Christmas Plaid-ish Quilt

64 x 82

Sometimes we love the quilts we make and sometimes we don't. Even though this isn't my favorite Christmas quilt in the house, my husband liked it and wanted to keep it. I'm using it on our bed as an extra top because I backed it with minky fleece. It's super soft and warm!

Why don't I love it? The directions for the Plaid-ish quilt tell you to separate your fabrics into values. You can see my fabic piles of light, mid, and dark.  She mentions that this is very important, so I tried many times, moving the fabric from one pile to the next and turning the photos to black and white so I could check the value. 

I thought that I had done a good job and would get those plaid rows in my quilt. But after making the quilt, it seems the darks are not dark enough to stand out. I love this fabric line, but my quilt is a bit too busy for my taste. 

I had bought binding fabric, but my choice, the polka-dot print, didn't look good. So I found a black cross-hatch print that worked out nicely.

The quilt is growing on me and it might even make it to a spot on the couch. We'll see. Here's its spotlight photo next to the tree.

 

Christmas Table Runner

14 x 60

Our kitchen table was looking a little bare after I decorated the house for Christmas. I don't usually decorate the kitchen, but this year I put a few things on the wall by the table. So I decided to make a little gift for myself! 

 After much looking, I modified a little pattern I saw that had a border and enlarged it to fit my table. Why does it seem like it's so difficult to pick a pattern when I'm sewing for myself? Anyway, I used some leftover strips from the Christmas quilt I have yet to show you. I'm very happy with it and how it brightens up the table. 

Eyeshadow Remake

 

60" x 72"

Last month, I dove into my craft closet with the intention of tidying things up, but you know how those creative spaces can be - filled with little distractions and squirrels. While sorting through the project bins that hold some special fabric, I came across a small pile of pretty prints I had forgotten about, including a lovely blue floral piece that immediately caught my attention. It felt like it had been patiently waiting for the right project.

That discovery nudged me to pull out my patterns and flip through until something clicked. The Eyeshadow pattern stood out right away. It felt just right. It was simple and fun and I could use the backing piece I found. 

After choosing the pattern, I headed back to my main fabric bins to hunt for coordinating prints. It didn’t take long to find a few that played nicely with the blue floral, not too bold, not too quiet, just the right mix. Before long, a new quilt project was officially underway, all because a little closet-cleaning led to a spark of inspiration.

There’s something special about creating with supplies you already own. It feels resourceful, meaningful, and a bit like uncovering hidden treasure. This project reminded me that creativity doesn’t always begin by shopping for something new, even though that is incredibly fun! Sometimes it begins by rediscovering what was already there.

While that pretty blue floral was perfect for the back, it was about a half yard short to cover the whole thing. So I tested each of the prints from the front until I found two that didn't distract too much from the main print. 

If you’d like to make your own version, the Eyeshadow pattern is available in my Etsy shop. Feel free to take a look and get inspired!

Josh's T-Shirt Quilt

This is my 4th puzzle-style t-shirt quilt that I have made. I followed the directions from my blog post here.  Having the Heat Press Machine and using Inkscape to design makes this process so much easier. I highly recommend both if you're going to make more than one quilt.  

Two of his old shirts (2005 and 2006) are here at the bottom. It was so fun to reminisce about all the things he has done that are represented in this quilt.  

These two pictures each have a shirt given to him by his sisters and represent him well. Can you spot them? I backed the quilt with a black minky fleece that makes this so soft and snuggly. With the batting, it's noticeably heavy. I quilted with a gray thread, but I think next time I might try a black thread because the fleece was peeking through the stitches on the top. 

 

African Disappearing 4 Patch Quilt

On my recent trip to Kenya, I was given an African dress made by a local dress maker. It didn't fit well, but it was a full length, full skirted dress so I brought it home hoping I could do something with it. I cut the whole thing apart and found there was so much fabric. I still have well over a yard left after making this quilt. 

The fabric has a slightly shiny side and a not shiny side. I chose to put the not shiny side up. The fabric moved well under my needle and I didn't have any trouble with it. There is not give or stretch to it at all. I chose the disappearing 4 patch because this one a one fabric quilt and I've made some of these before. It did a good job of breaking up the fabric pattern, but not so much that you couldn't see it anymore.

I backed it with a navy minky fleece from Hobby Lobby. I like that it doesn't have the same stretch as the ones I used to get from Joann's, but the color wasn't as navy as I would have liked it to be. But it is a useful souvenir from our trip. I am thinking of making some pouches and maybe a rope bowl or a pillow out of the rest of the fabric. 

Scrappy Squares and Solids Fall Quilt

60" x 72"

There are always a lot of solid 2.5" strips in my solid bin, so I have been making an effort to use them this year. I saw a photo of a quilt like this on Pinterest and thought I probably have enough strips to make it. I used 8 different colors from orange to green. One color was a few blocks short, so I added an extra block of a few other colors. I don't think it made any difference.

I debated on using a golden thread, a gray one or a olive green, but I decided to go with a variegated green thread. It looks great on the top because some of the green thread is almost yellow. 

Because I no longer have access to an in person fabric store, I am really trying to use what I have on hand. So this marbled green moda fabric was the closest I could get. But with the cross hatch binding, I think it looks okay. Thought about keeping it, but my daughter says we have enough fall quilts. 

So this one is listed in my etsy shop for you!

 

Solid Squares

60" x 72"

There’s something about a rainbow quilt that instantly lifts the spirit. I recently finished a new modern throw quilt that I’m especially excited to share with you. The top is made from my stash of 2.5" leftover solid strips. I made a simple 6" square in a square block, varying the mix of colors. 

I quilted it on my longarm machine in a gentle, looping design that adds movement and softness without taking away from the bold lines of the front.

The back and binding are the same print, a soft gray with whimsical white dots, giving it a clean, yet charming look from both sides. Find it in my etsy shop. 

 

Downpour Quilt Pattern

New Quilt Pattern Release: Meet Downpour!

I'm thrilled to introduce you to Downpour, my newest quilt pattern — and a special one at that! It’s officially my 50th pattern, and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. Downpour is a versatile and eye-catching quilt that comes in four sizes: Baby, Throw, Twin, and Queen. Whether you’re sewing for a little one or creating a statement piece for your bedroom, this pattern has you covered.

What makes Downpour stand out is its flexibility. It can be made with yardage or 2.5" x 21" strips (yes, those precut strips you’ve been saving!). Instructions for both options are included in the pattern, so you can choose the method that works best for your fabric stash. For a simple and clean look, choose three coordinating fabrics plus a background. If you want something a little more playful, go for the scrappy version like I did. Just gather your 2.5" strips (they only need to be 21" long) and sort them into lights, mediums, and darks.

To highlight the feel of falling rain, I quilted Downpour with wavy lines, giving it a soft texture and movement that really brings the design to life. 

I’ve added a few mockup samples below to spark your creativity and help you imagine the possibilities. Whether you prefer a neutral background or a colorful, bold one, Downpour is the perfect quick and easy pattern.

You can find Downpour in my Etsy shop and here’s the best part: To celebrate this milestone of 50 quilt patterns, all patterns in my shop are 50% off until Friday!

Thanks for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve sewn one pattern or all 50, I’m so grateful for your support. I can’t wait to see your version of Downpour and don’t forget to tag me when you share!

Mirage Quilt

 

57 x 68

This quilt is moody in some blues, grays, and cream. It was a layer cake I've had for years that I bought when our local quilt shop went out of business. I picked this pattern called Mirage by Moonkin. It's a free pattern and she has several more to choose from.

I made mine larger by adding an extra row and a half. So instead of 6 x 7 blocks, I used 6 x 8.5. That also meant that I had to find a couple more fabrics from my stash because the layer cake wasn't enough. But the effort was well worth it. 

Introducing My New Quilt Pattern: Summer Breeze

54" x 68"

I'm excited to share my latest quilt pattern with you - Summer Breeze! This fresh and versatile design is perfect for showcasing your favorite coordinating fabrics. For my version, I made the small throw size using a cheerful palette of blue and orange. The pattern itself comes with instructions for six sizes, ranging from baby to king, so there's something for everyone.

One of my favorite things about this quilt is that you only need four coordinating fabrics plus a background fabric. I had a playful orange-on-white print that I was eager to use, and I paired it with a medium-dark blue, a medium blue print, and a more muted orange dot. This citrusy palette has definitely become a go-to for me lately!

To help spark your creativity, I’ve also mocked up a few sample versions in different colorways. Hopefully, these will give you some inspiration as you plan your own version of Summer Breeze. 

You can find the Summer Breeze quilt pattern in my Etsy shop. I can't wait to see what you make with it!

Luke's Jean Quilt

Finally finished Luke's jean quilt. Still have 5 to go. I don't mind sewing them, but cutting the jeans out seems like it takes forever. So I always choose something else to work on. Luke loves gray so I added some grayish looking jeans to the blue ones and chose a gray minky dot for the back. Note to self: get the non dot minky next time - I like it better. And always use batting! (Just in case I forget.)

Then I had it in my mind that I absolutley had to custom quilt it....but finally talked myself out of it and did an overall meander just so I could get it done. It turned out just fine! And it was so much faster. 

Three kids down and only 5 to go! (And then one for me.)