Tiles - Free Pattern

The June/July 2016 issue of Quilters Newsletter is now out and available both on-line and wherever quilt magazines are sold, and my quilt Tiles is a "Web Extra" for the issue.

First of all, I apologize for the somewhat obvious name, but when I finished the quilt, it so strongly resembled a tile floor, that I had no other choice but to name it "Tiles."

I made Tiles with shot cottons by Marcus Brothers and the fabrics were amazing to work with.  They're woven fabrics with a lovely texture and the drape of the finished project is beautiful.  I found the striped border first and then chose the solids to go with it.  I was pleasantly surprised by how contemporary and almost masculine the finished quilt feels.  Definitely a different look for me and a reminder that you never really know how a quilt is going to turn out!

I realize that contemporary and masculine might not work for everyone, so here's a link to a blank coloring page for this quilt.  I thought it might be fun to give you a way to experiment with some different color palettes!

If you'd like to make your own version of Tiles, the free pattern is available for download on QN's website.  Enjoy!

Holly Bright - Free Pattern

41 days until Christmas!  It's frightening to write that and hard to believe, but it's true!  Somehow time seems to go by faster every year, but I've discovered that one of the best ways for me to slow down and actually enjoy the holidays is by sewing a holiday project.

And I've got a great one to share with you today...

Holly Bright is a "Web Extra" for the December/January 2016 issue of Quilters Newsletter -- currently available wherever quilt magazines are sold.  But if you want to get started right away, the free pattern for Holly and Bright is available on QN's website.

Holly Bright is a 36½" x 36½" quilt -- the perfect size to decorate a wall or table.  The design is pretty traditional, but it's amped-up and made new with gorgeous batik fabrics.  I love the tone-on-tone "poinsettia" blocks in the center of the quilt, but my favorite part of Holly Bright is the holly leaf border, complete with hand-appliquéd holly berries.

I also love the richness and contrast of the black background batik that I used, but just in case black isn't for you, here's a look at what Holly Bright might look like with a white or cream background:

or with a gold/tan background:

Hmmm, kind of love that one!

Whatever your style, I hope you choose to make Holly Bright!

41 days until Christmas!?  Plenty of time!!

Little Squares - Free Pattern

It's the end of yet another gorgeous day here in New Hampshire.  Seems crazy to write that!  But it's true.  The leaves are finally coming in and they are the most amazing shade of chartreuse (yeah, I'm a quilter).  There's a breeze blowing in through my open windows and the air just smells sweet.  And best of all, it sounds like a bird sanctuary outside.  I love spring!!  It's definitely the time of year to minimize your time indoors with quick and easy quilt patterns.

Case in point:  my Little Squares table runner.  It's a "Web Extra" for Quilters Newsletter's June/July 2015 issue — currently available wherever quilt magazines are sold — and it's a snap to make.

The blocks couldn't be simpler:

And Little Squares takes less than a yard of a background fabric and one mini charm pack and one charm pack of your favorite fabric collection.  I used "Marmalade" by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics — perfect for spring — but this quilt would be great no matter what you choose.

Make it with solids:

  Or make it with a gray background fabric:

Or maybe even make it with navy:

Just make it!  To download the free pattern for my Little Squares quilt, visit QN's website.

Happy quilting!

"Hothouse Flowers" - Free Pattern

Happy Spring!

And I say that with a grain of salt.  It's been sunny here, but windy and cold.  There's a chance of snow in the forecast, again, and I don't even want to talk about how deep the snow is in my yard.

But in honor of the "official" start of spring, here's my Hothouse Flowers quilt.  It's a Web Extra for Quilters Newsletter's April/May 2015 issue and you can find the free pattern for this distinctly unwintry project on QN's website.

Hothouse Flowers is a scrappy 30" x 30" quilt featuring oversized hand appliquéd flowers.  I originally made it as a wall quilt, but this month, in defiance of the weather outside, I've been using it on my kitchen table.  I'm kind of a rebel.

I love the gorgeous colors of the batik flowers and their fussy cut centers, but I have to admit, the best part of making this quilt was naming it.  As usual, I asked my family for name suggestions and this time they were particularly inspired.  The following names were the top contenders:

Flower Power (seen it)

Floral Fantasy

Petal Power

Petal to the Metal (clever, but a smidge masculine)

Lazy Daisy (been done)

Bellicose Rose

Mum's the Word

Crocus Pocus (seriously, the flowers look nothing like crocuses!)

Gerber Fervor

Pistil Sizzle (in case you're having trouble remembering your plant anatomy, the pistil is the female reproductive organ of a flower)

Flamin' Stamen (you guessed it, the stamen is the male reproductive organ of a flower -- obviously my family was getting a little out of control)


And finally, and perhaps the most outrageous:

Pollination Quilt-Nation


Clearly I was on my own; so "Hothouse Flowers" it was.  Maybe it's a bit sedate compared to some of the above, and it's certainly not as memorable, but at least it's appropriate and doesn't conjure up memories of high school biology... shudder.

Feel free to choose one of my family's suggested names for your version of Hothouse Flowers.  I mean, how could you go wrong with "Pollination Quilt-Nation?"

Happy Quilting!

"Stars and Stripes" - Free Pattern

This weekend we celebrate Memorial Day and the 4th of July is just around the corner, so if you're feeling patriotic, here's a great pattern for your holiday table.

It's my Stars and Stripes table runner and it's a Quilters Newsletter Web Extra for their June/July 2014 issue.  You can find the free pattern for this quick and easy project on QN's website.

This project looks scrappy, but I actually made it using 11 fat quarters -- I just mixed up the star/background combination for each red star block.  The QN pattern provides total yardage for the red, blue, and ivory fabrics, but if you'd like to make it using fat quarters, you'll need 4 red, 5 blue, and 2 ivory.

I made this quilt with the 4th of July in mind, but I think it would also be great for Christmas in red, green, and ivory.  Here's an EQ7 sketch to give you an idea of what it would look like:

Or why not try orange, purple, and black for Halloween:

It would also look great scaled down to a 22" x 22" square:

Whichever you choose, have fun and happy quilting!