Chapter Projects

Chapter Projects 

Every year we select special initiatives to inspire our community. This year will tackle our unfinished projects, highlight our favorite home stitching spots, earn a charm – or several – and sponsor a stitch with the Royal Society of Needlework. 

The 2026 Challenge: Conquer Those UFOs!

Finish that PhD (Project Half Done) & Win!

Are you working on your PhD in Projects Half Done? It’s time to clear out those UnFinished Objects (UFOs) and reclaim your stash! Join your fellow stitchers in our 2026 year-long challenge.

How to Enter:

  1. Select your project: Pick one unfinished canvas from your stash.
  2. Register by February 10: Send an email to Programs@sdang.org with the subject PHD/UFO Challenge 2026. Include:
    • Name of the project/design and the designer.
    • Approximate date you started the piece.
    • The “Before” Photo: Attach a picture of the project in its current state.

The Reward for Finishing: Send a photo of your fully stitched project to Programs@SDANG.org with the subject I Met the 2026 Challenge.

  • The Hall of Fame: Your “Before & After” photos will be featured in our online gallery.
  • The Prizes: You will receive a UFO Charm and be entered into a raffle for one of three gift cards to your favorite Local Needlework Store!

2026 Theme: Stitching in Your Nest

After “traveling the world” last year, we are bringing the spotlight home. In 2026, we’re celebrating our personal creative spaces.

Monthly Spotlight: Each month, we will feature a different member’s “nest.” We’ll share photos and tips on:

  • Lighting solutions that work.
  • Clever ways to organize threads and stash.
  • The cozy spots where our best work happens.

How to Participate

  1. Capture Your Nest Take a photo of your creative space. This could be:
  • Your favorite stitching chair and lighting setup.
  • How you organize your current project’s threads and silks.
  • A “flat lay” of your essential tools (needles, scissors, laying tools).
  • Tip: Photos look best in natural daylight with a neutral background!
  1. Email Your Submission Send your photo to website@sdang.org.
  • Subject Line: My Stitching Nest 
  • Include in the body:
    1. Your Name (as you want it to appear in the gallery).
    2. A one-sentence description of what we’re seeing (e.g., “My favorite velvet stitching chair by the window.”)
  1. Visit the Gallery Once our team reviews your photos they will be added to the Nest Inspiration Gallery. (link Gallery – Nest Inspiration Gallery)  You can then claim your charm at the December Holiday party. 

Member Recognition: The SDANG Charm Program

Launched in 2025, our charm program celebrates member participation and creative achievement. Start your 2026 collection today!

How to Earn Your 2026 Charms:

  • Active Member (The “Busy Bee”): Awarded for participating in 10 or more SDANG events. This includes general meetings, workshops, volunteering, or hosting. (Note: You can earn up to two points toward this charm via social stitching—in person or on Zoom!)
  • Workshop & Programs: Awarded for completing any ANG-sponsored workshop or program project. Whether the class is hosted by SDANG, another chapter, or National, your completion counts!
  • UFO Challenge: Finish an UnFinished Object (UFO) and earn a charm. Finish early? Start a second project for the challenge!
  • Stitching in Your Nest: Share a photo of your creative space! Whether it’s your home setup, favorite tools, or thread organization, any photo of your “nest” earns you this charm.
  • 2026 Seminar: A special commemorative charm for all members participating in the National ANG Seminar in Denver this year.

Program Rule: The charm collection restarts each calendar year, so make sure to submit your photos and track your participation points by the end of 2026!

Adapt a Stitch – Royal Society of Needlework (RSN)

  • Adapt a Stitch is a project sponsored by the Royal Society of Needlework located in the United Kingdom. It was formerly known as Sponsor a Stitch
  • SDANG will adapt a stitch. Our name will be permanently linked to that stitch on the RSN website as the official sponsor. 
  • Our way of contributing to the global preservation of needlework
  • Our Stitch: We’ve yet to decide – stay tuned.