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Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Prepping for the Monthly Color Challenge

 We are days away from the start of the Monthly Color Challenge! Now is the time to get organized. PS this isn't just for the Monthly Color Challenge, this is great for all quilt alongs or block of the month programs.




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In today's post I'm sharing how I like to get ready for a quilt along. Doing these steps, or even just a couple of them, can keep things going smoothly which means greater chance of finishing. 😉

Clean your machine

The very first thing is to make sure you are starting with a clean machine...and a new needle. Dealing with tension issues because there is fuzz in the bobbin or thread breaking because of a burr on your needle can really cut into the joy that sewing should be. Don't forget to put a new blade on your rotary cutter! I love a cheap pipe cleaner for cleaning out the fuzz under the bobbin.



My favorite seam ripper, you know you'll need it, is the Clover Seam Ripper. It stays sharp longer and fits in my hand nicely. I use Organ needles on my Baby Lock Brilliant Bernard.




Wind Bobbins




Wind those bobbins! I love to have a bunch of bobbins wound and ready to go. I always piece with grey thread so I can wind a bunch of bobbins ready for a major sewing session. This bobbin saver keeps them from unwinding and driving me crazy. I love spring green, it makes me super happy, but had the purple one been available when I bought this one you know it would have been purple!

Prepare fabric

Washing or not washing your fabric is a personal choice. The Color Challenge focuses on fat quarters and scraps, if you choose to wash your fat quarters I recommend washing by hand to reduce shredding.



Once you have decided whether or not you are going to wash your fabrics, next it's time to starch. I like to starch all the fabrics I'm working with, whether or not they are small pieces or yardage. If you do starch it's important to starch before you start cutting, as starch will shrink the fabric, so don't do it after you have cut your fabrics for stitching. I like Best Press, but there are many different brands, you can even make your own if you so choose. I absolutely ADORE my mister. I have had this gallon of Best Press for over a year, and I starch every piece of fabric that comes into my space.


Storage

Have you ever started a quilt along or block of the month program and halfway through panicked because you've misplaced the fabrics? Finding a way to keep your project together will help you enjoy the process and help you finish!




I like to use plastic bins that are shoebox size to keep my fabrics together. I will even keep my 6" blocks in these. I like this storage bin for my 12" blocks.



If you have any questions about getting ready for a quilt along or block of the month, ask in the comments!

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?



Find paper and digital patterns 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 make sure to add your first name!

Saturday, December 26, 2020

December 2020 Monthly Color Challenge Link Up

 It's the last link up of 2020! Is your block ready?



This block really got me into the holiday spirit.





Sponsors October thru December

Said With Love - PDF Pattern

For the Love of Geese - PDF Pattern

P & B Textiles - Fabric Bundle

Quilters Dream Batting - 60" x 60" Dream Blend

Warm Company - 45" x 60" Warm and Plush

Warm Company - Light Steam and Seam 2


Island Batik - 3 1/2 yards of assorted fabrics

Patterns By Jen - Superior Thread S-Fine 50

Patterns By Jen - PDF Pattern


Make sure to visit the Quarter 4 sponsors to see what other goodies they have to offer.




The link up is open through January 1st. If you have a problem linking up, please use the "question mark" button next to the log out button. If you are trying from your phone, try it from a laptop/tablet if you have one.





Good luck and thank you so much for stitching along with me!

Missed the block? Find it HERE!

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?



Find paper and digital patterns 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 make sure to add your first name!





You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Meet the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge Sponsors!

 It's just over a week until a new year and a new Monthly Color Challenge!


The continued generosity sponsors, after a year like none other, is truly a gift. As you read through this post and get excited for the year, please take time to comment here to thank them. This will also be up on my Instagram with links to their Instagram accounts. A follow and a comment makes a great day!



Once again the prizes will be given out quarterly.  To enter you must link up a pieced block each month, one block link up per month, per quilter. If you link up each month during the quarter you will have three chances to win. (Don't worry, I will be here to help make sure you get your block linked up!)

Prizes will be randomly selected on April 1, July 1, Oct 1 and Jan 1, 2022.














If you haven't heard about the Color Challenge yet you can find out more of what is coming at "Announcing the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge" post.


Check out the previous Monthly Color Challenges: 2018, 2019, 2020

Sign up to have the block sent directly to your email! Each block comes with a "how to" video right in the instructions.

**If you signed up for the the 2020 Color Challenge you do not need to sign up again.**

It's almost time! Go gather your colors, visit the bloggers and sponsors and sleep with visions of pretty blocks dancing in your head!

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?



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.

Monday, December 21, 2020

Meet the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge Bloggers!

 The 2021 Monthly Color Challenge is almost here! There are new sponsors and new bloggers. Lets meet the amazing bloggers that will stitching along and inspiring us throughout the year.




While many of the faces will be familiar, there are new bloggers joining this year as well. While you enjoy your morning coffee, tea or water or your evening night cap take some time to visit their blogs and get to know them a bit.

Each blogger has their own unique style and they have generously signed up to inspire and encourage you.


Image: Image: © tvirbickis/Thinkstock  At Harvard Health Edu


Did you miss the post for the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge? Read all about it here.












As we go along through the year some of the bloggers will be sharing recipes with you to go along with the fruit or vegetable for that month.










I think I will spend the next few winter months ordering seed catalogs and dreaming of summer, though many of you will be spending the next few months preparing for winter. It's so fun to think that there are so many of us, all around the world, sewing together no matter the season we are in.









Enjoy visiting the blogs, bookmarking the new ones so you can always find them 😉, and come back to see the amazing sponsors for the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge.


Photo cred: National Today


We will be making half-square triangles (HST), Flying Geese (FG), Square in a Square (SIS) blocks as well as some traditional four patch units. I like these specialty rulers for trimming these blocks. They are NOT required, but they definitely make trimming a little faster/easier.

Tucker Trimmer for HST
Wing Clipper for FG
Square Squared2 for SIS

You can find these in my Etsy shop HERE.

***Now through December 31, 2020***
Receive FREE SHIPPING on any ruler with code 2021MCC

***Free shipping good for US residents only, International orders will receive $5 off their order once it's placed.***


To have the block sent directly to your email sign up HERE.

NOTE: If you signed up for the 2020 Monthly Color Challenge you do not need to sign up for the email again.

Start looking through your stash then come back for:


Meet the sponsors! December 23rd.

Happy Stitching!
Jen


New to Patterns By Jen?



Find paper and digital patterns, gifts and more 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.