I am totally obsessed with sardines!! They are trending big time. I have a fish keychain from Ruby Star Society, the best goofy doormat featuring a full tin of them (which my husband loves), and my favorite t-shirt is from H&M. I even found a candle at Anthropologie… and I want so much more. That obsession led me to start making some fish templates for us! I’ve already made some fish-themed charity quilt blocks and have big plans for more projects—so stay tuned. To officially kick off my sardine obsession here on the blog, I wanted to ...

Wallflowers, vintage tiles or star bursts? What does this quilting design look like to you?

The freemotion design Wallflower is a simple grid based quilting design that goes well with themes like flowers, tiling, kitchen, bathroom, vintage, retro, stars and the universe. Depending on your grid size, you may apply it as an edge to edge or as a background filler.

I lost the video footage of me quilting out this design and I had to redo it. You may spot the difference in fabric and thread colors in the photos. Redoing this design wasn’t a problem at all ...

Ready for a quick and satisfying quilt block that brings the wow without the fuss? Let me introduce you to the Chevron quilt block. This one’s a crowd-pleaser—super beginner-friendly, layer cake or scrap stash-approved, and easy to sew up when you’re in the mood for something that looks fancy but isn’t fussy.

This block is built using half-square triangles (HSTs), which means you’ll get crisp points and that classic zigzag vibe with just a few simple steps. Whether you’re whipping up a few blocks for a modern quilt layout or going all in for ...

Got a stack of 10″ squares (a.k.a. layer cakes) waiting for their moment to shine? Let’s turn them into a stunning chevron quilt that’s as fun to make as it is to snuggle under. This project is perfect for beginners and seasoned quilters alike—no complex math, just simple half-square triangles (HSTs) that come together in a rhythmic zigzag pattern.

Whether you’re using a coordinated layer cake bundle or mixing and matching from your stash, this quilt is a fantastic way to play with color and contrast. Plus, it’s a great excuse to spend ...

If you keep scrolling down you will find ssssomething extra!

The border design Scroll is a grid based quilting design that works well in more narrow borders. A series of curls create the letter S that is repeated over and over. This freemotion design goes well with themes like the alphabet, the letter S, writing, calligraphy, books, fantasy, curls and Santa Claus. 

This design is a border design, but you could repeat it as an edge to edge for a bag or table runner. Decide if your second pass will flow in the same direction or in the opposite direction ...

Learn how to turn a layer cake into a playful, modern quilt with the free Wheelies pattern! This design is perfect for showing off those big, bold prints you’ve been saving—whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned quilter looking for a quick project.

The best part?

You’ll make the most of your layer cake squares with simple cutting and piecing techniques, so you can sew a beautiful quilt top in no time.

Grab your favorite fabric bundle and let’s roll into a fun quilting project that’s as sweet and simple as it sounds!

The ...

Learn how to make a quick and easy baked potato microwave bag that’s perfect for speeding up dinner on busy nights! This fun little project is a game-changer for baked potato lovers—just pop your potatoes in the bag, toss it in the microwave, and you’ll have fluffy, delicious potatoes in minutes.

I’ll walk you through all the steps in the video tutorial, plus share tips on fabric choices, safety, and getting the best results.

It’s a fast, beginner-friendly project that makes a great gift or a handy addition to your own kitchen.

Baked Potato Microwave ...

T-shirt quilts are a fantastic way to preserve memories, turning your favorite old t-shirts into a beautiful quilt that tells your unique story.

Whether it’s concert tees, sports jerseys, or shirts from special events, each piece holds sentimental value.

But one common question arises: How many t-shirts do you need to make a quilt?

The answer depends on several factors, including the desired quilt size, the size of the graphics on your shirts, and the layout you choose. Let’s explore these elements to help you plan your custom t-shirt quilt.

If you are anything like me, you like ...

Explore the world of patriotic quilting with our curated collection of red, white, and blue quilt patterns. Whether you’re preparing for Memorial Day, Independence Day, or simply want to infuse your home with a touch of Americana, these patterns offer a blend of tradition and creativity. From classic stars and stripes to modern interpretations, there’s something here for every quilter.

It’s time to dig out your patriotic colors and start sewing something! Whether you have little fabric bits, or yardage, there are a few easy sewing projects {some are bigger than others, but still simple} for you ...

I love it when you share!

Charlene made this striking version of Calico Rose.

Sandy built this 100-patch quilt. And I love that bedframe!

Mary Q. made the cheerful version of Stutter Steps. She was particularly pleased that the math worked out and it was 36″ square when finished.

Mary Q. also made her version of the 100-patch quilt. So much fun!

Cheryl made this stunning Film at Five for her niece. I love the way the center patches are pieced.

Mary made this astonishing version of Irish Stars and entered it into a quilt show.

Marilyn made this baby ...

Let’s go fly a kite!

This freemotion quilting design looks like a series of kites strung like beads on a necklace. Or maybe you see a squadron of manta rays soaring through the ocean?

This dynamic design looks great on projects with themes like flying a kite, outdoor activities, children, childhood, manta rays, ocean, sea creatures, wind, Mary Poppins.

Why Mary Poppins?

read more

Does this design look like tin ceiling tiles to you or maybe vintage kitchen tiles?

The freemotion design Orange Peel Greek is a grid design based on the classic Orange Peel. A series of curls are added as a decorative element to fill parts the negative space within the pattern.

This design looks great on projects like bags and table runners. It goes well with themes like tin tiles for ceilings, Greece, classical art, citrus fruit like oranges, flowers and butterflies.

The name Orange Peel Greek specifically refers to the curls, which reminded me of the tops of columns from ...

Last week’s design was a floral one, a bit dense, and pretty intricate. Maybe you prefer a more simple grid design, one that works in narrow borders or sashings or that could even transition into an edge to edge.

Meet Trim!

The sample is stitched out on a 2 inch high strip of fabric and it requires a square grid. You may think that you can go grid-less for this design, but I strongly advise you to use at least reference points.

Your quilting will look its best when the lines are parallel and the shapes are neatly ordered ...

 I've got another fun, easy and fast project for you. I'm calling it the Circle Wallet because it's made from two circles of fabric and some snaps.

Add a field of flowers to your quilt!

Joyful, elegant and full of details, these off set flowers are connected by a loopy line making them more whimsical.

The freemotion design Garland is based on a square grid, with the flowers placed offset from the previous rows. The flowers are connected by a ‘horizontal’ continuous line, making them look like an actual garland. This FMQ pattern would work great on quilts with themes like nature, flowers, plants, weddings, elegance.

The black sample below is from 2017 when I stitched out the design in a 1 inch grid.

The design is ...

One of the joys of Springtime is going for a sunny walk in nature, discovering new paths, different vistas and beautiful plants. The design Trail resembles such a walk, the lines look like a wandering path through a landscape, moving away from and moving back towards your path.

The allover design Trail is mix between a curl and Stipple. I have written about stippling before and expressed my amazement that a lot of quilters learned the Stipple pattern as one of their first freemotion designs. I understand the appeal of a good stipple, but this freemotion design really isn’t ...

Floating in a stream, moving with the current, just relaxing! That just sounds wonderful.

The edge to edge design Drift is an allover freemotion design that is based on a continuous line with curvy bends. The design looks like kelp drifting in a stream, don’t you think? This FMQ pattern would work great on quilts with themes like nature, water, ocean, sea, river, fishing and meditation.

Pattern Tutorial

The designs based on feather shapes on the inside of a deep curve. The combination of the two feathers looks a bit look an oven mitt too. Depending on the way ...

 I had a chance to film and edit the second "class" in my binding series. In this video I show how to sew the binding on a project completely by machine. First sewing the binding to the front of the quilt and then stitching in the ditch along the edge of the binding on the front to catch the binding on the back side of the project.

As I mentioned in the video, this is just ONE way to attach binding completely by machine. There are several other methods and in time I plan to film them all.

If you ...

Marking a grid on your fabric gives you so many options for cool freemotion designs. A grid gives you just the right amount of guidance while keeping the hand-guided look.

In many of my designs I use a 1 inch grid, just because my samples aren’t normally big. In a lot of cases you can enlarge the grid to whatever size that works for you. There are only two limitations I can think off. Firstly, some sewing machines will block your view of the fabric behind the needle. You can only enlarge the design as far as you can ...

Learn how to sew a thread catcher with this free pattern that’s super scrap-friendly and perfect for using up those charm squares and leftover bits. It’s a quick, practical project that adds some fun and function to your sewing space!

Let’s be honest—if you’ve been sewing for any amount of time, you’ve probably got threads everywhere. On your shirt, your floor, your cat… you name it. That’s exactly why I love making and using a thread catcher basket. It sits right next to my machine and happily collects all those snips, clippings, and ...