December has been a busy month for us. It’s that living in the moment thing again. 

One of our nieces contacted the Hubs a few weeks ago and told him that while she apologized for the late notice, she was graduating from nursing school in a couple of weeks and that since she was our favorite niece (her words), she knew we’d come anyway! And we did. It has been many years since we visited Hubs’ hometown and we squeezed in all the visiting we could along with attending Lauren’s graduation ceremony and celebration party. We played ...

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This year has been an awesome one for members of Patchworkers Plus (I may say that every year). But it really has been! Let’s take a look at who we had as guest designers, what projects and quilts we sewed (and finished) and all the little bits in between.

I am so lucky to be surrounded by other quilters just like me. Quilters with piles of projects, piles of fabulous fabric and great intentions. Some things get finished.. and some just wait in the pile somewhat patiently until they are up on the ‘next’ list.

Every year I really ...

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 It's down to the wire for class prep, and everything is right on target! The best news is that I have the entire day to finish up things, so that's great. I completed something significant for the homework last night, and I was dancing around the room as it looks fantastic! 

You have to love it when things come together like that. 

It was an enjoyable day teaching my in-person class, and everyone went home with their heads filled with information. Way too much, but I took full advantage of the day, and they will now have to ...

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Come sew along with me and other quilters during 2026 with the block of the month. It’s the perfect combo of color and blocks. Dig through your stash and get sewing.

I am excited to announce the block of the month pattern for 2026 – Starlit Meadow. yay!! It’s a beauty.

You’ll be sewing along beginning in February. The first block goes live along with the video walking you through the process of sewing it up.

Every year there is a new design and this year features some of my favorite blocks – the basket block and a super ...

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The freemotion design Paws is one of those designs that creates a lovely texture. You just want to pet the quilt!

This design works well for quilts with themes like animals, pets, water, sea, ocean, rain, weather, wind, flying, birds, and swimming. Is there anything else that this design reminds you of?

Pattern Tutorial

Create the dynamic design Paws by moving in all directions. The design sequence its pretty simple; curve round and add a teardrop or a paisley shape inside of the curve.

The teardrop is a symmetrical shape, while the paisley is not; it has a curve. Mix ...

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The virtual cookie exchange is one I look forward to. I like the opportunity to push myself into trying to convert another holiday recipe to a gluten-free version. This time, I decided to try making my younger daughter’s favorite…snickerdoodles! When I started looking at gluten-free recipes, I was surprised to see they didn’t call for cream of tarter. In my opinion, half the charm of a snickerdoodle is that slightly tart taste that lingers on your tongue. So, I went back to my 1980’s Betty Crocker Cookbook and I just subbed in the Bob’s Red ...

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This Thanksgiving was extra special for our family. Both of our sons got married in the past two years and our daughter is engaged to be married next year. All eight of us were going to have Thanksgiving dinner together. We also invited a couple missionaries over to have dinner with us. I am usually a bit more casual about our Thanksgiving dining, but I wanted to set the table for this occasion. I had a few days to prepare, and I decided to make 10 placemats. Shopping and cooking for Thanksgiving sounds busy enough and sewing placemats may sound ...

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A fun new way to sew with me each month.

I’ve been hinting that something new was coming… and today I finally get to share it with you!

Say hello to Make & Take Monthly — a simple, stash-friendly membership where you get one fun sewing project every month, complete with a printable PDF and a step-by-step video. Nothing overwhelming. Nothing complicated. Just something cute you can make in an afternoon.

This idea has been on my mind for years.
I love big quilt projects (and we’ll keep doing those!), but sometimes you just want a small win… something you ...

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If there’s one place quilting starts to go off the rails, it’s right at the cutting table. A crooked strip here, a stretched ruler there… and suddenly your blocks don’t line up and nothing fits quite right.

I’ve been there plenty of times—usually when I try to rush through cutting so I can get to the fun part: sewing.

Accurate cutting really does make everything easier. Your piecing goes smoother, your seams behave, your blocks finish the right size, and you spend way less time ripping things out. Whether you’re new to quilting or ...

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Learn how to make a shoo fly quilt block using one layer cake (plus a little yardage for the center squares). It’s a simple block with half square triangles and rectangle pieces. Easy enough to sew up in a weekend.

Materials Needed to Sew the Quilt

1 – layer cake or 42 10″ x 10″ squares – see below the cutting instructions

28 – 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ squares (center of each block – DON’T use the layer cake for these!)

Want the ad free pdf file?! Scroll to the bottom of the post for more details!

Layer Cake ...

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Learn how to sew a classic Courthouse Steps quilt block—with a fun little twist in the middle and easy strip sewing all the way through! If you’re like me and have a pile of leftover strips from past projects (or maybe a jelly roll or two you’ve been “saving”), this is a great way to put them to work.

This version of the courthouse steps block starts with a simple 4-patch center and builds out using all 2″ strips—no tricky measurements, no fuss, just easy sewing.

It’s perfect for swaps, scrappy layouts, and clearing out ...

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Fall color came into its peak at our place this past week, and was gone just as quickly. Early one morning, as the sun came up over the mountain to the east, the oranges and golds were glowing in the light.

The colors were beautiful down the driveway and around the street.

Gracie, our resident squirrel, came up for a treat. Of course, she looks so cute that she got her peanut butter sandwich.

Across the valley, more red can be seen in the pear and maple trees.

Then, one morning, snow! OK, it is just a dusting, but we ...

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Learn about the Dear Elizabeth Thread Dispenser from Lemonwood and how it can make binding your quilts so much easier (and less tangled!).

If you’ve ever draped your quilt binding over your shoulder, only to have it twist, tangle, or—let’s be honest—get caught on your shirt button… this little tool is going to be your new best friend.

In the video, I’ll show you how I use mine while sewing quilt binding to keep everything smooth, tidy, and feeding right where it should.

What Is the Dear Elizabeth Thread Dispenser?

The Dear Elizabeth is a ...

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Learn how to sew a bread basket cover with this simple and practical sewing tutorial. This quick project adds a cozy, handmade touch to your table and keeps your rolls, muffins, or loaves warm while serving.

It’s a perfect companion for holiday dinners, family gatherings, or weekend brunches—and it’s easier to make than you might think!

This tutorial uses a few fabric squares and simple seams to create a fabric cover that ties neatly at the corners. It’s beginner-friendly, scrap-friendly, and customizable for any size basket. Whether you use it for rolls, biscuits, or even fruit ...

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If you’ve got a pile of leftover quilt blocks that didn’t quite make the cut for a quilt top — don’t toss them! Turn those pretties into something quick and useful instead.

These little fabric bookmarks are the perfect scrap-busting project and come together in just a few minutes.

No piecing, no fuss — just a clever way to give your orphan blocks a new life.

Why You’ll Love This Project

These bookmarks are one of those satisfying projects where you blink and you’re done. They’re:
★ Quick – 10 minutes, tops.
★ Easy – Straight stitching and simple layering ...

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Let’s see what’s happening.

Y’all, I am so grateful for autumn. It’s my favorite season because it’s finally a smidge cooler and it’s the most colorful! A few leaves have fallen and the puppies are going nuts over them…and the acorns. The Hubs and I figure they’re getting more fiber.

Fall is also my muse for quilting. Projects are filling my head and sewing space and I think this is the time of year when I break rules like the stupid one-project-at-a-time rule. There, I said it. Without further ado, here’s ...

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This is it—the big flip! After weeks of clues and block units, the Crosswind Mystery Quilt layout is officially revealed (peek at the image above). All your flying geese, four-patches, and star points finally click together—cue the happy dance!

Crosswind Mystery Quilt — FINAL REVEAL

Below you’ll find what to expect, assembly tips to make your finish smooth, and where to grab the full pattern with diagrams, PDFs, and replays.

Where the Pattern & Files Live

The complete Crosswind pattern (materials list, optional cutting list, step-by-step clues, final layout, and finishing instructions) is inside Patchworkers Plus.

All those clues ...

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Learn how to organize your sewing room so you can spend less time hunting for your favorite scissors and more time actually sewing.

Whether you’ve got a dedicated studio, a corner of the dining room, or a folding table you pull out between meals, these sewing room organization tips for quilters will help you make sense of the creative chaos.

This isn’t about picture-perfect Pinterest rooms or color-coordinated everything.

It’s about real, usable systems that keep your fabric, projects, and tools within reach — so your space works for you, not against you.

When Your Sewing Room Starts ...

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Learn how to turn that mountain of fabric into finished quilts you’ll actually love with this collection of 25 free quilt patterns. Each pattern is perfect for using what you already own—fat quarters, jelly rolls, charm packs, or those bits of leftover fabric that have been waiting years for their moment.

Let’s Be Honest About the Stash Situation

It starts small.
A few fat quarters here, a charm pack or two “just in case.” Then one day, you open the closet and realize your stash has quietly multiplied while you were busy working on other quilts.

Suddenly ...

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Now that Halloween is past, we turn our attention to Thanksgiving. For the final project post of Fall Fortnight, I’ll show some fun ideas for placemats and tablescapes to make our holiday celebrations special. Today’s post will have the final drawing entries for a Fat Quarter Shop $50 gift certificate!

From 2023, these Turkey Talk placemats and centerpiece are the ideal base for a Thanksgiving table. The placemats are a square in a square center set on point, with coordinating print on the sides. See the tutorial on how to make them on Turkey Talk Placemats.

Using them ...

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