2023 Monthly Color Challenge Final Layout

It's time and I can't believe it's here!

Thank you so much for joining me this year for the 6th annual Monthly Color Challenge. That just blows my mind. Six years! Are you up for year seven? Check back here December 15th.

I have a couple of tips for the Hourglass border. While the side borders go on easily, the top and bottom borders need to be finagled a bit. To get them to fit correctly follow these tips.

1)  Find the middle of Border 1, mark it with a pin.

2)  Match up the middle of the Hourglass border to that pin.

3) Keeping the borders taught pin well.

4) Sew with Border 1 on the bottom.

5) When you set the seam with a hot iron you will see some gathering of the Border 1 fabric, that's ok. Press towards Border 1. Any leftover gathering will disappear when the top is quilted.

Who is ready for the quilt? Here she is!

You can find the finishing instructions, free through January 31, 2024, here: Patterns By Jen Payhip shop. If you have signed up for email notifications you will find it in your inbox.

If you don't think this is the layout for you, you can look through the layouts of past Color Challenges and use one of those. Find them at the Patterns By Jen Payhip shop. Just click on the Monthly Color Challenge Layout button at the top of the page. They are only $1. Any of the layouts will work for your 2023 Monthly Color Challenge blocks.

Look for the 2024 Monthly Color Challenge Announcement December 15!

Thank you for stitching along with me this year.

Make something extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

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2023 December Monthly Color Challenge

 I'm not sure how it happened, but we have reached the end of the 2023 Monthly Color Challenge!

I'm loving the look of the December block. It's another easy one, but also has a fun finish.

Photo Credit

This month our classic car color is orange.

As the years have gone by, some more quickly than others, I have grown to love orange more and more.

Our fabrics this year are from Benartex's basic line, Cotton Shot. Dark orange is "orange" and the light is "marmalade."

This year we are doing things differently with the bloggers. There will be just one quilter a month that will be featured. September's blogger is Sandra.  I encourage you to grab your favorite cold (or hot if it's cold where you live) drink and stay awhile to check out what she's working on.

Quilting Gail

Find her on Instagram

Ready for the block? Here it is! I love the simple pinwheel. This one almost looks like a peppermint candy. Make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the instructions page for the link to the How To Video.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group (make sure to answer the questions so I know you are a real person 😉) where you will get a lot of support and questions answered! If you aren't on Facebook you can also follow Patterns By Jen on Instagram. Use #2023MonthlyColorChallenge when sharing so I can be sure to see your block.

I can't wait to see all of the orange flood my world this month!

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of December! Each set of instructions includes a "How To" video.

It's too late to receive the 2023 Monthly Color Challenge block instructions through email, but you can still sign up to have the 2024 Monthly Color Challenge blocks (and the layout!) sent directly to your email. Sign up HERE.

Let's make something Extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Don't forget to sign up for the Bites of PBJ newsletter while you are here for early releases and sales just for subscribers!

Newsletter sign up

2023 Monthly Color Challenge

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.

2023 November Monthly Color Challenge

 Here in the Upper Midwest it's starting to get past pretty fall colors to dreary fall colors. Thankfully the green in this month's block is nice and bright.

This month is another easy block. I think easy blocks are a nice way to end the year.

Photo Credit

This month our classic car color is green.

November can be a hard month to get through, so this bright green was needed to help cheer me up while I wait for snow to bring it's own beauty.

Our fabrics this year are from Benartex's "Cottonshot" basics line. The light green is "Meadow" and the dark is "Ivy."

Ready for the block? Here it is! I love this fun take on the ShooFly block. Make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the instructions page for the link to the How To Video.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group (make sure to answer the questions so I know you are a real person 😉) where you will get a lot of support and questions answered! If you aren't on Facebook you can also follow Patterns By Jen on Instagram. Use #2023MonthlyColorChallenge when sharing so I can be sure to see your block.

I can't wait to see all of the different greens flood my world this month! It will get me through the browns of November.

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of November! Each set of instructions includes a "How To" video.

It's too late to receive the January and November instructions through email, but you can still sign up to have the September - December blocks (and the layout!) sent directly to your email. Sign up HERE.

Let's make something Extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Don't forget to sign up for the Bites of PBJ newsletter while you are here for early releases and sales just for subscribers!

Newsletter sign up

2023 Monthly Color Challenge

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. 

2023 October Monthly Color Challenge

This month's blues bring to mind crisp fall days here in the Upper Midwest US.

When the 2023 Monthly Color Challenge was planned I had no idea we would be moving from Minnesota to South Dakota. Somehow, I still ended up with a really easy block when I need it.

This month our classic car color is blue.

Here in the upper Midwest the cool autumn days will soon be here. There is something about fall skies, that crisp air seems to live in the blue of the fall sky.

Our fabrics this year are from Benartex, their Cottonshot fabric line. The dark is "Navy" and light is "Blue."

This year we are doing things differently with the bloggers. There will be just one quilter a month that will be featured. August's blogger is Kate.  I encourage you to grab your favorite cold (or hot if it's cold where you live) drink and stay awhile to check out what she's working on.

Kathryn - Dragonflys Quilting Designs Studio

You can also find her on Instagram: Dragonfly's Quilting Designs Studio

Ready for the block? Here it is! So simple, yet such a cool look. Make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the instructions page for the link to the How To Video.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group (make sure to answer the questions so I know you are a real person 😉) where you will get a lot of support and questions answered! If you aren't on Facebook you can also follow Patterns By Jen on Instagram. Use #2023MonthlyColorChallenge when sharing so I can be sure to see your block.

I can't wait to see all of the different browns flood my world this month! It will get me ready for the cooler weather that we know will get here eventually.

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of October! Each set of instructions includes a "How To" video.

It's too late to receive the January and September instructions through email, but you can still sign up to have the September - December blocks (and the layout!) sent directly to your email. Sign up HERE.

Let's make something Extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Don't forget to sign up for the Bites of PBJ newsletter while you are here for early releases and sales just for subscribers!

Newsletter sign up

2023 Monthly Color Challenge

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. 

2023 September Monthly Color Challenge

I love summer. It comes from having my children at home for a few months. Now that they are all grown up, I've come to realize that I like the idea of lazy summer days, but I'm not a fan of the heat. Ha! So bring on the cooler weather here in the upper midwest.

This month we're doing a bit of a twist to the good old Half Square Triangle. Don't let that scare you! As there is every month, at the end of the instructions is the link to the How To Video.

The classic car color this month is Mustard.

I love this color. Just like brown, it's a warm comfy color to me. Yellow in any shade or hue just makes me happy.

This year Benartex is sponsoring the 2023 Monthly Color Challenge with their Basics Line, Cotton Shot. I am loving these fabrics. They are easy to work with and saturated with color.

The light yellow is "Butter" and the dark is "Dijon."

This year we are doing things differently with the bloggers. There will be just one quilter a month that will be featured. September's blogger is Sandra.  I encourage you to grab your favorite cold (or hot if it's cold where you live) drink and stay awhile to check out what she's working on.

Sandra - Textile Time Travels

Find her on Instagram

Ready for the block? Here it is! I love the look of this squatty little star. Make sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the instructions page for the link to the How To Video.

Join the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook group (make sure to answer the questions so I know you are a real person 😉) where you will get a lot of support and questions answered! If you aren't on Facebook you can also follow Patterns By Jen on Instagram. Use #2023MonthlyColorChallenge when sharing so I can be sure to see your block.

I can't wait to see all of the different mustards flood my world this month! They will go beautifully with the changing leaves.

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of September! Each set of instructions includes a "How To" video.

It's too late to receive the January thru September instructions through email, but you can still sign up to have the October - December blocks (and the layout!) sent directly to your email. Sign up HERE.

Make something extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

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Twisted Flight Quilt Along

2023 Monthly Color Challenge

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.

Benartex Quarter 3 - Spicy Windmills

 I'm sharing my next project as a Benartex ambassador today.

I've called this quilt "Spicy Windmills" as a shout out to the fabric line I used, Pumpkin and Spice, by Valentina Harper.

This fabric was so fun to work with. I'm sure I say this every quarter, but the colors in Benartex fabrics are so vivid, it's hard not to be inspired to make all of the things.

I have to say my favorite fabric in the line is the mushrooms. Each top is a different design, and they are fun and whimsical.

When laying out scrappy blocks I like to take a picture and then change it to black and white or greyscale to check and make sure the lights and darks are spread fairly evenly.

I felt like this one flowed well.

I had to find another way to use the mushroom fabric, so I decided on a Seminole Patchwork border.

I love the look of this border, but it's a scary thing to take these pieces and trim them to size. Quilty math doesn't always work out for me the first time. Ha!

Have you done a Seminole Patchwork border before? Did you like making it? If you haven't, is it something you are interested in?

Make something extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

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Twisted Flight Quilt Along

2023 Monthly Color Challenge

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.

Twisted Flight Quilt Along - Fabric Prep

 Let's get this party started!

For the next two weeks your "assignment" is to get your fabrics prepped, cut and marked. I love this part of the process. Every square is perfect, every mark is straight and it all looks so good in happy little piles. It's after this, when I start sewing, that things can get hairy, so those fresh cut lines are a joy to me. 😅

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Affiliate Links. When purchases are made through these links I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your purchases help support my small business and keep my husband's head from exploding every time a new quilting notion arrives in our mailbox. Thank you for that. Find out more about Affiliate Links Here.

Fabric Prep

Prepping fabric can mean different things to different quilters. For me, it simply means using starch (Best Press and a mister for me) and giving the fabric a good pressing.

I buy my Best Press by the gallon, only scent free because of sensitivity, but there are many different sizes and scents.

Using a mister means the gallon lasts forever.

For other's it may mean washing first or pressing without starch. I'm here to tell you: do what works best for you. If you've been quilting for a while you have found what you like. If you are a new quilter, I encourage you to try different ways of prepping your fabric to see what you like and what gives you the results you are looking for.

Cutting

When you have your fabric prepped and you're ready to start cutting I encourage you to read through the cutting instructions.

First, read through all of them. Go ahead and grab a pencil or pen to circle or highlight the sizes and/or number needed for the quilt you are making. Take the time to also write in the colors you are using for each section, just to keep yourself organized.

Next, read them again, but just the section for the fabric you are going to cut.

*Tip* I like to do any marking that is required as I cut each fabric. If I have 40 squares that the diagonal needs to be marked on, I will cut those 40 out and mark them right away. Then move to the next cutting step. This keeps me from getting bored. Plus, it breaks up the monotony of cutting and marking, which when you are making a large quilt like I am for this quilt along, really helps to keep it from becoming a chore.

Finally, make sure to check off each set as you finish cutting. That way if you are called away, or get distracted by the puking cat 🤦 you can start again as soon as you get back.

*Tip* As you finish each cutting set, mark the sizes. I simply write the size on paper and pin it to the top piece (I reuse these pieces over and over again). Then, put them in the storage bin you are using for the pattern. I love shoe box sized buckets for this. You might be surprised at how much you can fit into one. Label it, put the pattern in with it if you have it printed, and you are ready for the next "assignment."

How do you keep your pieces organized when you are participating in a quilt along? I'd love to hear!

Missed the Introduction to the Twisted Flight Quilt Along? You can find it HERE.

Come back September 7th for tips on making our Flying Geese units!

Make something extraordinary!

Jen

New to Patterns By Jen?

Newsletter sign up

2023 Monthly Color Challenge

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.