Hands-down one of the most rewarding (and fun) projects I've done was this collaboration with QuiltInk for their anniversary challenge. If you haven’t heard of QuiltInk, it’s an awesome site where quilters can digitally mock-up quilt designs using curated fabric palettes (PreQuilt is another site like this). And while the only fabric options used to be quilting cotton, now you can mock-up your quilts with denim!
It's really amazing that Catalina, the owner, wanted to make the anniversary challenge all about sustainability and upcycling, and I was so happy I could help!
Curating the Denim Palette
I put together a special denim palette for this challenge—33 different shades and textures, from light to dark washes, plus some fun distressed and tie-dye effects. I knew I had to use pictures of actual jeans because different shades of blue just don't work to represent denim.
The goal was to make it as realistic as possible so you can get a feel for how jeans could work in a quilt.
Denim can seem tricky to work with at first, but it’s also super versatile, durable, and gives quilts an incredible texture.
Why This Challenge Means So Much to Me
This project was really rewarding for me because my goal with Sewing through Fog has always been to make quilting with Jeans more accessible. I know denim can seem tricky to work with at first, but it’s also super versatile, durable, and gives quilts an incredible texture. I want to help more people feel comfortable using it, and that’s why I created my Quilt Your Jeans class, which walks you through turning old jeans into mini quilts. As part of this challenge, QuiltInk is giving away access to the class, which I’m really excited about!
How You Can Join the Fun
If you want to join in, it’s easy! Just head to www.quiltink.com, pick a pattern, and use my denim palette to color your design. Each mock-up you create is an entry to win the class, and if you share on Instagram with #QuiltInkChallengeFeb25, you get extra entries.
I can’t wait to see what you all create! Whether you’ve worked with denim before or this is your first time, I hope this challenge inspires you.
