The 5-25 Challenge
Have you ever cut, ironed, glued, or sewn pieces of fabric?
Would you like to discover a new activity?
Do you enjoy creating and feel inspired by the world of textiles?
With the 5-25 Challenge of the Carrefour – The European Quilt Show, we invite budding artists and young talents to take part in the “Let’s travel!” Contest.
Travelling means setting off to discover somewhere new, whether near or far. It means observing, being surprised, having adventures, meeting people, and discovering different ways of living, thinking, and seeing the world.
Every journey invites us to look at things from a new perspective. And when we return, we bring back much more than memories: images, emotions, encounters.
With the theme Let’s Travel!, the Challenge 5-25 invites you to share a destination you know, an adventure you have experienced, or a place you dream of discovering. Using thread, fabric, colors, and textures, bring to life the landscapes, people, emotions, and discoveries that have shaped your journey.
Which journey will you choose to tell?
Take up the challenge and join the fabulous community of quilters from all over the world!
If selected, your work will be exhibited in France in September 2027 and seen by over 14,000 visitors!
Need some inspiration?
A dedicated page is waiting for you with exclusive content to help you take on the challenge. The Challenge judges have prepared videos, articles, and guides to support you at every step of your project.
Important information:
- From 5 to 25 years-old
- 4 age groups: 5–9, 10–13, 14–18, 19–25
- Free registration
- Deadline: June 2, 2027 (the artwork must be finished)
- Size:
- Length: min.25cm, max. 90cm
- Height: min. 25cm, max. 200 cm
- Shapes: all shapes accepted
- Handmade and machine works accepted
- Minimal adult intervention in final execution
Participation in the Contest is only possible once the work has been completed
The finalists
Age group 5-9
Liya, 6 (CH)
Oscar, 7 (FR)
Yasmin, 7 (NE)
Laly, 8 (FR)
Lina, 9 (FR)
Salomé, 9 (FR)
Róża, 9 (PL)
Age group 10-13
Louna, 10 (FR)
Olivia, 10 (FR)
Sage, 10 (FR)
Jeanne, 10 (FR)
Zoé, 12 (FR)
Vivian, 12 (DE)
Marleen, 12 (DE)
Liv, 12 (DE)
Coline, 13 (FR)
Mahaut, 13 (FR)
Janaëlle, 13 (FR)
Age group 14-18
Anna, 16 (DK)
Gregor, 16 (DE)
Maksymilian, 16 (PL)
Age group 19-25
Elisabeth HENNIG, 24 (DE)
The jury
Katell RENON
Eva GUSTEMS
Paola ZANDA
The exhibition
The artworks will be presented to the public for the first time, from September 17 to 20, at the Exhibition Hall in Lièpvre. Come and discover them!
The Young Quilters Meetup
Why not come to the Carrefour?
Patchwork and quilting know no age—and the 5–25 Challenge proves it, celebrating the textile talents of young creators aged 5 to 25. To honor this new generation of quilters, the Young Quilters Meetup awaits you on Saturday, September 18, 2027 at 2 p.m., in the exhibition hall in Lièpvre.
On the program:
– Award ceremony for the Challenge, with the young finalists in attendance
– Textile creation workshops open to all children from age 5
– Friendly snack time for all young guests
– And of course, the chance to explore the full exhibition and chat with the artists
The Meetup is open to all young people aged 5 to 25, even if you didn’t participate in the Challenge.
Admission is free for children under 14. Teens aged 14–18 and accompanying adults simply pay the standard exhibition entry fee (€6).
To join the workshops and snack, just sign up online—that’s all it takes. Share the link, spread the word: it’s a great opportunity to pass on your passion and plant a few creative seeds!
While waiting for September, you can relive the best moments from the 2026 Meetup right now!
The jury
A Finnish textile artist and quilt pattern designer, Irina Malyukova is self-taught and draws inspiration from the simplicity of Scandinavian design. Passionate about exploring shapes and fabrics, she creates contemporary and personal pieces in which quilting becomes a true form of self-expression. Through her classes and blog, she shares her expertise and encourages others to explore their creativity and develop their own unique style.
Passionate about patchwork since her teenage years, Katell Renon first learned on her own before sharing her knowledge through workshops and within one of the France Patchwork delegations. Curious and creative, she loves connecting quilting with culture and women’s lives, notably through her blog La Ruche des Quilteuses, her workshops, and her books BeeBook and Sacrés Tissus !.
A textile artist from Quebec, Émilie Trahan explores improvisational quilting, giving new life to everyday fabrics such as bedsheets, tablecloths and clothing. Through her abstract and organic creations, she plays with curves, shapes and textures to bring a poetic and intuitive world to life. Regularly exhibited in Canada and the United States, her work has received numerous awards. Alongside her artistic practice, she also works as a physician in Quebec.
The 5-25 Challenge sponsors