Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 9

 Do you have any “orphan” blocks lying around? You know, those lonely quilt blocks that never quite made it into a finished quilt? Maybe it was a test block, maybe the colors weren’t quite right, or maybe you just changed your mind about a project. Whatever the reason, it’s sitting in a pile somewhere, waiting for its moment.

Well, today is that moment!

This Snippets challenge is all about taking one of those orphan blocks and turning it into something usable and beautiful—just by adding a border. It’s a simple step, but it makes all the difference in giving that block new life.

Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I have my fair share of orphan blocks. (You’ll see proof of that in the video! 😉) Instead of letting them collect dust, we’re going to give them a little love and turn them into mini quilts.

Since Snippets challenges are all about quick and doable projects, we won’t go all the way to a finished quilt—but you absolutely can! Add some quilting, a bit of binding, and just like that, you’ve got a completed mini quilt ready to display. And let me tell you, it feels so good to have one more project move from the "unfinished" pile to the "look what I made!" pile.

Once you’ve added your border, don’t forget to share your progress!

📌 Post in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group.

📸 Share on Instagram with #snippets to inspire others.

📧 Not on social media? No problem—email me a picture! I’d love to see what you create.

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Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 8

Snippets Challenge 8: Prepping Your Binding!

This week’s Snippets challenge is all about getting that binding prepped and ready to go! Some quilters love this step, while others… not so much. No matter which camp you’re in, binding is the final step in bringing your quilt to life, and I’m here to help make it easier.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love hand-stitching my binding. There’s something so satisfying about seeing that pretty roll of prepped binding, all ready to go. But getting it there? Not my favorite part. 😅 I do it because I have to… and only because I have to!

Maybe it’s because I tend to put it off until the quilt is quilted, and by then, I just want to sew it on and be done. Or maybe it’s because I’m this close to finishing, and binding feels like one more hurdle before I can call it complete.

Either way, in Challenge 8, I’m walking you through my binding prep process—quick, simple, and (hopefully) painless!

💬 How do you store your prepped binding? I’d love to hear your tips!

📸 Don’t forget to share your challenge in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group or on Instagram using #Snippets to inspire others! Not on social media? No problem—email me at jen@patternsbyjen.com.

Alright, quilter—go make something you LOVE! ❤️

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Snippets With Patterns By Jen Challenge 7

Challenge 7: Making the Most of Your Batting Scraps

If you’re a quilter, you know there will be batting scraps. And if you’re anything like me, tossing them feels like such a waste—especially when they’re so close to being a usable size! 

This week’s challenge was all about making the most of what we have by piecing those leftovers together into something we can actually use.

In my how-to video, I walk you through the simple but important steps for joining batting scraps. I personally use 100% wool batting in all my quilts, but this method works for just about any type of batting. 

The key? A straight edge—just like when piecing fabric, a clean edge makes all the difference when sewing batting together.

One of the nice things about working with batting is that it’s more pliable than a full quilt sandwich, which makes stitching it together quick and easy.

Have you tried piecing your batting before? I’d love to see how you’re using this technique! Share your projects in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group or on Instagram using #Snippets. 

Go make something you LOVE. 

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Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 6

Welcome to the 6th challenge in the Snippets series.

We’ve made it to the sixth Snippets challenge, and this one might just be the most important step in finishing a quilt: adding a label.

Are you a dedicated quilt labeler? Or are you like me—only labeling the ones that really need it? (No judgment here!)

I get it. Adding a label can feel like an extra step, and sometimes, it’s hard to know what to write. But years from now, I promise the person who owns that quilt—whether it’s you or someone you love—will appreciate knowing its story.

What Should You Put on a Quilt Label?

Labels don’t have to be fancy or filled with something profound. While a heartfelt message is always nice, it’s perfectly okay to keep it simple. Here are the basics:

1) Quilt name
2) Who made it
3) The date
4) Who it was made for (if applicable)

That’s it! No need to overthink it.

This Week’s Challenge:

Find a finished quilt and add a label. If you need some inspiration, I walk through my labeling process in this week’s Snippets video. I’m also sharing a peek at the exclusive quilt labels I send to quilters who sign up for my weekly newsletter, Bites of PBJ. (Not on the list yet? You can join HERE.)

Share Your Work!

I’d love to see how you’re labeling your quilts! Here’s how you can share:
Facebook: Post in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen group
Instagram: Use #Snippets to inspire others
Email me: jen(at)patternsbyjen(dot)com if you’re not on social media

Now go grab that finished quilt and make it official!

Snippets with Patterns By Jen will resume 13.

And as always…

Go make something you LOVE. 

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Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 5

 This challenge is about finding inspiration in the unexpected.

Sometimes, the best color inspiration isn’t found in a fabric store—it’s right outside your door. Last week’s Snippets by PBJ challenge was all about using a found object to pull fabrics and create a small project.

My inspiration? A pheasant feather.

There’s something about the earthy mix of warm browns, deep golds, and soft neutrals in that feather that just felt right. So, I dug through my stash, pulling fabrics that captured that same natural warmth and texture. Once I had my palette, I kept the project simple—a small patchwork piece that let those colors shine.

This little challenge was a great reminder that inspiration is everywhere. Nature, everyday objects, even something tucked away in a drawer can spark a fresh idea. I’d love to see what you come up with! Did you join in last week’s challenge? If not, take a look around—find something unexpected, pull some fabrics, and just play.

What found object would you use?

🧵 Share in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group

🧵Use #Snippets on Instagram

🧵 Send me an email if you aren't on social media

Have fun choosing your inspiration and make sure to. . .

Make something you love.

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Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 4

Thursday's challenge was, well, a challenge for me. Improv is tough, I'm not exactly great at letting go. 😂

Making an improv block can be intimidating. I, for one, like to be told what to cut, how to cut it, how to sew it, etc. Improv blocks feel like too much freedom. I did it though, and I believe you can, too.

Grab your scraps, it doesn't matter if they are squares, triangles, rectangles or all sorts of wonky, just gather a bunch of them and bring them to the cutting mat.

I like to make sure that each piece, while not an exact square, etc, has straight edges to make stitching them together easier. I don't worry about the sizes, I just sew.

And sew.

And sew.

For this particular piece I chose to make a 6 1/2" square to have a nice 6" finish for a mini quilt.

I encourage you to play with your fabrics and units as you sew. Flip, turn, trim. Let go of any perfectionism you (me) have and have fun with this.

I'm excited to use some fancy stitches on my machine to finish this up.

Do you have a small space that needs a little fun improv? Or will you expand this challenge and just keep sewing and building until you have a full quilt?

I have an old tutorial from my very first improv sewing HERE.

Don’t forget to share your work

• Post in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook Group.
• Share on Instagram using #Snippets to inspire others.
• Not on social media? No problem—email me a picture of your improv block. I’d love to see it.

Grab your fabrics, start cutting and stitching and. . .

Go make something you LOVE!

 

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Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 3

Have you joined in on any of the Snippets challenges yet? If not, here’s your chance. This week, we’re dusting off our sewing machines and trying out a stitch—who’s in?

Many of us have machines packed with decorative stitches, but let’s be honest... they can feel a little overwhelming. Maybe you’re not sure how or when to use them, or maybe they’ve just been sitting there, waiting to be explored. Well, today we’re changing that with a quick and simple finish.

Your Challenge:

Choose a stitch and use it to finish an orphan block. No orphan block? No problem. If you just want to practice some finishing stitches, here’s what you’ll need:

• A 12 ½” x 12 ½” fabric square (this will act as your top)
• A 16” square for the backing
• Batting cut to 16” square (optional)

Now, let’s layer everything:

Backing – Place it wrong side up and tape it down.

Batting – Add this next (if you’re using it) and tape it down.

Top fabric or orphan block – Place it right side up and pin, keeping no more than a hand’s width between pins.

Choosing Your Thread

Are you looking for a stitch that blends in, or do you want your stitches to pop?

Tip: If your quilt has multiple colors and you want your stitching to disappear, try a neutral thread like gray or beige. Light pink and light blue also work well.

Let’s Stitch!

• Gloves help. Quilting gloves (or even gardening gloves with rubber tips) make guiding the fabric easier.
• No fancy equipment needed. I usually use a walking foot for quilting, but in my YouTube video, I used my "J" foot to show it can be done without one. Since we’re using programmed stitches, no free-motion foot is needed!
• What if your machine doesn’t have fancy stitches? No worries! Play around with your zig-zag stitch—make the zigs and zags shorter or wider and experiment with different looks. Even basic stitches can add a fun finishing touch.

Once you get comfortable using decorative stitches, you’ll be excited to try them on larger projects.

Don’t forget to share your work

• Post in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook Group.
• Share on Instagram using #Snippets to inspire others.
• Not on social media? No problem—email me a picture of your coaster. I’d love to see it.

Take out your orphan block, pick some pretty thread and. . .

Go make something you LOVE!

 

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