Billows

It feels like my Pantone challenge entry has definitely been a journey, but it's done now!

Choosing fabrics was the easiest part. Once that was set, I decided to make a bunch of slice-and-shift blocks, as that at least was easy to get started on while I was on retreat.

I'd originally hoped to include some Essex Homespun Yarn Dyed in Natural scraps, but turned out that not many were a usable size, but I did use a handful. I also began incorporating a colored print - an unidentified orange-ish elongated grid that I'd gotten in a FabricBubb scrap bundle.

Once I was home, I made even more blocks, then got them all up on the design wall to see what I had to work with.

After sharing on Insta, it was suggested that I rotate the whole thing, so after removing all the blocks from the wall, I slowly began to rearrange the blocks into a real layout, including the rotation. In piecing it all together, I added some filler blocks with larger/longer pieces of that striped fabric. Once squared up, I had a quilt top that was 45" x 47".

You can see the entire process of creating a pieced quilt back in Making a Pieced Quilt Back, but basically, I went from this....

to this....

For batting, I used a leftover piece of Quilter's Dream Select, a little lighter in weight than my normal Warm and White. For quilting, I chose to use the Tower of Triangles design from Jacquie Gering's WALK. I'd used it once before, and though a bit time-consuming and involving a lot of reverse-motion quilting, I liked the unique shapes it created across the quilt. For thread, I used Aurifil 50wt 2021 [Natural White], keeping things as light as possible, but not stark.

To finish, I used the last of my Cloud Dancer, Cotton Couture Soft White, for binding; and the quilt, which I've named Billows, measures 43" x 47". The 2026 Pantone Quilt Challenge linkup will be open April 20-27, and you can bet I'll be there.

Entry Details

Project Title: Billows

Quilt Dimensions: 43" x 47"

Country of Residence: USA

Linking up with Quilting JETgirl's Favorite Finish {April 2026}.

My Cloud Dancer

When I first saw the 2026 Pantone Color of the Year announced - Cloud Dancer - I thought hmmm. White. For tradition-sake, my daughter Rachel @snippetsofsweetness went ahead and ordered us Pantone swatch cards, and the first thing I noticed, was that it was definitely not white-white. At least not Kona White (on the left below); and though closer, it wasn't Kona Snow (on the right below) either.

So of course, I chose to consult my color cards and see what seemed closest. I was surprised to find just two colors I was inclined to order - Cotton Couture Soft White and Painters Palette Rice Paper, shown left and center below with Kona Snow on the right. In the natural light of my studio window, my first choice for a match is the CC Soft White.

As you may have heard, the 2026 Pantone Quilt Challenge is calling for a white-ish quilt.

From the challenge rules:

• Aim for roughly 90% white and 10% anything else.
• "White'"can include: creams, off-whites, beiges, very pale versions of other hues, and low volume prints.

Personally, I'll be using a combination of these in my quilt project (top-bottom below):

• Kona White
• Essex White
• Diamond Textiles Top Stitch in White
• Painters Palette Rice Paper
• Cotton Couture Soft White

Though.... I also have a pile of Essex Homespun Yarn Dyed in Natural scraps that I think would be a good addition, so that's my plan. I'm tentatively thinking of adding a color somewhere in the process, but time will tell. Meanwhile, I have the inklings of a design idea, and can't wait to get started.

Pantone Quilt Challenge 2026

Did you hear? The 2026 Pantone Quilt Challenge kicks off today and will run for 8 weeks through April 27. This year's challenge is hosted by Sarah Ruiz @bysarahruiz and Audrey Esarey @cottonandbourbon, and the challenge will feature Cloud Dancer, Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year.

Now I know that Cloud Dancer got a verrryyyy mixed reception when it was announced in December, and even I felt some disappointment. But if the challenge is on, I'm in!

Per tradition, my daughter Rachel @snippetsofsweetness ordered us both Pantone COTY Swatch Cards, and yes, knowing I'd need plenty of Cloud Dancer-colored fabric for my challenge project, I've ordered a couple fabrics to see the closest match, just like I usually do. Though the challenge rules say to Make a white-ish quilt, I was still curious. All I know so far is that Kona White is not it. Not that I won't use some of that, but it's not a match. So stay tuned for more there, but meanwhile, here's a link to Pantone Quilt Challenge 2026 – Week 1. Are you in?