Katie Loves Flowers

Katie Loves Flowers, July 2026

I just finished this quilt on Saturday and couldn't wait to share with you. I absolutely love these bright colored flowers. It's my current favorite.

This pretty block is a vintage Laura Wheeler pattern from the 1930's and 40's, originally called America's Pride. I sent a request to Norma Grimmer at Blue Wren in Australia to build me a custom die, and it's now in their catalog under the name Oopsy Daisy. 

It sews together beautifully, and I didn't even have to pin those curves! I did the piecing on Bogart (Bogie), a 1942 model Singer 99, a blackside model with the wrinkle finish. Such a smooth running machine with precise stitches, link to read his restoration story.

For quilting I switched to the Janome, using white thread to outline those sweet curves, then serpentine stitches across the block seam lines. 

Katie Loves Flowers was created with fat quarters and remnants, plus fresh white muslin and a black weave print. It's the perfect snuggle size at 48” square.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6816 Oopsy Daisy 12” block
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

Dreamy Lattice

Dreamy Lattice, March 2026

Peach and green prints combined with crisp white for a lovely lattice pattern in today's quilt. I think these muted colors have a vintage look.

I love working with geometric shapes like trapezoids and triangles to create different blocks. There are so many options and layouts that I'll never be able to sew them all. EQ8 software makes it fun to experiment with color choices before I start cutting.

After sewing the top, I added a wide border made up of strips and rectangles. I did free motion quilting in a ribbon pattern along the trapezoids with white thread, then switched to straight stitch in rows for the borders.

Dreamy Lattice is 61” square, and was completed in March.

Accuquilt dies used:
55763 Trapezoid 45° 4”
55021 HST 2”
55159 Rectangles 2” x 4” border
55017 Strips 2½” binding & border

Four Winds

Four Winds, February 2026

I can't believe we've already started the second half of 2026. I stitched this quilt back in February when it was cold.

The rose and gold prints blend nicely with the off-white burlap background. These spinner blocks are quick and easy to sew and I designed, cut, and finished the whole quilt in 3 days.

Piecing was done on Violet, my beautifully painted Singer 99. I've added a link to her story. She's now sporting a custom modified spool stand, courtesy of my in-house sewing machine expert. I truly love using all the machines we've repaired and restored.

Using Janelle (Janome MC 9450) I quilted diagonal double rows of serpentines across the blocks with cream thread. 

Four Winds finished at 49” square, and was quilt #10 for the year. I've been full of ideas and using tons of fabric from my stash. I just started on #29! Could be going for a record here, we'll see.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6557 Spinner 8”
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

Everyday America

Everyday America, May 2026

How can it already be the end of June? Time seems to be flying by at record speed. We've been busy with everyday life, settling into and organizing our home.

I am back to my normal pace in the sewing room, with a backlog of ideas waiting to be started. Today's quilt is a vintage 1920's design called Rob Peter To Pay Paul. It was also published as Sugar Bowl, Orange Peel, Turn About, and Pin Cushion. It would have been fairly common to see during the 20's through the 60's.

Red, white and blue remnants are perfect for this patriotic layout. The Janome with her HP ¼” foot made piecing these precise curves easy. I quilted in rows 2½” apart in a scallop stitch with white thread. Everyday America is 44” square, and completed in May.

With July comes the heat of summer. Temps are predicted in the high 90's with heat indexes around 110 degrees all this week in Tennessee. Guess I have no choice but to stay inside and catch up on my quilting projects! Y'all stay cool for Independence Day!

Accuquilt dies used:
55066 & 55067 Rob Peter To Pay Paul
55017 Strips 2½” binding

 

Kilkenny

Kilkenny, March 2026

This quilt design was an experiment with leftovers and a new die. Creating variations of blocks is one of my favorite pastimes and this was a definite success.

I added a white on natural fabric to green scraps from my Forest Path quilt to make 5” x 7¼” rectangle blocks, using pieces from the Flying Fish die. I set the prints in rows with a strip between each one.

I quilted with variegated green thread, outlining the green pieces with straight stitch, then adding a triple serpentine across the strips. A thrifted lime & green striped sheet made perfect backing and binding.

Kilkenny finished out at 45” x 55” size. I'm so happy with the results of my thinking outside the block experiment! It's very satisfying to create a beautiful bonus quilt from remnants and a random idea.

Accuquilt dies used:
55498 Flying Fish 9” BOB
55017 Strips 2½” strips & binding

 

Leisure Time

Leisure Time, May 2026

Well, this queen size quilt took me a while to finish. I designed and cut it in March, then finally on May 20^th I sewed on the binding.

Whew, what a challenge! I'm used to sewing quilts quickly, but I had to take my time, even set this one aside, because my right wrist was giving me fits. I thought it was sprained, but the doc said it was tenosynovitis. Lucky me. Ice packs, rest, a splint and no heavy lifting.

I chose navy, green and blue scraps to complement our sea green bedroom. The modified kite blocks were fun to sew, using larger sides than normal and trimming the corners. I had the top done before my wrist let me down. I added a wide green striped border made from a thrifted sheet, plus light blue swirl 108” backing.

It took a while to pin the layers, since it's larger than my work table. For quilting, I used light blue thread and a gentle wave ruler to stitch an allover rectangular fishnet pattern. All sewing and quilting was done on the Janome MC9450, and that was a chore to manage with a splint on my hand.

Leisure Time finished out at 95” square and looks beautiful on our bed. She's a big 'un! I don't make this size very often, and it will be quite some time before I consider another. I'll stick to my lap size designs.

Accuquilt dies used:
55254 Kite 4” finished
55821 Triangle in Square sides 5”
55017 Strips 2½”binding

Flag Day

Flag Day, June 2026

I've been meaning to make this wall hanging for several years. I decided to drape it over one of our porch swings for decoration.

This version of a flag quilt is made of tumbler blocks with scraps of navy, red, and white and a navy border. Piecing was easy on Rockette, my Singer 500A. For quilting I switched to Janome and quilted a simple serpentine stitch horizontally across the strips.

This little one was a quickie, completed in 2 days from cutting to binding. I'll probably leave it on the porch until mid July since it's in the shade.

Accuquilt dies used:
55445 Tumbler 4½”
55017 Strips 2½” 

Gulf Shores

Gulf Shores, May 2026

Soft lapping waves on a white sand beach, cool morning breeze, coffee in hand, total relaxation...oh, sorry, I was daydreaming.

I'm sadly not at my favorite beach retreat, but one fabric in this quilt was bought a few years ago in Summerdale, Alabama. I knew it would be perfect for the River die that I recently ordered from Blue Wren.

These curves are so easy to sew that I didn't have to use pins. I pieced them on Janome MC9450 using the HP ¼” foot. Light blue swirls, polka dots, and floral print combine for a simple wavy design.

I quilted with blue thread in a straight stitch, following along the curved seams. Gulf Shores finished at 48” square. I'll crave a beach trip every time I see this one.

Bonus: I always cut and stitch a sample for each new die, so here's a cute table mat to show an alternate layout for this block. I'll definitely use that in a quilt when I get a chance, along with the curvy river design. Too many ideas, not enough time!

River Circle

LOVE my Blue Wren dies!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6622 River 8” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2” (binding) 

Early Spring

Early Spring, March 2026

This pretty quilt reminds me of springtime. The light blue with colorful dots, a coordinating coral red hashed pattern, and crisp white are perfect for this block design.

Star and Cross is a vintage pattern from the 1930's and 40's, also published as Shining Hour and North Star. I love how the stars are split by the crosses. It looks complicated but is really simple to sew. I added a couple of borders to frame it up.

I pieced everything on Rockette, my Singer 500A. White thread was used for quilting through the center of each white cross and along either side, using a utility multi zig-zag and straight stitch on Janelle (Janome MC9450).  Early Spring finished at 50" square. 

These colors seemed like the perfect choice for today's Memorial Day blog. We finally got some of the rain we needed, over 4” this past week through yesterday. Still cloudy with a chance today so probably no picnic around here. It's been nice to sit on the screened porch though, listening to rain on the roof and watching that grass green up.

Accuquilt dies used:
55635 Star & Cross 10” BOB
55017 Strips 2½”
55032 Strips 3½”

Busy Work

Busy Work, February 2026

What could be better than experimenting with blocks and using colorful scraps? This cute design uses some of my favorite fabrics plus some odd bits and pieces.

I browsed my bins of triangles to create bright color combinations to go with 3” signature cuts. All blocks were stitched on my Singer 301 Laney, making a few at a time between other projects or when I had a minute.

The result is another bonus quilt to add to the collection. After sewing blocks together, I used a sheet for backing. Quilting was done with a serpentine stitch in vertical rows, using a walking foot on the Janome. 

Busy Work seemed like the perfect name for this 48” square beauty. I finished it back in February. Of course, there are many remnants left to sew since I generate more with each new quilt. A happy problem to have, I think!

Accuquilt dies used:
55729 Signature 3½”
55818 Bowtie HST 1½”
55147 HST 2¼”
55017 Strips 2½” binding

Star Power

Star Power, February 2026

One patch quilts can be simple or detailed, depending on design and color choices. This one features muted blue floral, medium white dots on gray, and black/white weaver print fabric.

I wanted four inch 60° diamonds but didn't have that specific die, so I cut them with a strip die. I first did layout in EQ8, then put the diamonds on my design wall before sewing together in sections.

Star Power is 48” x 52” finished. I quilted with blue thread, using a free motion meander stitch for the star, then switched to straight stitch along the seam lines for the perimeter area.

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Last week was fabulous: We finally got some rain! I received three new dies from Blue Wren in Australia, found amazing fabric bargains (79 yards for $174) at a consignment sale, and visited with family I haven't seen in a while.

Accuquilt dies used:

55054 Strips 4½”
55017 Strips 2½” binding

Willy-Nilly

Willy-Nilly, January 2026

To say that I have an abundance of scraps is certainly an understatement. The best thing about all these remnants is always having the makings for a quilt. I have hundreds of photo ideas clipped and stored, many more sketched in notebooks, plus dozens designed in EQ8.

This colorful 6” block is made up of triangles and chisels, turned to make secondary designs. I started with leftover cuts, then sorted through the scrap basket for more. It's such a pleasure to find and use fabric I haven't seen in a while.

All the blocks were randomly pieced and joined on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight. I quilted on the Janome MC 9450, using dark beige thread in a straight stitch on each side of the main seams.

Willy-Nilly seemed the perfect name for this crazy quilt, finishing at 49” square. It was a lovely way to spend a few days in my cozy sewing room during a cold snap in January.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6274 Chisels 2” x 6”

Accuquilt -
55039 Chisels 3” x 6”
55031 HST 4”
55009 HST 3”
55017 Strips 2"

Distraction

Distraction, January 2026

It's no secret that purple is my favorite color, even though there aren't too many hues that I don't like. I'm definitely a color lovin' woman. For this simple design, I wanted to use some large and medium florals that have been in my stash for a while.

I added pink, purple, and green scraps in coordinating colors along with a white-on-white print and black & white mini gingham. These half and quarter square triangles are easy to stitch, especially on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight.

A sweet paisley print in purple, green & cream was perfect for backing and binding this 50” square quilt called Distraction. I quilted on the Janome with pale gray thread, using a utility zig-zag stitch in diagonal rows, plus straight stitching along horizontal and vertical seams.

I'm off to do some more rain dancing, since we are so very dry. April showers are needed for May flowers, and we have only had 0.65” so far this whole month. Not your usual rainy April in Tennessee, despite several storms passing us by.

Accuquilt dies used:

55001 HST 6½”

55002 QST 6½”

55017 Strips 2½”

Good Fortune

Good Fortune, February 2026

I just can't let a good remnant go to waste! I love combining colorful scraps with neutral hues in some of my quilts. They're a little less busy, emphasizing the block design.

Today's quilt features the Road to Fortune block. I chose light gray linen print with black & white weaver, both fabrics from Marshall Dry Goods, to go with my bright colors.

I did layout in EQ8, then pieced the blocks on Laney, my lovely painted Singer 301. Simple straight stitch quilting with light gray thread in vertical lines 1½” apart was completed on my Janome MC9450. Good Fortune is 46” square.

Die used: Accuquilt 55586 Road To Fortune 9" BOB

Minnie Deakins quilts

Side note: Last Friday I attended the 36^th Annual Upper Cumberland Quilt Festival in Algood, Tennessee. Oh, the amazing quilts I saw! Displays of antique and new creations with intricate stitching, in both modern and traditional layouts. Such talented quilters! I'm freshly inspired with ideas and color combinations. My wish list is now miles long.

I think my favorite display was the quilts of Miss Minnie Deakins. Her tiny hand stitched miniature pieces were astounding. I don't think I'll ever attempt ½” blocks, but seeing them in person made my day. She lived to be 101, quilted all her life, and was featured in several magazine articles over the years.

Tried & True

Tried & True - January 2026

This is what happens when you have lots of tiny remnants and find a die on sale that uses small pieces. It was a perfect project for that snowy, icy week in January.

I upended my scrap baskets to dig out navy, blue, and aqua bits for this one, combining with natural muslin. Layout alternated the 6” Priscilla Stripes and simple half-square triangle blocks, with a border added.

Piecing was done on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight with her perfect little stitches. I switched to the Janome for quilting, using a ruler guide and walking foot to sew a 3” cross hatch pattern with cream thread.

Tried & True finished out at 49” square. I'll definitely be using this die again for a random scrappy quilt to use more leftover fabric. Could be time to schedule a marathon cutting session to manage those overflowing bins of bits!

Accuquilt dies used:

55607 Priscilla Stripe 6” finished
55009 HST 3½”
55017 Strips 2½” binding
55032 Strips 3½” border

Savannah Spring

Savannah Spring, December 2025

Colors of springtime include lilac and lavender, and they happen to be my favorites. I added in a dash of lime for contrast to make this quilt sing.

Large 8” triangles made piecing easy on my Singer 221 Featherweight, Annie. Switching to the Janome, I used lilac thread and a walking foot to quilt straight lines along all seams to emphasize the triangle shapes.

Finished and gifted last December, Savannah Spring finished out at 48” x 50” size. I wanted to keep this one, but I can and mostly likely will make another in similar colors.

I've been resting some from our improvement projects, and sneezing my way through this unpredictable spring weather. There's a new set of allergens over this way, but I'm getting a handle on it.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6568 Equilateral Triangle 8”
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2”

Olivia's Choice

Hot pink, orange, and teal scraps come together for an exciting quilt. Made with simple squares and rectangles, the colors capture all the attention here.  

The back is no different, with large sections of orange dots and hot pink gingham. Color choice was selected by the teenager who received this lap size quilt as a gift last December.

Piecing perfect little seams on Annie, my Singer Featherweight 221, is always a dream. For quilting I switched to the Janome, using serpentine & straight stitches in orange thread. Olivia's Choice finished at 48” square.

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I didn't have much time for quilting last week because yard work was on the schedule. I learned a new skill (running a trencher) and practiced manual labor tasks such as shoveling/spreading dirt, fitting pipes, scattering grass seed/straw and general labor. Running two drain lines isn't bad exercise for two 70+ year olds, although we followed up with Aleve and heating pads.

Now on to some landscaping and maybe time for a quilt session this week.

Dies used:

Accuquilt 55021 Lg. Value die: 4" square, 2" square

Blue Wren 6047 Rectangle 2" x 6"

Breezy

Inspiration and ideas have been coming from everywhere for me lately. I had a great time going through remnants and scrap baskets to make this cheerful little quilt. I wanted bright clear colors to contrast with the black weaver print background.

Curved designs are some of my favorites, and this Blue Wren die makes them easy to stitch. I cut all the pieces right side up in order to arrange the four patch blocks in this way. Adding the setting triangles made the block sit on point.

I quilted with white thread using a serpentine stitch and walking foot along the seam lines. The quilt finished out at 45” square. Breezy seemed like a good name because of the fan-like effect. I finished it in January when it was cold, icy, and snowy.

Speaking of precipitation, Tennessee has had plenty of crazy weather this year, especially last week. Last Sunday was a balmy 75° with thunderstorms that brought hail, tornado warnings, and high winds. By early Monday morning it was 21° and snowed most of the day, enough that I made snow cream for lunch. Wednesday it was 72° and sunny. Yesterday's 86° was near a record high, with blue clear skies. 

Whew, Mother Nature is either throwing a hissy fit, or just showing off.  

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6633 Wave Peak 4” block

Accuquilt 55399 Quarter Square Triangles 8”

Emerald Braid

Are you ready for St. Patrick's Day? I pretty much have to celebrate this holiday, because of my name and my naturally curly red (well, previously red) hair.

Our new home has several rooms painted in different shades of green, so I've been stitching more green quilts for decorating. I made this table runner last November and it's still on the oak buffet in our foyer.

I used a couple of fat quarters and a white on natural print for this quick and easy project. Simple 5” squares with half-square triangles were laid out in a braid pattern. I pieced it on Annie, my sweet little Featherweight and quilted in a straight stitch with green thread. Emerald Braid is 52” x 13½” finished.

Wishing you a happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, and don't forget to wear green or the leprechauns will pinch you!

Accuquilt dies used:

55010 Square 5”
55397 Half-square triangle 4½”
55017 Strips 2½” binding 

Forest Path

Things are beginning to green up around here, as my mama used to say. Springtime brings nature's mix of colors and hues to inspire me. I used a variety of those dark and medium green shades in this modern style hexagon quilt.

It went together easily using half-hexagon and equilateral triangle dies. I laid the sections out on my design wall before sewing them together in rows.

Quilting was done with a straight stitch 1” away from each seam, using variegated green thread and a walking foot. The even stitching really emphasizes the hexagon and triangle shapes.  

Forest Path finished out at 52” x 56” throw size, and is folded nicely on my hallway quilt rack. This one is definitely a keeper!

Accuquilt dies used:

55437 Half-hexagon 4¼” finished
55429 Equilateral Triangle 4¼” finished
55017 Strips 2½” binding

Doc's Folly

Doc's Folly

I love vintage quilt block designs, and Propeller is one of my favorites. Published as Air Ship Propeller in the Kansas City Star around 1938, you could buy the pattern by mail order. I ordered this die from Blue Wren a few years ago.

My latest version features black, cream, light red, and melon remnant prints. It has a kind of steam punk look with this coloring. I designed it in EQ8 and cut most of the pieces last November. I pieced the block in January on Annie, my Singer Featherweight 221, also using it to applique the center circles.

As I was arranging the blocks on my design board, my husband walked in and wondered if I could shift the rows, and I love the effect. He also helped choose the center circle fabric, and named the quilt Doc's Folly. He's a wonderful supporter of my quilting obsession and definitely a keeper!

I used a tan vine print sheet for backing, and free motion quilted in a large meandering stitch with tan thread on the Janelle, my Janome MC9450. Finished size is 50” square, and it's folded over the love seat in our living room right now.

See you next week!

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6924 Propeller 10” block
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

New Beginnings

This was the first quilt designed and completed in my new sewing space during October 2025. It was wonderful to get back to sewing, especially in my freshly organized room.

A variety of navy, blue, rust and orange prints were pulled from current inventory and scrap boxes to make triangles in a square. Medium blue blender fabric was used for sashing; a vintage blue checked sheet provided plenty of yardage for borders and the backing.

Quilting was done in serpentine stitch rectangles with blue thread. Appropriately named New Beginnings, this one's 55” square, stitched completely on my Janome Horizon MC 9450.

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55820 and 55821 Triangle in Square 5” finished
55017 Strips 2½” sashing
55032 Strips 3½” borders

Lightly Toasted

I took a break from bright colors for this soft neutral baby quilt. A trio of rectangles in tan and cream small prints are turned on point and alternated with beige gingham squares.

Lightly Toasted is 40” square, and quilted diagonally with tan thread using a utility zig-zag stitch. It's easy on the eyes and perfect for a little cowboy's room.

I finished this one last spring, right before packing up my sewing gear. I can't believe I went more than six months without quilting, but I somehow survived. Wouldn't want to do that again, ever! Now I'm blissfully back in my happy place, quilting nearly every day.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6047 Rectangles 2” x 6” 

Accuquilt
55000 Square 6”
55001 Half Square Triangle 6”
55002 Quarter Square Triangle 6”
55017 Strips 2”

Girly Hearts

Here's a sweet lap quilt for Valentine's Day that's fun and easy to sew.

Pink scrappy hearts float on a lavender floral background, with a border of parallelograms around the perimeter. Girly Hearts is 48” square, and quilted with white thread in a free motion meandering stitch. I stitched and quilted on Janelle, my Janome MC9450 machine.

The Half Hearted die from Blue Wren is definitely one I'll use again. I actually sewed this quilt in December 2024, before packing up everything for our move. 

I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head that I don't know what to do next. Good thing I have a pending projects list, although it is getting longer and longer.

My current focus is cutting into my mountain of remnants. I can't stand to throw away even the smallest bits of fabric! Thankfully some of my dies can cut tiny pieces so I don't have to do it with scissors like our grannies did. Watch for lots of wild colorful quilts later this year.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
  6911 Half Hearted 9” block
  6015 Strips 1½”

Accuquilt
  55004 Parallelograms 3”
 55008 HST 3”

Knockout

Knockout

All these colors and circles make me so happy! It was a pleasure to design and sew this bright 50” square lap quilt. It started with a slightly different layout, but sometimes I let the fabric tell me what it wants to be.

The large Amy Butler print gave me color guidance and I pulled scraps and pieces from my stash to coordinate the prints. Yellow, blue, pink, green, melon, aqua, and lime make a glorious splash, don't they?

Simple 12” blocks made with Blue Wren's Curve in a Square 6” die made quick work of this one. I quilted in randomly spaced rows with yellow thread and a rolling wave ruler on my Janome. The backing is a solid yellow sheet; binding is wider than normal to showcase the large print.

It is, I believe, a Knockout! I'll make it again with different colors.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6602 Curve in a Square 6” quarter square
Accuquilt 55032 Strips 3” finished (for binding)

Update on the week's weather: We did not get 24” of snow last Saturday, it was more like 2” with the unfortunate 1/4” ice topping that made everything slick and dangerous. No power outage for us, however our home town had to deal with slightly more snow and twice the ice, causing nearly a week without electricity and limited travel due to falling trees, power lines, and unsafe roads. Winter in Tennessee can be a challenge.