Stitched in Color

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30 Days of Quilt Design

Rachel Hauser

What is your style as a quilter?  What quilts make you the glow from the inside out?  Of all the ideas floating around in your head, which one do you really, really want to work on next?

Quilting as a hobby or art is something we mean to enjoy. For many of us the quilts that bring the most satisfaction come from inside.  I wouldn't say that they are original (what's that?), but rather that they hold some expression, twist or meaning that is personal.  The more often that I take the time to distill ideas into sketches or digital designs, the more often I make something that feels like me.

Let's tease out those quilty ideas with a 30 day design challenge.  I hosted this challenge once before, in the year 2016, and we had a blast! I highly recommend this exercise! At the heart of creativity is discipline. It’s about showing up and trying, day after day, until something magical happens.

Good news - this challenge is not 30 consecutive days, just 30 days total of sketching quilt designs.  Whether you complete the challenge or sketch just a handful of quilts, those experiences are sure to enrich your quilty soul.  Someday you might make the quilts, or maybe not.  That's not the point.  It's about stepping out and trying new things, stretching, growing, enjoying being you.

30 Days of Quilt Design

Our challenge runs now through September.  The idea is to post your quilt designs, one per day, and number then to see if you can log 30 Days by September 30th. 

Come to the experience open-minded and see what happens!

Thanks to Purple Stitches, The Confident Stitch and PreQuilt for sponsoring 30 Days of Quilt Design!   With their support, our challenge will welcome more faces and some motivating prizes.

What Counts?

  • Designs do not have to be original.  No one is going to be policing designs, so don't be shy!

  • If you know your design is not at all unique, consider adding value or color choices that reflect your personality.  Think about how you'd actually like to make the quilt, should you go for it.

  • If your design is a repeated block, you do not have to sketch the entire quilt, but please sketch a few blocks so we can get the idea.

  • Designs can be sketched on paper or produced digitally.

  • You do not need to have a plan for how to construct the quilt.  This is purely about design.

How to Play

  • Take a photo of your quilt sketch or export a photo of your digital mock up.

  • Share your photo on Instagram with hashtag #30DaysofQuiltDesign. 

  • Number each design in the caption (ex. "Day #1 Starburst Stars") to track your progress.

  • If you reach 30 designs, tag your last photo with the additional hashtag #30DaysofQuiltDesignCompleted

Prizes

A challenge is more fun with prizes!  We'll have two kinds:

  • Participation Prizes - biweekly, I'll draw a random winner from among those who have submitted designs so far.  Winners will receive gift certificates to our sponsors. Details announced a week before each prize. First Participation Prize to be drawn Friday, the 19th.  You have 5 chances total!

  • Completion Grand Prize - On October 2nd I'll draw a random winner from among those who have completed the challenge, posting their 30th design with #30DaysofQuiltDesignCompleted.  This prize is sponsored by The Confident Stitch and open to US residents only. It includes a fat quarter bundle, plus an annual membership to We Quilt This City swatch experience. More details to come!

In order to be eligible for prizes, please be sure you follow @StitchedinColor on Instagram and our event sponsors:

I hope this sounds like fun to you too!  Now go forth and explore some ideas!

p.s.  Need help getting those ideas flowing?  Try the journaling exercises I shared in how to Define Your Style.   Focusing on what you like most just may bring some new ideas to mind! Here are some designs I made during the 2016 challenge - - -