When I visited Germany to see my mom this past summer, I took eight little preemiequilts across the Atlantic with me. I had completely forgotten about them until I came across the pictures a few days ago. I still make them using the same basic approach: selecting a suitable feature fabric for the outer border and back, then adding squares from my leftovers until the top is complete. They are quick and fun to make, and I am happy to continue supporting this project even from a continent away.
Although I have not focused much on my patterns over the past year, I have continued quilting for customers, though not as frequently as before. It has been a while since I shared pictures of customer quilts, so it seems like the perfect time for some eye candy. Going forward, I plan to simplify the format of these posts. Unless there is an interesting story behind a quilt, I will provide just the essential details: the name of the quiltmaker, the name of the pantograph, and, if there is interest, the thread colour used.
I seemed to have hit a productive streak back in July and August, finishing so many quilts during that period. Today, I am excited to share the last one from that batch. This quilt was part of a Block of the Month project at one of my guilds, and at first, I was unsure about joining. Even though there was no pressure and many members chose not to participate, I felt an internal push to join. So, without being fully convinced, I decided to go for it.
Don’t get me wrong – there was nothing wrong with the project, the design, or the blocks. The issue was more about me knowing that I never have enough time to sew everything I want to. Adding more to my to-do list, especially projects I am not 100% excited about, is not always the best idea.
There were nine blocks in total, but I ended up dropping out after block six. From the start, I knew this quilt was not one I planned to keep – I already have plenty scattered throughout my home. To make it, I used fabrics from my (admittedly quite small) stash, aiming for my usual bright and bold colours, and I am really pleased with how it turned out. I joined the six blocks with white sashing, which created the effect of “floating blocks.” To complete it, I added a border of squares made from leftover scraps of the main fabrics and used the rest for a multi-coloured binding.
The finished quilt ended up being a bit larger than the Charm Pack Quilt but still small enough to work as a children’s quilt, so I donated it to the Meadow Rose Society as well. It felt great to complete all these quilts, clear them out of the house, and donate them to those who could benefit from them more.
The next quilt in line was one made from a Charm Pack. I usually do not buy precuts, as I never know what to do with them. But I could not resist this one when I saw it at a quilt show – it was just so pretty. The fabric line is “Bee Vintage” by Lori Holt for Riley Blake Fabrics. With its charming mix of vintage florals and cheerful hues, it was perfect for a special project.
Now, what to do with it? I searched online for charm pack quilt ideas and found one that I really liked on Sew Me, a blog written by Sarah in Northern Ireland. You can find the pattern here.
It was very easy to put together, and I completed the top in just an afternoon. I quilted it fairly soon afterwards and once again used the curving stitch to create a binding that was done entirely by machine.
This little quilt finishes at approximately 38″ x 42″, so I decided to donate it to a different charity, the Meadow Rose Society. This organization provides basic needs to children under four for families experiencing financial crisis, and I thought this small quilt would help keep a child warm and cozy.
