink and yellow colors in the gathering's logo.

The finished perimeter of the quilt needed to be within the range of 100" to 320", though when the challenge was first announced month's ago, it was 60" to 100", so I was already planning for a relatively smaller quilt. Once I realized the change, I luckily didn't need to change my plans much, just making sure my finish 'fit.' Once completed, my Vessel, depicting a Kintsugi pot on a patchwork background measures 22.5" x 34" or a perimeter of 113".

The fabrics I included in my piece were Kona Azalea for the pot, Metallic Cotton in Gold by Windham Fabrics for the gold 'cracks', and for the background, a combination of Kona Banana Pepper, Essex Sunshine, Cotton Couture Lemon, two unidentified textured wovens, and quilt a few unidentified yellow solids from my scrap basket. Once the quilt top was complete, I created an improv-pieced quilt back using all the leftover bits.

For quilting, I echo-quilted the pot using Aurifil 50wt 2530 [Blossom Pink], to quilt between the metallic veins. Then I match-stick quilted lines 3/16" apart over the background with Aurifil 40wt Variegated 3920 [Golden Glow] for quilting and 1135 [Pale Yellow] in the bobbin.

Bound with Cotton Couture Lemon, Vessel is now ready to submit. 20 quilts will be selected to be shared at the triennial in July. Entries will be judged by a panel of selected quilters (full reveal, I was asked to be on the panel of judges since I apparently was a winner in 2023, but I won't be at the gathering) for originality, adherence to selected themes, workmanship, creative use of materials and overall design execution. There will also be a people's choice award and a quilters choice award. Winners and qualifying entries will be auctioned at the gathering, with 50% of the proceeds will go to Women of the ELCA and 50% to Lutheran World Relief.

As part of the entry form, I was asked to Describe how the quilt interprets the gathering theme. Here is my artist's statement:

The inspiration for Vessel came through a Lenten sermon series, 

where a pot was demolished, and used as a symbol for our lives, 

broken, yet beautiful in their brokenness. 

The vessel, repaired in the Kintsugi style, reminds us that our worthiness 

or value does not require perfection but a willingness to be shattered

and recreated. The mender comes to us, descending into our fractures and imperfections,

creating a renewed strength and purpose that didn’t exist before.

Linking up with Quilting JETgirl's Favorite Quilt Finish {May 2026}.