Trim the Tree -- Color Block December 2024

 I had sew much fun machine quilting Trim the Tree, December's Color Block quilt.

I imagined these Christmas lights all tangled up so I quilted them with overlapping loopy lines.

I hope to never encounter actual Christmas lights this tangled!

Log in to Color Blocks Vol. 4 to watch the tutorial!

By Request

 A church friend of mine volunteers to help give my quilts away for me.  I bring in a bag a finished quilts and she helps find people that might like them.  I love finishing quilts and moving them out of the house; the help is very much appreciated!

A few weeks ago this friend asked if I had any Christmas quilts to give away.  She wanted one for her guest bed for when her granddaughter came to visit.  Well, I didn't have any but I did have a huge stack of Color Blocks.  I quickly pieced a quilt, quilted it up, and gifted it to her yesterday just in time for her granddaughter to sleep under it last  night!  After over 18 months of being sick and feeling useless, it's a wonderful feeling to know that someone wants a quilt from me.  I love feeling useful and helpful once again.  I thanked her for the opportunity and she was confused thinking that I did a favor for her.  If you're a quilter, you know that she actually did the favor for me.

If you've made any of my Color Block quilts, you know how quickly the quilt pieces together once the scrappy blocks are made.  If you have never made a Color Blocks quilt, join my 2025 Color Blocks Quilt Along to start using your scraps to make a year's worth of baby quilts!

I picked Beige Konfetti 50-weight cotton thread with DecoBob 80-weight polyester Soft Tan thread for the bobbin to quilt the entire quilt.  

I love to stitch continuous curve in Color Blocks; it's relaxing to me and it looked great on this quilt.

I pulled out my ABC Graphic Circles stencil and found a way to use it to quilt the 8" finished quilt block.  I could not be happier with how this turned out!

I posted the video of how I machine quilted this quilt as a subscriber-exclusive As The Bobbin Turns video.  Join now to peek over my shoulder and get a behind the scenes glimpse of my quilting process.

ABC Graphic Circle Stencil -- Ho! Ho! Ho ! Holiday Quilt by Primitive Gatherings

While I was in the hospital in 2023 struggling with severe COVID, I promised myself that I'd start doing the things that I always wanted to do.  That December, I went to Wisconsin to the Naughty or Nice? Retreat at Primitive Gatherings.  It was everything I hoped it would be and more.

One of the quilts I made there was Ho! Ho! Ho! Holiday and I just finished quilting it to use for this Christmas.

My goal was to make the quilting look like other ornaments or garland around the ornament on the tree. I pulled out my ABC Graphic Circle stencil and stitched lines of swirls with switchback quilting in between.

I LOVE HOW THIS TURNED OUT!!!!

Watch how I quilted this on my home sewing machine:

Doesn't that swirl look like a fun and simple way to finish your quilt? _____ Batt Scooters ABC Graphic Circle Stencil

Color Blocks -- Trim the Tree

 December's Color Block Scrap Quilt Along pattern is Trim the Tree.

This is a small, simple quilt you can quickly piece for a last minute gift or home decoration.

When you need a few minutes of "Me" time during this busy month, gather your scraps, download the pattern, and stitch this sweet seasonal quilt.

ABC Graphic Circle Stencil -- Blue Checkerboard quilt

I have boxes and Boxes and BOXES of 2 1/2" squares so I sewed together enough to make this 60"x72" charity checkerboard quilt.

My daughter nearly ruined my "give to charity" plan for this quilt on Thanksgiving, but she decided to not steal it.

I decided to use my ABC Graphic Circle Stencil to quilt swirls in offset columns using the piecing lines as guides.

This is my current favorite way to quickly and easily quilt my quilts.  

Have you ever used my ABC Graphic Circle Stencil?

I filmed how I quilted this quilt and posted it as a As the Bobbin Turns subscriber-only video.  Join monthly or annually to get a behind-the-scenes look of how I quilt my personal quilts in my home studio.

Stepping Stones Cutie Quilt -- Machine Quilting on a Home Sewing Machine

 I designed this Stepping Stones Cutie Pattern and love the quilting options that it provides.

This quilt is quick and easy to piece using 16 fat eighths and very fun to quilt! I used Dublin fabrics and they were so fun and bright!

When in my studio and not on a deadline, I decide what I want to quilt based on my mood. I was in the mood for ribbon candy when I picked out this top. It probably shows.

Are you ready to stitch some ribbon candy now?

_____ Stepping Stones Cutie Quilt Pattern Dublin Cutie Pack (16 fat eighths) Sunny 50-weight Cotton Tutti thread from WonderFil Soft Gold 80-weight Polyester DecoBob thread from WonderFil Batt Scooters Ribbon Candy Stencils from Full Line Stencils Chalk Pencil HQ Mini Scallop Ruler Handi Grip

Cobblestones Cutie Quilt -- Machine Quilting on a Home Sewing Machine

 I design Cutie Patterns and one of my patterns is Cobblestones.  This is a quick, easy, and giftable quilt.

As with all Cutie Patterns, Sweet Tooth uses (16) fat eighths plus extras -- background, borders, binding.  

This quilt looks great with any type of quilting, but I chose to custom quilt this because 
1.  Ribbon Candy is fun to stitch
2.  I love to quilt with rulers
3.  The contrast between these two makes the quilt look ah-ma-zing

Simple border quilting frames this quilt perfectly.

If you are new to quilting with rulers on a home sewing machine, I highly recommend my ruler class from Annie's Catalog; it covers what you need to know to safely use rulers on your home sewing machine.

Watch the video of how I machine quilted this Cobblestones quilt.

I love this Burlap fabric from Benartex.  I have Cutie Packs (16 fat eighths) and yardage available in my shop.

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Materials Used:

Cobblestones Cutie Quilt Pattern Burlap Cutie Pack (16 fat eighths) Burlap Fabric Line

Beige 50-weight Cotton Konfetti thread from WonderFil Soft Tan 80-weight Polyester DecoBob thread from WonderFil Batt Scooters Ribbon Candy Stencils from Full Line Stencils Multi Clamshell Ruler from Handi-Quilter Handi Grip

Sweet Tooth Cutie Quilt -- An Old Favorite

I design Cutie Patterns and one of my patterns is Sweet Tooth.  I love to piece these, I love to quilt these, and I love to give these away.

As with all Cutie Patterns, Sweet Tooth uses (16) fat eighths plus extras -- background, borders, binding.  I've made at least 40 of these quilts and predict many more in my future.

My 1 1/2" strip scrap bin is overflowing, so I quickly pieced this scrappy Sweeth Tooth as a giveaway quilt:

I stitched together wool batting strips for this quilt; I don't enjoy the process but it cleans a huge mess from my sewing room and I feel righteous when I'm finished.  The puffy batting combined with the bacon stitch using my walking foot makes this quilt the perfect snuggle buddy.

Did you know that I designed a thread line for WonderFil?  It's called FabuLux. It might be fussy for beginner free-motion quilters but it is PURE DELIGHT in the walking foot no matter your skill level!

I designed "Meditation" as a neutral thread color to work on most quilts, and it worked super-duper well on this quilt.  It's a blend of tan and gray and olive.

Have you tried FabuLux thread in your machine yet?

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Sweet Tooth Cutie Pattern

Solid Cutie Pack

Meditation 40-weight polyester FabuLux thread

Dove Grey 80-weight polyester DecoBob thread

Batt Scooters

Sweet Tooth Cutie Quilt -- a love story

I design Cutie Patterns and one of my patterns is Sweet Tooth.  I love to piece these, I love to quilt these, and I love to give these away.

As with all Cutie Patterns, Sweet Tooth uses (16) fat eighths plus extras -- background, borders, binding.  I've made at least 40 of these quilts and predict many more in my future.

I've recently departed from quilting these with ribbon candy to quilting these using the bacon stitch with my walking foot.

I used cotton batting for this quilt and doubled the amount of stitching.  I had sew much fun!

I sent my sister photos of my recent quilts and she claimed this one as hers.

When I hung this quilt on a rack in the living room to take a photo, my husband,who rarely comments on my quilts said, "I know you didn't ask me, but I really like this quilt."  Sorry honey; this quilt is taken.

When I sent my daughter pics of my recent quilts, she asked if this quilt had a home because if it didn't, she wanted it.  Sorry dear, you are third in line.

Fortunately for me and for my husband and for my daughter, I have Cutie Packs cut of this fabric and will make each of them one of these quilts.

Do you love this quilt as much as my family does?

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Sweet Tooth Cutie Pattern

Solid Cutie Pack

Stone 50-weight cotton Tutti thread

Dove Grey 80-weight polyester DecoBob thread

Batt Scooters

Handi Quilter Quilt Along with Shabby Fabrics -- Block 6

   I had sew much fun quilting this week's block!

I used a stencil to quilt this placemat because it reminded me of knitted fabric, like a stocking.

Click HERE to watch the video of how I quilted this placemat.

I used all Fossil Fern fabrics for my placemat.  I may have the entire collection.  And I may just pet it regularly.

Materials:

Stone Tutti cotton thread for quilting

Dove Grey DecoBob polyester thread for the bobbin

ABC Stencil

Sweet Spots

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Handi Quilter Quilt Along with Shabby Fabrics -- Block One

Handi Quilter Quilt Along with Shabby Fabrics -- Block Two

Handi Quilter Quilt Along with Shabby Fabrics -- Block Three

Handi Quilter Quilt Along with Shabby Fabrics -- Block Four

Handi Quilter Quilt Along with Shabby Fabrics -- Block Five

Wonder Wallet to the Rescue

My daughter-in-law has been a part of our lives for nearly 20 years.  In that time, I've made her a series of Wonder Wallets.  SHE LOVES THEM!  Every other year or so, she shows me that hers is wearing out and lets me know that she needs another one.  I usually take far too long to make her a new one for one reason or another -- usually because I can't find the pattern.  (Tell me it's not just me.)

We just celebrated her birthday and I ensured a decade during which I can lose the pattern without feeling guilty!

I had sew much fun sorting through my fabric bins and matching and cutting fabrics for her wallets!

Do you have a favorite wallet pattern?  I will always make my daughter-in-law her
Wonder Wallets, but I feel the need to branch out with other wallets.

Picnic Patch Cutie Pattern -- New Video in "As the Bobbin Turns"

  I design Cutie Patterns and one that I wish I designed is Picnic Patch.

As with all Cutie Patterns, this quilt uses sixteen (16) fat eighths plus extras -- background, borders, binding.  I've made at least 20 Picnic Patch quilts as my standard wedding quilt.  I've quilted each and every one of them with wool batting and ribbon candy in the sashing.  The contrast between the quilted ribbon candy and the loft of the unquilted fabric and wool batting is stunning.  It's also super-fun for me to quilt.

While most of my wedding quilts feature feathers, this pink quilt gave the "little girl" vibe rather than the "wedding" vibe so I chose to feature posies instead of feathers in this quilt.

I used one of my favorite threads -- Pansy -- to quilt this quilt and the experience was pure bliss!  (I'm kind of a pink girl.)

I carried the posy pattern to the border.  Every stitch of this quilt was free-motion quilted on my home machine and this type of quilt just FLOWS!

Join other As the Bobbin Turns subscribers to watch how I quilted this new-for-me quilting technique.

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Picnic Patch Cutie Pattern
Wool Batting

Pansy 50-weight Cotton Tutti thread
Dusty Rose 80-weight polyester DecoBob thread
Batt Scooters
Ribbon Candy Stencils
Centering Stencil -- Machine Quilting Guide
Blue Pounce
1/4" quilt masking tape