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