Sunday, March 24, 2019

March Color Challenge Link Up

Welcome to the link up for the March Color Challenge!




This year the link up is available just for you to share your gorgeous blocks, there are no prizes. You will need either an Instagram account, a Flickr account, or you will need to email me directly so I can put your block on my Instagram account and get you added. patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com




If you haven't downloaded your March block yet, it is still free through the end of the month. You can find it in my Payhip store HERE. Each block now comes with a link to a full video how to!


You can also have the block instructions delivered directly to your inbox on the first of each month. Please make sure to add patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com to your address book so you get the email.



If you are having trouble getting the link up to work please read THIS POST.




If you haven't already, you can join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group to get inspiration for you blocks as well as tips, advice and encouragement from quilters sewing along with you.

If you missed the introduction post you can find it HERE. This post will be updated each month with a link to the new Color Challenge post, so you may want to bookmark it.

I can't wait to see your blocks! Thank you for stitching along with the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge!

Happy Stitching!
Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?


Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.



Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.


Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Picked By Jen - Buttercup Bag



It's been a while since I've written a Picked By Jen post. The Buttercup Bag from Made By Rae is the perfect make to start with. I LOVE this pattern.




So much so that I made it a second time after my first one became....ummmm....embarrassingly over used? That's the *same* fabric, too. I used this poor thing to it's last breath, I hadn't realized it has faded that much. Woah!




This purse though! It makes me so happy! I used the small pattern, because after 12 years of carrying a diaper bag I said "No More!" A small purse is all I've carried for the last 12 years. It does come in a larger version though if you need to be able to carry more.


Flamingo key chain made by my good friend Kelly of Handmade Boy.


This pattern is FREE when you sign up for Made By Rae's newsletter. I found this out when I had to go find it to print off a few missing pieces. I happily signed up for the newsletter, because seriously, this pattern is worth it.




I reused the metal snaps from the old purse, since that one is obviously not going to be used again. I chose this adorable polka dot fabric for the inside. I always use a light fabric on the inside of bags to make it easier to find whatever may be inside. Confession, even though this is the small version, I am able to fit way too much in there and lose it.




Now I need your help! I need to remake my wallet so it doesn't feel bad about being embaressingly overused as well.




It was a gift and I need to remake it, probably in flamingo fabric, the one thing I hoard. ;) Anyone know what the pattern is??!! Please!




It's very sad now. Hahahaha 

Get your pattern, I would love to see your Picked By Jen makes!

Happy Stitching!
Jen




Thursday, March 7, 2019

Text It! Blog Hop - Freedom

Welcome "Text It!" hoppers!




I'm so excited to be a part of the blog hop introducing you to Sherri Noel's new book "Text It!" I received a copy of the book from Martingale when I signed up to do the blog hop. As I scrolled through and came upon "Freedom" I knew this was the one for me.




A few things drew me to this quilt. 1) I love all things patriotic, especially in quilts. 2) I love all things hexagon. 3) I love all things Flying Geese. See, we were made to be, this quilt and me.




Sherri recommended wash away, iron on hexagon papers from Hugs 'n Kisses.  I have never tried these before, I enjoy the EEP that we usually see with paper, but I gave them a try.  I had hoped to have the quilt washed and dried to give you my full experience, but that will have to wait... They were fairly easy to use, but having that paper in there is different, not bad, just different.




I chose not to stitch these together and instead sewed a straight stitch around each one to keep them in place.




For my quilt I used two lines from Moda. One is "Freedom" by Sweetwater and the other is Needle and Thread Gatherings from Primative Gatherings. In Sherri's quilt she uses just red and white/cream, I chose to throw some blue in there.


Confession time: I haven't finished quilting this beauty. This quilt is a bit deceiving in size and I'm pretty sure I never looked at the finished size. I was expecting a nice lap sized quilt, easy to piece and easy to quilt on my domestic machine. One out of two ain't bad. hahahah This quilt finishes at 64" x 80" and while it is super quick to piece, the quilting is a little bit slower.

For this post I'm going to share the quilting side of this pattern, since I'm smack dab in the middle of it. I am loving how it looks though, so look for a finished quilt in the next couple of weeks.

I am using Gutermann 100% polyester thread to quilt both the cream and red. I haven't started on the red yet, but I did find the perfect thread to match it.




I'm also using my handy dandy walking foot to quilt it, which is my go to these days.




I used purple tape to mark the line I needed for quilting the banner. I love the crosshatch look.




For the background of the Flying Geese units I just used the edge of the walking foot as my guide.




This piece along took 30 minutes of steady quilting. You can see why it's taking me a bit to get this finished.

For the goose of the Flying Geese units I'm going to use the purple tape again, but folded in half lengthwise. Variety is the spice of life right? Plus they will be wider stripes that I'm quilting so it will go faster.

The binding will be the blue that I used for the hexagons.


Our snowbanks are currently high enough to comfortably hold an 80" quilt.

I can't wait to finish this one up and get real pictures of this amazing quilt.

Giveaway time! I have 3 giveaways for you. The first two are for US residents only. I know it's a bummer when this happens, but there are so many different laws in each country governing giveaways and prizes, it just makes it too hard to do otherwise. However!! The third is world wide, so hold on a second!  PS Joanne from Quilts By Joanne will have a book giveaway for Canadians on Tuesday, don't miss it!

Giveaway is closed.


Now that you've entered my giveaways you should check out the other bloggers. They all have giveaways, but the blog hop started on Monday so go all the way back. It runs through March 15th so you have many chances to win a book or Aurifil thread! Good luck!


MONDAY MARCH 4 – BEE HAPPY

PAMELA JANE MORGAN – WWW.MYSWEETLITTLESTITCHES.COM                            
SHARON LILABELLE LANE – WWW.LILABELLELANECREATIONS.COM

TUESDAY MARCH 5 – INFINITY Quilt

LAURA PILAND – WWW.SLICEOFPIQUILTS.COM
LEANNE PARSONS – WWW.DEVOTEDQUILTER.BLOGSPOT.COM
KATIE MUTER STARCHER – WWW.KATIEMAEQUILTS.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 6 – PILLOW TALK

KATE COLLERAN – WWW.SEAMSLIKEADREAM.COM
CHERYL DAINES BROWN – WWW.QUILTERCHIC.COM
DORIE HRUSKA – WWW.FOREVER-QUILTING.COM

THURSDAY MARCH 7 – FREEDOM Quilt

JEN SHAFFER – WWW.PATTERNSBYJEN.BLOGSPOT.COM
LYNN KANE – WWW.PUPPYGIRLDESIGNS.COM
TARA MILLER – WWW.QUILTDISTRICT.COM

FRIDAY MARCH 8 – LOVING YOU Wall Hanging

SHERRI NOEL – WWW.REBECCAMAEDESIGNS.COM

MONDAY MARCH 11 – COUNTING SHEEP Baby Quilt

DEANNE EISENMAN – WWW.SNUGGLESQUILTS.COM
SUSAN PELLAND – WWW.SUEPELLANDDESIGNS.COM

TUESDAY MARCH 12 – HOME PILLOW

JOANNE HARRIS – WWW.QUILTSBYJOANNE.BLOGSPOT.CA
PATTY DUDEK – WWW.ELMSTREETQUILTS.COM
ANDY KNOWLTON – WWW.ABRIGHTCORNER.COM
CINDY PIETERS – WWW.STITCHINATHOME.COM

WEDNESDAY MARCH 13 – LIFE IS SHORT Wall hanging

BECCA FENSTERMAKER – WWW.PRETTYPINEY.COM

THURSDAY MARCH 14 – HUSTLE PILLOW

FRIDAY MARCH 15 – SEWING MACHINE MAT

LAUREN WRIGHT – WWW.MOLLYANDMAMA.COM.AU
SANDRA HEALY – WWW.SANDRAHEALYDESIGNS.COM

SATURDAY MARCH 16 – WRAP UP

SHERRI NOEL – WWW.REBECCAMAEDESIGNS.COM

If you want a SIGNED copy of Sherri's book you can order it HERE.

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?



Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.

Friday, March 1, 2019

March Color Challenge - Navy Blue

Welcome to March!




If you are new to the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge you can hop over quick to read through the introduction and also see the colors coming up in the months ahead.




This month's flower inspiration is Love in a Mist. There is something about this picture/flower that just calls to me. In SW Minnesota we are currently enjoying record breaking snowfall, so I'm not going to lie, I could stare at this picture forever and never tire of it.




Are you a beginner? For this month's blocks you might find these posts helpful:




For more beginner tips see Beginners Unite!

For this months block you will need:

Mat
Rotary cutter
Ruler
Marking pen/pencil

Specialty rulers that are NOT required, but helpful:


A great group of bloggers will be joining us throughout the year. March's bloggers are:







Make sure you visit their blogs, see their beautiful blocks and maybe even get some tips.

Piecing tips




For dark fabrics I recommend the Clover White Marking Pen (fine). It shows up really well on dark fabrics and disappears when you hit it with a hot iron.



When sewing 1/4" on both sides of the line you've drawn, make sure to keep your presser foot ON the line not along side it.




In the how to video included in the March instructions you will find that this block was quite humbling for me, you will also get my recommendation for a good seam ripper. Ha!

I never trim my blocks, but if you are a trimmer I recommend waiting until all of your blocks are pieced and then trimming them all at once. Your goal is to have 12 1/2" unfinished blocks. I don't trim because I don't want to lose my points and since we make the units that makeup the block larger and trim them down, you should be fairly close to the correct size. If you are off 1/8 of an inch or less I really discourage trimming. If you are off 1/4 of an inch then instead of trimming I would suggest taking a look at your seam allowance and cutting, because trimming will definitely cause you to lose the look of the block.




Ready for your free March Monthly Color Challenge block? Find it HERE. Remember there is a change this year and the block is available for free only through March 31st. Use #2019monthlycolorchallenge on social media so we can see your blocks.

**NEW** Each months set of instructions comes with a full video tutorial!

To get the block instructions delivered right to your email sign up HERE.

This will not give you any of the previous month's blocks, you still need to go to Payhip and download those, but from this point on it will come directly to your inbox on the first of each month. Make sure to add patternsbyjen(at)gmail(dot)com to your email address book.

Happy Stitching!
Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?


Find paper and digital patterns in my Etsy shop.


Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for daily sneak peeks and updates.