QuiltInk Blog

Designer Spotlight – Jess Rash

This month’s December Designer Spotlight brings us to Silverton, Oregon, where we’re excited to introduce Jess Rash, a maker whose journey into quilting has grown into something deeply personal, creative, and full of heart.

After stepping back from her career as a hairstylist to focus on her health, Jess found space to lean into quilting more intentionally — and it shows. Her work blends modern sensibilities with traditional roots, often reimagining classic blocks in fresh, contemporary ways. Checks, stripes, thoughtful color choices, and her love of color theory all play a meaningful role in her designs.

Keep reading to discover Jess’s quilting story, how motherhood (and one very special baby quilt) pulled her back into the craft, and how she uses QuiltInk to bring her color ideas to life. 💛

Personal Background

Jess, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?

Im 32 years old living in Silverton, Oregon in the US. I recently stepped back from my career as a hairstylist to focus more on my health and that’s created more space for me to pursue quilting further.

Quilting Journey

When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?

I learned to quilt as a kid but fell in love with it pretty hard in 2020 when my best friend got pregnant with her first baby, obviously I had to make her a baby quilt and ended up enjoying the process so much that I couldn’t stop at just one.

Pattern Designing

What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns? How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?

I never intended to start designing patterns, but I found myself wishing I could make quilts that didn’t exist. Then I took Alderwood Studio’s pattern writing academy and really enjoyed the process of designing and writing patterns.

Style and Aesthetics

How would you define your pattern style? Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?

I don’t know that I have a specific style, but I love reworking traditional blocks to fit into modern quilts. Checks and stripes seem to make their way into a lot of my designs.

Color

How does color play a role in your pattern designing? Do you have a favorite color? Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?

Color theory is something that I’ve always loved and was a big part of my career as a hairstylist, working with color is one of my biggest draws to quilting. I tend to really love red and pecan together.

Business Activities

Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business?

(Membership, notions, courses, etc)

I sell quilts and small art quilts in drop style sales.

Online Presence

Where can people find your work online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

Most of how I connect is through Instagram and the rad sewing community that exists there.

@jessirash on Instagram and through my website jessrashquilts.com.

Upcoming Projects

Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?

I have some exciting collaborations coming up in 2026, but none that can be shared quite yet!

QuiltInk Experience

How has QuiltInk contributed to your quilt pattern design business? Could you share your experience with the platform and how it has influenced your creative process and connected you with fellow quilters?

I love having the ability to easily mock up designs using the fabric lines I’m familiar with! I feel like having the ability for folks to mock up color palettes makes a big difference when it comes to quilt planning and I’m grateful that it has become an easy part of quilt planning.

QuiltInk Challenge Dec25

December brings a special kind of magic to the quilting community — it’s a month filled with cozy stitching sessions, glowing lights, and that unmistakable sense of creativity that comes with the holiday season. And what better way to wrap up the year than with a challenge inspired by one of the most beloved voices in modern quilting?

For December, we’re honored to highlight the work of Tara Faughnan, whose vibrant color sense and thoughtful approach to design have inspired quilters around the world. For this edition, we’ll be using Canyon — one of Tara’s beautiful signature palettes — a rich mix of warm reds, earthy greens, sparkling golds, and grounding neutrals pulled from Cotton Couture (Michael Miller), Bella Solids (Moda), and Kona Cotton (Robert Kaufman).

MEET THE CANYON PALETTE

Canyon echoes the warmth and glow of December without using traditional Christmas colors. Think sunlit clay, evergreen shadows, rosy winter skies, and golden candlelight — a palette that feels festive in an unexpected and sophisticated way.

From deep tones like Dark Teal and Taupe to the soft, celebratory notes of Princess and Home Town Sky, this palette invites you to explore contrast, mood, and the subtle shifts that happen when colors meet. Whether you lean toward bold geometry or soft organic layouts, Canyon brings depth, richness, and seasonal warmth to every mock-up.

We can’t wait to see how you interpret this unique December palette on the QuiltInk Wall!

MEET TARA FAUGHNAN

Tara Faughnan is a quilter, teacher, and pattern designer based in Oakland, CA — known for her fearless, intuitive use of color and her masterful balance of simplicity and complexity. Her work is influenced by antique quilts, global textiles, and the spontaneity of improvisational design, all woven together with a deep curiosity about how colors interact.

Tara’s teaching encourages exploration and joyful experimentation, helping quilters push past their comfort zones to discover surprising combinations and harmonious contrasts.

Get to know Tara and explore her work,
her patterns, workshops, and lectures are a true treat for color lovers.

How to participate

1. Go to www.quiltink.com, sign in, or create a free account.

2. Choose any pattern from the main page.

3. Color it using the Canyon palette — it appears as the first palette in the Solid Palettes list.

4. Share your mock-up on the #QuiltInkWall.

F5, or an extra entry, share a post or story on Instagram mentioning @quilt_ink and @tarafaughnan, and tag #QuiltInkChallengeDec25. This counts as two entries in the giveaway.

Prize

A spot in Tara Faughnan’s “Creating Color Palettes” on-demand lecture.
The winner will get access to Tara’s celebrated lecture — a deep dive into color, contrast, and the art of building cohesive palettes.

Selection

On January 1st, we will randomly select one winner from all mock-ups using the QuiltInk Challenge Dec25 palette (You can see them all by filtering the mock-ups in the QuiltInk Wall).

The more mock-ups you create, the greater your chance to win!

This giveaway is open internationally. You must be at least 18 years old. This giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram. Participants release Instagram of any responsibility and agree to IG terms of use.

Here are some beautiful examples of quilts hosted on QuiltInk and colored using the Canyon palette, our December Challenge palette! I absolutely love how each mock-up brings out the depth and warmth of this month’s colors.

Example mock-ups are from:
• Prickly Pear Jam by A Stitch is a Stitch
• Great Plains Star by Plains and Pine
• Buds and Blossoms by Modern Charm Stitchery

Let these inspire your own creation for the December Challenge — and don’t forget to share it on the Wall!

Remember, you can filter the QuiltInk Wall to explore all the mock-ups created for every Challenge — it’s the best way to see each palette come alive through different patterns and styles.

If you are wondering where you can find the QuiltInk Challenge palette:

1. Pick one pattern on QuiltInk.

2. Open the coloring page.

3. Click the palette icon to select a new palette to color.

4. Select the first palette in the Solids tap.

5. An start coloring!

And here you can check the Dec25 Challenge fabrics. Aren’t they amazing?

We can’t wait to see all your mock-ups!

Happy coloring and quilting to you all!

QuiltInk Challenge Nov25 Winner

What a lovely month of creativity — thank you to everyone who joined the November QuiltInk Challenge and shared beautiful mock-ups using the Potted palette by Kiley Ferons of Kiley’s Quilt Room. The QuiltInk Wall was full of calm, plant-inspired colorways and thoughtful designs that made scrolling pure joy.

A huge congratulations to @Sewistry — our randomly selected winner for November! Her mock-up of SAFETY Dance showed a wonderful use of contrast and color placement, and we loved the way she balanced pattern and negative space. She will receive a Layer Cake pack from the Potted collection, generously sponsored by Kiley Ferons.

Potted is Kiley Ferons’ debut fabric collection for Moda Fabrics, a charming botanical line of soft greens, warm neutrals, and hand-drawn plant motifs that pair beautifully with modern geometric designs. It’s a collection made for calm, contemporary quilts that feel both fresh and timeless.

Huge thanks to everyone who played along — every mock-up helps designers like Kiley reach new quilters and keeps our community growing. If you haven’t already, take a moment to browse the November gallery on the QuiltInk Wall — there’s so much inspiration waiting for you.

Check out the November’s challenge because it’s really fun and you won’t want to miss it!

Mock-up Monday #158

Visit our Instagram account to see a beautiful continuous carousel with the mock-up Monday #158 with nearly 200 amazing mock-ups.

It’s Mock-Up Monday 158! 💛✨
And yes… once again I couldn’t fit all the mock-ups in this carousel — nearly 200 new QuiltInk mock-ups from the last two weeks (not even counting the Challenge ones!). What a problem to have, right? 😅

If you want to enjoy every single version, head to the QuiltInk Wall and swim in a sea of color, creativity, and endless quilt inspiration. The community has been on fire lately — bold palettes, modern quilt designs, surprising fabric choices… so many ideas to spark your next project.

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous mock-ups week after week. QuiltInk truly wouldn’t be the same without this amazing, supportive, and wildly creative community. 💛

Ready to join?
Come to QuiltInk.com, pick your favorite quilt pattern, and start coloring your own version today!

New Pattern: Pressed in Pine

Did you know @craftymoose_quilts released a new pattern a few days ago? 🌲✨ Pressed in Pine is now active on QuiltInk and ready for you to color!

This gorgeous forest-inspired quilt blends vintage charm with a fresh, modern twist. With 30 stylized trees, you can go fully scrappy, keep a curated palette, or mix both for a beautiful woodland feel. And once you start playing with color on QuiltInk, you’ll see how dramatically the mood of the quilt can change!

Pressed in Pine is also wonderfully precut-friendly — charm packs for the Lap size, and layer cakes or fat quarters for the Throw and Bed sizes. So it’s perfect whether you love working from your stash or coordinating a new bundle.

And the best part? This pattern looks incredible in everything — Christmas fabrics, woodland and cabin prints, plaids, polka dots, solids, even stripes. A true stash-buster with modern woodland vibes.

Now you can test all your ideas on QuiltInk.com, adjusting color placement before you start cutting. It’s amazing how much personality you can bring out just by switching up your palette!

New Pattern: Prickly Pear Jam

Today we welcome Delia’s second pattern to QuiltInk — Prickly Pear Jam! 🌵✨ This modern Southwest take on the classic Bear Paw block is simply stunning, blending timeless charm with a fresh, updated twist.

Whether you’re a confident beginner or a seasoned quilter, this pattern offers the perfect balance of structure and creativity. Play with colors, mix bold solids or prints, and make your version truly unique.

Plan your quilt digitally on QuiltInk and see how color placement can completely transform the design. From mini to baby or large throw/twin, this pattern is ready to become your next favorite finish. 💛

Go meet Delia @a_stitch_is_a_stitch , follow her, and cheer on all her beautiful quilt patterns!

Mock-up Monday #157

Visit our Instagram account to see a beautiful continuous carousel with the mock-up Monday #157 specially dedicated to the November QuiltInk Challenge with tons of amazing mock-ups made with Potted fabric collection by Kiley’s Quilt room share during the last weeks in our QuiltInk Wall.

Don’t you just love seeing what a single fabric collection can do in the hands of so many creative quilters? 💚
Mock-Up Monday #157 is here, and today we’re showcasing all the beautiful versions created so far for the November QuiltInk Challenge using the Potted fabric collection by @kileysquiltroom for @modafabrics . 🌿

Seeing nearly 100 mock-ups all together — all made with the same palette — is honestly one of the most inspiring things on QuiltInk. Modern quilts, geometric quilts, beginner-friendly patterns, bold layouts, soft palettes… it’s amazing how much variety can bloom from a single fabric line.

If you haven’t taken a look yet, come visit the QuiltInk Wall and enjoy this incredible gallery of color ideas. And of course… join the fun! 🎨✨

🍃 How to participate:
• Log in at QuiltInk.com (free!)
• Choose your favorite quilt pattern
• Color it using the Potted palette (first in the solids list)
• Share your version on the #QuiltInkWall
• Want extra entries? Post it here on IG, tag @quilt_ink + @kileysquiltroom, and use #quiltinkchallengenov25

🎁 Prize: A gorgeous Potted Layer Cake courtesy of Kiley — perfect for your next quilt project!

Your shares help the challenge reach more quilters, so thank you for spreading the word and keeping this creative community growing. 💛

Designer Spotlight – Julia Wachs

I’m especially excited about this month’s November Designer Spotlight, because our featured designer is now quilting just a few hours away from me here in Spain!

Julia Wachs, who recently moved from Seattle to Madrid, is now dedicating her full time to quilting. Her modern, geometric designs are full of color, precision, and creative energy.

Keep reading to discover her story, her inspirations, and how she’s bringing her bold quilting style to her new life in Spain. 💛

Personal Background

Julia, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?

My name is Julia Wachs and I moved to Madrid, Spain this summer from Seattle, Washington. I was an aerospace engineer for over 10 years but have been focused on getting settled in Spain and quilting since March 2025. In Madrid, I plan to do quilting full time!

Quilting Journey

When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?

I got my start in quilting in 2014 after finding that I needed a tactile hobby after sitting behind a computer all day at my first job out of college. My first quilt was simple squares, but my second quilt was a self-designed queen sized quilt with a houndstooth pattern. I love how creatively inspired I am when designing a new quilt pattern.

Pattern Designing

What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns? How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?

I started designing my own quilt patterns in earnest during the height of the pandemic as a creative escape. I like to use a pencil and paper for sketching my ideas before transitioning to various computer programs to iterate on them.

Style and Aesthetics

How would you define your pattern style? Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?

The majority of my quilt patterns have either foundation paper piecing or applique, with my row of the month patterns including both. My current style is bold, geometric, and botanical patterns that evoke a distinctive design feeling. I am drawn to saturated solids that enhance the geometric aspects of my quilt designs.

Color

How does color play a role in your pattern designing? Do you have a favorite color? Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?

Color absolutely plays a giant role in my pattern designing. I like to play with value and to create interesting effects using different shades of colors. I always seem to incorporate a teal and a yellow into my quilts.

Business Activities

Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business?

(Membership, notions, courses, etc)

My block of the month programs are integral to my business and I absolutely love designing them. In the near future, I plan to offer more courses and live classes!

Online Presence

Where can people find your work online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

www.juliawachs.com, Instagram @juliawachs.designs, YouTube @JuliaWachsDesigns, Bluesky @juliawachsdesigns, TikTok @juliawachs.designs

Upcoming Projects

Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?

I am currently designing a new FPP pattern for early 2026, plus a new sampler and a new 2027 BOM! I love collaborating with other designers and am hoping to organize one in the near future.

Additionally, I will be releasing an FPP 101 course in early 2026. I am also in the process of scripting a FPP Design course that will teach quilters how to design their own FPP quilts using different types of software applications.

QuiltInk Experience

QuiltInk has allowed me to provide my customers with a convenient and fun way to test out fabric options with my designs. The private room feature has been a big help when collaborating with shops to create custom kits. I absolutely love browsing the wall and seeing my quilt patterns colored with beautiful color combinations I never would have thought up myself!

It’s so thrilling to see people recolouring your design and hopefully, making it one day!

New Pattern: Starry Braids

Today, I am so excited to welcome Delia from @a_stitch_is_a_stitch to QuiltInk! 🎉 She’s bringing four amazing new quilt patterns, and I can’t wait for you to see one of them: Starry Braids.

This modern quilt pattern is inspired by braided hair crowned with spring flowers. The intersecting braids create stars and pinwheels, giving a fresh yet classic look. 🌸 It comes in Baby (36” x 48”) and Throw (60” x 72”) sizes, and it’s written for 3 colors, but you can easily make it scrappy for a playful twist. Plus, it’s a wonderful pattern to practice your half-square triangles (HSTs) and build your quilting skills.

Come to QuiltInk.com to experiment with colors, plan your version, and see how other quilters are bringing Starry Braids to life on the QuiltInk Wall. Your next quilt inspiration is waiting! 🎨

New Pattern: Haul Out the Holly

Get into the holiday spirit with the Haul Out the Holly quilt pattern by Lisa of @shadowvalleyquilts — now ready to color digitally on QuiltInk! 🎄✨

This festive and eye-catching Christmas quilt pattern features beautifully arranged star blocks forming a striking wreath design. Its playful layout and classic holiday feel make it the perfect project to bring warmth, color, and joy to your home this season.

Whether you want to add a cozy Christmas touch to your living room or create a meaningful handmade gift, Haul Out the Holly is a wonderful pattern to celebrate the most magical time of the year.
With multiple size options — wall hanging, throw, and king — you can make the version that fits your holiday plans best.

Head to QuiltInk.com to explore the pattern, browse inspiring versions on the QuiltInk Wall, and start planning your own digital mock-up today! 🎨💚