2021 Color Challenge: January

Happy New Year, welcome to Quilt 2 End ALZ and the 2021 Color Challenge block of the month!

Who…

I am Ashli Montgomery, a wife and momma, an author, designer, and speaker sharing quilting, Alzheimer’s information, yoga, books, and all my favorite things.

Quilt 2 End ALZ, Inc. is my 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects quilters with the fight to end Alzheimer’s disease.

January 21, 2021 marks our 2nd birthday, and I absolutely love how Q2EA is growing and developing as we go. Spearheading this community is an honor!

When I dreamed up this endeavor, I decided to set a theme for each year, something to whittle down the infinite quilt ideas that run amuck in my head.

Our theme in 2019 was Year of the Log Cabin, and 2020 was Sofa Snugglers.

This year I’m intentionally taking time to notice and enjoy how color makes our world more beautiful.

What…

One fun project I’m tackling is the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen Shaffer.

I’ve signed on to “officially” blog about the January and February blocks, but I love the concept and Jen’s block designs so much that I decided I am “in for a penny, in for a pound” so I’m doing them all.

When…

On the first day of each month throughout 2021, a group of quilters will share their finished blocks on their own blog sites, and we will be sure to include a link to Jen’s website – Patterns by Jen – for you to download the block instructions. (They are free for that month and $1 per download after the feature month, so be sure to click over in a timely manner.)

Each month highlights a different color that is inspired by a different fruit or vegetable.

As an added bonus, the bloggers are also sharing fun recipes that coordinate with each color. (In addition to hoarding beautiful fabrics and fabulous books, I love collecting recipes, so I will definitely be taking a look at those!)

Where…

You can bookmark the Q2EA blog to come back here for the new links or subscribe to our Q2EA newsletter to receive the information in an email. I will also share my progress on my personal blog: Me and Coach.

Here is a list of my fellow January bloggers so you can visit their pages and check out their blocks:

• Raylee Bielenberg
• Kathy Bruckman
• Anja Clyke
• Crystal Drummond
• Jen Frost
• Joanne Hubbard
• Jen Shaffer
• Andi Stanfield
• Wendy Tuma

How…

The instructions come with patterns for both 6″ and 12″ finished blocks; I chose to do the 12″ squares.

At the end of the year, Jen will share a layout to complete the 12-block topper including sashing. Using her layout, the 6″ blocks result in a 35″ x 45″ finished quilt, and the 12″ blocks result in a 54″ x 69″ finished quilt. Jen has the fabric requirements needed for her layouts on her blog.

I have designed my own layout to create an 87″ x 104″ finished quilt which is a large double or regular queen.

My layout uses multiple blocks of each pattern and is supplemented with a few extra block designs. It also sets the color blocks on-point which is something I’ve never done before but have been very eager to try!

I’m tackling my fabric stash with this project, so all my color blocks will be scrappy. I’m using 2 yards of plain, white background fabric for the triangles created when I set the blocks on-point. Lastly, I’ve set aside 1/2 yard of a soft, blue denim – also from my stash – to use for binding.

The Color Purple

Purple is the trademark color of Alzheimer’s awareness, it’s the color I was already planning to highlight as my first color of 2021, and it (officially “Eggplant”) just happens to be Jen’s first choice for the Monthly Color Challenge.

Her highlighted pattern for this month is a cute and twirly pinwheel:

It sews together nicely, and the instructions are very easy to follow!

Here are the four I made:

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To finish off the purple row for my topper, I’m using 5 purple log cabins.

These are community blocks donated to Q2EA as part of our 2019 TLD Pattern which supports our team for the Alzheimer’s Association “Longest Day” Campaign:

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Here is my finished row, shown in two parts because it is quite long:

You can see in the diagram of the topper above, this completes one of the long diagonal strips. I think it will be a gorgeous anchor for my rainbow of hues.

I hope you’ll join me in the 2021 Monthly Color Challenge, and I’d love to see your color blocks!

Please use #2021monthlycolorchallenge and tag @quilt2endalz when posting your works-in-progress and finished quilts on social media.

I’m already looking forward to next month’s block in my very favorite color: Yellow 💛

With love and hugs,

Ashli

PS: Yikes – I almost forgot my purple recipe!

My mom’s favorite fruit cobbler just happens to be blackberry which isn’t eggplant, but very close in color, so here is a link to my Super Simple Blackberry Cobbler (best served with our family’s homemade vanilla ice cream). Enjoy!!

1st Quarter Color Challenge Sponsors

I’d like to extend a big thank you to our sponsors who have donated tons of fun prizes!

• Appliques, Quilts and More
• Bea Quilter
• Benartex
• Cherrywood Fabrics
• Daybrook Designs
• Designs by Sarah J
• Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio
• Love to Color My World
• Patterns by Jen
• Quilters Dream Batting
• The Warm Company

When you hop over to Jen’s blog to download this month’s pattern, take a look at the gift list and read through the instructions to enter for your chance to win. Good luck!!