Brew

Meet "Brew," my entry in the 2025 Pantone Quilt Challenge @pantonequiltchallenge hosted by Elizabeth @elizabethkray and Sarah @bysarahruiz.

After choosing a Mocha Mousse-inspired fabric pull for my challenge project, I do think I used each fabric at least a little bit, adding an unidentified orange solid for an accent. The interior of the large brown shape on the left in the photo above is Painter's Palette Mocha - my choice for a 'match' for Mocha Mousse.  The other brown solids I used the most of were Kona Biscuit (background for upper right shape) and Kona Earth (bottom right shape).

The 'design' was inspired by an art piece I saw, constructed with just three large 'blocks.' I made one block to see how it felt, and even with the curves, it felt just fine.

So I continued on and made three more big blocks. The striped insets were pieced improvisationally, then ruler-trimmed. The curves were all cut freehand.

Unique, yes, but I liked it well enough and thought quilting would only improve it. So I made a pieced back and started in quilting a rectangular grid using Aurifil 50wt 2314 [Medium Beige], 6010 [Toast], 2372 [Dark Antique Gold], and minimally, 1130 [Very Dark Bark].

For the binding, I used a Dear Stella print, as it coordinated nicely, and I was running low on my brown solids. In the finish, it appears a little lighter than I expected, but I still like it, and the mix of fabrics as a whole. So in a couple of weeks, I'll be linking up in the Mini/Wall category of the challenge, since the shortest side of my quilt is less than 30".  I'm anxious to see all the other entries!

Project Title: BREW

Quilt Dimensions: 28.5" x 45"

Country of Residence: USA

My Peach Fuzz

Better late than never, I now have a Pantone swatch of this year's Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz (thanks to my daughter, Rachel @snippetsofsweetness!) and a small assortment of possible fabric matches, the first step in my participation of this year's Pantone Quilt Challenge 2024, hosted by Sarah @bysararuiz and Elizabeth @elizabethkray.

First up, the solids! Sarah and Elizabeth shared a generous list of possibilities, which led me to order the following (l-r):

• Kona Ice Peach
• Kona Peach
• Cantaloupe Bella Cotton Solid 
• Art Gallery PURE solid in Peach Sherbet
• RJR Fabrics Apricot Ice 

I see that the list Sarah and Elizabeth shared has been updated since I ordered my fabrics to declare PURE Solids (Art Gallery) Georgia Peach or Shrimpy as the closest matches they have found. But of the five solids I have, I definitely think the top option - RJR Cotton Supreme in Apricot Ice - is the closest match. I'm not going to be ordering any more fabric at this point, so I'll just declare Apricot Ice as my top choice, knowing full well it's not a perfect match.

Just fyi, when I compared the swatch with (l-r below) Kona Ice Peach and Kona Peach, the brand I regularly use, Ice Peach was closer, but much lighter.

Just for fun, I had ordered a few fabrics that were either a print or not 100% cotton (l-r):

• Brussels Washer in Creamsicle, which I was thinking was a linen-cotton blend, but it's actually a linen-rayon blend
• Thatch in Melon
• Grid in Blush

I was surprised (and disappointed) how poorly they coordinated with the swatch or my preferred solid. OH well.

At any rate, I have a decent assortment of peachy fabrics to start with. Now to decide on a design and what, if any, other colors I want to add to the mix. So stay tuned!

p.s. Are you participating in the challenge? If so, what fabrics are you using? Inquiring minds want to know!

Very Peri

It's here! The Pantone Color of the Year 2022 was announced yesterday. Meet Very Peri!

Personally, I kinda love it! "A new Pantone color whose courageous presence encourages personal inventiveness and creativity." Wow. That sure sounds promising, doesn't it? AND "For the first time in Pantone’s history, [it] has dreamt up a brand-new shade for its 2022 color of the year selection." I kinda like that too. I'll be dabbling with Very Peri in the new year for sure.

Keeping with tradition, this will be my 11th(!) year creating with the Pantone COTY. Here's a review of my previous Pantone-inspired creations....

:: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating 2021 :: "Some Like It Medium"

:: Classic Blue 2020 :: "Utterly Blue"

:: Living Coral 2019 :: "Timeless"

:: Ultra Violet 2018 :: "Grape Fizzy"

:: Greenery 2017 :: "Evergreenery"

:: Rose Quartz and Serenity 2016 :: "Pantone Meets Bias Tape"

:: Marsala 2015 :: "Sizzling"

:: Radiant Orchid 2014 :: "Radiancy"

:: Emerald 2013 :: "An Emerald Table"

:: Tangerine Tango 2012 :: "Tangerisk"

Meanwhile, there's plenty being written about the new color. Let me know what you think!

• The announcement from Pantone 
• Pantone Created a Completely New Hue for Its 2022 Color of the Year, Kelly Allen, House Beautiful
• Pantone's 2022 color of the year symbolizes how COVID-19 has transformed the world, Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY
• The Pantone Color of the Year 2022 Is Here—and It's Totally Unexpected, Katie Holdefehr, RealSimple
• Pantone unveils 'Very Peri' as Color of the Year for 2022, Leah Dolan, CNN
• Pantone’s 2022 color of the year, Very Peri, will help us ‘rewrite our lives’, Amy Kuperinsky, NJ.com
• Why Pantone Created a Whole New Color for the 2022 Color of the Year, Cady Lang, TIME

Ultimate Gray and Illuminating

It's here! The Pantone Color of the Year 2021 was announced yesterday, and for just the second time ever, THE color is actually a pair: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating.

From Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, "the union of an enduring ultimate gray with the vibrant yellow illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit." Personally, I welcome all that positivity, so I'll take it!

And if I keep with tradition, this will be my 10th(!) year creating with the Pantone COTY. Here's a review of my previous Pantone-inspired creations....

::Classic Blue 2020 :: "Utterly Blue"

:: Living Coral 2019 :: "Timeless"

:: Ultra Violet 2018 :: "Grape Fizzy"

:: Greenery 2017 :: "Evergreenery"

:: Rose Quartz and Serenity 2016 :: "Pantone Meets Bias Tape"

:: Marsala 2015 :: "Sizzling"

:: Radiant Orchid 2014 :: "Radiancy"

:: Emerald 2013 :: "An Emerald Table"

:: Tangerine Tango 2012 :: "Tangerisk"

I find it interesting reading about the new colors and why they were chosen. If you do too, here's some good reading from a variety of sources:

• The 2021 Colors of the Year have Arrived - Here's What to Expect, Reviewed
• Pantone Picks Two Colors of the Year for 2021. It’s all about the messaging. Get ready for a brighter future., New York Times
• This Is Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year, Apartment Therapy
• Pantone picks two colors of the year, and they’re complete opposites, Fast Company
• Pantone unveils its 2021 Color(s) of the Year: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, CNN
• Why Pantone Selected Not One but Two Colors of the Year for 2021, Time

Which Blue is Classic Blue?

Ocean is too blue.
Blueprint isn't dark enough.
Royal isn't deep enough.
Riviera is too bright.
Marine is again, too blue.
Prussian's too teal.
Regatta is ever so close. In fact, it is my Kona of choice.

Yup, after Rachel/@snippetsofsweetness kept up tradition and ordered us official Pantone Color of the Year swatches, I've been watching out for a good color match in fabric. Kona is always my first choice, and as I said above, after considering quite a few blues, Regatta was closest.

But then there's Lapis. From Paintbrush Studio, Painter's Palette Lapis is, in my limited research, the closest match to Pantone's Classic Blue. I did also consult with my RJR, American Made Brand, and Cotton Couture color cards, but nothing felt close enough to really consider. [read: order]



So there's a couple of really good options for you, if you're wanting to sew with Classic Blue. You can bet I plan to!

Have you found a Classic Blue for yourself? I'd love to hear about it!

Classic Blue

I knew from years past that the announcement of Pantone's new color of the year was coming soon. So a couple of days ago I followed the #pantone hashtag, and tried to be patient. In case you don't know, the reveal is always drawn out - almost painfully so. And then suddenly, there it is, and no matter what the choice, there are folks that love it, and of course, those that don't. I've had my favorites over the years, and those I wasn't as fond of, but no matter, I've enjoyed the ritual of creating with it in the new year. Gotta say, though, Classic Blue is a clear winner. In general, I like blue, but I really like this blue.

Keeping with tradition, here's a run-through of my previous Pantone-inspired creations....

:: Living Coral 2019 :: "Timeless"

:: Ultra Violet 2018 :: "Grape Fizzy"

:: Greenery 2017 :: "Evergreenery"

:: Rose Quartz and Serenity 2016 :: "Pantone Meets Bias Tape"

:: Marsala 2015 :: "Sizzling"

:: Radiant Orchid 2014 :: "Radiancy"

:: Emerald 2013 :: "An Emerald Table"

:: Tangerine Tango 2012 :: "Tangerisk"

So do you think you'll dabble with it? Are you a fan or no? Curious to read more about Classic Blue and why it was chosen? Apparently, it's big news!

• Pantone Declares Another Year of Blue from The New York Times
• Pantone's Color of the Year Is a Comforting Start to 2020. Here’s What to Know About the Choice from TIME
• Pantone Color Of The Year 2020: Classic Blue Travel Destinations Around The World from Forbes
• Pantone Colour of the Year 2020 has been announced as Classic Blue: How you can incorporate Classic Blue into your own home... from Homes & Gardens