Ahh, the -Ber months! Not much BRRR from cold here in the deseert southwest, but everything seems a little more cheerful as we celebrate the holidays and I certainly enjoy the smell of pumpkin spice and apple cider. The changing calendar also brings another fall event, Inktober. In this annual online event, artists follow a series of prompts to create something new each day in October. I don’t know who the official leader is, so I developed my own challenge. What better tool to use for this event than QuiltInk, right?!?

Challenge Parameters

The challenge I set for myself during Inktober is to design a quilt each day with a new color palette. QuiltInk makes this a simple process with their wide selection of designer colors, including Confetti Cottons from Riley Blake, to Cherrywood hand-dyes to Kona Cotton and Tula Pink.

Each day, I will feature a new color palette on QuiltInk for my quilted table runner, Favorite Stars. You can join the challenge by coloring your own version of my pattern, or choose one of the other fabulous designs available on the site. If you’d rather play with fabric, purchase the digital pattern at less then half price in October 2025 with the coupon code “inky” and start sewing!

Join the Fun

Here is a free printable calendar that details my palette ideas for our celebration of color during Inktober 2025. Print your own copy to play along, or search Instagram for additional ideas. I’m sure the variety of art (drawings, paintings, zentangles) that is featured will inspire you in many ways. I will be sharing my quilt color palette each day in a short YouTube video. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a day!

Day 1 Inktober Kickoff is an introduction to the QuiltInk website. Leave a comment telling us how you like to preview a quilt design and color palette. Are you a fan of paper and ink or do you have a favorite online tool or software such as EQ8? Please share your process!

Get Happy during Inktober

We’re all busy, and the pace of life seems to accelerate in these -Ber months. So why add something else, like a daily coloring activity, to your already full schedule? Here are some of the benefits to a creative practice:

• Stress Reduction – Slowing down and taking some time for yourself lowers stress and gives you a dopamine hit. We all need more joy in our lives and these few minutes of coloring will lower your heart rate and allow you time to relax.
• Mental clarity – By focusing on a simple task like coloring, you can slow those racing thoughts and your subconcious goes to work. You might be surprised at the insights you find – answers to unrelated problems may surface when you are engaged in creative pursuits.
• Inspiration – Rather than being limited by the rules of a challenge, you may find an abundance of ideas when you follow a design prompt such as Inktober. If you have been suffering from a loss of “sew-jo”, starting a daily creative practice may kickstart your creativity.

Whatever the reason, I’m glad to have you along for our journey to make the world a more beautiful place this Inktober!