This stack from Fresh Modern Fabric is my last batch of fabric stash enhancements sourced during my trip to America. As you can see, it’s a right rainbow of basics or, as I like to call them, helpful fabrics. Helpful fabrics are those one-color wonders which work like solids but with more added interest. They’re endlessly versatile and make great scrap quilts too.
Read MoreThis month in the Dutch circle of the do. Good Stitches quilting bee, we are sewing string blocks for our collaborative charity quilt. The block style comes from the book Why We Quilt by Thomas Knauer. Fun, straightforward and definitely scrap-friendly!
Read MoreBefore I arrange my hexagons on the design wall, I sew on the triangle bits so that the background fabric can play its roll. This pattern is entirely machine sewn without any tricky y-seams! Come see my progress and process for color and value.
Read MoreHere are two different palette stacks. Fun, fun! In each I have combined showy Quilt Sandwich fabrics with helpful fabrics from my stash. That’s how I often start a quilt. I use a colorful inspiration print to anchor the palette and then pull supporting prints from my stash for variety of color tones and style.
Read MoreAfter so much planning, it is fantastic to actually cut into cloth. Here I have arranged my hexagons over the blues, and the fabrics are singing to me! I am sure I will tweak some things (maybe less red), but this feels like the right direction after all.
Read MoreA diploma for swimming? You might be asked if your child has one if you take her swimming in The Netherlands! Why all the fuss, and what does this mean to Dutch people? Let’s take a stab at this rite of passage for Dutch children.
Read MoreI would love to hang a quilt in my living room that adds warmth and artistry to our space. But, designing a quilt for this task is intimidating! Where to even begin? These are some questions to consider: environment, style, color, format + finishing.
Read MoreAt last, they are finished! Two rainbow patchwork duvet covers are ready to be loved and cuddled. I made two of them, since duvets need to be washed much more than quilts. How about some construction notes?
Read MoreHip, hip, hoorah! | did it! I completed my personal 30 Days of Quilt Design and now I have an exciting collection of designs which I look forward to creating in cloth. It was a stretch for me, but I am glad that I invested my time in this challenge over the last few months.
Read MoreWeaving together my life as a maker and other spheres of life: Best of September, experimenting with a patchwork duvet cover, sharing a free beginner's quilt project, celebrating Positivities and anticipating sewing a wall quilt!
Read MoreThis month’s lead quilter asked for Scrap Bin Geese, free tutorial by Andy Knowles of A Bright Corner. While a fairly straightforward block, it is made up of lots of small pieces. As such, it is indeed a scrap bin sort of project. Just my kind!
Read MoreI love sewing curves. I used to be terrified of them. Then when I learned the ins and outs, I felt empowered; however, it was still a high-focus endeavor to piece patchwork curves. Now I feel both relaxed and engaged when I sew this type of patchwork. It requires more attention than straight lines, but the payoff is so cool!
Read MoreDo you remember my blog post The Colors I Need? In it I highlighted the colors that I am missing in my fabric stash. When colors are missing, I feel like a painter without the right paint. Luckily The Confident Stitch was able to help me with some of my target colors!
Read MoreDo you know what? I am finally making quilt ideas regularly enough that it all begins to flow and comes much easier. Making clear goals was necessary. Now I am finally nearing the end of the challenge and can look back with gratitude at all the ideas that I have generated. Yay!
Read MoreYesterday was the first time that I sewed a garment without taking any measurements or following any directions. It was just a skirt, a really simple one, but that felt good! With my leftover Rosette rayon fabric from The Confident Stitch, I sewed an easy-peasy, elastic waist skirt. I could have made it shorter, but I had the feeling that Elora would find the extra length charming, and she did!
Read MoreSunshowers block no. 2 was this beauty on a Speckled Sunstone Metallic background. Wow, that Speckled fabric really makes it special! I followed the lead of the colors splattered across the background print when choosing my arch colors. I love, love, love the atypical rainbow effect. Hopefully Elora will like it too!
Read MoreHappy Friday! I have been making a ton of progress on my personal 30 Days of Quilt Design challenge. I think that I am really getting the hang of designing with PreQuilt! Come see my latest designs; plus, WIN A PRIZE FROM PreQuilt!
Read MoreTa da! My first cheery Sunshower’s rainbow block! I used two different background fabrics: Tarrytown Holepunch Dot Orchid and a Tilda Basics tiny star print. I was wondering if two backgrounds would look strange, but I like the effect. For my arches I have a red strawberry Heather Ross print, a golden yellow tone on tone print and two solids from the Ruby + Bee collection.
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