Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Giveaway: ‘Honor a maker’ Patchwork bag

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MayIsForMakers_2016It’s the end of May meaning the May Is For Makers campaign is coming to a close. Lindsey, at LR Stitched, wanted those of us who’ve made beautiful crafty things from a free online source, to show our appreciation by buying a pattern. Read more about the event at Purple Daisies Quilting. Her post made me think of all the free stuff links I like to share here at Craft Gossip.

To show my appreciation for these generous makers, I’m hosting a giveaway where I buy an e-pattern from a small business owner and give readers here a chance to win it. The maker is Chase of Quarter Inch Mark Etsy, and I’ll be buying her pattern for a Kin-Cha-Ku Patchwork bag.

Here’s what you need to do to get a chance to win the pattern (value $7.50 USD).

Leave a comment on this post and tell me if you have benefited from free online patterns and tutorials. And if so, tell me your favorite ‘make’.

International entries allowed. Note, the pattern is electronic only.

Deadline to enter this giveaway is 11:59 PM June 3, 2016, Central Standard Time. Good luck.

One more thing. If I get at least 50 entries I’ll select a second winner.

Good Luck!

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Comments

  1. Yes, I have benefited from free patterns and tutorials! My current favorite is by Swoon: the Laney Hobo bag!

  2. Oh yes. Bonnie Hunters’ Allietare…so unexpectedly beautiful. And without Leah Day I would never have learned to FMQ!

  3. I am constantly getting free patterns from people like Bonnie Hunter, MaryQuilts, FaveQuilts all the Manufactures. I am making Dottie quilts form Moda right now.

  4. I have pinned and made many free online patterns, along with following lots of tutorials and giving them my own twist. The one pattern I’ve used over and over is a baby bib template and tutorial from So Sew Easy.

  5. I started sewing by using free craftsy classes to make a tote bag and draw string bag x
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

  6. Good Morning Scarlett! I have been following along with the May is for Makers by the blogs that I follow. It has been so wonderful to learn about new people and seeing so many buying items.

    I follow you by CraftGossip Newsletter and always am excited to see what you have to share and end up following new blogs and following a lot more of your links. I learn so much along the way.

    I follow a blog From My Carolina Home and Carole is sharing a Mystery Quilt again this year that I am participating in. Last year she did a Mystery Quilt that is my favorite pattern using scraps and the quilt resides on my bed.

    Thank You for all you do and share on this blog site. Have a fantastic creative day!

  8. My first quilt was a free pattern from All People Quilt dot com. Been hooked every since.

  9. I’ve used many “freebies” for my community sewing group. Would love to win since I can make these for our summer festival. Thanks for the giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed!!

  10. Brenda,
    Thanks for the shout out and for sharing your other faves. I’m going to check out From My Carolina Home about this year’s mystery quilt. I wonder if you can join in any time during the year. If you happen to know Brenda, do tell all of us here at Craft Gossip. Have a fab day yourself! Happy creating.
    Warmest, Scarlett

  12. Unfortunately no. But I had fun looking at all the beautiful projects for May Makers.

  14. I have not have not explored online patterns yet but this seems like an amazing one to get started with! I’ll definitely try to get it even if I don’t win!

  15. I love online patterns! My favourite ones are from Colette…they have a beautiful tank top one. I have a few quilt patterns, but this one looks much more exciting.

  16. I have many patterns but have never used online ones. I’ve never made a quilt either, so it would be wonderful to start with this one

  17. Scarlett, In answer to your question….Yes, you can still join in with the Scrap Dance Tango Mystery Quilt that Carole is hosing from My Carolina Home. Although, the last clue will be posted on the 10th of June;

    Carole does leave up all of the links to the posts at least for one year. She still has the steps posted to make the Scrap Dance Quilt I made last year up for everyone to use still. I have never been one to do Mystery Quilts but found the link to Carole’s Blog and am a loyal follower!

    She also does other free projects throughout the year and shares fun and interesting information. I hope that you do go and see her sight. Have a fantastic creative day!

Have you read?

In the Garden Layer Cake – A Bloom-Filled Fabric Collection for Spring Sewing

Some fabric collections feel pretty, some feel useful, and then there are those rare ones that instantly spark a dozen ideas the moment you see them. The In the Garden Layer Cake from Fat Quarter Shop falls firmly into that last category. From the moment I opened the pack, it felt like stepping into a watercolor garden—soft, romantic, full of movement, and brimming with detail that invites you to slow down and really look.

This collection brings together an elegant mix of florals, garden motifs, and soothing color palettes that feel like they were created for spring quilting. Instead of loud novelty prints, the designer chose a gentle balance of botanical sketches, scattered blossoms, tiny seed patterns, and larger feature florals that work beautifully in both traditional and modern layouts.

What struck me most is how thoughtfully the color stories are arranged. Each print blends seamlessly into the next, giving you a spectrum that includes soft rose pinks, leafy greens, lavender tones, fresh sky blues, rich corals, and delicate neutrals. It’s the kind of palette that instantly feels “quilty” in the best way—inviting, calm, and incredibly easy to mix and match. You can tell the designer planned this for maximum versatility.

Layer cakes are one of the most beginner-friendly precuts, but this collection elevates them with a sense of sophistication. The prints are strong enough to shine in simple patterns, but subtle enough to support more complex designs. Whether you prefer classic half-square triangles, framed squares, modern grid quilts, or something scrappier, this fabric adapts beautifully. It’s also a wonderful choice for table runners, spring wall hangings, and even quilted bags or home décor projects.

One of the nicest surprises with this layer cake is how it manages to feel seasonal without becoming locked into one particular holiday or theme. While the palette is undeniably perfect for spring, the prints themselves are timeless enough to work year-round. A floral quilt made from this collection would look just as lovely on a summer sunroom sofa as it would draped over a guest bed in winter.

The fabric quality is exactly what you’d expect from Fat Quarter Shop—crisp, clean cuts, vibrant printing, and a smooth hand that makes piecing feel effortless. Nothing is too thin or too stiff, and the colors are even more beautiful in person than they appear online.

If you enjoy sewing projects that feel light, fresh, and inspired by nature, In the Garden is a collection worth adding to your stash. It has all the qualities quilters look for: balance, versatility, gentle movement, and that spark of creativity that makes you want to start a project immediately. Whether you’re planning a gift quilt, treating yourself to a new spring project, or simply building your fabric library with a set of prints that will play nicely with others, this layer cake is a thoughtful and inspiring choice.