Arboretum

It is absolutely gorgeous weather here in Northern Virginia - sunny, breezy and temps in the 60s and low 70s. To celebrate this delightful day, here is a brand new quilt/pattern - layer cake friendly and on sale! It is 25% off till Sunday, June 7, 2026. 

Thank you, Paul

Arboretum is a layer cake friendly quilt that I made for the Norwegian Quilt Magazine, Quilteblad. 

Arboretum on the Cover

It is the fabrics, Garden Glory - an original collection by Claudia Pfeil for Island Batik, that enchanted me. 

I love every fabric in this collection, no exceptions. So I designed a quilt using all 20 of them. The orange, rust and maroons became the trees, cleverly cut to minimize waste. The greens were used to make the Irish chain blocks. The leftovers became the scrappy border. 

White Background, Brown Tree Trunk

I used a white background and a coffee brown for tree trunks. Arboretum finished at 60" by 80". The size is perfect for Quilts of Valor, large throw, charity quilts, picnics, car rides and TV watching. 

So if you have a layer cake waiting in the wings, the Arboretum Quilt pattern can help you transform those 40 squares into a star.

I am already grateful but sometimes I get lucky :-) See the picture below.

I could write a poem or an essay about the perfect juxtaposition of the Fall colors in Arboretum against the orange and yellow kayaks, but then a picture is worth a thousand words.

The waters are murky and the reflection is shaky but my feeling of triumph is intact. 

Oh Paul, you are my sunshine!

Arboretum Quilt Pattern is available in my Etsy shop. I have included detailed instructions with colored graphics for each step. The clever cutting technique makes piecing a breeze, limits waste and minimizes the number of seams.

Scrappy Border - Pinned in Place

The leftovers are put to good use in a fun scrappy border.  Although I have written the instructions for 10" squares, the pattern can be easily adapted to 2.5" strips. You can also use your stash/scraps. To audition your fabric choices, I have also included a Coloring Sheet.  

With 11 pages of graphics and instructions, it is a steal at $12. But Arboretum Quilt Pattern can be yours for just $9 till Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Giveaway Update

The winner is #10 - Alycia. Email sent.

But if you'd like a copy of the pattern for free, leave me a comment on this post. I will announce the winner on June 7, 2026. If you are Anonymous/No-Reply Blogger, please make sure you include your email so that I can reach you.

Thank you, Wooden Horse

In other news, I am participating in the Sunflower Spice Blog Hop. The blog hop begins June 1 and I'll be posting on June 7. Watch this space.

Here is a peek of the backing.

Mari (The Academic Quilter) usually starts her post with a note about the weather and I tease her about this. How's the weather, professor? Since she has been quiet, I am channeling her vibes in my post today. What/Whom are you thinking about today?

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Veronica - Layer Cake Friendly Quilt Pattern

Sometimes, as I am playing in EQ8, shapes will magically align and something extraordinary happens. Such as this pattern - Veronica.

Made with Poetic Bouquet Fabric collection, Veronica finishes at 60" by 84".

 

Cleverly pieced, it comes together in the most elegant way. All you need is a Layer Cake of your choice plus 4 yards of background fabric. No special rulers or fancy dies.

The detailed directions include colored pictures for every step. The clever piecing means you don't have to fiddle with little pieces. Quick for experienced quilters and easy for beginners, Veronica is a win-win.

The pattern is easily adapted to your choice of fabrics. Here is an EQ8 mockup showing Veronica as a Quilt of Valor and also as a two-color quilt.

Veronica was first published in Quilteblad, the Norwegian Quilt Magazine.

The pattern was painstakingly translated from English to Norwegian and the units from yards/inches to metres/centimetres. The editors at Quilteblad are awesome! 

No, I can't read/understand Norwegian. I just read my name, see my pictures and smile till my face hurts :-D  

Veronica is now available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy Shop. On sale for one week only, you can get Veronica for just $9.

But of course, there is a giveaway. Leave me a comment on this post, telling me your favorite book this year, and I will enter you in a contest to win a free PDF copy of the Veronica (or any other pattern from my Etsy shop).  I will announce the two winners when I publish "2025 in Retrospective". 

Giveaway Update - The two winners are #14 (Heather Hamby, please send me an email) and #27 (Bonnie, check your email.)

I will be sharing with Quilting Jetgirl's Favorite Finish and all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 

In other news, the T-shirt beast quilt is completed. That will be the first post in 2026. Look at me, planning ahead :-D

Basting the Beast

Yamini - A Jelly Roll Quilt

Meet Yamini.

Yamini

Designed in EQ8 and made using Island Batik fabrics, Yamini is a jelly roll quilt finishing at 60" by 80". Yamini was first published in Make Modern Issue 65. 

Sparkle & Sizzle

 "If you’re after a fun showstopper of a quilt for a gift, this one is a perfect choice. Grab a jelly roll, pair it with a high contrast solid background fabric, and watch the magic happen!" - Make Modern Issue 65.

I love how the bright colors pop on a Solid Black background like night lights in a big city. The binding is also Solid Black. I used my Walking Foot to quilt squiggly lines.

Thank you, Paul

Yamini Quilt Pattern is now available as a standalone pattern in my Etsy shop. Listed at $12, you can get it for just $9 (25% off) till Sunday, 11/23/25. 

The pattern is super-simple. Detailed instructions, with colored graphics for every step, it is a breeze to make Yamini. I have also included a Coloring Page so that you can audition your color choices.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So if you'd like a copy of the Yamini Quilt pattern, please leave me a comment on this blogpost and I will announce two winners on Monday, 11/24/25. If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email so that I can reach you. If you need a prompt, you may share your favorite thing about Thanksgiving. 

Update - The two winners are #6 (Cindy) and #27 (Sue). Emails have been sent.

Here is one of mine. On one of the long drives, returning home after celebrating Thanksgiving in Georgia, the following exchange happened

Me -  If I drive, we'll get home sooner. 
Paul - If I drive, the brakes will last longer.

Yamini on the banks of Potomac - Earth, Wind, Fire, Water & Sky

May your conversations be as sparkling. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties including Yvonne's Favorite finish for November. See full list on the sidebar. 

Garden City

A new year calls for a new pattern!

Meet Garden City. 

Garden City

Designed in EQ8 and made using the Island Batik collection Shadow Blooms, Garden City is a layer-cake friendly quilt finishing at 64" by 88".

We chose a particularly cold and windy day to take pictures.

Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals)

The collection includes Blues, Teals and Purples.  I used Egg White (Neutrals) as Background. The Backing is Aruba (Tantalizing Teals). I used Hobbs Thermore Batting.

Hi Handsome!

Walking Foot Quilting

To make Garden City, you will need just one Layer Cake and 4.5 yards of Background fabric.  The pattern is available in my Etsy Store. It includes colored graphics and step by step directions. Garden City is on sale (25% off) till Wednesday, 1/15/25.

What is a pattern release without a giveaway? So if you'd like a copy of the Garden City Quilt pattern, please leave me a comment on this blogpost, mentioning the favorite book (and author) you read in 2024.  If you show up as Anonymous, please include your email so that I can reach you. 

I will announce two winners next week.

1/19/2025 Update - The two random numbers are #1 and #13. 

#1 - Carolyn, you are a no-reply blogger. Please contact me at sewpreetiquilts at gmail so that I can send you your pattern.

#13 - GranChris - Email sent.

In other news, Island Batik has announced the slate of ambassadors for 2025. Slashing the number from 26 to just 22, the competition was even tougher this year. Many applicants did not make it. I am thrilled (and relieved) that I made the cut.

We have received our first box of supplies. I will share the Unboxing video and blogpost next week. But here is sneak peek.

I will be participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Angela has announced that January is Pink. Here are my selected pinks (Island Batik fabrics).

I am working on my January RSC 2025 blocks. Will show you when I post next time, along with the Unboxing video. Sharing with Angela's and all my other favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Hope you stay safe, warm and dry.

Happy Thanksgiving - Much To Do!

Above average temperatures for several weeks and then suddenly it was cold and windy. I guess it is an indication to stay indoors and sew :-D

Should you need a new pattern, Fireworks is now available in my Etsy Shop as a standalone pattern. You can get it at a discount of 25% for one week.

Fireworks

Fireworks is a simple pattern that requires no special rulers/templates and is NOT paper-pieced, making it suitable for all skill levels. 

Brightness

Walking Foot Quilting

Fireworks was first published in Make Modern's Issue 59.

Thank you, Paul

I used Island Batik's Fire and Ice Collection, but you could make it in any colors of your choice. Picture it as a Quilt of Valor. At 60" by 79", it certainly meets the size requirements for QOV.

In Peppermint Sprinkles

In Breezy, Black Background

But there is more. Two lucky readers can win a copy of the Fireworks PDF pattern. Leave me a comment on this blogpost, mentioning your favorite Thanksgiving Dessert. I will pick the winners next week. Please make sure that I have a way of reaching you.

Update - The two winners are Sara (#2) and Susie (#11). Emails have been sent.

But wait there is even more. 

On account of Thanksgiving, I am offering a 25% off sale on ALL patterns till Sunday, 12/1/2024.

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Earlier this month, I taught a Workshop on Improvisational Piecing.  It included modules on Color Theory, Improv Exercises and Layout & Composition.  The 5-hour workshop went by so quickly.

Using two fabric bundles (Island Batik Collections), the attendees made fabric pairs such that there was enough contrast between each pair.

Wild Blooms Collection

Morris Mist Collection

The workshop included five exercises, but the time limitation only allowed for four. Here are some of the attendees with their work.

Loving it

Your smile says it all

Inspired!

Happiness

I received excellent feedback. The attendees left inspired and energized. Since this was my first time teaching this class, I really appreciate these notes from Brenda and Robyn.

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Every year we travel to see Paul's parents (mom and stepdad) for Thanksgiving. Since Paul's mom passed away earlier this year, some people asked me - "Are you still going to Georgia for Thanksgiving?"

Yes, we are.  In times of turmoil, it is even more important to maintain our rituals and routine. 

Starter Syrup and Candied Fruit

I am baking my 30-day Friendship Fruit Cake plus two kinds of cookies - Chocolate Drops and Cranberry Shortbread. The cookies can change but the Fruit Cake is a holiday tradition and is more than expected at Thanksgiving :-)

Watch this clip from a favorite movie of mine, emphasizing our need to find a semblance of perfection in our random world. 

Life is random. In the middle of that randomness, carve some time to play with fabric, meditate with music and be good to yourself. A semblance of normalcy may go a long way to battle the absurd.

I wish that your Thanksgiving Holiday brings you just what you need. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Lots of Love and Squishy Hugs!