ZZ Top

ZZ Top, August 2026

Sometimes the simplest shapes can be combined to create unique designs. I started this quilt by cutting up medium sized scraps into half square triangles and rectangles. I had no particular layout in mind.

By the time I had added some natural muslin and sewed a few blocks, an idea popped into my head and this quilt was the result. By flipping two sections together, the Z began to take shape when I added 1” muslin sashing.

After I finished the blocks, I remembered a colorful guitar print for a border and backing, so naming it ZZ Top made perfect sense to me. I pieced everything on my Singer 99 called Bogart. I chose a utility zig-zag stitch for quilting on the Janome.

ZZ Top finished at 46” x 54” and yes, I definitely played their music and even danced a little bit while working on this one. Such a fun and happy quilt!

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55031 Half Square Triangle 4” finished
55159 Rectangle 2” x 4” finished
Blue Wren 6015 Strips 1” finished

 

Eureka!

Eureka! August 2026

I finally solved the puzzle to make this block with dies. It’s my variation of the Wensleydale by Jen Kingwell. I love her work and admire all her beautiful designs.

There’s a back story here. First, I do NOT enjoy paper piecing—too much cutting and trimming and tearing. I’m spoiled by my Accuquilt cutter, dies, and Blue Wren dies. With them I rarely have to trim or square up blocks after sewing.

I wanted to find an easy way to reproduce the Wensleydale look using the dies I have but just couldn’t figure it out. After several attempts and adjusting my design more than once, I finally have a similar version that I like. Here’s a few photos to show how it goes together.

The center is Blue Wren’s 3” x 6” Diamond in Rectangle, then I added Accuquilt’s 3” Triangle in Square sections and finished off with 3” x 6” Half Rectangle Triangles around the block. It is not a perfect copy of her design but my interpretation of that style.

It felt so great to finish this quilt. I used blue, green, tan, cream and white scraps. After joining the blocks, I added 3” borders. Quilting with light blue thread, I outlined the large diamonds in straight stitches. Eureka! finished at 53” square.

If you like paper piecing, please buy Jen Kingwell’s books and templates to make her Wensleydale design. You may reproduce my die cut version for your own use, but, as with all my quilts, please do not publish or sell the pattern.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6381 Diamond in a Rectangle 3” x 6” finished

Accuquilt
55027 Triangle in a Square 3” finished
55411 Half Rectangle Triangle 3” x 6” finished
55032 Strips 3” borders
55017 Strips 2” binding

Yacht Club

Yacht Club, June 2026

It’s Labor Day so a lot of folks are probably out on the lake. We don’t have a boat, but I enjoy watching from shore.

A friend gave me this large nautical flag print and a couple of coordinating fabrics a few years ago. (Thanks, Mary!) The red, white, navy and aqua colors seemed like a good fit for this quilt. 

I used elements from the Galaxy of Stars die by Blue Wren to cut my shapes, adding 1” sashing between the blocks. I added 6” wide borders of the flag print. 

I did all the piecing with Midnight, a beautifully painted Singer 404. For quilting I switched to the Janome, using white thread and a scallop stitch diagonally 2” apart across the quilt.

I used the rest of the flag print for backing, framing it with red polka dot borders. This is a bright quilt! Yacht Club is 54” square.

Stay safe and enjoy the day!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6969 Galaxy of Stars 9” finished
6015 Strips 1½” sashing

Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

In Bloom

In Bloom, June 2026

Pretty pink roses and an aqua blue sky remind me of an early summer morning. That’s when I was working on this quilt, testing out a new die that I found on sale.

Friendship Chain is an old design and it’s always fun using my vintage Singer machines to sew those blocks. Violet, our painted Singer 99, is so quiet, smoothly making perfect stitches.

The fabrics blend perfectly together, even though they are from different decades. I chose a large rose floral print for backing. Quilting with light blue thread using a serpentine stitch, I criss-crossed a diagonal grid across the quilt.

In Bloom measures 51” square and was completed in early June. Flowers, quilts, sewing, and antiques make me feel creative and happy.

Accuquilt dies used:
55441 Friendship Chain 10” BOB
55017 Strips 2½”

Big Charmer

Big Charmer, April 2026

This year seems to have a scrappy theme going. I enjoyed sewing these nine large 16” blocks with fresh colors of green, gold, orange, pink, blue and aqua prints.

I laid out the quilt in EQ8, but when I placed the pieces on my wall, it needed something, so I made a design change to add the 3" corner triangles. I’m never afraid to switch things around.

Squares, half-square triangles, and quarter square triangles make up the two slightly different blocks. I quilted with pale yellow thread, using a gentle wave ruler to create an edge to edge fishnet pattern.

Big Charmer is 49” square and has a vintage feel to it. And, believe it or not, I still have tons of remnants left for my next brainstorm.

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55031 HST 4½”
55711 QST 4½”
55021 Value die Square 2½”
55009 HST 3½”
55017 Strips 2½”

Blue Wren 6522 HST 8½”

Triple Digit Triangles

Triple Digit Triangles, May 2026

Our Tennessee weather has been sizzling hot so I’ve been staying inside. The heat index was 100+ all last week. I picked a quilt for today that has summertime colors in bright pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows, tempered with some light gray.

I saw an antique hand stitched quilt with these triangles at an April quilt show and knew I had to make it. But not by hand! I ordered the Blue Wren kite/equilateral triangle die when I got home. It does have a Y-seam, but it’s easy with these perfectly cut pieces and consistent seams.

Alternating the 6” gray triangles emphasizes the colors, which I arranged in diagonal rows. I quilted straight stitch with red and orange variegated thread inside the gray sections for a perfect match. The backing is a gray, orange and hot pink large floral print with a diagonal orange & white dot strip.

Triple Digit Triangles is 47” x 49” finished. I’ve already started cutting more kite sections from my leftover bins to make a more traditional scrappy version later.

There’s more heat ahead for us so I will do what they tell old people to do and stay inside. It’s a grand excuse to sew all day and drink iced tea!

Blue Wren dies used:
6566 Equilateral Triangle 6”
6372 Kites to form 6” Equilateral Triangles

Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

Calico Cottage

Calico Cottage, May 2026

Vintage quilt blocks nearly always capture my attention. I appreciate the designs, the colors, the fabric and the skills involved. Some are simple, others very intricate, and I want to sew them all!

This quilt features a relatively easy one published in the Kansas City Star (July 1943) as Mountain Peak, and also in Farm Journal (1877 – 1970) where it was called Old Italian Design. BlockBase and EQ8 software were used to lay out the pattern that I adapted to use Blue Wren’s Dandy 4” and Accuquilt’s 4” square die.

I cut a variety of floral, plaid, dotted, and striped vintage look fabrics plus white muslin. There are twenty-five unique 9” blocks. Sashing between them is 1” strips of a gray and white number print, also used in the 2” border.

A thrifted sheet with small pink roses was used for backing. Circular shapes with loops were quilted as an allover design, using white thread and a circle ruler on my Janome.

Calico Cottage finished at 50½” square.  Can’t you just see it on a cottage bed back in the 30’s or 40’s? I stitched this happy little quilt in May.  I enjoy adding my own flair as I re-create these antique designs.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6292 Dandy 4”
6015 Strips 1”
Accuquilt
55018 Square 4”
55017 Strips 2½” 

Country Clothesline

Country Clothesline, April 2026

Laundry blowing in the breeze, can’t you just smell the freshness of sun dried cotton?

This week’s colorful scrappy quilt reminds me of summer clothes and sheets hanging on the line in our backyard when I was little. An assortment of light and medium hued remnants made this project fun.

Flying Geese paired with strips were simple to stitch on Rockette, my Singer 500-A. Backing is a very soft vintage fabric from an estate sale, a cross-stitch pattern on light yellow background. Switching to the Janome, I quilted with pale yellow thread, using two different rulers, Which Way and Wiggly Wave.  

Country Clothesline is lap size at 48” square, ready for snuggling, to toss over the arm of the couch, or spread on the grass for a picnic.

I’m on a mission to keep my scrap bins from overflowing, so this quilt has kept them under control for a bit. There’s always a mess when I’m pulling out so much material to cut, but I absolutely enjoy playing with fabric! It’s very satisfying to remember when and where I found it. 

Of course, as I was sorting many ideas filled my brain for future projects...I will never run out of remnants...stay tuned for more bonus quilts.

Side note:  I keep a written quilt journal (using a weekly 2-page planner) of my projects with notes and sketches so I can keep up with details and techniques. I also maintain a master database where I can search, sort and find quilt names, dates, gifts/donations, and dies used. I am in the process of adding photos to it whenever I get a few minutes. 

Dies used:
Accuquilt 55456 Flying Geese 3” x 6”
Blue Wren 6047 Strips 2” x 6”

Lovely Day

Lovely Day, April 2026

Springtime colors of blue and violet with light gray give this wall hanging a peaceful vibe. I love how the curves and contrasts create circular movement.

Winding Ways is one of the first dies that I bought and is still one of my favorites. I did all the piecing on Rockette, my 1962 Model Singer 500-A Slant-O-Matic Rocketeer. Perfect stitches and a fabulous looking machine!

Moving over to the Janome to quilt, I followed the curves with a walking foot using light blue thread, then stitched free motion loops around the borders.

Lovely Day finished at 39” x 47” size, and is currently featured on the wall in my sewing studio where I can enjoy it every day. I adore creating beautiful things with fabric and my collection of new & vintage machines.

Accuquilt dies used:

55069 Winding Ways 8” block
55017 Strips 2½” binding

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"