Quilting

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Giveaway: Desayuno birds quilt pattern

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closeup_BIRDS Cecilia Koppmann_Desayuno 2012Memory quilts speak to me, but they sing to Cecilia Koppmann. In her sweet quilt, “Desayuno”, each bird represents one of her past students. Her quilt, a closeup shown here, made it to the Houston Quilt Show in 2015. At the request of admirers, she wrote up a pattern. Now, isn’t that just like a teacher?

To honor her generosity, and because I love this quilt so much, I’m going to give away a copy of her digital pattern to a Craft Gossip reader. The finished size is 56″ x 35″ (144 x 90cm), and she uses raw edge applique method throughout.

Click to see the entire quilt, then come back and leave a comment on this post to get a chance to win.

International entries welcome. Contest ends August 3, 2016. Good luck!

{Image credit: Crafsty}

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Comments

  2. OMG! This quilt is beautiful! It is so unique. The quilter must be amazingly talented. i love birds on a wire. i love musical notes. i once cared for an eighty year old pianist in her home and she played for me daily. At first very slowly and hesitantly because she was very ill. As time went on and her health improved, so did her ability to play. I was so impressed that i bought myself a piano and took piano lessons! This quilt spoke to me even before i knew what it was about. i think the fact that each bird is representative of each of the quilter’s students is amazing. This quilt is a treasure and if i were to win i would treat it as such. Thank you for the opportunity. God’s blessings on you.

  4. Thanks for your generosity,I would love a copy of this beautiful quilt, can you please add my name to the give away
    Thanks????

  9. It’s adorable. I’m assuming she used musical notes fabric? As a teacher I would love to make one for my classroom

  10. This quilt warms my heart. What beautiful harmony! I couldn’t love it more.

  13. Wow! I love “bird stuff” and this quilt is fantastic! It reminds me of the applique scrap quilts my grandma made.

  14. How fun and creative! I love that Cecilia asks her students to bring squares of fabric to make the birds. This would work for many to use scraps from their own stash. So pretty!

  15. Oh I would love to win this pattern! The birds and the musical score….well they are wonderful together!!!

  16. Perfect quilt for my Glee Club teen granddaughter!! Fingers crossed and thanks for the chance!!

  20. Good Morning Scarlett! This is a spectacular quilt! I would love to win this pattern and make it for two of my daughters who are musicians. Plus a bonus is having those lovely appliqued birds that our whole family enjoys. Thank you for this great opportunity. Have a fantastic creative day!

  22. That pattern is beautiful!! My 16 year old is heavy into musical theatre and I think she would love this – if I don’t win I think I have to buy it!!

  27. I think this quilt would look great on my living room wall since my name is Melody.

  32. Being a bird-watcher (at home only); this quilt speaks to me. It is very well done and quite beautiful.

  33. What a beautiful quilt!!! It would be a great display item at the Audobon meetings.

  37. Just Beautiful! Would love to make this quilt for my family. So many musical memories could be included in this quilt!

  41. I would love to make this quilt for my mother who played & taught music for many years. Her last pupil was almost 90 yrs old my mother turned 84 on July 4 & is no longer giving music lessons as her vision is beginning to fail but I know she would cherish this quilt

  44. Gorgeous ! I play the bagpipes and although the notes for me are going in the wrong direction I love this quilt. I feed the many birds in my woods and enjoy their company. Would love the pattern 😉

  46. Love this! My nickname is Mamabird, so this would be so great to make for my library.

  48. Love Love Love Love
    This is what i feel just looking at the beautiful quilt. My great grandmother used to quilt. Wish i would have been given the chance to learn the craft from her, but she went to heaven before this could happen. This beautiful quilt reminds me of a song from heaven. Simply beautiful
    Love love love love
    Hugs

Have you read?

Cat-O-Lantern Quilt Pattern Review: A Cute Halloween Quilt for Cat Lovers

Some Halloween quilt patterns make me want to decorate the whole house. Others make me want to quietly add another project to the sewing pile and pretend it was always part of the plan. The Cat-O-Lantern quilt pattern from Fat Quarter Shop falls very comfortably into that second category.

A kitty hugging a jack-o’-lantern? That is a fairly effective way to get my attention. It brings together two Halloween favourites in a design that feels cheerful and playful, with plenty of appeal for anyone who prefers their seasonal decorating cute rather than creepy.

If you’re looking for a small Halloween quilt pattern for a cat lover, this one is worth a closer look. My review is based on the published design and product details; I haven’t sewn the pattern myself.

What Is the Cat-O-Lantern Quilt Pattern?

Cat-O-Lantern is a downloadable PDF quilt pattern exclusive to Fat Quarter Shop. The finished quilt measures 30½ × 34 inches, and the PDF contains 11 pages.

Fat Quarter Shop lists the difficulty as beginner. Its description calls for four fat quarters plus binding, but check the full pattern requirements before shopping so you can also plan for backing, batting and any additional supplies.

This is a paid digital pattern, so you’re purchasing the instructions rather than a finished quilt or fabric kit.

What I Like About This Halloween Quilt Design

The biggest attraction for me is the combination of a recognisable seasonal theme and a little personality. A pumpkin quilt is lovely, but adding a cat gives the project a playful focal point.

It also offers a nice alternative to Halloween sewing projects covered in elaborate motifs. Sometimes one strong design is all a room needs, especially when the shelves already contain enough pumpkins to suggest you’ve started a small farm.

The finished size is another selling point. I would think of Cat-O-Lantern primarily as a Halloween wall quilt or decorative accent quilt. At 30½ × 34 inches, it is compact enough to plan a display around, although I would measure the intended space before buying.

We’ve previously included it in our collection of lap blanket quilt patterns, but do pay attention to those dimensions if you’re hoping for generous sofa coverage.

Is Cat-O-Lantern Suitable for Beginner Quilters?

The retailer’s beginner rating is encouraging, particularly if you want a seasonal project without committing to a large quilt.

However, I haven’t reviewed the purchased instructions, so I can’t assess the cutting directions, construction steps or how much guidance they provide for a first-time quilter.

My practical advice is to read the entire PDF before cutting. Label your pieces, keep the fabrics organised and take your time with seam allowances. Those habits are helpful on any quilt, and they’re especially useful when the finished design depends on shapes landing where they should.

If you’d like another feline project to compare, our free Halloween cats table runner feature is another place to find seasonal sewing inspiration.

Fabric Choices I Would Consider

For my version, I’d start by thinking about contrast. Choose fabrics that let the cat and pumpkin stand out clearly from their surroundings, rather than selecting every favourite Halloween print and hoping they all get along.

Small prints, solids and subtle tonal fabrics would be my starting point. A busy novelty print can be wonderful, but it may compete with the main design when used in the wrong spot.

Before cutting, lay your proposed fabrics together and take a photograph. Look at it as a small thumbnail. If everything blends into one patch of colour, you may need a lighter or darker fabric to give the design definition.

And if choosing the pumpkin fabric sends you down an autumn sewing rabbit hole, our scrap fabric pumpkin quilt block and table runner feature has another project to add to the list.

Who Would Enjoy This Pattern?

I’d put Cat-O-Lantern on the shortlist for quilters who enjoy cute Halloween décor, cat-themed projects and smaller quilts made for display.

It could also make a thoughtful handmade gift for someone who brings out their Halloween decorations at the first possible opportunity. You know the person. Their pumpkins appear before the supermarket has finished clearing the previous holiday.

The main limitation is the size if you want a substantial throw. For a seasonal wall display, though, that smaller footprint is part of the appeal.

Would I Add It to My Sewing List?

On design appeal, yes. Cat-O-Lantern has a charming theme, a compact finished size and a beginner rating that makes it worth investigating for a manageable Halloween project.

I would still read the full instructions before deciding how quickly it might come together. A cute cover is an invitation to sew, but it isn’t a promise of an afternoon finish.

You can find the Cat-O-Lantern PDF quilt pattern at Fat Quarter Shop. If your Halloween decorating style involves friendly pumpkins, handmade touches and a cat who probably thinks the sewing table belongs to them, this little quilt could fit right in.