Do I have a treat for you! Especially if you’re making the Penny Sampler, you’re going to love, love, love this.

Are you sitting? I think you should sit.

One member of the Penny Sampler Pattern Club was inspired to make a garden-version of this modern sampler. She would keep the basic structure of the Penny Sampler, but swap out some blocks for ideas of her own to emphasize the garden theme.

Garden Penny Sampler quilt. Stitched in Color.jpg

This absolutely amazing quilt was made by Heike Räsch-Mimler. The watering can is the first block that she made from her own imagination. Once she realized she would create her own paper piecing patterns, she just couldn’t stop!

Heike decided to send the quilt to me for custom quilting. When I opened the box I was truly stunned. Maybe she should be teaching the class! For sure, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to see her artwork in person and quilt it. So, so fun!

Crosshatch sashing. Stitched in Color.jpg

Heike and I discussed a few quilting ideas, but mostly she allowed me to follow my muse. She likes angular quilting and picked out the Rice Paddy quilting pattern as a favorite natural shape. She said that the Penny Patchwork sashing was a garden fence, in her imagination, so I chose a crosshatch texture for that part of the quilt.

Garden Penny Sampler contrast. Stitched in Color.jpg

Implementing the crosshatch quilting on the sashing was the most technically difficult part of this custom quilt work. It had to be continuous over large distances and line up where the sashing intersects. It was tricky, but I love the impact. The density of the crosshatch creates a frame that compliments the blocks beautifully.

Garden Penny Sampler, top left corner. Stitched in Color.jpg

Heike made several clever changes to the Penny Sampler blocks, but my very favorite is the way she transformed the hanging diamonds into hanging flowers. With just a few criss-crosses of green fabric at the top of each diamond, she created such a lovely effect. I quilted that area of the quilt with vertical Rice Paddy texture to emphasize the downward-direction of the patchwork.

Garden Penny Sampler sunshine. Stitched in Color.jpg

Can you spy the sun? Before getting started, I asked Heike to identify a few blocks that were her favorite. Such a hard thing to ask on a sampler quilt, right? But I wanted to make sure to give her favorite blocks the star treatment. When she said that the Courthouse Steps was the sun of her garden, I heartily agreed.

Garden Penny Sampler left corner. Stitched in Color.jpg

Well, I think you can tell that I had as much fun with the quilting as Heike had with the sewing. Some of her innovative blocks, like that orange flower (above right) make me a little jealous that I didn’t think of the idea myself. Haha. But mostly, just really blessed to get to be a part of this quilt’s story!

Thanks so much, Heike!

I do have a bunch more quilts I wanted to show you, but this blog post is already getting long. Let’s end with a quick look at two Irish Chain quilts.

I shared the start of this one earlier, and one reader asked to see a finished shot:

Vintage Feather Double Irish Chain quilting.jpg

that’s by Shanda D. in the UK. I call the quilting Vintage Feathers, a combination of patterns that suits the aesthetic of this quilt.

Today I also finished a double Irish Chain quilt for one of my best new clients, Primrose B. of Germany:

Double Irish Chain celtic quilting. Stitched in Color.jpg

She found this Celtic-inspired pattern set, created by Tammy Oberlin. In combination with a feathered cable border, it really dresses up the finished patchwork.

Yep, lots more custom quilting happening these days. Next on the docket is my very own After the Rain. Yippee!