Hoffman Challenge

2003's Hoffman Challenge fabric is the vivid Style #4381 color #196 Black Cherry, an unbelievably crisp print of cherries and cherry blossoms against a velvety black background. Sixteen coordinates include chocolate-covered candy, richly detailed teacups, sophisticated geraniums, and stylized butterflies. The unusual diversity in these coordinates offers those willing to take the Challenge the rare opportunity to create a truly unique wall hanging, garment, or doll.

Who can resist the pun of a chocolate-covered cherries quilt or the country charm of an Engelbreit-like quilt with shamrocks, cherries, and stars? While the 2003 collection is no longer traveling, you can still view all of the award winners from each catagory on this website.

2003 Challenge Fabric:

4381 #196 Black Cherry

Suggested Coordinates for 2003:

1895 #178 Leaf	1895 #69 Jungle	1895 #149 Sun	1985 #177 Cheddar

1985 #192 Pumpkin	3160 #98 Moss	3162 #105 Celadon	4375 #171 Mocha

4383 #4 Black	5895 #4 Black	5895 #A25 Antique Beige	5945 #9 Yellow

9511 #98 Moss	9947 #8 Green	9947 #67 Flame	9394 #4 Black

Selecting the fabrics for the annual Hoffman Challenge is a challenge in itself! Although all of the Hoffman Fabrics are famously inspirational, we must narrow the selection.

Some of the criteria used are:

A.	None of the famous Hoffman batiks can be chosen for the primary challenge fabric, as these fabrics are handmade by individual artists, and no two yards are exactly the same. Since these fabrics are manufactured in other countries, weather and shipping issues can make availability somewhat unpredictable, so even though we love 'em, at this point we can't use them as our primary challenge fabric. We do, however, encourage you to use them in your entry!

B.	The fabric has to be newly designed, never seen, and specifically released for the challenge.

C.	We review the fabrics used in past challenges, and attempt to choose a totally new style and look. Because Hoffman is famous for its very high quality multiple colored fabrics, chances are the challenge fabric will have numerous rich colors and shades, providing endless opportunities for all involved to choose coordinates and companion fabrics. To see all of the past challenge fabrics, Click Here.

D.	Potential uses of the fabric are discussed. This is a challenge, remember? We consider how the fabric will look when it's cut and incorporated with other fabrics in clothing, quilts, dolls and accessories. We think about use of both little bitty pieces, and large sections of the fabric. When the entries begin to arrive, we never cease to be amazed how the challenge items use the fabrics in wonderful ways we could never have imagined!

E.	A highly sophisticated selection process takes place over sandwiches and chocolate, and when the preliminary designs look just right on paper, sample "strike offs" are made to see how the design looks on actual fabric. If these are as beautiful as we expect, the fabric is announced to all.

F.	The selected fabric is then released with applications to shops around the world. Even though the process of selection was highly scientific, everyone feels obligated to put in their two cents! The opinions and advice are carefully weighed, but like we said, this is a challenge! It’s impossible to please everyone, but since the challenge uses Hoffman fabrics, you know that no matter what fabric is selected, it’s one of the best!

Send mail to Julie@hoffmanchallenge.com with questions or comments
about this website, or call (970) 690-6715