Category
- 2024 Quilting Goals
- 2025 Quilting Goals
- Antique Quilts
- Charm Pack Projects
- Christmas in July 2025
- Countdown to Christmas
- Fabric Panels
- Holiday Projects
- Jelly Rolls
- Layer Cake Quilts
- Lessons from an Old Quilt
- Pillow Making
- Precut Projects
- Quilt Blocks
- Quilt Blocks Inspired By Antique Quilts
- Quilting Tips
- Scrap Projects
- Sewing Room Organization
- Small Sewing Projects
2025 Quilting Habits: October Update
The rest of September and beginning of October was a busy! I kicked things off by sharing my Scrappy Pumpkin Tutorial on September 14, and it’s been all things autumn ever since.
Earlier in the month, I spent a few wonderful days in the Lancaster area. I attended the AQS Quilt Show on September 10 and loved catching up with so many familiar faces. A big thank you to everyone who stopped to say hello! Later in the month, Mom and I went back to Lancaster to see Noah at Sight & Sound, which was such a fantastic experience.
At home, the harvest season is still in full swing. I made more sauce for the winter, snacked on sweet concord grapes from Dad’s garden, and picked up mums and pumpkins from local farms to bring a little fall color inside. Mom and I also made a trip to the Covered Bridge Festival in Bloomsburg, PA — always a favorite fall tradition!
In the sewing room, I took a much-needed break from filming and focused on finishing some long-term projects. I wrapped up my fall quilt from last year, pieced together the hexie quilt I started ages ago, completed my mile-a-minute house quilt top, and even found time to play with scraps from that project. I also stitched up a fun witch’s hat for my youngest son’s girlfriend, Katie. It was a request from her and she loved it! And just for something different, I made a quirky little ghost sweatshirt too.
Lessons from an Old Trip Around the World Quilt
Let’s talk about this incredible antique Trip Around The World quilt that is made with postage stamp blocks. This style gained popularity during the 1930s, when scrap use and resourcefulness were a necessity. Quilters often turned to every bit of fabric they had on hand, cutting squares as small as an inch to make the most of every scrap. The name Trip Around the World reflects the way the colors move outward in concentric rings, or trips, while “Postage Stamp” aspects of this one highlights the quilt’s tiny pieces that remind us of postage stamps.
Scrappy Pumpkin Quilt Block
Join me as we make this adorable, scrappy pumpkin quilt block — perfect for fall sewing! This easy 12.5" (unfinished) block is full of possibilities. Make just one to turn into a mug rug, hot pad, placemat, or even a cute pillow. Or, sew several together for a festive table runner or cozy autumn throw. Want to add a personal touch? Try appliqué leaves, a jack-o’-lantern face, or a bit of embroidery to bring your pumpkin to life!
2025 Quilting Habits: September Update
September was such a full and fun month! Our youngest son Mitchell came to visit from Vermont, and we spent time relaxing, thrifting, eating great food, and playing many games of Azul. I also went to an auction with my parents where I “won” two vintage quilts, and yes, the pie in the picture is from that same auction—yum! In the sewing room, I shared a new Just One Layer Cake quilt tutorial featuring Acorn Hollow by BasicGrey for Moda, and I quilted both that project and my Sew Merry scrappy quilt. My friend Sharon gifted me more thrifted wreaths and some beautiful vintage metal trays, while at home it’s been all about harvest season—lots of roasted tomato sauce batches and fresh corn from my dad’s amazing garden went into the freezer. I finally tackled that giant roll of batting I bought a few months ago and prepped a ton of quilts for quilting, which felt so good. On the milestone front, the channel reached 60K subscribers this month—thank you all so much for being here and supporting this quilting journey! And last but not least, Daisy is recovering well from her surgery; she isn’t too fond of physical therapy (who is?), but she’s powering through.
FIVE Scrap-Buster Sewing Projects To Make
Looking for fun and creative scrappy projects to make while using up piles of scraps? Join the quilting fun with these! I have picked five of my favorite scrappy projects and brought them together in one place! Let’s dig in and get sewing!
Layer Cake Quilt: Squares!
Want to learn to make a fast and super easy quilt out of just one layer cake? You are in the right place for this quilting tutorial! I will show you have to take just ONE layer cake (or set of (42) 10" squares) and make an amazing lap-size quilt. Come with me as I take you step-by-step in this easy quilt tutorial! I will show you all the tips and tricks that goes into making this one.
2025 Quilting Habits: August Update
Imagine my surprise when I went back to look at the last habit update video that I made, only to realize it was posted on May 25th! WHAT? Time just slipped away, I guess! I figure I have two choices: stop posting these (which I am not going to do) or just pick up where we left off and carry on. I am going to offer myself grace with this. It has been a crazy summer, and although I didn’t get the habit videos recorded, I have been working on the habits I want to continue to establish. That said, I have to admit that without the accountability of the videos, I don’t think I did as well as I could have. Let me know what you think!
Lessons from an Old Blue & White quilt
Wow, is this antique quilt a beauty! This blue & white two-color quilt is made up of a few quilt blocks that are brought together to create this stunning quilt. The pieces are tiny and meticulously hand-pieced. There are even pieced blocks as cornerstones! Three of the four sides has appliqué borders, too. Let's look at this old quilt and see what we, as modern makers, can learn from this antique quilt.
Journal Pen Holders
Let’s make a journal pocket pen holder! I will take you through all the steps in making this, from beginning to end. These wonderful small sewing projects are great for beginners. They make great gifts, items to sell, or something nice for yourself.
Sew Merry Scrap Block
This simple sixteen-patch block is so much fun to make! Just by changing the colors, the color placement, or both can change the entire look of this block. It also works so well with all holidays and seasons.
Christmas in July 2025
Welcome to my Christmas in July 2025 series—a month-long celebration of festive sewing and quilting. Each day in July, I’ll be sharing a short, creative, holiday-inspired video to help you get a head start on your handmade gifts, décor, and projects. In this Christmas in July series, I will be sharing scrap-friendly ideas, quick quilt blocks and projects, and just a bunch of mid-summer merriment. I can't wait to share everything I have in store!
Lessons From An Old Half-Square Triangle Quilt
Antique quilts are my favorite, and this one is no exception! I just love how the maker used a simple scrappy half-square triangle block, or as sometimes called HST, to make a lovely quilt. Half square triangles are so versatile and quilts made with half square triangles are stunning. We can see from vintage and antique quilts that this isn't a new idea in quilt making. It is a classic design that we can all use to make amazing quilts from scraps.
2025 Habits: May Update
I decided in December 2023 and the beginning of January to change some things in my quilting life that just weren’t working for me. After evaluating the good, bad, and ugly, I came up with my top five habits I wanted to implement in 2024.
Since 2024 was so successful, I am continuing this series in 2025! Each month I will update you on my progress. My goal of these videos is to help inspire you, but these videos and blogs also have helped keep me accountable. After all, I know I will be reporting to all of YOU on this, and I don’t want to let you down.
Just One Layer Cake
Are you ready for two projects in one? Not only am I going to show you have to make a quilt using just one layer cake, but I am also going to show you how to expand a layer cake by using your scraps. A little history first: I have a video where I showed how to curate scrap from our own stash to extend a layer cake. You can read that blog HERE and watch the video HERE. If you saw those, this is the moment you have been waiting for! I bring them together!
Expanding Your Precuts
Ever buy a layer cake or any precut but aren’t sure what to make? And if you can’t figure out what to make, you don’t have enough fabric to make the project and aren’t sure what to do? Then the layer cake, stacker, jelly roll, or whatever pre-cut you have just sits on a shelf or in a bin waiting for the right project. I think this has happened to all of us. I am here to help you expand on your pre-cuts.
2025 Habits: April Update
Since my last update in March, I have been working on some projects (but not overdoing it); setting some goals and re-establishing some healthy habits; and getting back on track. Spring is definitely springing in my part of the world. Here are a few photos from the past month.
Patchwork to Backpack: A Vintage Quilt Transformation
When I was given this antique quilt that had seen better days, I knew it still had more to its story. Because it was tattered and unusable, I decided to save what I could. I started by deconstructing it, saving all the Northern Light quilt blocks that I could, and repurposing them. At the time, however, I wasn’t sure what I was going to make. I only knew I wanted to save the blocks.
2025 Habits: March Update
Oh, what a month! I am still struggling with Shingles. Sigh. Yes, still. I am on another round of antivirals, and I have good days and bad days. Needless to say, I am still not where I want to be, but I am better than I was, so that’s good. It has definitely taught me about patience and made me slow down some. Maybe that is what I needed to do anyway, right?
Quilting (and Sewing) for a Cause
If you’ve ever wondered, “Where can I donate my quilts, fabric scraps, or handmade items?”, you’re in the right place. Whether you love quilting, sewing clothing, or whipping up small projects, there are so many organizations that would love to receive your handmade goodness. From quilts for veterans to blankets for shelter pets, and even dresses for children around the world—there’s a perfect cause for every kind of maker.
Lessons From An Old Double Wedding Ring Quilt
Come with me as we explore this amazing double wedding ring quilt sent to me by a viewer. Between the itty bitty pieces and the wonderful hand quilting, you will love it as much as I do! Let’s take a closer look at this and see what we, as modern makers, can learn from quilters in the past.