Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

How do you want it quilted?

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Quilt Pattern Catalog long arm free motionWhether you finish your quilt top at home or send it out to a professional long arm quilter, selecting the ‘right’ pattern to finish your project (stitching/quilting the three layers together) can be daunting, even for experienced quilters.

Enter Lee Cleland and Barbara Weiland, authors of the book, Quilting Makes the Quilt. I own it (bought in the 90’s), and I think you should too. Psst, in a separate post, I’m going to give away a copy to a Craft Gossip reader. But I digress. In the book, Lee, and Barbara show you 12 quilts, each one made up in the same fabric, but quilted 5 different ways. Most valuable is their discussion of each choice.

Professional longarmer, Melissa at Sew Shabby Quilting, shares with her clients a catalog of quilt designs she can use on your top. Now that’s handy for clients, and informational for us. All are free-motion style, meaning they are not programmed in the machine. Shown here, are 6 of her designs. You gotta see them all.

Click the link, Pattern Catalog, and have a look around.

{Image credit: Sew Shabby Quilting}

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Comments

  1. that book looks wonderful. I haven’t seen it before It would be wonderful to win it Kay Taylor

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.