July 2021 Monthly Color Challenge Link Up

 I don't know about you, but time needs to slow down a bit. Since it refuses to, though, we have now reached the July Link Up.

Did you enjoy this super easy, super quick block? I know I said it before, but I'll say it again, I love the Signature block unit so much. It is really a versatile unit.

You can follow #2021monthlycolorchallenge and #monthlycolorchallenge on Instagram to see the blocks as well.

It's a new quarter with new sponsors!

Quarter 3 Sponsors

Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio - Goodie Bag*

Bea Quilter - PDF pattern

Faith and Fabric - $25 Gift Certificate to Faith and Fabric

Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting - PDF pattern

Carole Lyle Shaw - $50 gift certificate to your choice of shop

Cherrywood Fabrics - Mini Monty (fabric bundle)*

Benartex - Fat Quarter Bundle*

Quilters Dream Batting - 60" square Dream Cotton*

The Warm Co - 90 x 60 Soft and Bright Needled Polyester*

Appliques Quilts and More - $10 Gift certificate

Said with Love - PDF pattern

Daybrook Designs - 2 winners, PDF pattern to each

Patterns By Jen - PDF pattern

Those marked with * are for US residents only. Prize laws vary throughout different countries.

The Link Up is open through July 31st. 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 for stitching along with me!

Missed the block? Find it here!

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!

Newsletter sign up

2021 Monthly Color Challenge

Against the Grain Quilt Along

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

July 2021 Monthly Color Challenge

July is here. I don't know about you, but it is coming in hot and steamy here. Whew.

So if I can't be cooling off at the lake sipping on something cold and made with lime, then I might as well be cooling off down in the studio. Thank goodness mine is located in the dark, dank dungeon.

Photo credit: Ask the Food Geek

This month our color is inspired by the lime. A little piece of fruit that I can't wait to see recipes for from our bloggers.

This block uses the timeless Signature block to create a simple, yet striking block.

**There is a How To video included in the instructions with tips on making the block.**

July Bloggers

Kate - KatieMae Quilts

Brenda - Songbird Designs

Lisa - Love to Color my World

Raylee - Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting

Andi - True Blue Quilts

Crystal - Daybrook Designs

Patti - Patti's Patchwork

Anne - Said with Love

Ashli - Quilt 2 End Alz

This year two block sizes are offered, you can choose to make the 12" finished blocks or the 6" finished blocks, or both!

Quarter 3 Sponsors

There's a new group of sponsors! The Monthly Color Challenge has a great group of sponsors who have given generously to make this year an amazing year for you. Winners are chosen quarterly; April 1, July 1 (Please note that winners will be chosen July 12 when I return from the lake), Oct 1 and Jan 1, 2022. To enter you simply add your block to the Link Up at the end of each month. One entry per quilter and it needs to be the block from the current month. Finish each month and you will have 3 entries each quarter!

Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio - Goodie Bag*

Bea Quilter - PDF pattern

Faith and Fabric - $25 Gift Certificate to Faith and Fabric

Sunflower Stitcheries and Quilting - PDF pattern

Carole Lyle Shaw - $50 gift certificate to your choice of shop

Cherrywood Fabrics - Mini Monty (fabric bundle)*

Benartex - Fat Quarter Bundle*

Quilters Dream Batting - 60" square Dream Cotton*

The Warm Co - 90 x 60 Soft and Bright Needled Polyester*

Appliques Quilts and More - $10 Gift certificate

Said with Love - PDF pattern

Daybrook Designs - 2 winners, PDF pattern to each

Patterns By Jen - PDF pattern

Those marked with * are for US residents only. Prize laws vary throughout different countries.

Tips

Here are a few tips for piecing accuracy.

Sew directly on the line drawn as we are pressing these seams open. If you are worried about the seam being "weakend" from pressing them open, simply shorten your stitch length.

After you have added the first corner square to your signature blocks, sew the strips together for strip piecing. When that is stitched leave it under the needle, clip the signature blocks and begin chain piecing the second corner square. I share this in the How To Video for the month, too.

All of your units are pieced and ready to be clipped and sub-cut with minimal sewing stoppage.

If you are making the 6" finished block I still encourage you to trim those corners. They may not look like much, but that fabric gets thick.

When sub-cutting your strips line up a ruler marking on the sewn seam. Don't use your outside edges to measure, that is when things start to go wonky. I cover this in the How To video as well.

That's it! July is done! 

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of July!

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

It's too late to have the January through July blocks emailed to you but you can download them from Payhip and get ready to have the rest of the year arrive in your email inbox.

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

2021 Monthly Color Challenge

Against the Grain Quilt Along

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. 

June Monthly Color Challenge Link Up

 Yes, the June Link up is here and yes I totally missed posting it.

This block was a fun one to make and I loved to see how fabric choices changed which part of the block stood out.

You can follow #2021monthlycolorchallenge and #monthlycolorchallenge on Instagram to see the blocks as well.

Quarter 2 Sponsors

Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio - Goodie Bag*

Bea Quilter - PDF Pattern

For the Love of Geese - PDF Pattern

True Blue Quilts - Book: Monochromatic Quilts Amazing Variety*

Make Modern Magazine - 6 month subscription

Island Batik - Fat Quarter Bundle*

Benartex - Fabric Bundle*

Quilters Dream Batting - 60 x 60 Dream Poly*

The Warm Company - 90 x 108 Warm and Plush 100% Cotton

Appliques Quilts and More - $10 gift certificate

Fat Quarter Shop - Gift Certificate

DayBrook Designs - 2 PDF Patterns

Patterns By Jen - Tucker Trimmer 1® ruler*

Those marked with * are for US residents only. Prize laws vary throughout different countries.

The Link Up is open through July 4th. 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.

**Please note the change in date. Due to my lateness the Link Up is open through July 4th. Winners will be randomly selected and notified on July 12th.**

Good luck and thank you for stitching along with me!

Missed the block? Find it here!

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!

Newsletter sign up

2021 Monthly Color Challenge

Against the Grain Quilt Along

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

June 2021 Monthly Color Challenge

 Welcome to the 6th block in the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge. We are officially halfway through the BOM. Whoa. If that isn't exciting enough for you, we've reached the end of Quarter 2! Winners will be chosen July 1st!!

This month our color is inspired by . . . the pumpkin. Which is odd, I know, but even more so? The color for October is pink.

When I'm choosing colors for each month I have tried to stay away from the typical colors, while this isn't always the case, I like the extra challenge of getting out of that mindset of "spring colors," "fall colors," "Christmas colors," ete. I would love to hear from our southern hemisphere quilters though, if "pumpkin" in June is fitting?

This block has a few different quilt block units, but each one is a traditional piece trimmed to size to make this an easy assembly.

**Reminder! There is a How-To Video for each month!**

June Bloggers

Wendy - Pieceful Thoughts

Crystal - Daybrook Designs

Fawn - Quilty Creations by Dawn

Raylee - Sunflower Quilting and Stitcheries

Andi - True Blue Quilts

Patti - Patti's Patchwork

Ashli - Quilt 2 End Alz

Joanne - Everyone Deserves a Quilt

This year two block sizes are offered, you can choose to make the 12" finished blocks or the 6" finished blocks, or both!

Quarter 2 Sponsors

There's a new group of sponsors! The Monthly Color Challenge has a great group of sponsors who have given generously to make this year an amazing year for you. Winners are chosen quarterly; April 1, July 1, Oct 1 and Jan 1, 2022. To enter you simply add your block to the Link Up at the end of each month. One entry per quilter and it needs to be the block from the current month. Finish each month and you will have 3 entries each quarter!

Dragonfly's Quilting Design Studio - Goodie Bag*

Bea Quilter - PDF Pattern

For the Love of Geese - PDF Pattern

True Blue Quilts - Book: Monochromatic Quilts Amazing Variety*

Make Modern Magazine - 6 month subscription

Island Batik - Fat Quarter Bundle*

Benartex - Fabric Bundle*

Quilters Dream Batting - 60 x 60 Dream Poly*

The Warm Company - 90 x 108 Warm and Plush 100% Cotton

Appliques Quilts and More - $10 gift certificate

Fat Quarter Shop - Gift Certificate

DayBrook Designs - 2 PDF Patterns

Patterns By Jen - Tucker Trimmer 1® ruler*

Those marked with * are for US residents only. Prize laws vary throughout different countries.

Tips

Some tips for successful piecing.

I use the Quilters Magic Wand® to mark my sewing lines.

I sew just inside the drawn lines for more accuracy.

Sew with the FG unit on top so you can see the point.

Chain piece the FG units.

Press while the FG units are still chain pieced, once pressed, then clip threads.

When sewing rows together sew with the Square in a Square unit on top to watch the point.

That's it! June is done! 

Ready to get the pattern? Go to Payhip and download it now! The block is free for the month of June!

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

It's too late to have the January through June blocks emailed to you but you can download them from Payhip and get ready to have the rest of the year arrive in your email inbox.

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

2021 Monthly Color Challenge

Against the Grain Quilt Along

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. 

Where in the world is Jen?

 It has been a month of silence here on the blog and social media, other than prescheduled posts. Where is Jen?

Misty field

It has taken me a bit to decide to write this post for a few reasons. I have put this off because

1) I'm a pretty private person

2) I kept waiting to feel better

3)I was just too tired to try.

It has been a long few months for my family, nothing too scary, but a lot of "things" to keep track of, deal with, wade through, and apparently it got to the point of draining me physically and mentally. Add the need for a lot of dental work/mouth pain and I've spent almost every evening after child care sitting and watching tv and not accomplishing anything.

It's been hard to accept that I need to step away from some things and right now, that means taking a break from pattern designing. I have a couple of patterns to finish up, and the Monthly Color Challenge will remain (yay!), but the plan right now is to take a break.

Maybe that break will be a week, because I finally admitted I need a break to the big wide world, but right now I'm planning on the break going through the summer.

It's a scary thought, because when you pull back you lose the eyes that have found you, but faking it until I make it isn't working either.

Resident cardinal

If you are waiting for the last post for the Against the Grain Quilt Along I hope to finish that up and have it ready Wed Jun 2nd.

The May Monthly Color Challenge Link up opened yesterday, so don't forget to add your Challenge Block.

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!

Newsletter sign up

2021 Monthly Color Challenge

Against the Grain Quilt Along

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.