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