2026 Shop Challenge Quilt
from Dark Star Fabrics
A FANtastic Day In Maine
© 2026 Dark Star Fabrics
About A FANtastic Day In Maine
Dark Star Fabrics’ 2026 Shop Challenge Quilt is A FANtastic Day In Maine, now on display in our retail store.
Deb Black of Dark Star Fabrics pieced this 85″ x 85″ quilt using all five focal fabrics in Maine’s Small Wonders, the featured line of fabrics designed exclusively for the 2026 Maine Quilt Shop Hop by Maine Designer Ericka O’Rourke.
Rachelle Knight of Dark Star Fabrics custom quilted the quilt to accent its striking design.
Take a closer look at Rachelle’s custom quilting:
If you are a Shop Hopper who visits 5 or more shops, you can vote for your favorite Shop Challenge Quilt when you send in your passport. We invite your vote.
Past Dark Star Fabrics Challenge Quilts
In 2025, Deb and Rachelle created and quilted their most personal quilt ever, From Our Window, using that year’s featured fabric line, also designed for the Maine Quilt Shop Hop by Ericka O’Rourke. The quilt gained 3rd place in the 2025 Shop Challenge.
In 2024, Deb and Rachelle created and quilted A Ribbon Runs Through It using the featured fabric line, Moda’s Honeybloom by 3 Sisters. The quilt won the top prize in the 2024 Shop Challenge.
In 2023, Deb and Rachelle created and quilted Flying Around Town using the featured fabric line, Benartex Fabrics’ Chalk Garden and Dancing Flowers florals and Chalk Texture blenders. The quilt earned 2nd place in the 2023 Shop Challenge.
In 2022, Deb and Rachelle, in collaboration with Janice White, designed, pieced, appliquéd and quilted What’s Up Buttercup? using the featured fabric lines, Wildflowers by House of Turnowsky and Rapture Coordinate Blenders by QT fabrics. The quilt earned 2nd place in the 2022 Shop Challenge.
In 2021, Deb created and quilted Barred Owl in Moonlight. This art quilt used only the Stardust featured fabric line by Banyan Batiks. The quilt won the top prize in the 2021 Shop Challenge.
In 2020, Rachelle and Deb created and quilted Under the Big Top, using the Birds and Berries of Maine featured fabric line. The quilt won the top prize in the 2020 Shop Challenge plus the Chauffeur’s Choice award.
In 2019, Dark Star Fabrics’ submission to the Shop Hop Challenge was Wildflower Fantasy, using the Wildflowers of Maine featured fabric line. The quilt earned 3rd place in the 2019 Shop Challenge.