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What better way to celebrate Worldwide Quilting Day than to kick off the Prairie Home Sampler Sew Along from Lori Holt’s Prairie Home Quilt Book?! This quilt has everything a pioneering quilter could wish to sew, from prairie blooms to bonnets and baskets. Keep reading for all the details needed to participate in the quilty fun!

About The Quilt

A sampler quilt is a great way to celebrate a new quilting book because you get a little taste of everything the book has to offer in one scrumptious quilt! The finished Prairie Home Sampler quilt measures 73.5″ x ...

Y’all have been loving The Quilted Snowman quilt pattern and cross stitch pattern, and we’re so excited to announce that we will be hosting a Quilt Along and Stitch Along for them! Join us for wintry fun featuring The Quilted Snowman by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet starting in January 2025!

The Sew Along

The quilty version of this oh-snow-cute design is perfect for the confident beginner or intermediate quilter ...

 I'm getting closer to finishing up my potato chip quilt.

I got it quilted this weekend. Next step is binding. I have some scrappy binding and I plan to use it for this scrappy quilt.

Check out the backing fabric I used. I found this in my stash.

Today we’ll finish the piecing and do the quilting on the Christmas in July wall hanging. When we left off, there were two pieces ready to add borders. I used strips 2-1/2-inches wide of a dark background border. Begin by adding borders to the top and sides of the tree section.

On the pocket piece, sew borders to the sides and bottom.

Quilt both pieces as desired. Note that the pocket piece is too big right now (top to bottom), that will be adjusted later.

I quilted mine with a swirly freehand design in the white areas that ...

 Things have settled down a bit for the moment with the POS switch. As with so many things, there is a lot of "hurry up and wait" with this. Since I didn't have to focus so much on the POS project last week I was able to get my blocks done.

This week I will try to do the sashing I have planned and write up the instructions for that so that you can finish yours just like mine if you want to. If you don't, it won't hurt my feelings at all. It's YOUR quilt ...

 I'm having to change my point of sale system I use in my shop - not because I want to, I have to. I really love the system I am using, but it's being phased out so I have to switch. I've known this for some time, but recently there have been other factors that have forced me to make this switch immediately as opposed to at the end of the summer, like I planned. 

It's kind of like when you are forced to buy a new sewing machine, not because you want a new one but ...

 How are doing with your Potato Chip variation 2 blocks? I have four blocks completed and the other eight are in progress.

This post contains all of the directions for making ONE Potato Chip Block (Variation 2). The instructions to make the original Potato Chip Block can be found by clicking the following link: Original Potato Chip Block

I cut scraps for most of this quilt. All of the "chip" pieces are scraps. I did use a single fabric as my accent fabric, but you could just pick a color and use a variety of fabrics of the same color. If you want to use the same fabric for the accent as I did, you'll need 1 to 1 1/2 ...

 I started cutting more potato chip pieces (2" by 3 1/2" pieces) in April and told my Facebook Sew Along Group (Alamosa Quilt Company Sew Along Group) that I was going to do another sew along with these in May. Well, May is almost over. I got sidetracked with "business stuff" that required my immediate attention. Then I was trying to do too much at once with this project. I have several different variations planned that I want to share with you. I was trying to do that all at once, but I think one at a time will ...

Vanessa will be going LIVE to show you tell you all about the Essentials Wallet Sew Along that starts tomorrow, April 4, 2024. She will also be answering questions live about the wallet & course.

She will also share what she’s been making with her new laser cutting & engraving machine. Lots of fun crafts to chat about on today’s show! Join us!

Essentials Wallet Course on sale: https://craftygemini.com/shop/essentials-wallet/

Laser cutting machine I use to make wooden earrings (affiliate link): https://shrsl.com/4grfb

Easter earring cut file I used (affiliate link): https://www.creativefabrica.com ...

 Block 15 of the Sew-a-Long 1930s Style is the Martha Washington Star. I have done a previous post on this pattern but it's worth looking at again.

 I am preparing to run a Block of the Week sew-a-long and I would love you to join me!

What's involved?  

The sew-a-long is based on traditional blocks from the 1930s. Everyone is familiar with the Kansas City Star newspaper that printed a patchwork pattern every week. The KC Star was certainly the first and the longest running pattern publisher, but did you know that there were dozens of syndicated columns with hundreds of newspapers also publishing patterns?  That is the inspiration for this sew-a-long.

 Each 6-inch block will be accompanied by some historic information, a picture of the ...

 I just realized I left you hanging. I never shared my completed Improv Triangle Sewalong quilt.... although I did share some of my process here. Well it's finished! Introducing, Triangles everywhere, all at once...

The improv triangle units were made using the process Nicholas Ball spells out in his book, Inspiring Improv. I used fabric I had painted with my gel plate and acrylic paints for the triangles and assorted teal, aqua and orange solids from my stash.

When it came time to quilt, I went a little bananas! It is all walking foot quilted on my domestic machine ...

 My second finish for this week!

This was the project from my most recent Sew Along from earlier this month. Such a fun and easy block to make!

Cindy C. also participated and sent me a photo of her completed top.

Cindy used a variety of light colored solids for the light fabric in her blocks. I love it!

Both of our quilts finish at 40" by 48" which is a great baby quilt size and charity quilt size.

If you want to make one too, the instructions for this block can be found by following the link above the ...

 I've been working to finish things recently.

Some folks have told me that it looks like a jumbled mess. Yes, it's hard to see the actual block and it's really scrappy. There was no plan for this. I just started sewing pieces together and didn't worry too much about it. But I like scrappy quilts. And I like this one. If you don't, then fine - it's not your quilt.

Barb H. participated in the Sew Along too and recently sent me a photo of her finished quilt. She took color into account when making ...