What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Get your party drink ready… I have my extra-strong coffee in hand, and I am so excited to finally share all the details about my newest quilt pattern — Constellation Crumb Quilt. KEEP READING UNTIL THE END AND YOU WILL FIND THE PARTY FUN!

Let’s Celebrate A Study in Color, Scraps, and Letting Go

This quilt is truly a study in so many things.

First, it is a study in color and how to create a successful gradient. The design moves from incredibly light pink all the way to a deep, rich purple. In between those two extremes are bright ...

Meet Aidan!

Green Stars

I made a baby quilt (don't know the baby's name) 

Starting here

I have not met the mother (unless you count meeting on Teams)

Design Wall

So when Lina (not her real name) mentioned that she was going on maternity leave, I asked her if there was color/theme to the nursery.

Striped Binding

Green and Dinosaurs, Lina replied. And THAT was enough :-D 

Dinosaur Centers

I found loads of cute green fabrics in my stash. I love that gnome fabric, which I got from the last Quiltcon.

Many cute fabrics

From UFO to Done:

For the last five and a half years, I’ve been pulling out the project box for this Modern Star Quilt —sorting the pieces, laying them out, dreaming about the finish… and then carefully tucking it all away again. Every so often, I’d make a little progress by sewing a few star sets together, but it never seemed to get very far.

A few months ago, I made a promise to myself: I wanted to finally finish some of my UFOs so they could become part of the quilts I donate during the Giving Challenge ...

Meet Sulaxi.

Thank you, Paul!

Sulaxi is my response to the Island Batik Timeless Traditions Challenge and Blog Hop.  This challenge requires us to make a Lap (or larger) Quilt using the assigned Summer 2025 collection with the following stipulation.

Use any or all of the following classic, traditional blocks! Use a minimum of 5 different blocks in your quilt in any combination and size of the blocks. 

1. Four Patch Quilt Block 
2. Nine Patch Quilt Block
3. Half Square Triangle Block
4. Quarter Square Triangle Block
5. Friendship Star Block
6. Flying Geese Quilt Block
7. Variable Star Quilt Block
8. Ohio Star Quilt Block
9. Nine ...

Stella made the cover!

Published!

Stella is not only published in the We Like Quilting digital/online magazine's September 2025 issue, she made the cover! I am thrilled.

Stella

Star blocks alternate with Irish Chain blocks. A skinny border and a scrappy border complete the quilt top.

Egg White Background

Block Mania Tuesday

Today is the day!!! It’s another block mania Tuesday, and I made it in the nick of time… I really didn’t think I was going to have a block to share this month because I just got back from teaching on a quilting cruise for a whole week!! It was so much fun!  I didn’t get to work on my block on the ship. And I didn’t get to work on it the week after I got home either… but last Monday I put on my big girl panties and got it done ...

Aurelia was published in Make Modern Issue #56.

Blue Skies, Breezy Day

In the land of Island Batik, March is Ambassador's Choice Month.  Mine is Lula May. 

EQ8 Design

Lula May

Designed in EQ8, and made with Island Batik's Celebrate Collection, Lula May finished at 62" by 82".

Love this collection!!!

I wanted to step away from square blocks. I designed a rectangular block measuring 12" by 16". The triangle in a square made the basis for the elongated star. The strip pieced alternate block combines the colors used in the stars, using the leftovers and tying the pattern together. 

Design Wall

Alternate Blocks

I used Aurifil Thread to piece ...

I first made Avantika for the Island Batik catalogue. The working title was Mosaic Stars but once the quilt was completed, it needed a better name. Avantika means princess :-)

Avantika, the original princess :-)

Sunset Backing and Binding

Made using Island Batik Juicy Mosaics fabric collection, Avantika finished at about 64" by 84". 

Juicy Mosaics is a beautiful collection and I love every fabric in it. 

Of course, we took her out for a photoshoot, thanks to Paul!

Ooh, the reflection!!!

I was so much in love that I chose to make these blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023. 

Since ...

In anticipation of the second shipment of Island Batik Ambassador boxes, I had to clean house, get rid of some scraps and make room for the new supplies. 

In doing so, I came across some star blocks, that date back to 2015, I think. Who knows? It was so long ago ...

 Today we've had a public holiday to celebrate Matariki.

Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in midwinter and for many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year. From Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand.  

Back in 2018 I made a quilt called Matariki +/- 1.  I entered it into the QuiltNSW Sydney Quilt Show and I won a Judges Commendation for it.  

I don't have this quilt any more because a very kind grandma bought it to go on her grandson's bed when he ...

Designing for the May/June 2023 Issue of Quiltmaker Magazine, I chose the fabric line Celebrate. Designed by Kathy Engle, this fabric line will be available in stores in May 2023.

Imagine my surprise when the magazine was published in March 2023.  It is Island Batik's guidance to release patterns as close to the fabric availability as possible. If the fabric is not available (at the time of pattern release or shortly thereafter), then it feels like a tease or even a torture, especially when the fabric is this gorgeous!!!

For this reason, I have been slow/reluctant to ...

This is the second quilt finished while watching Conference this past weekend.

It is based on THIS tutorial (She calls it Sunburst).

It will be delivered to our Assistant Principal who has a great love for Africa and does much good there sponsoring the education of children.

I hope the rich colors will evoke that beautiful place, and the star will demonstrate the light she shares.

Starting a new baby quilt. This one for the son-of-the-granddaughter-of-my-husband’s-mother’s-best-friend. Of course.

I had a few small pieces, each 9″ x 18″, of Star Wars fabric. What to do?

Cut them smaller…

I have a new finish to share. Meet Paroma.  Although the quilt was completed in August 2022
(hence the lush green backdrop), I had to sit tight till now. 

Paroma. 56" by 68"

Paroma is a Fat quarter friendly quilt published in Quilt Patterns - Fun Fat Quarter Quilts for Spring (anniescatalog.com)  With 22 FQ projects for just under $10, this is a steal.

In process

20 FQs make 20 stars and yield enough fabric to make a scrappy happy border.  Paroma finished at 56" by 68" and it just sparkles ...

Can four blocks, even fairly large ones (18″) make a quilt?

Well, they will need some help. In this case I used a simple 6″ block that could be repeated and serve as a sort of background and filler, while adding texture and interest. It uses 1 2-1/2″ square for the center and 2- 2-1/2″ squares and 2 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ strips to round it out. They go together really quickly.

Then a small stop border and a wider (3″ finished) outside border.

And, before you know it, you’ve got a quilt.

The minkee backing ...

Diwali Lights designed, pieced and quilted by me is in the November/December issue of the Quiltmaker Magazine.

Picture by Quiltmaker

The journey of this quilt began in January of this year, when I submitted the pattern to the Quiltmaker magazine. When I received the acceptance email, I was thrilled but realized that I won't be able to meet the March deadline (for publication in the September/October issue) due to other engagements. 

Mock-up in EQ8

Quiltmaker honored my request and agreed to delay the publication to November/December issue and I had until May to make and send ...