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The Double Nine Patch was all the rage during the Civil War. Fabric was scarce—so scarce that every precious scrap was saved for quilts. Patterns like the Double Nine Patch transformed all those scraps into true works of art!
Back then, these quilts were hand stitched one itty-bitty scrap at a time, but now there’s an easier way! Click HERE to watch Jenny whip up a Mini Double Nine Patch quilt with quick and easy strip sets!
There’s no greater pleasure than sitting outside under a warm, cozy quilt and watching spring flowers blossom on a cool April morning. In an unprecedented time where all of us are spending more time at home, opportunity has presented itself to allow us to take a moment to appreciate the simpler things in life. When is the last time you truly stopped to smell the flowers?
Whether you’re inside or out in the garden, adding some flower power to your next quilting project is the best way to capture these peaceful spring mornings. Historically, quilters have immortalized their surroundings in their work; stitching things from the night sky to the natural growth of the Earth around them. These six free quilt tutorials will allow you to snip a bud from your very own garden (or maybe the garden you’ve always dreamed of!) and bring it into your home for years to come!
The first flowers of spring for many of us are often the reliable daisy! From the Chrysanthemum family, the daisy has long been a symbolic representation of the first days of spring. This adorable quilt brings those daisies indoors with the use of either 10″ squares or 5″ squares of precut fabric. Follow Jenny’s lead to learn how to quickly snowball corners and add sashing with cornerstones to create this beautiful project!
Following Jenny’s tutorial we suggest using 10″ squares to create this design, but if you have some favorite packs of 5″ squares they’ll work just the same. Capture the essence of the daisy by keeping your fabric selection in the same color palette of soft whites and luminous yellows. Marguerite 10″ Squares for Windham Fabrics is a great place to start, as the palette is true and the delicate addition of florals, foliage and intricate vines will give your quilt a real outdoor feel!
The outdoors aren’t for everyone, some of us enjoy the comforts of our own home and are wallflowers in our own respect. With the use of the Missouri Star Mini Orange Peel Template and some basic applique work, you can create a bountiful bouquet from your very own sewing machine! The Wallflower Quilt comes together quite simply with your choice of 10″ squares of precut fabric!
Blooming with vibrant blue and purple pansy flowers and brought to life with the addition of adorable butterflies, Pansy Paradise 10″ Squares for Timeless Treasures is the perfect selection for this project! The phenomenal spectrum of blues and purples in this fabric will create an outstanding design that is both reserved and comfortable while still eye-catching and bright!
Petunias are a wonderful addition to any garden as they are so simple to care for! The Sweet Petunias quilt is no different, grab your favorite roll of 2.5″ strips and you’ll be amazed by just how simple this quilt is to create! Piece your fabric together and create the illusion of sweet petunia flowers raising their blooms towards the sun!
Petunias compliment gardens so well because they come in a rainbow of different colors. Have some fun with your choice of fabric for this project and add an array of colors with Radiance 2.5″ Strips for Clothworks! These gorgeous fabric strips feature a bouquet of different flowers and vines in every color from petal pink to soft green!
Dresden Flower Pot Wall Hanging
The Dresden Flower Pot Wall Hanging is an adorably cute design! This fun piece of home decor is made by using the Missouri Star Large Dresden Plate Template for 10″ Squares and a pack of 5″ squares of fabric. When pieced together, the Dresdens form the petals of a fabulous flower pot! Hang it inside to brighten up the room or let it add an incredible ambiance to your garden, the choice is yours!
Keep your fabric choices fun and light for this project to keep that oh-so-cute ambiance! Consider Madison 5 Karat Crystals for Wilmington Prints to capture a beautiful contrast of yellow and blue with the added bonus of some green foliage for your stems! These packs of 5″ squares will not disappoint when creating this unique dresden wall haning!
For the real flower lovers out there, the Totally Tulips quilt is a bold design that will delight anyone who has the chance to snuggle up under it! By using a quick and easy method of making half-square triangles out of 10″ squares, you’ll have this project ready to stitch up in no time!
We can’t help but think how darling this quilt would look created with batik fabric! Go wild with Petal Party Batiks Stacks for Island Batik for an eye-opening burst of color and design that will make this design radiate creativity! The best part is, even with this batik fabric, you’ll still be adding natural elements to keep in the theme of a flower quilt!
We simply cannot get enough of these adorable flower pot dresdens! The Spring Dresdens quilt is full of fun and comes together in an unbelievably easy fashion using the Missouri Star Small Tumbler Template for 5″ Charm Packs for a flower pot and the Missouri Star Large Dresden Plate Template for 10″ Squares for the flowers! This project will test your determination though as it uses 5″ squares, 10″ squares and 2.5″ strips of fabric as well as some light applique work! The final outcome is worth the effort, however, as this quilt is just too much fun!
Since you’ll need the full spectrum of precut fabric for this quilt, be sure to find a complete collection when selecting your fabric. Consider Modern Farmhouse for Riley Blake as your go to choice for this project. These pastel pink and black fabrics will add a modern flair to your quilt while keeping with the floral tradition!
Tell us, what’s your favorite flower quilt?
In the olden days, laundry was scrubbed on washboards, hand-mixed bread was baked in finicky wood-burning stoves, and the Carpenter’s Star was stitched with labor intensive y-seams. It was a lot of work. Thank goodness for modern innovations!
This week, Jenny is whipping up an Easy Carpenter’s Star using big half square triangles. It’s a gorgeous quilt that comes together lickety-split! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
The shoofly block is a 19th century classic. It’s so easy, it was used to teach children their very first lessons in quilting. Now that’s my kind of block!
This week Jenny is transforming that easy block with our favorite “disappearing” magic trick, and the results are simply dazzling! Click HERE to watch the tutorial!
With May right around the corner, there’s no better time to create a beautiful Mother’s Day quilt than the present! Many of us learned to sew from our mothers and grandmothers, but even if you didn’t, take some time this spring to celebrate those who helped raise us. Mothers and quilters are an incredible and caring people. Wrap mom in love this season with one of our five favorite Mother’s Day quilts!
The month of May starts off strong with the celebration of May Day! Traditionally, May Day baskets are full of freshly bloomed spring flowers to acknowledge the changing of the seasons and the rebirth of the outdoor world! The May Day Baskets quilt takes the concept of these baskets and stitches them into a quilt, so not only can you keep warm on those chilly May mornings, but you can celebrate spring for years to come.
Flowers have been the traditional gift of Mother’s Day. As this is a floral quilt, a floral fabric should be considered! We love the look of Jenny’s design as the fabric had a matching color palette, so when selecting a pack of 2.5″ strips of precut fabric, keep color in mind! Chelsea Strips for Northcott are a fantastic choice as they combine floral fabrics with a purple color scheme with just a hint of green for an added leafy effect!
Flowers are a perfect Mother’s Day gift; they represent the change of the new season with a delicate nobility and grace that is inherent of mothers. Instead of a vase full of flowers, mix things up this year with the Flower Glass quilt. This easy to follow pattern uses 10″ squares of precut fabric and just a bit of extra yardage. The effect, however, is readily apparently as the hourglass and flower blocks combine to create a beautiful bouquet of warmth!
Floral arrangements come in many shapes and colors and so should your fabric choice for this project! Make a statement and go bold with a vibrant print such as Watercolor Wishes Metallic 10″ Squares by Kanvas Studio! This intense fabric features incredible watercolors with prominent butterflies and flowers, perfect for a unique and heartfelt gift for mom!
While carnations are the most gifted flower for Mother’s Day, we’d argue a full rose garden could be more popular! The Rose Garden quilt is a gorgeous quilt that, thanks to Jenny’s quick and easy quilt tutorial, is incredibly simple to create! Start with 5″ squares of precut fabric and learn how to make half square triangles and wonky leg blocks in the quilt tutorial to piece together this gorgeous quilt that will be the highlight of your mother’s special day!
Elegance is the key to this project; select a fabric that is both refined and traditional to create the desired effect. Bring forward the floral feel with a Le Beau Papillon Charm Pack for Moda Fabrics. These 5″ squares feature graceful vintage florals, butterflies and traditional patterns in light, airy colors! This quilt could truly be a one-of-a-kind, heirloom gift!
Did you ever make a daisy chain for your mom? Those fragile strings of flowers meant more to her when you made them than you’ve probably ever realized. Return that innocent gift from the heart once more this year, with a Daisy Chain quilt. This adorable design can be easily made from 5″ squares and 2.5″ strips of precut fabric!
With plenty of white space in this project, bring attention to your strips with a fun and fabulous choice of fabric! Kaffe Florals Blues 2.5″ Strips for FreeSpirit Fabrics are the perfect addition to this project! This gorgeous, blue fabric from the famous Kaffe Fassett will create a vibrant highlight upon the soft white backgrounds of this quilt.
Let’s not forget about those grandmothers as well! Many of us had the pleasure of learning from our grandmother as well, so why not thank her with a beautiful, vintage Grandmother’s Fan quilt! With the Missouri Star Large Dresden Plate Template for 10″ Squares, this pattern has never been easier! Using the template and a combination of 5″ and 10″ squares of precut fabric, this gift will be ready to go just in time!
Traditional vintage fabrics will be your go-to choice on this project! Northport Prints Layer Cakes for Moda Fabrics are definitely the answer. This charming, yet simple fabric will transport you back to a bygone era and create a classic feel from this brilliant quilt!
Get the MSQC Large Dresden Plate Template >
Tell us, what’s your favorite gift or activity for Mother’s Day?