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!

 

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

 Sign up for the new Inspire, By PBJ monthly digital subscription.

Inspire, By PBJ sign up

Patterns By Jen YouTube Channel

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.

Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge 2

Challenge 2 was all about finishing a project—mini Half Square Triangles (HSTs)! Did you jump in and give it a try?

I’ve always had a soft spot for HST units, but I know not everyone feels the same. Are you team love 'em or team hate 'em when it comes to these classic quilt pieces?

Let me tell you, the moment I discovered you could make HSTs larger than needed and trim them down to the perfect size, I was hooked. My perfectionist heart couldn’t get enough of trimming those little triangles into spot-on accuracy.

I know, I know—I'm always telling you not to let perfectionism get in the way of quilting. But I was younger back when I learned that trick, and honestly... I still love trimming. 🙈 There’s just something satisfying about those crisp, even edges.

Instructions for one coaster using two fabrics

1) Cut eight 2" squares from each color

1a) Mark the diagonal on one side of the darkest

2) Make sixteen HST units

2a) Trim to 1 1/2" inches

3) Make four pinwheel units

4) Combine into a coaster

5) Cut a 4 1/2" square for the back

6) Right sides together, sew around the coaster, leaving an opening

7) Turn right side out

8)Top stitch all the way around, making sure to close the opening.

With this quick sew, you’ve got the perfect coaster for your favorite mug, cup, or bottle. The real question is—will you stop at one, or will you dive into your scrap pile and make a whole bunch?

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!

OK, quilter, grab those favorite scraps, sew up a cute coaster, and most importantly...

Go make something you LOVE!

 

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

 Sign up for the new Inspire, By PBJ monthly digital subscription.

Inspire, By PBJ sign up

Patterns By Jen YouTube Channel

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.

2024 Monthly Color Challenge BLOGGERS Quilt Parade

 Today is all about the bloggers of the 2024 Monthly Color Challenge who worked to finish the quilt top.

The 2024 Monthly Color Challenge bloggers aren't required to make the entire top, just the block that they signed up for. A few choose to make the whole quilt though and I'm going to spotlight them in this post.

Marlene of KISSed Quilts has a fun finishing post for you. She shares her thought process on how she chose her colors and her quilting. I think it's an insightful post that will help inspire your own finish.

Patti Carey's finish is coming February 4th on her blog. I will update the Patti's Patchwork link when the day comes, because we are all going to want to read more about this finish.

We can all feel Raylee's pain of a broken machine messing with our deadlines. I will also update a link to her Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting blog when she is able to share it with us. From past finishes, we know she's going to do a great deep dive into her finish as well. Dang technology!

Thank you all for stitching with us this past year!

Go make something you LOVE!

 

Did you get my 5 Free Tips for Accurate Piecing yet? I would love to send it to you, sign up HERE!

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

 Sign up for the new Inspire, By PBJ monthly digital subscription.

Inspire, By PBJ sign up

Patterns By Jen YouTube Channel

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.

Snippets with Patterns By Jen Challenge One

 Big Changes Are Here: Goodbye Monthly Color Challenge, Hello Snippets with Patterns By Jen!

It’s the end of an era, friends. After years of fun and creativity, we’re saying goodbye to the Monthly Color Challenge. But don’t worry—I’m not leaving you without something new to spark your quilting joy!

Introducing Snippets with Patterns By Jen—a weekly video challenge designed to inspire you, help you dive into your gorgeous stash, and maybe even teach you something new along the way.

Here’s the best part: Snippets are quick, easy, and totally stress-free! Each challenge is completely self-contained, so no worrying about falling behind.

Every Thursday, a new challenge will drop on the Patterns By Jen YouTube channel. Prefer written instructions? No problem! The following Tuesday, I’ll share a blog post breaking it all down for you.

Our first challenge is all about using what we already have—so go grab five monochromatic fabrics from your stash and one pop of color. You’ve got 10 minutes to pull your fabrics! Ready? Let’s go!

With your fabrics in hand, we’ll make a simple 9-patch block. Here’s the nitty-gritty:

1. To make a 12" finished block, cut your squares at 4 ½" each.
2. Make one block or make a whole bunch—it’s entirely up to you.

Feeling like a quick finish? That single 9-patch block is perfect as is. Got a bit more time (or stash) to play with? Create a few more blocks and see where your creativity takes you.

Photo taken from the video, because I forgot to take a picture of the single block.

For my example, I made three blocks and turned them into a simple table runner. I’m thinking this one’s going to be a fall runner, so I’m playing around with quilting ideas.

That’s it—short, sweet, and fun!

Once you’ve made your block (or blocks), I’d LOVE to see what you create!

Post in the Quilt and Learn with Patterns By Jen Facebook Group
Share on Instagram with #Snippets to inspire others
Not on social media? Email me a picture of your block—I’d still love to see it!

So grab those monochromatic fabrics, make your block, and most importantly...

Go make something you LOVE!

 

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

 Sign up for the new Inspire, By PBJ monthly digital subscription.

Inspire, By PBJ sign up

Patterns By Jen YouTube Channel

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.

2024 Monthly Color Challenge Quilt Parade

Welcome my quilty friends to the last Quilt Parade for the Monthly Color Challenge. 

What a weird sentence to write. If you haven't heard the news yet, I am stepping away from the Monthly Color Challenge. It has been a joy to design these blocks and quilts over the last seven years. While I will miss it, I am looking forward to new and exciting growth.

The Monthly Color Challenge may be going away, but now there will be small challenges each week on my Patterns By Jen YouTube channel. These "snippets" are designed to challenge you a bit to step outside your comfort zone, try something new, find those UFO's, use your stash and more. I am excited to challenge you every Thursday. Snippets with Patterns By Jen starts January 16th!

The 2024 Monthly Color Challenge comes to an end and so we celebrate it with the Annual Monthly Color Challenge Quilt Parade. I appreciate the quilters that sent in pictures of their pieced tops.

First we have Pamela. She made two tops, one using the challenge colors.

I love the bright, cheerful yellow she chose for her border and the pretty multi colored fabric for the HST units. This makes me think for summer picnics.

Her second top is made from Christmas fabrics!

This is such a fabulous way to use multiple Christmas fabrics and bring them all together with the same background fabric. Simply beautiful.

Julie also pieced two tops. (Overachievers is what these two are. 😂)

Her first quilt uses the Monthly Color Challenge colors. I love how simply they come together without the sashing. Sometime it's hard to remember that we don't have to do all the things when making our quilts.

Julie chose to use the same dark background for her second set of blocks. I think this just makes the colors pop on the quilt top.

Thank you so much Pamela and Julie for sending in pictures of your beautiful quilt tops. I hope you keep me updated on the quilting you choose to use on them.

Quilty friends, thank you so much for joining me in the Monthly Color Challenge for the last seven year. It has been a joy. I hope you will keep coming back for more challenges. Let's build our skills, and maybe use up some stash, togethe this year.

Head over to the Patterns By Jen YouTube channel every Thursday for a new Snippets with Patterns By Jen. Don't forget to "subscribe" to the channel so you don't miss a thing.

Go make something you LOVE!

 

Did you get my 5 Free Tips for Accurate Piecing yet? I would love to send it to you, sign up HERE!

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

 Sign up for the new Inspire, By PBJ monthly digital subscription.

Inspire, By PBJ sign up

Patterns By Jen YouTube Channel

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.