Our Oakshott Challenge

When we saw Oakshott's superb new range of fabrics we decided it was time for us to launch a CHALLENGE so we invited Michael and Julie Oakshott to become involved. The result is that we are now delighted to issue the The Oakshott Challenge to quilters. The Challenge was at first intended for our regular customers but there has been so much interest that we've extended it to any quilter able to fullfil the following 'rules' and requirements.

• The theme is Midsomer or Midsummer - whatever ideas that might give rise to! (You will find the derivation of Midsomer on our What's in a Name page)
• Entry to the Challenge, which is open to all amateur quilters*, must be confirmed by the purchase of one or more pieces of Oakshott fabrics from Midsomer Quilting.
• The front of all entries must include at least 40% of Oakshott fabric.
• There will be a special category for entrants under 18.
• Entries must be submitted by the closing date of June 1st, 2007.
• Entries must consist of three layers, quilted by hand or machine or tied together.
• The entry may be any shape but the overall outside measurement should be no more than 250cm (100").
• Entries may be accompanied by up to 100 words to explain the interpretation.
• Where feasible - ie. depending on the shape - the entry should include a hanging sleeve to take a 15mm dowel rod (supplied by MQ). For exhibition purposes, we may pin entries to a black backcloth.
• Entries will be exhibited at MQ at an exhibition for five days starting on Mid-Summer's Day (Thursday, June 21st) and may be included in MQ's Exhibition of Quilts and Quilting at Radstock Museum which will run from September untul the end of November.
• Entries will be judged by Michael and Julia Oakshott.
• The three winning entries in the adult section, and the under-18s winner, will receive a generous amount of Oakshott fabric.
• Entrants who would like their entry to be sold in aid of CLIC Sargent (the charity for children with cancer) should make that wish known before the exhibition, together with a suggested price.
• Entries otherwise remain the property of the maker and should be reclaimed from MQ no later than July 12th (unless the owner is prepared for it to be exhibited at the exhibition at Radstock Museum, in which case we shall return it to the owner in December). Midsomer Quilting reserves the right to offer unclaimed items for sale in aid of CLIC Sargent.

* We are inviting our teachers to submit their own entries to the Challenge - but not for inclusion in the competition.