There is something about the beginning of a new month that always feels full of possibility, and July is no exception.
This month we are collaborating with Belle Brunner of Seams Sew Me, and the collection she is bringing to the challenge is called Always, designed for Benartex. And from the moment we discovered this collection, we knew July was going to be something special.
But before we dive in, congratulations to lealovie, winner of our June Challenge! Her mock-up of Kanak by Tessellate Textiles was randomly selected from all the entries on the Wall and she will receive a Gingerbread Lane Fat Quarter Bundle sponsored by Kiley's Quilt Room. Well deserved!
And now, are you ready to explore Always?
Let's begin.
ALWAYS PALETTE
Always is a timeless, romantic fabric collection that celebrates love in all its stages, from the excitement of something new to the quiet warmth of something that has grown and deepened over the years. Belle designed it inspired by the love she shares with her own husband, and that personal connection shows in every print. Soft florals, shimmering textures, gentle words of affection, and modern wedding motifs come together in a palette that feels tender, graceful, and quietly joyful.
It is a collection made for wedding quilts, bridal heirlooms, anniversary gifts, and all the projects we make for the people who matter most. But remove the wedding prints and what remains is a beautiful mix of soft florals and delicate textures that work far beyond celebrations, perfect for anything that calls for something gentle and meaningful.
As Belle herself says: Always is more than fabric. It's love, forever unfolding.
MEET BELLE
Belle Brunner is the designer and pattern maker behind Seams Sew Me, and her story is one of those that makes you want to pick up a needle and thread immediately.
She came to quilting in 2020, at 45, in the middle of the pandemic, completely self-taught through YouTube and a lot of patience. Within a year she had completed a pattern writing course, and not long after that her patterns were being carried by four major distributors.
Always is her second fabric collection for Benartex, and it is already a beautiful statement of who she is as a designer.
Beyond patterns and fabric, she also runs a retreat center in the Arkansas Ouachita National Forest, where quilters can gather, sew, and spend time in a genuinely beautiful place. And on top of all of that, she offers leadership and governance training for quilt guilds, because for Belle, quilting has always been about community as much as craft.
She is a Benartex fabric designer, an Aurifil Artisan, and has taught at the International Quilt Festival in Houston and the American Quilting Society's QuiltWeek. She also shares her quilting journey on YouTube through her channel Thread Life With Belle, where she brings her creative process even closer to the quilting community. If you don't know her work yet, this challenge is a wonderful place to start.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
- Go to www.quiltink.com and sign in or create your free account.
- Choose a pattern from the main page.
- Color the pattern using the July Challenge palette: Always.
- Share your mock-up on the QuiltInk Wall.
- Want extra chances to win?
- For 2 extra entries, create a post or story on Instagram mentioning @quilt_ink and @seams_sew_me and, @benartex_fabrics and tagging #QuiltInkChallengeJul26.
PRIZE
One lucky quilter will win a Fat Quarter Bundle from the Always fabric collection, generously sponsored by Benartex.
On August 1st, we will randomly select 1 mock-up from all the entries shared on the Wall using the July Challenge collection. The more mock-ups you create, the more chances you have to win.
This giveaway is open internationally. Participants must be at least 18 years old.
This giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram. Participants release Instagram of any responsibility and agree to Instagram's terms of use.
NEED SOME INSPIRATION?
Here are some examples of quilt patterns colored with the Always collection in QuiltInk. Aren't they beautiful?
- Chaos Cabin by Pine State Stitches
- Asbury by Hello Mieko Handmade
- Dueling Diamonds by Belle of Seams Sew Me
Remember that by filtering the mock-ups in the QuiltInk Wall, you'll be able to browse all the challenge entries as they are submitted throughout the month.
CHECK THE FABRICS
Take a look at all the fabrics included in the Always fabric collection, along with the names of each print. ¡
The palette on QuiltInk also includes 8 additional solid colors, hand-picked by Belle from the Superior Solids collection by Benartex to coordinate perfectly with Always, giving you even more possibilities when planning your quilt colors.
We can't wait to see what you create with Always. Head over to quiltink.com, pick a pattern, and start exploring this beautiful collection. Every mock-up you share on the Wall is a chance to win the Fat Quarter Bundle, and more importantly, a chance to discover just how beautiful your next quilt could be.
Happy coloring! 💛
