A Year in the Life of a Benartex Ambassador
- Jen Wagner
- 2 days ago
- 12 min read
When Rachel Rossi walked into my booth at International Quilt Market in Houston, I had no idea my whole year was about to change. Rachel’s easygoing personality and contagious love for quilting instantly lit up the space and we were soon chatting about her very first fabric line, Bee Haven. She headed over to the Benartex booth to grab the lookbook—only she didn’t come back alone. Beside her stood Maria Elena, the Marketing Director at Benartex. Maria took one look around my booth, turned to me, looked me straight in the eyes, and said, “I need you to be a Benartex Ambassador.” I didn’t know what that really meant… but I knew one thing: I was absolutely thrilled.
Becoming a Benartex Ambassador opened the door to one of the most creatively fulfilling years of my life. From the moment I joined the team, opportunities seemed to unfold faster than I could say “fabric!” This year with Benartex, I stepped onto stage at QuiltCon, participated in meet-and-greets, presented at Schoolhouse for Quilt Market, designed and stitched up eleven full projects using Benartex collections—most of which became brand-new quilt patterns—and even took many of my existing quilt patterns and recolored them for their lookbooks and website. And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, I was featured in The Fat Quarterly Magazine four times. It’s been a whirlwind… in the best way.
Publication 1 - Spring 2025 Fat Quarterly Magazine
Getting published for the first time was an absolute thrill—but finding out that my project was going to be featured on the cover? That was the cherry, sprinkles, and hot fudge on top. Fenced In is a design with deep roots for me. I sketched it out years ago when my friend Ashley and I began writing a quilt pattern book together. Life—being life—got in the way, and we never completed the book, but that little sketch became the seed that got me to start writing down my ideas. So seeing this design come full circle and land in a publication felt like the sweetest kind of déjà vu.
Because the Fat Quarterly Magazine always includes 5" precut squares of a new Benartex fabric line, I resized the original blocks to create a table runner that uses those precuts perfectly. For this issue—Spring 2025—the cheerful florals of Blooming Color 2 were featured and I loved it so much that I kitted it out, including the binding and backing. And now, when you purchase the Fenced In pattern (digital download or physical copy), you’ll get the digital table-runner add-on included.
A brand-new feature for the Fat Quarterly is a virtual YouTube episode, Swatch & Learn, released with each issue, where subscribers get to join live, ask questions, and chat with the featured artists. I had the best time talking about this project with subscribers and the Benartex team—and if you missed the live session, don’t worry. The replay is now available for everyone to watch.
Publication 2 - Summer 2025 Fat Quarterly Magazine
Each edition of The Fat Quarterly includes a feature called Quilt Block Remix, and for the Summer 2025 issue, they selected one of my lifelong favorites: the classic rail fence block. This block holds a special place in my heart—it was one of the very first quilt blocks I ever stitched! I’ve always loved its simplicity and the way those little strips create such beautiful movement across a quilt.
For my block remix, I decided to shake things up a bit. I split each section of the rail fence at a 45° angle, creating a playful pinwheel spinning at the center of each block—and when the blocks come together, a second pinwheel appears. The gorgeous flowers and butterflies from the A Prairie Heart fabric line by Katie Daisy give the block a fresh, breezy charm—like taking a walk through a summer meadow.
Publication 3 - Fall 2025 Fat Quarterly Magazine
Who can resist a little shimmer? The Fall 2025 edition of The Fat Quarterly practically glows off the page with two dazzling fabric lines: Fluidity, with its elegant handwritten script, and Marbled Earth, both kissed with metallic gold. The moment I saw them, I knew exactly what they needed—even more sparkle. So I paired them with Precious Metals: Gold Rush to turn the shimmer all the way up.
Since Mini Moons has become my best-selling quilt pattern—and it happens to use 5" precuts—it was the perfect candidate when Lisa Ruble, editor and fabric designer, reached out and asked me to create a pillow for the issue. The pattern includes fourteen different layout options but for The Fat Quarterly, I wanted something fresh. So I rotated my blocks into a brand-new layout: a bold diagonal diamond that shines thanks to the dramatic contrast between the black Fluidity print and the luminous Precious Metals. It’s classic Mini Moons… but dressed up for a night out.
Curious how I get those perfectly smooth circles? I shared the full technique in the Fall Swatch & Learn episode and on the Snapdragon Quilting YouTube Channel.
Publication 4 - Winter 2026 Fat Quarterly Magazine
I’ll be featured again — this time with a brand-new Quilt Block Remix! I can’t reveal the block just yet but if you're a subscriber, you'll get it first! (Ships out December 2025) But I can tell you that it features a dynamic twist on a traditional design using Rob Appell’s bold new fabric line, Ground Works. If you’ve ever seen Rob’s work, you already know his prints are full of energy, geometry, and personality—which made them perfect for a modern block remix.
Ambassador Projects
Yes, having Benartex champion my patterns and help quilters get to know my brand has been incredible… but can we take a moment to appreciate the biggest perk of all?
They send me fabric - gorgeous, fresh-off-the-press fabric that shows up at my door like happy mail with a return address from heaven. If you’re a quilter, you get it. It never stops being thrilling.
When I became a Benartex Ambassador, I committed to creating six projects using their newest fabric lines. The process was both organized and fun: all the ambassadors received a list of fabric options, submitted our top three choices, and then found out which line we were assigned. This system made sure that all the new fabrics were showcased without any overlap between ambassador projects. Some projects came with specific requirements, while others gave complete creative freedom. But here’s the thing—Benartex didn’t stop at six opportunities. Every time they asked if I wanted to take on another project, I said yes without hesitation. I mean… how could I possibly say no to more fabric and more creative play?
Project 1 - Bouncing By Quilt Pattern in Bee Haven by Rachel Rossi
I had already written this quilt pattern before I met Rachel Rossi at Quilt Market, but the moment I saw her Bee Haven collection, I knew these big curves were the perfect way to highlight her gorgeous prints. At first, I worried the all-curve design might intimidate quilters—but this year proved something wonderful: quilters are ready for curves and many of you have told me that my patterns, youtube tutorials, and classes helped make curved piecing feel approachable and fun.
This quilt is absolutely doable. It’s made from just one block, with big, gentle pieces that cut out beautifully using the Clammy ruler. The response has been incredible! The pattern and kits flew off the shelves so quickly that we are sold out of kits— this fabric line is not being reprinted (despite my pleading).
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern and see more inspiration photos here:
Project 2 - Home Run Quilt Pattern in Whisper Weave by Nancy Halverson
This project was a special collaboration—all the Benartex ambassadors were challenged to create a quilt using a solid-appearing or basics fabric line and donate it to a charity of our choice. For me, using all 25 colors of Whisper Weave to create an ombré version of my Home Run quilt felt like a natural fit. This quilt tells my love story—finding Maverick, a man who treats me with unwavering respect and kindness, at a time when I thought I’d never trust again.
It felt only right to donate this quilt and the many others made by the Las Vegas Modern Quilt guild members to SafeNest, a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. I hope it brings comfort, warmth, and a gentle reminder that even the darkest days eventually give way to light, to someone who needs it most.
Home Run Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Physical Copy. Home Run Quilt Kit available.
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern and see more inspiration photos here:
Project 3 - Squarely Modern Quilt Pattern in Dazzle Dots 2 by Christa Watson
Christa Watson lives here in Las Vegas, NV too so it was such a treat to see her fabric on my list of choices. Naturally, it went straight to the top of my list and I was thrilled when it was assigned to me! She even joined me for a live box-opening event with the Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild, which made it even more special.
This fabric line has that wonderful solid-appearing charm, so I wanted a clean, modern design. I used straight seams, square blocks, and square accents to reflect the square dots in the prints and arranged the accent squares in a subtle circular motion reflecting the circular dots in the prints. I also designed this new pattern to be fast. The twin-sized version can be cut out in under an hour using the Stripology ruler. Add a little chain piecing and—bam!—you’ve got an instant quilt… well, almost instant.
Squarely Modern Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Physical Copy
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern and see more inspiration photos here:
Project 4 - Mini Moons Quilt in Botanica by Amanda Murphy
Since I was demonstrating my reverse appliqué method for Mini Moons in the Oliso booth at QuiltCon and doing meet & greets in the Benartex booth, I decided to stitch up a fresh version using Benartex fabrics—specifically the lush, vibrant Botanica collection by Amanda Murphy. This little quilt ended up doing double duty, spending time in both booths throughout the show and catching plenty of attention along the way.
We stumbled on the perfect photo spot just south of Phoenix. Let’s just say Botanica absolutely glowed in that desert sunshine. 🌵✨
Mini Moons Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Physical Copy. Mini Moons Quilt Kits available.
Project 5 - Salty Foxling Quilt Pattern in Tiny Secrets by Pat Sloan
The name of this quilt pattern may be a little whimsical, but there’s a sweet story behind it. Wanting to showcase every inch of these beautiful prints without breaking them up, I designed this quilt to be constructed more like a double wedding ring rather than traditional blocks. It looked a bit like swiss cheese as it was coming together.
Having a solid appearing white background gave me the perfect canvas to play with the quilting. I echoed the florals from the prints right into the border, letting the pieced circle design flow all the way to the edge.
Salty Foxling Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Printed.
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern and see more inspiration photos here:
Project 6 - Poppy Louise Quilt Pattern in Modern Vintage: Treasured by Rachel Rossi This quilt will forever have a special place in my heart because it’s the one that got me monetized on YouTube. These days, making videos is like trying to find your fabric scissors mid project - there's so much going on that they become hard to find. Not only does content have to be filmed and edited well - it has to be clever and even a little bit magical to be discovered.
I’m obsessed with the freezer-paper reverse appliqué method I use in my Mini Moons pattern—it makes curves so smooth, easy, and accurate! I’ve played with it for years but to make the curves in Poppy Louise work, I had to push the technique even further.
And then it happened: a true light-bulb moment. 💡✨
I developed a modification of the method that I now call Ghost Stitch Appliqué.
I filmed the process, uploaded it to YouTube… and WOW. My followers tripled, the views started snowballing faster than a fabric stash during a shop hop, and suddenly—I was officially monetized. Cue the happy dance and the confetti! But here’s the real heart of it: it’s not just about getting paid by YouTube. It’s a milestone that took real work—and it’s one that will continue to fuel and grow my channel and my reach online in a big way.
👉 See the YouTube tutorial here:
But Poppy Louise didn’t stop there. Being a Benartex Ambassador also gave this pattern some amazing exposure—I was thrilled to have it featured in a blog hop with Rachel Rossi and showcased in a virtual fabric show with Benartex.
Poppy Louise Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Printed. Poppy Louise Quilt Kit available.
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern and see more inspiration photos here:
Project 7 - Midnight Hex Quilt Pattern in Spellbound by Marin Sutton
The fall assignment from Benartex came with a mix of autumn and holiday fabric options. I LOVE Halloween but I had originally designed this quilt in Christmas colors. When I saw the Spellbound line, I knew it would give Midnight Hex a whole new personality. Those “skull plants” in the border print immediately caught my eye—they’re so stinkin' cute and full of character.
As I was sewing on the border, I realized that the "skull plants" were laid out in rows and that they could easily be turned into the perfect edge-to-edge quilting design. To make it really pop, I used light colored thread and solid black fabric on the back, letting the free-motion stitching shine against that dark canvas. From the front, the quilting adds lovely texture… but flip it over, and it’s a secret little Halloween surprise. 🎃🖤
Midnight Hex Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Printed.
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern, details of construction, and more inspiration photos here:
Project 8 - Riley Michelle Quilt Pattern in Go With the Flow by Ann Lauer
The final new quilt pattern I created this year is Riley Michelle, named in honor of my oldest as she nears graduation from UNR and prepares to become a registered nurse! This project assignment required the use of precuts and since my favorite is a 5" x 5" pack, I started there. Playing again with my reverse appliqué method from Mini Moons, Riley Michelle came to life—bold, flowing, and fun to make.
But this quilt brought more than a beautiful new design—it sparked a whole new product for my business: Heavy-Duty Laser-Cut Freezer Paper Templates. Five of my patterns now use variations of the freezer-paper appliqué method (Mini Moons, Pamela Mae, Groovy, Poppy Louise, and Riley Michelle) and it finally made sense to offer ready-to-use precut templates. So I invested in a laser cutter, created all the files, and even trained a new team member to cut them—just for you!
Riley Michelle Quilt Pattern - Digital Download or Printed. Riley Michelle Quilt Kit available to pre-order (expected to ship on December 20, 2025).
👉 Read the story behind the creation of this pattern and see more inspiration photos here:
Project 9 - Hexagon Coasters & Ornaments for Harry Potter Week
This quick little project was such a blast! Benartex was looking for easy projects to showcase their new Harry Potter fabrics and since I love incorporating hexagons into my designs (think All Together Now, Midnight Hex, Hexagon Earrings, Striped Hexi’s, Equilateral Gone Awry, Nuts About You), a hexagon coaster felt like the perfect fit.
With the holidays right around the corner, these coasters also make adorable fabric ornaments. I’m dreaming of making some stuffed with fiberfill or even jazzing a few up with beads and metallic thread. The basic version is already cute as can be but there’s so much room to get creative! If you make any, please send me photos—I love seeing how you put your own spin on a project.
And the best part? The pattern is completely free—just scroll to the top and click the Free Pattern button. I’ve also got a free video tutorial to walk you through it step-by-step here.
Design Calls
Benartex showcases their fabric lines through quilt patterns on their website, in publications, and in lookbooks. As an ambassador, this gave me another exciting way to get my patterns in front of quilt shop owners and grow the wholesale side of my business—by digitally recreating my quilts in different fabrics and having Benartex market them.
Working digitally is always a bit of a challenge. No matter how much time I spend on a mockup, it can’t truly capture the depth, color, and texture of real fabric. I often find myself wishing I could make and photograph each quilt for real—especially this version of Groovy! But as you know, quilting takes time, and unfortunately, my digital versions will have to do… at least for now.
Which of these is your favorite? Let me know in the comments and I'll do my best to kit it for you!
Groovy in Blooming color: Harmony by Wolff Paper & Superior Solids
Pamela Mae in Go with the Flow by Ann Lauer
Mini Moons in Black, White, & Bloom by Wolff Paper
Bouncing By in Seaside Garden by Shelley Cavanna
Squarely Modern in NCAA-Nevada Reno by Skyel Studio
Broken Moons in Ghostly Soiree by Nicole Decamp
Exploding Peppermints in Magical Season by Katie Daisy
Bouncing By in Into the Meadow
Poppy Louise in 12 Days of Christmas by Nancy Halvorsen
Mini Moons in Garden of Affection and Superior Solids
Squarely Modern in Harry Potter by Warner Brothers
What's Next
While I can't reveal everything that's in the works quite yet, I’m thrilled to share a sneak peek of some of what’s coming...
Benartex just added 50 new colors to their Superior Solids and I’m putting together a brand-new quilt pattern to showcase this vibrant line. While typically I quilt my own quilts, I'm pairing up with award winning longarmer Vicki Rubel of Orchid Owl Quilts. She will be quilting this one! Her free motion custom work is AMAZING and I am so excited about this collaboration. The quilt will debut and be featured in the Benartex booth at QuiltCon 2026. I can’t wait for you all to see it in person.
On top of that, Benartex is launching a new program called BenartExperts, where I’ll continue working with Benartex in ways similar to my Ambassador year—creating patterns, sharing projects, and connecting with quilters worldwide.
It’s an exciting time and I feel so lucky to get to keep designing, experimenting, and sharing my love of quilting with all of you. Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come!
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