Building an online community is no small feat. It can be incredibly challenging!

Feeling like an outsider in the quilting world sometimes makes it even more difficult for me. Yes, I often feel this way because I’m navigating a world that was completely unknown to me 10 years ago. My native language is Catalan, and languages were never my strong suit in school (math was always my favorite!). Plus, living far away makes it really challenging to meet quilters in person.

So, for now, my main way to build a community is online. (I hope someday to travel to markets and quilt events, but that day hasn't come yet.)

Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok haven't been my best allies, which is why I’m putting so much effort into these newsletters.

And here's what I wanted to share with you.

After the Hey Quilter event, thousands of people joined my subscriber list to receive the newsletter. All participants agreed to this when they signed up for the event. You can’t imagine my excitement knowing QuiltInk would be introduced to so many new people.

But all this excitement turned into a bit of a challenge when I received a message from my mail sender saying that if people keep reporting me as spam, they would stop sending my emails!!

I can understand that many of those who signed up for the event might choose to unsubscribe, but please, don't report me as spam!

So today, I want to make a gentle plea to all of you: please don't report small businesses that are trying to grow and thrive as spam. Just click unsubscribe, and you won’t hear from us anymore. Reporting as spam can cause us a lot of problems!

In every newsletter, you can always unsubscribe with a link at the bottom of the email. It’s just as easy as clicking a button. So, let’s help each other and not make it more difficult.

All that said, let’s focus on the June QuiltInk newsletter! I hope you enjoy learning about all the new patterns, upcoming events, news, interviews, and color theory. Happy reading!

In May, QuiltInk saw the activation of 17 new patterns!

From releases to SALs and mystery patterns, a diverse array of styles and techniques awaits, ensuring you'll discover the perfect pattern for your next quilting project.

Remember, with QuiltInk, you can easily access the designers' websites to obtain a copy of the pattern and start sewing.

Simply click on the following images to begin coloring the patterns directly!

We’re excited to announce a new improvement to QuiltInk! The search field on the Info page has been enhanced. You can now search by both username and display name, making it easier to find your favorite designers or fabric shops by their business names.

To use this feature, go to the Info page and enter either the username or the display name of the designer or shop you’re looking for in the search field. This enhancement is designed to make your experience on QuiltInk smoother and more efficient.

In the example, you can see I want to find Amarar Studio, a designer on QuiltInk. Since I don't know her username, I search by the business name. From here, I can visit her profile and see her patterns, mock-ups, and info.

We hope you find this small improvement useful for a smoother and more intuitive experience on QuiltInk.

We’re excited to announce we have created 2 new palettes in the Solids section with the 2 color QuiltCon 2025 Challenges.

Windham Ruby+Bee Fabric Challenge

This palette include 6 colors/fabrics curated by Tara Faughnan, from Ruby+Bee Solids - Windham Fabrics.

You can use from 3 to 6 colors in the palette to create their quilt. Any other fabric is not allowed except in the backing. Maximum quilt size is 94” per side. 

You need to be a MQG member and make a  standard submission process, selecting the Windham Ruby+Bee 2025 Challenge category. Submissions open September 1, 2024 and close October 31, 2024.

You can check more info about it HERE.

Community Outreach Challenge​

This year’s Community Outreach Challenge is about lines and bars and a calming palette selected from the Moda Bella Solids fabric collection.

Use 4-8 colors from the color palette to create your quilt. Solids or prints (or both!) are fine to use. No other colors may be used in the quilt top or binding.

This is not a solo project. Include as many people as you can from your active MQG guild or create a team of individual MQG members.

You can check more info about it HERE.

How to use these palettes

To access these palettes, simply click on the "palette" icon on any of the coloring pages within QuiltInk. You'll find them located at the top of the Solids palettes tab.

You can utilize these palettes to color any pattern in QuiltInk, including public patterns, community patterns, and private rooms.

Additionally, you can create your own designs based on squares using PixyQuilt. Furthermore, if you have a design created in software such as Inkscape or Illustrator, you can upload it as a private pattern and explore all the coloring options available with QuiltInk.

New videos reels to announce the pattern activations!

Navigating the world of social media can be daunting, especially when it comes to sharing digital content. In an effort to overcome this challenge, I've introduced a new approach for the video reels to announce pattern activations.

These videos showcase different color options for the same pattern, grouped into four distinct coloring styles. My aim is to inspire you as you create your own quilt designs.

All the mock-ups featured in these videos can also be found on our QuiltInk Wall, providing even more inspiration for your projects. As well as the videos, in the QuiltInk news.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to follow us on Instagram. By doing so, you'll stay up-to-date with our latest patterns and options. Of course, I'll continue to share these updates in our monthly newsletters as well.

QuiltInk is on Threads now!

In addition, we've joined Threads! Would you like to follow me for a more personal approach?

I'll be sharing insights about my daily work at QuiltInk, offering a different perspective from my Instagram posts, along with some personal thoughts and more! I can't wait to connect with you there too!

Right now, I'm not aware of any new pattern releases from QuiltInk designers for June. Summer and holidays are here! However, Some SAL will start this month plus the projects currently running that you can still join. Also a Lecture and Fabric Collection launch! Don't miss them for a season full of quilting fun!

If any new releases or events pop up during the next month, we will announce it in our social media, @quilt_ink . Follow us on Instagram to enjoy our fun pattern announcement videos and the weekly #qink_mockupmonday !

To continue talking about the coloring options on QuiltInk, let's dive into the world of QuiltInk palettes!

EXPLORE THE QUILTINK PALETTES

With the recent QuiltInk upgrade, we introduced the exciting option of coloring with printed fabrics. Now, you have three fantastic ways to color your quilts:

1. Solids

From the beginning, QuiltInk offered the option to color with solid colors, replicating real fabric colors from several leading fabric companies.

Currently, we have 19 solid palettes available from major fabric companies such as Pure Solids from Art Gallery Fabrics, Kona Cottons from Robert Kaufman, Century Solids from Andover Fabrics, Ruby and Bee from Windham, among others.

In the Solids section, you can also find the QuiltCon Challenges palettes and the QuiltInk Monthly Challenge palette.

Do you miss any solid fabrics collection palette. Let us know and will be more than happy to add it to the platform!

2. Custom Palettes

In this section, you’ll find palettes created in the "My Palettes" section of your profile page.

Custom palettes can include printed fabrics, solids from the QuiltInk solids palettes, and even solid colors picked manually by you.

With a free account, you can create one custom palette with up to 10 fabrics/colors. By subscribing as a supporter, you unlock unlimited palettes and fabrics. It's also a feature for Designers and Fabric Shops.

I won’t dig deeper into this option now because a special article about it is coming soon!

3. Shop Designers Fabrics

In this section, you'll find palettes uploaded by our Fabric Shops and Designers to showcase their fabrics and help you plan your quilts.

Using fabric shop palettes allows you to plan a quilt and go directly to the shop to purchase your fabrics. Many patterns in QuiltInk are set up as kits where you can see their coloring options and color with their fabrics, making the fabric selection process even easier! (Stay tuned for an article on this too.)

You’ll also find palettes from fabric designers like Libs Elliott and Alexandra Bordallo, enabling you to use their beautiful fabrics to color your quilts.

PICK A PALETTE

To color a pattern in QuiltInk, you can use one of the mentioned palettes or mix them! This won't be a barrier to your creativity!

To pick your palette, click on the "palette" icon in the coloring page. A window with three tabs will appear, one for each group of palettes.

1. Click the tab you would like to explore.
2. Scroll down to see all the available palettes.
3. Click on the palette you want, and it will be loaded into the coloring page for you to use.

During the coloring process, you can change the palette as many times as you like.

Experiment, have fun, and let your creativity shine!

Exploring the final secondary color in our color theory journey, we turn our attention to the enchanting and regal shades of purple. Purple, a striking blend of blue and red, introduces a unique elegance and depth to quilt designs.

Purple, a captivating secondary color formed from the harmonious fusion of blue and red, radiates with a unique vibrancy and richness.

MEANING

Purple emerges as a symbol of luxury, creativity, and mystery, evoking imagery of royal garments, twilight skies, and blooming violets. With its association with opulence and spirituality, purple embodies a sense of depth and sophistication that resonates deeply with the human psyche. Its calming yet stimulating qualities make purple a versatile choice for infusing quilts with a sense of elegance and creativity.

Purple can evoke feelings of imagination and inspiration, serving as a creative spark in quilt designs. Whether used to convey the mystique of a twilight landscape or the richness of a royal tapestry, purple adds layers of meaning and depth to quilts, imbuing them with a sense of enchantment and creativity.

FOCAL POINT

As a secondary color born from the primary hues of blue and red, purple occupies a unique position within the color spectrum. Its balance of cool and warm tones makes it a captivating focal point in quilt designs, drawing the eye and imbuing the fabric with a sense of richness and intrigue. When paired with complementary colors or juxtaposed against lighter tones, purple creates striking visual contrasts that enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of quilts.

In quilting projects, purple serves as a focal point that anchors the design and guides the viewer's gaze across the fabric. Its regal and mysterious presence infuses quilts with a sense of sophistication and allure, transforming them into captivating works of art. By strategically incorporating purple into quilt designs, quilters can create compositions that evoke a sense of wonder and depth.

QUILTING APPLICATION

Incorporating purple into quilting projects opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing quilters to experiment with a diverse range of shades and patterns. From deep, royal purples to soft lavenders, purple offers a spectrum of options for adding richness and depth to quilt designs. Whether used as a dominant color or as a subtle accent, purple can be combined with other hues to create visually captivating compositions that resonate with a sense of elegance and creativity.

As you embark on your quilting journey, consider the unique impact that purple can have on your designs. Experiment with different shades and combinations, and embrace the enchanting energy that this dynamic color brings to your quilts. Stay tuned for more insights into the fascinating world of color theory as we continue to explore the diverse palette of hues that inspire and captivate quilters around the world!

Today, I want to share with you a part of my life that surely won't surprise you, or maybe it will! I am a tech nerd through and through. Here some examples! I was the first person in my area to own a Roomba when they launched nearly 30 years ago, ordering it from the USA while living in Spain. My love for sci-fi and cutting-edge technology fuels this passion. Our home is a tech haven, with every light automated and connected to Alexa, creating an effortlessly smart living space filled with voice-controlled devices and other tech wonders.

Perhaps it was this fascination with technology that inspired the creation of QuiltInk. Always on the lookout for ways to innovate and simplify, I found a way to merge my love for tech with my quilting passion.

However, there's a funny twist to my tech-savvy life—I'm not great at social media. Despite being immersed in the latest technology, navigating the world of social media often feels like a challenge. But I'm learning, and I'm excited to share more with you!

I’d love for you to join me on Instagram and help me out! Your support and engagement mean the world to me as I continue to explore the latest tech trends and integrate them into my life and work. Let's connect and share our love for all things tech and quilting!

Are you new and want to learn all the tips about QuiltInk I explained in the previous newsletter?

Curious about the designers in QuiltInk we interviewed during the past months?

Or are you willing to follow up on our Color Theory section, being aware of the meaning and usage of each one of the colors we have already talked about?

Visit our Newsletter Archive, where you will be able to access all this fun content!

Ready to elevate not just your creativity but also your business on QuiltInk? Whether you're a Designer wanting to showcase your patterns for public coloring, a Fabric Shop looking to feature fabrics and offer kits, or a Supporter willing to enjoy unlimited printed fabrics and the ability to upload private patterns — we have plans designed to amplify your quilting journey. Explore all the QuiltInk Plans and elevate your artistic and business potential today!

We can't express our gratitude enough for your contribution to our vibrant community. Every day, it grows stronger and more vibrant, all thanks to each and every one of you.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Warm regards,
Catalina
QuiltInk
www.quiltink.com