Friday Favorites 38

Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- Absolutely love this Crossroads quilt by Victoria Findlay Wolfe.

- These vintage pyrex stickers* are just too cute! If only there really was purple pyrex!!

- I love these garments made with different black and white gingham or plaid fabrics.

- This zipper pouch by Arounna Khounnoraj makes me want to dig into my ice dyed fabrics.

- GIANT POM POM ALERT! This video by Karyn Lao is pom pom goals!


- Blueland has new fall scents for their hand soap* and I'm already obsessed with the vanilla chai!

- I started watching this show at lunch and I love it! It's so different from any other cooking show I've watched.

- The calendar that I ordered for myself arrived this week!

- We have been making the roasted sesame green beans from this cookbook* all summer long and still aren't tired of them!


- Kitty helping me work on the computer. :)

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

New: Keep Turning Quilt Pattern

Happy Wednesday! Today I want to chat about my newest pattern, the Keep Turning Quilt Pattern.

You can find the new pattern for sale here: Keep Turning Quilt Pattern


I'm so excited to be releasing this pattern in particular, because I think the design would look so cute in lots of different fabric and color combinations! I originally designed this quilt for Quilts & More Magazine in 2020, and it has been a requested pattern ever since then.

Read more about this quilt here: Keep on Turning Quilt


This pattern is a real stash buster! It was written for fat quarters or jelly roll strips, but I've included instructions for cutting from lots of other yardage sizes too, so that you can cut from your stash or your scrap bin. I had Fall in mind when I was choosing fabrics for my quilt. I wanted to work with some nice rich, Fall inspired colors. That season also makes me want to reach for more textured fabrics, so I choose Essex Linen in Natural for the background fabric. The prints are a mix of new and old from my stash.


The quilt takes advantage of strip piecing, so it comes together really fast. The pattern includes six sizes, hooray! The cover quilt is the Small Throw (48"x64"). All six quilt sizes have the same size finished blocks.


As I mentioned this pattern includes SIX sizes, including: Baby (32"x40"), Small Throw (48"x64"), Large Throw (64"x80"), Twin (72"x96"), Full/Queen (96"x104"), King (112"x104")

Think of the print fabric requirements as a minimum. Feel free to mix in even more prints for a scrappier look. I recommend using quilting cottons or other medium-weight fabrics for this quilt. For the sample quilt I used quilting cottons along with some Essex Linen for the background. You could even choose to use multiple fabrics for the background too, and go really scrappy! I think that could be really fun.


I made the cover quilt in the very beginning of quarantine in Spring 2020, so it was all about using what I had on hand. I mixed new and old fabrics from my stash for the top. The backing fabric was something I had held onto for nearly 10 years, and it was so fun to finally use it. Being able to mix it in seamlessly with new fabrics was really satisfying.


Making quilts just from stash can sometimes feel a little unexciting if you're only using older fabrics. I find that including a few prints that are newer keeps the quilt looking fresh and helps me stay motivated to finish it!


You can find the new pattern for sale here: Keep Turning Quilt Pattern

Happy Quilting!

Friday Favorites 37

Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I recently repurposed a cute planter as a little trash can on my sewing table. Perfect for containing trimmings and threads!

- I took a Skillshare class this week: Bullet Journaling: Life Management for Creatives by Dylan Mierzwinski. It was really inspiring and I immediately started my own bullet journal! (You can get a free month of Skillshare by using my link, if you're interested!)

- These Halloween drawstring bags that Sarah made with my Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern are so cute!


- I bought fabric! In person, at a new-to-me fabric shop here in CT, Cate's Sew Modern. I've bought so little fabric this year, I didn't want to go overboard. It was a super cute shop, I'll be back for sure!

- This logcabin quilt top by JB is what vintage sheet dreams are made of!

- This lone star quilt by Coulter Fussell made "entirely of thrown away/discarded/donated/used fabric, threads and notions" is incredible.


- It was our 7th wedding anniversary this week! We celebrated with a special dinner out. (photo by Dennis Crider)

- I want to try out this cute heart mani.

- This video on Midwest pot luck salads had me cackling!


- Sweet, sleepy kitty.

Have a Great Weekend!

Finished: Floral Chain Patchwork Quilt

Happy Wednesday! I have a finished quilt to share, hooray! This quilt has been a long term work in progress (WIP), so it feels extra good to get it done and give it a proper post.

I've written a pattern for this design, which you can find for sale here: Floral Chain Quilt Pattern


I started this quilt back in the summer of 2018. I originally intended it to be made with only green fabrics. I cut tons of green strips and the plan was to use low-volume prints with the green to make a simple irish chain quilt. Well the fabrics sat untouched after I cut out most of the quilt. I pulled it out a few times over the years, but it wasn't until summer of 2021 that I really started to work on it! By that point I decided to go back to the drawing board, because I wasn't as excited about my original design choices.

Find previous posts about this quilt here: July 2021, August 2021, September 2021.


I ended up deciding to add some pops of color to give a little more interest! I stuck with the irish chain design for the most part, but used the color pops of turquoise and purple to create a secondary design. This change wasn't without it's hiccups. I managed to sew all the green nine-patch blocks with the green and low volume print in the wrong spots! Nothing a little seam ripping couldn't fix. Since the green parts of the quilt were so scrappy, I also decided to choose a single low-volume print to pair with it. I used a print from my Dreamin' Vintage* collection.


Not only did I change the design of the quilt last year, but I also decided to make it bigger! I am really glad I did! The finished quilt is 66"x78".


I love love love the print I used for the back of this quilt. I have been saving it for years! It's from Luxe in Bloom* by Sarah Watson. I'm so glad to get this cut of fabric out of my stash and into a project. Feels good. It was the perfect match for this project, which feels even better!


I've managed to end up with a surplus of Quilter's Dream Orient Batting*, so that's what I used for this quilt. It gives it a lovely drape!



The quilting was done by Katie Gouwens of Autumn Moon Quilting, and she did a fabulous job! I choose the design "065. Agate" from her catalog. I love to pair organic quilting designs with geometric quilt patterns. I feel like it helps soften up all the straight lines a bit.


I bound the quilt in a print from Nordika*, the same print I used on the quilt top. I remembered to use one of my woven labels again!


I am thrilled with how this quilt turned out. I think adding in those pops of color really made it special. It helps take it beyond just simple patchwork (not that there is anything wrong with that!). Mostly, I'm just so happy it is done. I think I've put it on my goals list to complete every year since I started it. It's always nice to cross a WIP off the list!


Pattern: Floral Chain Quilt Pattern (by me!)


Fabrics: Stash, Dreamin' Vintage*, Luxe in Bloom*, Nordika*
Quilting: Autumn Moon Quilting

Happy Quilting!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Friday Favorites 36

Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- We went pear picking over the weekend! I don't think I had ever even seen a pear tree before then, they were so pretty. I want to try making this recipe with pears. We make dutch baby's so much I have our regular recipe memorized, but I like the idea of baking fruit right into it!

- The artwork in this picture book* looks adorable!

- How beautiful is this quilt by my friend Erika? She used this free pattern from Tilda to make it.


- The Expanse Quilt Pattern is now available in print! You can find it in my online shop here.

- It's that time of year, time to order calendars! I ordered this one* for Michael's side of our office.

- These Halloween blocks by Sarah make me want to use black as a background in a quilt!


- We made these cauliflower toastadas for dinner this week and they were a hit! We topped them with our favorite cashew queso.

- I have to give a shoutout to our blender*. We never had a powerful blender until we picked this one up this past May. We have used it SO much, and it's been awesome. I love the auto-clean mode to safely clean the blades. I use it to make smoothies, muffins, and the queso!

- I love this patchwork shower curtain by Sarah Gagnon, such pretty colors.


- Dusty kitten has been so snuggly lately. It makes me happy!

Have a Great Weekend!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Summer Indigo Dyeing

I mentioned in my last post that I had done some indigo dyeing recently and I thought I'd share more of that dye session today. I wasn't originally intending to, but I've always documented all my dyeing here, so it didn't seem right to gloss over it without a proper post! Especially since I haven't done much dyeing the last few years!

The main reason I wanted to dye this summer was to dye some pieces of lawn fabric for a quilt. I used Cambridge Cotton Lawn* for these pieces. I've dyed lawn many times over the years, but have used very little of it. They are some of my favorite pieces I've made, the lawn takes the dye so well! I originally meant to use it for clothing, but that just never happened. So now my plan is to make an all lawn indigo quilt! I only needed to dye about 2 yards worth to have enough for the quilt.

If you're interested in trying out indigo dyeing check out my tutorial: DIY Indigo Dyeing


If you've ever dyed with indigo, you'll know it's more fun with friends! Last year I did some ice dyeing with our neighbor and her daughter so I thought they might be game to try indigo, and they were! We made a day of it and dyed all kinds of things: fabric, tea towels, t-shirts, and even a sweatshirt and jeans. A big thanks to my neighbor for most of the in-action photos in this post! :)

We used these indigo dyeing kits*. They make it so easy!



Introducing people to indigo dyeing in particular is so fun because it's a pretty magical experience. When you first pull the pieces from the dye vat, they're neon green! Slowly over about 20 mintues the dye oxidizes and turns deep blue.



Unwrapping the resisted pieces is like opening little presents. You don't know what you're going to get! Still so fun, even though I've been doing this for about 10 years!


It was a very successful dye day! The weather was perfect and we all came away with pieces we liked.


I tried dyeing a pair of really light wash jeans that I had picked up on clearance last month. I couldn't get them quite dark enough for my taste (even after a few dips), so I did end up overdyeing them with RIT dye. But it was a fun experiment!


Here are the pieces we made with shape resists! The one with the circles was made with plexi circles* by Rossie Hutchinson.. Rossie created a coupon code (Jeni20) to use through the end of September to save 20% off her itajme shapes in her shop*.

Here are my four pieces of lawn, and after you can see them each alonside the resisted fabric:






Fabric was scrunched into big messy balls and then resisted with rubber bands.


Accordion folded into a square and secured with circle resists and clamps.


Long skinny tucks of different sizes tucks secured with several rubber bands each.


Accordion folded into a rectangle and secured loosely with twine.


I love to use white sheets as drop cloths when dyeing because then they become a bit of a magical dyed piece too! This sheet has seen some ice dyeing and some indigo!

Happy Making!

*Note: Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Friday Favorites 35

Happy Friday! It's time for another Friday Favorites post! Catch up on previous posts here: Friday Favorites Archives

- I did some indigo dyeing over the weekend with our neighbors which was so fun! I used some plexi circles* by Rossie Hutchinson to make the above print. Rossie created a coupon code (Jeni20) to use through the end of September to save 20% off her itajme shapes in her shop*.

- On a similar note, I spent a few hours updating my DIY Indigo Dyeing Fabric post. Added better photos, updated the instructions and just generally refreshed the post.


- I've been working through our bumper crop of tomatoes from the garden and our CSA program. I like to keep it super simple, just chopping them up (not removing the skins), and freezing them. We have a small freezer in the basement and love having it stocked with summer tomatoes for making tomato bisque over the winter.

- This fussy cut trip around the world quilt by Rita Hodge stopped me in my tracks. And it's hand pieced!! So impressive.

- These patchwork blocks by Caitlin Bentley make me want to dip into my ice-dyed fabrics.


- One of our favorite treats that we've been indulging in this summer has been a frozen mochaccino from our local coffee shop (Common Grounds). We share half of it right away and then freeze the other half. A quick trip in the microwave and we've got a coffee slushie!

- How perfect is this stubby pencil quilt pattern* by Berene Campbell for back to school? So cute!

- I've been trying to make an effort to regularly listen to our vinyl collection and this week we've been playing a live Simon & Garfunkel album* that I picked up for a few dollars last summer. It's really good!


- When I placed an order with Blue Q at the holidays, I picked up this sew-it bag for myself. I'm currently using it to hold my crochet project and it's been great for keeping kitty awat from the yarn! (see it in photo above)

- Kitten has been so sweet lately, always getting involved in whatever we're doing!

Have a Great Weekend!

*Any links marked with an asterisk in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click through and buy something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you.