Saturday, March 28, 2020

Benartex Modern By The Yard - Prismatic Shadows

It's time to introduce you to a new block from PBJ!




Benartex has a *free* E-Zine magazine available for us to drool over Modern By The Yard. For this issue I was asked to modernize the Shoo-fly block in their "Modern With a Twist" section.




The Shoo-fly block is a very simple, traditional quilt block, made simply with squares and half-square triangles. You know I love a good block with a half-square triangle, as well as all things traditional in quilting, which means modern is stepping out of my comfort zone.




Though this was out of my comfort zone it was fun to play around with a base block and come up with something new and modern. Meet Prismatic Shadows. The fabrics I played with are from the Winter Wool Collection, which is a collection of basic cotton fabrics with the soft look of wool. These were designed by Cheryl Haynes of Prairie Grove Peddler. Make sure to check out the magazine to get a little more insight into the thought process of designing Prismatic Shadows, as well as what the other designers came up with.




After playing around with the design and coming up with a block that I loved I went on to put that block in a quilt, just for fun.  This is with just the block, nothing fancy, but I love those colors against the dark background.




Then I went one more step for my "Modern With a Twist" block and "twisted" the blocks. This one made me go "Ohhhhh!" outloud and will definitely become a pattern.  Look for it later this year!

Thank you for visiting! Check below for links to all of the PBJ goodness going on.

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?

2020 Monthly Color Challenge

Newsletter sign up

Find paper, digital patterns, and Studio 180 Design rulers in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

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

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

March Color Challenge Link Up

The Link Up for the Mach Color Challenge is live!




This is the last month for the 1st quarter of prizes. Make sure you get your block added!




The Link up is open through March 31st 11:50 PM CST, you have lots of time to make up the block!




Get the March Color Challenge Block instructions HERE.




Find all of the information for the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge HERE.

Quarter 1 Sponsors

Sponsors for January through March are:


 



Quilters Chic - PDF Pattern

3rd Story Workshop: Andrea Jackson - Book: Gemology







For the Love of Geese - PDF Pattern

Quilters Dream Batting - Dream Fusible 80/20 - 60" x 60"

Andover Fabrics - Fabric Bundle -  Giucy Giuce's DECLASSIFIED

Warm Company - Warm and Natural - Needled Cotton Batting 45" x 60"




Make Modern Magazine - 6 month subscription

Patterns By Jen - Superior Thread S-Fine 30

Patterns By Jen - Tucker Trimmer




I can't wait to see your blocks. Thank you for sewing along! Find the link up below!

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?

2020 Monthly Color Challenge


Find paper, digital patterns, and Studio 180 Design rulers in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

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

**Please add your first name and last initial to the caption of your block so I can find you if you are a winner.**



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Previously Backlogged Jobs Week 3

How are your projects coming along?




I got the block pieced for the BOM hosted by my LQS (Fabric Plus). I'm not going to lie, I struggled with this one, but only because apparently I can't read instructions. Ha! It's a very pretty block and I'm happy I chose the fabric pallet I did.




Remember the new-to-me rulers, the Mini Easy Angle and Mini Companion?

They are tiny and slippery! I was not a fan, but I added clear medical tape to the back of them and then made a huge difference. I certainly stopped being afraid that I was going to cut off a finger.




I was recently on a mini vacation ice fishing with my dad. Since I am usually up and moving before him I brought along my fabric for the Jacob's Ladder quilt I am making for my son.

I got most of it cut out. I still need to cut out the teal and finish marking the diagonals on the cream squares, but I should be ready to start sewing soon.




I'm not adding anything else to my WIP list, because I have 3 quilts to quilt and I will be focusing on those for the next couple of weeks. With a little piecing of the Jacob's Ladder thrown in, that will keep me busy.




Don't forget to visit the previous Previously Backlogged Jobs and peek at the projects your fellow quilters are working on. Like this gorgeous quilt that will be quilted.

Add your project below and be encouraged!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter



Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?

2020 Monthly Color Challenge


Find paper, digital patterns, and Studio 180 Design rulers in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

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


Sunday, March 1, 2020

March 2020 Monthly Color Challenge

Just like that it's March and time for block 3 in the Color Challenge! This month we have my favorite HST and my next favorite unit, Flying Geese.

This year our Color Challenge has gone to the birds! Inspired by their gracious flight, unique and sometimes vibrant color, I chose birds to guide us in our challenge this year. To see the full year in preview read the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge Announcement.




Our bird inspiration for March is the Oriole.



Photo Credit: Ryan Schain

Some fun facts about the Baltimore Oriole from All About Birds.

"Smaller and more slender than an American Robin, Baltimore Orioles are medium-sized, sturdy-bodied songbirds with thick necks and long legs. Look for their long, thick-based, pointed bills, a hallmark of the blackbird family they belong to.

Baltimore Orioles are more often heard than seen as they feed high in trees, searching leaves and small branches for insects, flowers, and fruit. Watch for the male’s slow, fluttering flights between tree tops and listen for their characteristic wink or chatter calls."

If you are like me, waiting almost breathlessly for spring, you will want to click on the link above to listen to their chatter.

Ready for the third block in the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge?




This block is a little more traditional than last months. The pinwheel is featured in the center of this block and it shines.

This year I am offering instructions for making the background the same throughout with a neutral. You can download the yardage amount and instructions HERE.




February Color Challenge Bloggers

Catherine of Ali & CC
Kathryn of Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio
Pamela of Pamela Quilts
Carolyn of Sweet Boater Chick
Anja of Anja Quilts

Quarter 1 Sponsors

Have you heard?! We have sponsors for the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge! Meet all of them in THIS POST! 

Prizes will be given quarterly: April 1, July 1, Oct 1 and January 1 2021. To enter you must link up your block at the end of the month. Each month you enter gives you a chance to win. If you miss one month, don't despair, you can still enter the other months for a chance.


 


Quarter 1 Sponsors

Sponsors for January through March are:

Quilters Chic - PDF Pattern

3rd Story Workshop: Andrea Jackson - Book: Gemology






For the Love of Geese - PDF Pattern

Quilters Dream Batting - Dream Fusible 80/20 - 60" x 60"

Andover Fabrics - Fabric Bundle -  Giucy Giuce's DECLASSIFIED

Warm Company - Warm and Natural - Needled Cotton Batting 45" x 60"




Make Modern Magazine - 6 month subscription

Patterns By Jen - Superior Thread S-Fine 50

Patterns By Jen - Tucker Trimmer





I would truly appreciate if you would let these amazing sponsors know our appreciation in the comments below and/or on their social media pages.

Helpful links and tips

New this month are the Flying Geese units.  In the video I am unsure if  the angle works for showing the sewing the second seam on the other side of the drawn line. This picture shows the second seam being sewn.




If you prefer step by step instructions, instead of video, follow these links:


You can find more helpful links in the Beginners Unite post.

Are you ready to get your block instructions? Remember if you want to get the block sent directly to your email you need to sign up HERE. This will NOT give you past blocks, including this month's. You will have to go to the Payhip shop to get past blocks. You need to sign up even if you received the 2019 Monthly Color Challenge in your email.  On the first of each month you will receive the block instructions in your email. Please make sure to add jen(at)patternsbyjen(dot)com to your email address book. If you don't see it in your email sometime during the 1st/2nd, make sure you check your spam and promo files.




Now it's time! Follow the Payhip Link to the March block and get stitching!

Thank you so much for sewing along with me and the amazing 2020 Monthly Color Challenge Bloggers!

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?

2020 Monthly Color Challenge


Find paper, digital patterns, and Studio 180 Design rulers in my Etsy shop.

Find fun PBJ merchandise at Teespring

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook page.

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