Bow Tie Quilt - Quilt #1 for 2024

One of my Facebook groups that I belong to is Fig Tree Quilts.  Joanna Figuera has many pretty soft fabric lines, patterns and quilt-alongs on her page.  I have loved her fabrics for a long time.  She is often featured in American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine and last quarter she had a pretty Bow Tie quilt with a quilt-along.  

I always want to join the quilt-alongs when I see them, but don't always have the time for sewing them.  A couple of months ago, I re-evaluated my spare time (ha ha, right?).  And I decided to make more time for sewing in my life.  As part of my day, I have added 20 minutes per day in my sewing room.

This has been a game changer for me.  I have made time to sew and I am loving it.  I am even cleaning up and organizing my sewing room, a little at time, of course.  

So for my first quilt that I have finished in 2024, I sewed along with the Figgies and made a little quilt for my granddaughter who is turning three.  

For my quilt I used a fabric line that I've had for about 3-4 years called Howdy by Stacy Iest Hsu.  It has cute little cowgirls on it, along with cowboy boots, horseshoes and pretty paisley fabrics.

Here is a close-up of the fabrics.  I just love the pretty pinks and how the aqua fabric gives it a little contrast.

After I finished the quilt, I made a little pillow and pillowcase for her with some of the leftover fabric.  I would still like to make her a banner for her room and possibly a table topper for her end table.  It's a nice addition for her big girl bed and I can't wait for her to use it.  

 

Spools of Thread Quilt

About 4 1/2 years ago I started working on a Spools of Thread Quilt.  I saw a photo in a magazine and got the idea that I wanted to make one.  While out at a local quilt shop, I picked up some "country" colors of fabric (not my usual color scheme) and decided to make the quilt using the country colors.

I drew up a pattern and started working on the "spools."  They are about 8" finished when put together.  I used scrappy cream colors for the background of each spool.

Once I started to put it together, I decided to complete it for a friend of mine who loves to quilt- these are the colors that she has in her home and likes to use in her quilts.  

Well, that was 4 years ago.  LOL

I've been dragging this unfinished quilt around to quilt retreats for the past 3 years.  But now that I got a new sewing desk and I'm all set up in my sewing room, I have been working on a lot of projects and actually finishing some of them!  

Originally the quilt was supposed to have more spools of thread in it, but somewhere along the way I decided that it had enough.  I added some smaller spools along the sides to make the quilt wider.  Now I think that it's just the right size.  :)

Today I finally finished the Spool of Thread quilt for my friend.  I'm giving it to her for her birthday, 4 years late.  But somehow I know that she will love it.  :)