Call Me Miss October

That's right, "Miss October!"  I'm a calendar girl again!  Don't worry, I'm not that kind of calendar girl -- can't quite pull that off -- but I am the kind of girl with a quilt in a calendar.

It's American Patchwork & Quilting's 2016 Calendar, to be specific, and it is gorgeous!  The calendar features 12 beautifully photographed projects that range in size from a sweet little Easter table mat, to full-size bed quilts.  

And here's my quilt, "Glow in the Dark."

"Glow in the Dark" is a scrappy Halloween quilt that looks great hanging on a wall or displayed on a table.

This quilt is one of my all time favorites.  I especially love how the variety of orange and purple fabrics seem to sparkle in contrast with the black.

And while the quilt is 30" x 30", the small pinwheel, star, and shoofly blocks give it a charming, miniaturesque feel.  By the way, if "miniaturesque" is not a word, it should be!

If you'd like to make your own version of "Glow in the Dark," American Patchwork & Quilting's 2016 Calendar is now available online through the Meredith Store.  Detailed instructions and patterns for all of the quilts are included in a full-size and full-color supplement.

Happy quilting and Happy Halloween!

Apron Strings - Free Charm Pack Pattern

Don't you just love charm packs?!  A tidy little package of perfectly trimmed 5" squares and a guilt-free way to own an entire fabric collection -- what could be better?  If you're like me, though, eventually your charm pack collection will start to pile up and you'll realize it's time to cut one from the herd.  When that time comes, you're going to need a charm pack pattern!

Today my quilt, Apron Strings, is a featured recipe at the Moda Bake Shop.

Apron Strings is a sweet little 12" x 32" table runner made with, you guessed it, a charm pack and ⅔ yard of a coordinating fabric -- perfect for when your charm pack collection becomes a bit unwieldy. 

And Apron Strings couldn't be easier!  It features simple piecing and machine quilting -- great for a beginner or a weekend project.

I made Apron Strings with the beautiful "Hyde Park" collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda and I love the fabrics!  Somehow they manage to be both colorful and muted at the same time.  They give my quilt the soft, nostalgic feel that I was going for.

But if you're wondering how Apron Strings would look in a different color palette, here's another, brighter version made with "California Girl" by Fig Tree Quilts for Moda:

Love this one too!  It's got a summery, kitchen-y, retro vibe that I really like -- also nostalgic, but in a totally different way.

If you'd like to make your own Apron Strings table runner, head over to Moda Bake Shop for my free tutorial.  It's the perfect opportunity to pare down your charm pack stash, or the perfect excuse to invest in a new charm pack.  Your decision -- this is a judgement-free zone!!

Happy Quilting!