Keen

There was no doubt, from the very start, that I wanted to participate in the 2024 Pantone Quilt Challenge, again hosted by Sarah @bysarahruiz and Elizabeth @elizabethkray. But I didn't really act like it, and I think real life events just played into my slowness in getting on board.

Early on, I had a bit of inspiration about a relatively simple design involving improv stripes, and once I had my Pantone swatch card in hand, I worked on an initial fabric pull - Konas Black, White, Ruby, Orchid Ice, Raisin, Terracotta, and RJR Apricot Ice, plus as I began piecing, what I think was Kona Cedar. This time around, the Pantone Peach Fuzz color is more of a team-player than the key focus, but it's what felt fun to play with this time around.

Let's just say making all the stripes took a while, there was some travel away from my sewing room, and a little lethargy once I got back. But eventually I had a quilt top, and primarily using the leftovers, I fashioned a scrappy quilt back as well.

As I began to consider a quilting plan and what thread(s) to use, I decided this wasn't a quilt where I wanted to do an overall design with one thread color. That's always good news and bad news for me. It adds a bit of stress to the project, but then again, it's fun to use a variety of threads. And in the end, I used seven - Aurifil 50wt 2420 [Light Blush], 2692 [Black], 1103 [Burgundy], 2520 [Violet], 2350 [Copper]; 40wt 6722 [Sea Biscuit]; and since it was the only thread I had that coordinated well, a spool of Aurifloss 6729 [Tangerine Dream], with which I did some hand-quilting in the peach-colored sections of the quilt.

The machine-quilting in the majority of the quilt was improv lines, back and forth, back and forth. Though time-consuming, it was what I felt I could do that would fit the design, and using all those colors added to the enjoyment of it.

Finished at 33.5" x 41.5" and bound with matched binding, I was going to name this one "Peachy Keen," but considering 'keen' is a synonym for 'peachy,' I'll just go with the one word. 

Now I guess I better head over and submit Keen for the challenge before it closes. 

Linking up with Quilting JETgirl's April Favorite Finish Linky!

Pantone Quilt Challenge Inspiration and Fabric Pull

Seems I'm having a slow start on my Pantone project this year, but I have been thinking about it. In fact I have an initial fabric pull to go along with my peach fuzz, (l-r) Konas Black, White, Ruby, Orchid Ice, Raisin, Terracotta, and RJR Apricot Ice. 

It feels unique, even to me, and was inspired by a palette I found by Artcoast Studio @artcoast on Pinterest. I kept coming back to it, so I finally just decided to try it.

Meanwhile, my design inspiration is a vintage rug I pinned from Chairish @chairishco years ago. Unfortunately I can't find it on their site anymore, so have no better credit.

I'm keeping things pretty simple (I think), as time is flying by, but I just began sewing some stripes, so we'll see where they take me.

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!

Peach Fuzz

Color me surprised! This morning, Pantone announced their Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz! 

Not what I expected at all! In fact, not on my current list of favorites by a long shot, but I see Sarah @saroy and Elizabeth @elizabethkray will be hosting the #PanroneQuiltChallenge2024 next year, and I'm game! Liking a color - or not - has never been a prerequisite to my enjoying the challenge of playing with the Pantone color.

Keeping with tradition, this will be my 13th(!) year creating with the Pantone COTY. Just for fun, here's a review of my previous Pantone-inspired creations. It's tradition!

:: Viva Magenta 2023 :: "Verve"

:: Very Peri 2022 :: "Red Cross Meets Very Peri"

:: 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"

So are you game? Like it or not, can you see yourself giving Peach Fuzz a try in the new year?