January Month in Review

Happy second month of the year! We’ve officially made it through what always feels like the longest month of the year. I haven’t been idle this month, finishing 6 quilts and making progress on several more.

Finished Quilts:

Star Wars Celtic Crossing Quilt | Twin Size

Perhaps my most exciting finish was this twin-sized Star Wars quilt. The front is jam-packed with fun Star Wars fabrics and complementary blenders (like that bow tie fabric that looks like Tie Fighters!). The back is a super snuggly Star Wars flannel. AND it has double batting! YES! Two layers of snuggly cotton batting. Not only is it super warm and snuggly, but it is also really heavy (it comes in at just about 5lbs – OOF). There have been a lot of studies lately about weighted blankets and how they can help provide better sleep.

I quilted this one using my favorite quilting book – WALK by Jacquie Gering. Her entire book is dedicated to walking-foot designs you can quilt at home on your domestic machine, and I love it. It has elevated my quilting game to the next level, guys! Of course, because this is a Star Wars quilt, it is only fitting that I quilt it with a star motif! I mean, of course.

Pattern is the Celtic Crossing Quilt by Lo & Behold Stitchery.

Patchwork Girl Quilt | Baby Size

Look at this fun and sweet finish! Sometimes I underestimate the beauty of simple patchwork squares. In-between pattern releasing and other deadlines, I sewed up this fun baby quilt as a form  of ‘stress-relief’. It was beyond fun to sew up and turn it into a cuddly, snuggly baby quilt.

I hope it ends up in the best home – getting used and loved everyday!

Nutcracker Suite Quilt | Throw Size

I finished hand-quilting my Nutcracker Suite quilt in January, gave it a nice wash, and put it away to enjoy next holiday season! I love the look of the green perle cotton thread on the navy background on this one. I actually already have fabric for a second one!

Modern Crossing | Baby Size

I also finished the final hand-quilted stitches on this scrappy, baby version of my Modern Crossing pattern. This one might just be my favorite version I’ve made to date. The front is all Cotton + Steel fabrics from various lines, and the background is a cotton lawn fabric, also from Cotton + Steel. The back is a woven fabric from Anna Maria Horner’s Loominous line.

The textures on this one are amazing, and it feels super light, puffy, and SOFT! I wish you could reach through your screen and feel it!

The Meadowlands – #1 | Throw Size

And finally, I finished my TWO Meadowland quilts that have been in progress for, oh, far too long. I’m telling you, this month was all about finishing the WIPS!

First up is one of my absolute favorite finishes to date, a green Meadowland quilt. It is a mixture of Cotton + Steel, Carolyn Friedlander, and Kona Cotton fabrics. Background is Kona Haze, which is a great light grey/taupe color. The backing is a Robert Kaufman print and it makes me smile every time I look at it. I already had it in my stash, having bought it earlier in the year at a great warehouse sale

Straight line quilted it with a 2″ grid pattern. And my husband has already claimed this one for TV watching. It makes me CRINGE every time he eats Doritos on it, but I keep reminding myself quilts are meant to be used. Quilts are meant to be used…..

Pattern is the Meadowland Quilt by Then Came June.

The Meadowlands – #2 | Small Throw Size

I actually made two of these when I tested the pattern for Then Came June earlier last year. While waiting for fabric delivery of my green fabrics, I dug through my stash and whipped up this fun bright beauty. Also mostly Cotton + Steel fabrics but with some Kona Solids peppered in. It finished at 48″ square, and sat in my “tops to quilt” pile for a long time. Too long.

The kick-in-the-pants to finish this one actually came about when my mom came over and wanted to learn how to pattern match a backing. So, I found a back in my stash that matched this quilt and showed her how it is done. Well, you know, the rest is like the story “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”. Since the back was pieced, I figured I might as well baste it. And since it was basted, I might as well quilt it… and so on. So, thanks Mom!

The binding on this quilt might be one of my favorite things about this quilt. It is an old OLD Cotton + Steel fabric and I think it added just the right touch of whimsy.

Straight line quilted this one also with a 2″ grid because the first one turned out so well that way. HA! This quilt is currently hanging up in our living room behind the TV, and it is really, really brightening up my dreary January. Hurray for finishes!

In Progress

Cloud 9 Celtic Crossing | Throw Size

I resurrected this old WIP because Jason and I have been watching a lot of The Great British Baking Show and I needed something to hand-quilt while I get my fill of Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry. (We started over at Season 1 because Jason had never seen them).

Funny side note, I asked my Welsh brother-in-law if Mary Berry was the British equivalent to Martha Stewart because of the way people were revering her on the show. He said yes, except that she only cooks/bakes and doesn’t do the home décor/crafts that Martha Stewart does. Also, Mary Berry is currently 83 years old. She’s doing good! We might have googled her a bit…. (*obsessed*)

Anyways! Needing something to work on, and not really in the mood to baste, I pulled this beauty out of the closet and have been slowly finishing all the hand-quilting. I wished I had quilted the whole thing in white perle cotton because the quilting would have popped more, but I had already started with matched colors and I didn’t really want to start ALL over. Nevertheless, I’m happy with how it is turning out. And I’m about 6 episodes away from being done. Woohoo!

I Heart You Quilt | Throw Size

I joined the I Heart You Sewalong on Instagram and made this quilt alongside hundreds of other quilters. We lost Jason’s brother to cancer on Christmas Eve, something that has greatly affected our family. Paul was only 43 years old when he passed. This particular project is near and dear to my heart, because when I finish it, I will be raffling it off and all the money raised is going into the education fund that has been set up for Paul’s two young children (7 and 10). I shared memories about Paul while posting my blocks, because he truly was a wonderful person and his loss in this world is a great one.

You can find all my blocks on this project on Instagram under the hashtag #inmemoryofPaulB.

Vintage Lace Quilt | Throw Size

I started testing Lo & Behold Stitchery’s newest pattern, Vintage Lace Quilt. I’m really, really loving Kona Avocado and greens in general lately, so I decided to use it as my background and make the actual “lace” part white, grey, and black. I’m loving it so far!

Misty Mountains Quilt | Baby Size

And finally, a sneak peek! I whipped up the baby size of my newest pattern, Misty Mountains! I’ve had this quilt pattern in my head for a while, and I’m so excited to finally get it out in the world! Hopefully this weekend I can start working on the throw size, and then get it written up and into your hands! Stay tuned!