Winging It Quilt Along – Week 6

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Hello Friends, I hope you have been well. Quite a bit of designing and pattern writing is happening over here, but I can’t complain! All’s well. Before I forget, I want to share with you a reproduction schoolgirl sampler I completed a few weeks ago. This was a stitch-along project my friend (and very famous quilter) Susan Ache and I worked on for our #wendyandsusalsal on Instagram! We are getting ready to start our next stitch. Follow us on Instagram and find out what we will stitch next! Our stitch along is a NO stress, NO signup – we just pick a project and stitch at our own pace.

Also, earlier this week, I released a new pattern called Me Hearties! You may purchase the pattern PDF HERE while printed patterns are making their way to distributors and then to shops. I hope you will enjoy making Me Hearties. Mine quilt top is completed, and will be quilted and bound in a few weeks.

Now let’s get back to Winging It!

It’s not so bad winging it, is it? We are on Week 6 this week — we are 3/4 through!!!

WEEK #6 ASSIGNMENT – MAKE ANOTHER 4 BLOCKS using another set of 2 FQs!

Here are my blocks for this week!

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern. If not, 123stitch.com has them!!

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda. I think the prints really make some beautiful butterflies.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

AND FOR THE FUN FACT

The wings of butterflies are transparent and the colors we see are the effect of light reflecting on the tiny scales covering them.

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Thank you for sewing with me — see you again next Thursday!

Advertisement

Winging It Quilt Along – Week 5

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, I hope you have had a good week! It’s been a busy but productive week working on various things over here. It is May 2023, but I have already been working on things for 2024 for a while now. It’s always weird for me to realize when I stop and think how far I ahead I have to work.

I love it when you get in touch with me to send me pictures of your quilts made with my designs. I regular feature #mydesignyourquilt on my Instagram feed. So today, I am most happy to share Eileen’s QOV quilt she recently completed, using my Twinkle, Twinkle pattern! Eileen’s quilt looks gorgeous in reds, whites, and blues! THANK YOU to Eileen for choosing to make a quilt with my design.

You may purchase printed pattern from 123stitch.com HERE, or PDFpattern from my Etsy store HERE.

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Now let’s get back to Winging It!

It’s not so bad winging it, is it? We are on Week 5 this week – hard to believe. 3 more weeks to go, and we will have all our blocks made!

WEEK #5 ASSIGNMENT – MAKE ANOTHER 4 BLOCKS using another set of 2 FQs!

Here are my blocks for this week!

The initial announcement blog post is HERE if you had missed it.

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern. If not, 123stitch.com has them!!

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda. I think the prints really make some beautiful butterflies.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

AND FOR THE FUN FACT

Metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly takes about 10-15 days – talk about having to transform from a teenager to an adult in TWO WEEKS! Yikes!

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Thank you for sewing with me — see you again next Thursday!

Tips and Tricks for making Kringle Clippers blocks

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day weekend. It’s quite strange to think that I was mother of a really young child once, but now I am a mother of a teenager.

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I know http://www.123stitch.com, as well as Fat Quarter Shop are stocking the printed pattern HERE. Meanwhile, if you want it quicker, the PDF version is available from my Etsy shop HERE.

I am using Moda’s Blizzard fabrics to make my quilt. Click HERE for fabric information.

I made another block for my Kringle Clippers quilt over the weekend – 2 down, and 7 more to go!

The best way for me to describe Kringle Clippers is that this quilt is like constructing a Lego set, EXCEPT, your toes won’t be crippled if you accidentally step on pieces fallen to the ground!

This quilt is not a quick quilt to make, but you will enjoy making if you like to see how the block emerges from the different sections constructed.

The blocks are very doable if you note the following tips:

#1. READ THE PATTERN FIRST before attempting, and make notes that you think would help you! Different quilters work differently.

#2. MAKE A TEST BLOCK — always make a test block with a new quilt just so you can get a feel how the block is constructed.

#3. MAKE SURE THE PIECES ARE CUT ACCURATELY – there is a HUGE difference between 7 1/4″ and 7 1/2″, or 1 1/4″ and 1 1/2″.

The pattern lists pieces needed to make each section. So, it is not a bad idea to cut and sort the pieces for each section out of paper for reference before cutting your fabric.

#4. FINGER PRESS when possible and USE DRY IRON WITHOUT STEAM when handling small pieces.

#5. Once you make your test block successfully, you can actually go ahead and make (9) section 5. Pay close attention to the measurements for all the pieces for this section though.

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The pattern actually comes with yardage information for a table runner version, in case you want to make fewer blocks.

That’s all for now! Happy Monday to you!

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POSTSCRIPT

My Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ivoryspring 

Find all my stand-alone patterns: https://shrsl.com/337dq

Wendy Sheppard related offerings on Annie’s: https://shrsl.com/3xtvh

Winging It Quilt Along – Week 4

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, I hope you have been well! I hope you have had a good week! It’s been another busy week, but I did get printed pattern for Kringle Clippers off to the distributors. So they should be at your LQS soon. Fat Quarter Shop is stocking the printed pattern HERE. Meanwhile, if you want it quicker, the PDF version is available from my Etsy shop HERE.

I am using Moda’s Blizzard fabrics to make my quilt. Click HERE for fabric information.

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Now let’s get back to Winging It!

We are on Week 4 this week. This week we hit the half-way point with making our blocks.

WEEK #4 ASSIGNMENT – MAKE ANOTHER 4 BLOCKS using another set of 2 FQs!

Here are my blocks for this week!

The initial announcement blog post is HERE if you had missed it.

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern. If not, 123stitch.com has them!!

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda. I think the prints really make some beautiful butterflies.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

AND FOR THE FUN FACT

Butterflies do not have lungs or noses. Adult butterflies, as well as caterpillars, breathe through a series of tiny openings along the sides of their bodies, called “spiracles.”

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Thank you for sewing with me — see you again next Thursday!

#ChestnutGroveQAL check-in #3

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello my friends! TODAY IS THE DAY! It’s our third check-in for Chestnut Grove Quilt Along. I hope you will join me in making my series quilt featured in all issues of Quilters World magazine this year! It’s definitely not too late to join. Just purchase the Quilters World magazine issues published this year for the complete pattern.

THIS IS ANOTHER LOW-STRESS AND LOW DEMAND QUILT ALONG. WE ARE MAKING RELATIVELY SIMPLE BLOCKS AND SEW THEM ALL TOGETHER TO MAKE A VISUALLY INTERESTING SAMPLER QUILT!

In case you need pattern and kit information:

Pattern is released in 4 installments: Quilters World Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter 2023 issues.

Spring issue has the instructions for Blocks 1 and 2 – click HERE to purchase issue if you are not a subscriber.

Summer issue has the instructions for Blocks 3 and 4 – click HERE to purchase issue if you aren’t a subscriber.

BOM program is available through Annie’s Kits Club. Click HERE to join!

My original quilt uses Moda’s Nutmeg fabrics. The magazine spread has a fabric chart that tells you exactly what fabrics are used in the original quilt. Click HERE for Nutmeg fabric information.

The background fabric is a Marionberry Pie Grunge from Moda. Click HERE to purchase the background fabric.

Pattern update alert issued by Quilters World

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For check-in #3 we are making the fruit bowl blocks. I am very excited about this block. The truth is Chestnut Grove happened BECAUSE of these fruit bowl blocks! They are actually inspired by fruit bowls in antique needlework sampler. The fruit bowl blocks were actually the first blocks I designed to be the centerpiece of the quilt. The rest of the blocks are fill-in companion blocks. And these fruit bowl blocks are HUGE! At a finished size of 20″, you can make a single block to be finished as a tote, a throw pillow or even a mini wallhanging.

Here are my quilt along blocks using:

#1. Moda’s Rendezvous fabrics. I have an entire FQ bundle. So I will be using as many fabrics as I can fron the bundle for a scrappy look.

Click HERE for Rendezvous fabric information. I love the soft and gentle prints in this collection.

Because the print I used for the bowl portion is large, and I didn’t want to cut it up, I actually combined the 2 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ and 3 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ cut for that portion and cut a 5 1/2″ x 18 1/2″ instead. So, if you want to keep and feature a large print like I did, those are the dimensions you will need to cut.

#2. Winter Wonder by Riley Blake Designs. I did add in a few fabrics from their recent Calico fabric line.

Click HERE for Winter Wonder fabric information.

Click HERE for Calico fabric information.

I did see that Fat Quarter Shop is running low on Winter Wonder fabrics, and they don’t have the FQ bundles for sale anymore. Here is a suggestion:

Click HERE for Cheer & Merriment by Moda.

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And with that, we have covered quite a bit of ground in 3 months -JUST LIKE THAT!

Thank you for sewing along with me! Have a great weekend. I shall see you again on June 2!

Winging It Quilt Along – Week 3

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, I hope you have been well! I hope you have had a good week! I am still busily winging it over here! Before I go on, I do want you to know that 123stitch.com (an online needlework shop from which I buy) is now carrying my printed patterns. The GREAT thing about 123stitch.com is that they charge a FLAT SHIPPING RATE of $3.49 regardless of your order amount. In fact, I am going to order some needlework linen from this morning.

So take a look on 123stitch.com and search for “Wendy Sheppard” if you prefer printed patterns.

But let’s get back to Winging It!

WEEK #3 ASSIGNMENT – MAKE ANOTHER 4 BLOCKS using another set of 2 FQs!

Here are my blocks for this week!

And you can see where they will be placed in the quilt:

The initial announcement blog post is HERE if you had missed it.

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern. If not, 123stitch.com has them!!

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda. I think the prints really make some beautiful butterflies.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

AND FOR THE FUN FACT:

There are 750 species of butterflies in America, with Cabbage White being the most populous!

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Thank you for sewing with me — see you again next Thursday, and we will be at our half way point next week! How time flutters by.

Winging It Quilt Along – Week 2

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, I hope you have been well! I hope you have had a good week! I have been busy WINGING IT – sewing and proofing upcoming pattern releases this week. Here is a sneak peek of what’s coming – Kringle Clippers! I am quite excited about this one!

But let’s get back to Winging It!

WEEK #2 ASSIGNMENT – MAKE ANOTHER 4 BLOCKS using 2 FQs!

Here are my blocks for this weekbeautiful yellows, yes?

And you can see where they will be placed in the quilt:

The initial announcement blog post is HERE if you had missed it.

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern.

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

AND FOR THE FUN FACT:

Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is below 86!

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Thank you for FLUTTERING BY — I’d butter-FLY to get ready for a meeting today! See you next Thursday!

Winging It Quilt Along – Week 1

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, I hope you have been well! It’s hard to believe we are well into April already! And today we kick off Winging It Quilt Along! The initial announcement blog post is HERE if you had missed it.

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern.

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

WEEK #1 ASSIGNMENT

#1. MAKE A TEST BLOCK with scrap fabrics- always do that when you start a new quilt!

#2. Sort your fabrics into background fabric, outer border fabric and (8) sets of 2 FQs.

#3. Pick out your first set of 2 FQs, and make (4) butterfly blocks!

#4. The body of the butterfly uses pieces of narrow width. My secret in working with small pieces is hot iron with NO steam! Sew slowly, and you should be okay.

#5. Piecing should go quickly and easily. I recommend you make one half of all 4 blocks, before you make the other half. Be sure you know where all the squares should go…. don’t trim the corner triangles unless you have double-checked you have sewn on the pieces correctly!

I also finger press down at 1/4″ seam allowance (before I sew) to check that the wing section will meet up the body section nicely.

It took me a little more than an hour to cut and sew all my (4) blocks for week 1!

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Thank you for sewing this quilt with me! AND — here is a fun butterfly fact for you: Did you know a person who studies butterflies is called a LEPIDOPTERIST? Talk about an intimidating-sounding profession!

Thank you for stopping by — I’d better (butter)-FLY! See you next Thursday!

Harrisonburg EVENTS!!!

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Hello my friends! Top of the morning to you. First of all, I want to thank you for your support of the VA Quilt Museum! Together, we have raised more than $23k (as of a few weeks ago) through the exclusive sales of the reproduction quilt pattern Harrisonburg!

THE ORIGINAL QUILT

Mary Spitzer Etter of Harrisonburg, Virginia donated her family’s entire quilt collection to the Virginia Quilt Museum in 1997. The collection contain 27 quilts, most of which were made by Mary’s aunts, the Spitzer sisters. Their names were Sarah Josephine Spitzer (Walters), Margaret Melinda Spitzer (Jones), and Ellen Rebecca Spitzer. It is unknown if the other two Spitzer sisters, Hannah Spitzer (Brown) and Jane Spitzer (Evers), did much quilting. Of the quilts completed by the Spitzer sisters, there is a single initial embroidered on the front of quilt to mark who made each quilt. Ellen Spitzer’s daughter, Irene, also completed three pieces of the collection. Some of the quilts contain blocks that were done by Mabel Spitzer, Mary’s mother. These blocks were then quilted by either Berta or Effie Long, Mabel’s neighbors. There are a few quilts not made by a Spitzer, yet they were still made by relatives of the Spitzer family.

The blocks of this quilt were pieced in many colors. There is Muslin backing and cotton batting. It is heavily quilted in a cross-hatch design. A lavender “E” is embroidered in the corner.

WHEN FRIENDS TALK, AND OTHER FRIENDS GET INVOLVED

Pat Sloan and I actually live in the same area in Virginia, a few towns apart. We messaged each other, and we decided we wanted to support VA Quilt Museum by reproducing the Spitzer Sister quilt. I was tasked with making the pattern happen. I named the pattern Harrisonburg, after the town at which the Virginia Quilt Museum resides. Pat used her widespread influence in the quilting world to get the word out about the Quilt Along. It’s an huge effort involving so many others working behind the scenes to make this quilt along event happen!

We kicked of the Harrisonburg Quilt Along on Valentine’s Day because our state tourism slogan being Virginia is for Lovers!

And you have purchased the patterns to benefit the museum, and started making your own Harrisonburg Quilt! It’s not too late to lend your support. Purchase Harrisonburg pattern HERE.

Like Ellen, I embroidered my initials at a corner of the quilt.

AND NOW FOR THE SPECIAL EVENTS!!!!

Virtual SHOW AND TELL Event on Virginia Quilt Museum Website

Harrisonburg Quilt Day Sept 16, 2023

Exhibit

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I am really excited about these upcoming events. I hope you are too!!!

Starting 4/20/23 – WINGING IT Quilt Along

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Hello Friends, Happy Monday to you! I hope you have been well. It’s been a busy last few weeks over at my end with work, travels, and family. I keep telling my friends one of these days I am going to move into a cave and just chill!

But for now, that’s not quite an option, haha! I am happy to share with you the schedule for a Quilt Along to make a relatively easy quilt for spring. We are going to make Winging It!

WHEN — 4/20/23 THROUGH 6/15/23

Check-in will be every Thursday starting 4/20/23.

LOW DEMAND —

We will be making 4 blocks a week for 8 weeks, and then, the last week will be for quilt top assembly

PATTERN —

You may purchase pattern PDF HERE. Check with you quilt shop to see if they are carrying the printed pattern.

FABRIC REQUIRMENTS

Winging It is FQ Friendly — and will work for ANY fabric combination. I am using Sundance fabrics by Moda.

Click HERE for fabric info.

Click HERE for kit info if you wish to make the quilt exactly as I have made it.

And that’s it for now, my friends! I hope you have a fantabulous day! COME BACK TOMORROW – I have exciting news to share on Harrisonburg Quilt!

Friday Fluff 3/9

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

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Happy Friday, my Friends! I hope you have had a good week. I have spent much time the last couple of weeks getting patterns packed and shipped to distributors. With all my immediate deadlines fulfilled, I will be using this weekend to catch up on housework! I would much rather be stitching, but…

Chestnut Grove Quilt Along

I have LOVED seeing the different work-in-progress Chestnut Grove quilts on Instagram. One thing that stood out to me is that quilters are using so many different background fabrics for their Chestnut Grove quilts! I am waiting to see one that uses a scrappy background — if you are making the quilt and using a scrappy background, please get in touch with me.

Click HERE in case you miss the first check-in for Chestnut Grove. You can definitely join in the quilt along ANYTIME. There is no sign-up fee, and you are free to sew at your own pace!

A few quick links:

Pattern Part 1: https://shrsl.com/3vbyu

BOM Kit info: https://shrsl.com/3xtto

Nutmeg fabric info (fabrics used in my original quilt): https://shrsl.com/3w2ht

Norfolk Quilt Kits

You remember how much fun we had sewing our Norfolk quilt last year? Annie’s is offering kits in 2 colorways:

Click HERE for the neutral colorway:

Click HERE for the plum meadow colorway:

Harrisonburg Quilt

This is week #4 of Harrisonburg Quilt Along to benefit the VA Quilt Museum.

Quilt Along Deatils below:

I am happy to share the news that so far $23k has been raised for the museum. THANK YOU for your support. Stay tuned for more exciting stuff that will be happening. If you haven’t watched Pat Sloan on YouTube talking about Harrisonburg quilt, you totally should!

New Pattern Release

This week I shipped off a bunch of printed patterns for Make Gnome Mistake to the distributors. The name gives me a chuckle. You may purchase the pattern in PDF format HERE, or you may check your local quilt shop in a couple of weeks for the printed version.

There is NO paper piecing involved to make the gnomes in this quilt, only conventional piecing is used.

And NEXT WEEK —

I will be announcing a quilt along for my Winging It pattern to start after Easter! I just need to sit down to work on the schedule. Meanwhile, you may purchase the pattern HERE, or if you want to make the quilt EXACTLY like I had design, kits are available HERE.

And that is it for now! I hope to get my de-stash blog post up next week for you as well. My de-stash stash is getting too big!

Have a great weekend!

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POSTSCRIPT

My Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ivoryspring 

Find all my stand-alone patterns: https://shrsl.com/337dq

Wendy Sheppard related offerings on Annie’s: https://shrsl.com/3xtvh

#ChestnutGroveQAL check-in #1

FOLLOW ME @ivory_spring on Instagram IF YOU HAVEN’T. Instagram is where I best interact with quilters, and where I share the latest news!

***

Hello my friends! TODAY IS THE DAY! It’s our first check-in for Chestnut Grove Quilt Along. I hope you will join me in making my series quilt featured in all issues of Quilters World magazine this year!

THIS IS ANOTHER LOW-STRESS AND LOW DEMAND QUILT ALONG. WE ARE MAKING RELATIVELY SIMPLE BLOCKS AND SEW THEM ALL TOGETHER TO MAKE A VISUALLY INTERESTING QUILT!

DETAILS

1. FORMAT — Check in EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH

It will be informal check-ins just like last year. This year, it will be the first Friday of each month, starting from March 3 through November. There will be a catch-up month in there! Get your first block done the first Friday of each month, and share your pictures on social media and use hashtag #ChestnutGroveQAL

So we will be following the following schedule to make our blocks!

Chestnut Grove finishes at 64″ x 79″, and consists of 8 different blocks.

Here is Block 1 for our first check-in!

2. PATTERN & KITS

Pattern will be released in 4 installments: Quilters World Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter 2023 issues.

Spring issue is now available – click HERE to purchase issue if you are not a subscriber.

There will be kits offered in a BOM program. Click HERE to join!

My original quilt uses Moda’s Nutmeg fabrics. The magazine spread has a fabric chart that tells you exactly what fabrics are used in the original quilt. Click HERE for Nutmeg fabric information.

The background fabric is a Marionberry Pie Grunge from Moda. Click HERE to purchase the background fabric.

And of course you may choose to make the quilt with Nutmeg fabrics on a cream background.

BLOCK 1 for my Quilt Along Quilts

I somehow enabled myself to make 2 separate quilts with two colorways for the sewalong.

#1. I am using a FQ bundle from Moda’s Rendezvous. This bundle has 40 (!) FQs. So, I will be making this one scrappier than my original design. I love the busy visual interest of a scrappy quilt.

Click HERE for Rendezvous fabric information.

#2. Some quilters requested to see the quilt in Christmas red/green colors. So I was playing around with the design with a red and green palette, and decided that I really like the Christmas version as well.

I am making my Christmas version with a FQ bundle from Riley Blake’s Winter Wonder.

Click HERE for Winter Wonder fabric information.

OTHER COLOR INSPIRATIONS

Here is one with Moda’s Amelia’s Blues. Click HERE for fabric information.

Here is one with Moda’s Clover Blossom Farm. Click HERE for fabric information.

Here is one with Moda’s Sunwashed. Click HERE for fabric information.

Happy Quilting! See you on April 7 for our next check-in! Have a lovely weekend!

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POSTSCRIPT

My Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ivoryspring 

Find all my stand-alone patterns: https://shrsl.com/337dq

Wendy Sheppard related offerings on Annie’s: https://shrsl.com/3xtvh