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
The winner will get access to Tara’s celebrated lecture — a deep dive into color, contrast, and the art of building cohesive palettes.
Selection
The more mock-ups you create, the greater your chance to win!
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!