As we step into the vibrant month of July, it’s a wonderful time to reflect on the beginnings we all have experienced in our quilting journeys. Each one of us was once a newcomer, navigating the exciting yet sometimes overwhelming world of quilting. In those early days, the support and encouragement from seasoned quilters made all the difference. This sense of community, where experienced hands guide and uplift new talent, is at the heart of what makes the quilting world so special.
At QuiltInk, we are passionate about standing by new designers, offering our support and promoting their incredible work. We understand the dedication and countless hours that go into creating each pattern. That’s why we are committed to providing a platform where emerging talents can shine and connect with a wider audience.
We encourage everyone to support new designers by following their social media accounts, subscribing to their newsletters, and seriously considering purchasing their patterns. Your support not only helps these designers grow but also enriches the quilting community with fresh ideas and perspectives.
Let’s continue to nurture and celebrate the creativity and hard work of new designers, making our community even more vibrant and inspiring for everyone. Happy quilting! |
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Thank you so much for being part of this. Enjoy all the fun content below! |
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June is the month where many of us start our holidays, and with the heat and summer activities, it can be challenging to find time to sew!
Despite this, 9 new patterns have been activated since the last June newsletter!
If you are looking for your next quilting project, be sure to check out the new patterns in QuiltInk.
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! |
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With summer here, our tech team now has more time to work on new features for QuiltInk.
The first improvement we're tackling is the Exporting option.
Since we included printed fabrics in QuiltInk, the exporting option has faced some issues, such as printed fabrics sometimes not loading properly, and the quality of the printed fabrics not being optimal.
So, today we are excited to introduce two major updates related to the exporting option:
- Improved Loading: No more problems loading the fabrics for export. You might need to wait a bit longer, but all the fabrics will be visible and successfully exported.
- Quality Levels for Downloads: QuiltInk mock-up images and full pages with color/fabric lists can now be downloaded in different quality levels for both PNG and PDF formats. Here are the available options for images and what they are best suited for:
- Basic Quality: Fastest and smaller size, perfect for solids, though printed fabrics may appear a bit blurry. Available for all users.
- Medium Quality (800x800 px): Ideal for displaying printed fabrics on a website. Available only for subscribers.
- High Quality (1600x1600 px): Great for sharing images on social media, displaying printed fabrics clearly. Available only for subscribers.
- Press Quality (2400x2400 px): Needed if you intend to print the mock-up. Available only for subscribers.
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Options to export the Full Page
Options to export the Mock-up Image
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Try this option for free!
For the next 7 days, all users can enjoy our high-quality exporting option for free! After this period, high-quality exports will be exclusive to subscribers.
Want to give it a go? Access to www.quiltinkcom, pick a pattern, color it with printed fabrics, and export it in high quality to share the most beautiful mock-up on your social media! |
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Is summer like an annual break for you when you plan all your upcoming projects? For me, it certainly is. With the long, sunny days and a bit more free time, it's the perfect opportunity to map out new quilting adventures and dive into creative pursuits. Whether you're looking for inspiration, new challenges, or simply want to stay connected with the quilting community, we've got an exciting lineup of events just for you.
I have also included the events for the first week of July. So grab your planner, mark your calendars, and get ready to join us for some fantastic upcoming events!
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 ! |
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SEW ALONG |
Synaptic by Prairie and Ocean
Dates: July 1st to August 11th. Details: Join Janice for a fun, relaxing SAL as you put together this electric quilt with an amazing group of quilters. The pattern comes in one size. throw, and 2 color options.
Sign up / Website / Instagram |
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PATTERN RELEASE |
Tinsel Wreath by Due North Handmade
Dates: July 2nd. Details: The perfect to highlight your preferred printed fabrics or combine your several solids. And it comes in 6 sizes! Mini , Runner, Lap, Throw, Twin and Queen. A pattern with a high level of customization you can’t miss!
Website / Instagram |
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PATTERN RELEASE |
Safety Dance by Sewistry
Dates: July 2nd. Details: Safety Dance is a traditionally pieced, block-based quilt pattern that introduces Half-Rectangle Triangles (HRTs) and partial seam techniques. Light and dark shades create depth, rhythm, and secondary patterns!
Website / Instagram |
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PATTERN RELEASE |
Cascade Bloom by Toad and Sew
Dates: July 5th. Details: Curvy and fun quilt pattern, with vintage vibes. It looks great in almost every colorway, so there's no going wrong here!
Website / Instagram |
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FREE QUILT ALONG |
Farmer's Market by 10 designers
Dates: Starting July 12th.
Details: Farmer’s Market free quilt is part of The Stitcher's Society Farmer's Market Quilt Along. Enjoy each block separately or make the whole quilt! The finished quilt measures 55 1/2" x 69".
Sign up |
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Designers:
- Amy Mogren of Ritual Quilt Company
- Michelle Corless of Compass & Wildflower Studio
- Valerie Krokosky of Farmer's Daughter Stitches
- Jaimie Vanpernis of Sews by Day
- Lindsay Tiedemann of Pins In A Blanket Quilt Co
- Cynthia Hilfiger of Longarm Quilter
- Lori Parker of Garryana Quilt Co
- Mary Burroughs-Mayer of Ember Craft Company
- Sara Marie of Sara Lucielle Handmade
- Kristin Weiss of Heart Lake Quilts
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PATTERN RELEASE |
Riley's Star by Hexen Haus
Dates: July 17th. Details: Subscribe to get early access to Hexen Haus' new design, Riley's Star! Erin will send subscribers an early access code on July 7th. Hurry, to sign up at www.hexenhaus.co! You won't want to miss this reveal.
Website / Instagram |
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PATTERN RELEASE |
Raven’s Dream by A Piece of Quiet Quilts
Dates: July 25th. Details: Named for my sweet niece, Raven’s Dream is a block-based quilt pattern that captures the graceful motion of a bird (or bat?) in flight. This versatile design is Fat Quarter friendly and can also be made as a stunning two or three-color quilt, offering a unique look with each variation.
Website / Instagram |
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PATTERN RELEASE |
Sunny Blooms by In the Light Quilts
Dates: August 2nd. Details: It's a block-based pattern using HST and regular piecing. It's suited for beginners and comes in 3 sizes. Available for coloring in QuiltInk on July 26th.
Website / Instagram |
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FREE SEW ALONG |
Summer Games 2024 Sample
Dates: June 14th - July 26th. Details: 6-week sew-a-long with 9 FREE blocks by quilters from all over the world. Perfect for for skill-building with many different techniques. To join, fill out the information and check your inbox. First blocks are released on June 14th, 2024.
Sign up here |
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SEW ALONG |
We Are The Storm by Libs Elliot
Dates: July 12th is the official kick-off. You can sign up anytime for the Sew Squad and start planning yours! Details: A chill and casual English Paper Piecing sew-along including planning posts, regular virtual check-ins with participants and a few EPP workshops with Libs!
Sign up here / Website / Instagram |
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BLOCK OF THE MONTH |
2024 Asterism BOM Program by Alexandra Bordallo Dates: 9-month sewing program, starting April 1st, 2024 Details: You'll receive a new PDF block pattern each month to help you learn new quilting skills, working at your own pace from the comfort of your own home - twelve different star blocks total Sign up here / Website / Instagram |
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ROW OF THE MONTH |
Vesta 2024 row of the month project by Julia Wachs Designs
Start date: April 1st
Details: Vesta uses both foundation paper piecing and appliqué to create (5) 9” blocks per row. The block pdf will be delivered on the first of each month.
Sign up here / Website / Instagram |
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After exploring the QuiltInk palettes available for coloring your mock-ups (refer to the previous newsletter section below if you are new), I want to highlight an essential feature on the coloring page. This tool is crucial for efficient coloring and helps you avoid mixing similar colors.
Let's dive into the Used Colors option
While you can check the colors you’ve selected for your mock-up on the exporting sheet, there’s also a way to keep track of them during your coloring process.
To see the colors displayed in your mock-up on the screen, click the eyedropper icon at the bottom right of the icon bar.
You will see a list of colors/fabrics sorted by palette, making it easy to identify and manage your selections. This feature ensures you maintain consistency and efficiency throughout your project. |
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Important Note: If you click on one of the colors in the list, it will be selected for coloring.
Why is this option so important?
- Initial Check: When you first open a coloring page, the used colors icon allows you to check the colors/fabrics used by the designer if it's a new page, or by the user who created it, if it's a duplicated mock-up.
- Consistent Palette: When you are coloring, you can keep track of the colors/fabrics you used, ensuring you stick to the palette and fabrics you had in mind.
- Randomize Option: When using the randomize coloring option, the used colors icon will show you which colors/fabrics are applied on each new mock-up.
- Detailed Coloring: If you unmerge the pieces of a pattern and color piece by piece, you can use the same color/fabric multiple times by checking the used colors and clicking on the desired color in the list.
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Delving further into the vibrant tapestry of colors, we now explore the lively and dynamic hues of warm tertiary colors. These colors, formed by blending primary and secondary hues, introduce a unique energy and warmth to quilt designs.
To streamline our exploration, we will group the 12 tertiary colors into two categories: warm and cool. Tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with an adjacent secondary color, resulting in a diverse spectrum of captivating tones. Warm tertiary colors include red-orange, red-yellow, yellow-orange, yellow-green, green-yellow, and blue-green, while cool tertiary colors consist of blue-purple, purple-blue, red-purple, purple-red, green-blue, and yellow-blue. In this newsletter, we will delve into the warm tertiary colors, and in the next, we will explore the cool tertiary colors.
Warm tertiary colors, such as red-orange, red-yellow, yellow-orange, yellow-green, green-yellow, and blue-green, radiate with a unique vibrancy and warmth. |
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MEANING
These warm tertiary colors emerge as symbols of enthusiasm, creativity, and renewal, evoking imagery of sunsets, autumn leaves, and blooming gardens. With their associations with vitality and warmth, these colors embody a sense of liveliness and optimism that resonates deeply with the human psyche. Their invigorating and uplifting qualities make warm tertiary colors versatile choices for infusing quilts with a sense of energy and creativity.
Red-orange, red-yellow, yellow-orange, yellow-green, green-yellow, and blue-green can evoke feelings of joy and excitement, serving as vibrant sparks in quilt designs. Whether used to convey the warmth of a summer day or the freshness of a spring morning, these colors add layers of meaning and depth to quilts, imbuing them with a sense of renewal and vitality.
FOCAL POINT
As tertiary colors born from the blending of primary and secondary hues, warm tertiary colors occupy unique positions within the color spectrum. Their balance of warm tones makes them captivating focal points in quilt designs, drawing the eye and imbuing the fabric with a sense of vibrancy and energy. When paired with complementary colors or juxtaposed against cooler tones, warm tertiary colors create striking visual contrasts that enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of quilts.
In quilting projects, these warm hues serve as focal points that anchor the design and guide the viewer's gaze across the fabric. Their dynamic and lively presence infuses quilts with a sense of energy and renewal, transforming them into vibrant works of art. By strategically incorporating warm tertiary colors into quilt designs, quilters can create compositions that evoke a sense of enthusiasm and creativity.
QUILTING APPLICATION
Incorporating warm tertiary colors into quilting projects opens up a world of creative possibilities, allowing quilters to experiment with a diverse range of shades and patterns. From the rich, fiery tones of red-orange to the fresh, lively hues of yellow-green, these colors offer a spectrum of options for adding warmth and vibrancy to quilt designs. Whether used as dominant colors or as subtle accents, warm tertiary colors can be combined with other hues to create visually captivating compositions that resonate with a sense of energy and creativity.
As you embark on your quilting journey, consider the unique impact that warm tertiary colors can have on your designs. Experiment with different shades and combinations, and embrace the dynamic energy that these vibrant colors bring 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! |
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I want to share with you a part of my life that highlights how I embody the spirit of a beginner in the QuiltInk world. Coming from a culture where quilting isn't prevalent, my journey into this vibrant community has been both unexpected and deeply rewarding.
When I first ventured into quilting, I was a complete novice. I didn't know much about quilting techniques or traditions, but I was eager to learn. From the very beginning, many kind-hearted individuals have supported me, even though we had never met. Their encouragement and willingness to help a newcomer like me have been incredibly heartwarming.
What truly amazes me is how some of the most popular designers in the quilting world placed their trust in my QuiltInk project from its inception. Their support has been instrumental in bringing QuiltInk to life and continuously improving it. It's a testament to the incredible sense of community and camaraderie that defines the quilting world.
The friendships and connections I've made along this journey are invaluable. This community's spirit of support and collaboration encourages me to keep pushing forward, striving to introduce new options and features to our platform. I am deeply grateful for the encouragement and trust that fuels my passion every day.
QuiltInk is my way of contributing to the quilting world—a modern and fun way to plan quilts. This journey has taught me that with the right support and a shared love for the craft, anything is possible. I look forward to continuing this journey with all of you, creating, innovating, and enjoying the beautiful art of quilting together. |
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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! |
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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! |
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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 |
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