Flora's Baskets - Scrappy Version

Monday, March 20, 2023

 Hi there!  I have been wanting to share a new
project that I started a month or two ago.

It's based on my new pattern,
Flora's Baskets. 


Flora's Baskets is a pattern I designed
based on an antique quilt I saw on 
@caravanquilts Instagram feed.


[This picture is shared with permission from @caravanquilts.]

I love following that account.  It's a great resource
if you're in the market for an antique quilt!


[This picture is shared with permission from @caravanquilts.]


[This picture is shared with permission from @caravanquilts.]

If you look closely at the two pictures above you can see that the 
"flower" part in the basket block is made with diamonds
which would've had to have been made with English
Paper Piecing or Y-seams.  My block uses
traditional machine piecing.


All of that to say,
I started a new version of Flora's Baskets -
a scrappy version and I am so excited about it!


I think it's going to be so pretty.
I'm using low-volume backgrounds and 
muted pinks, blues, and yellows for the "flowers"/
"basket tops" (what do we call that part of the block?)


Anyways, if you want to make a scrappy version like me,
you will first need to get the Flora's Baskets pattern.
You can get the paper pattern HERE.
Or the PDF pattern HERE.

And then use the following info in
conjunction with the block assembly instructions
to make scrappy blocks.  This will make 2 blocks
but you can mix and match pieces so they're both unique.

1 brown square, 5" x 5"
1 brown square, 3" x 3"
2 brown squares, 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
10 white rectangles, 2-1/2" x 4-1/2"
1 white square, 3" x 3"
2 white squares, 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"
1 pink, blue, or yellow square, 5" x 5"
8 pink, blue, or yellow squares, 2-1/2" x 2-1/2"


And then just have fun playing with your fabrics
to make as many basket blocks as required for your chosen 
quilt size.  Flora's Baskets has 3 quilt size options.
I might make a queen size because I'm loving this
project so much.  I think it will look so vintagy 
and beautiful at the foot of our bed.


I'm even saving the cutoffs and making tiny half-square
triangles out of them.  Maybe I'll make
a little pouch or bag with them someday.

I'm super excited about all of this!
If you decide to join me on any of this
please tag me on Instagram @gigis_thimble
and use the hashtags #gigisthimblepattern
and #florasbasketsquilt.

Have a great day!

Blossoms and Buds - Emily Belle Version

Sunday, March 5, 2023

 Good morning! 
I've been wanting to share this quilt with you
for a while now; I finished it back in 
September of 2022, I think.


I love this quilt because
A. It's a classic design
B. It's scrappy
C. It uses lots of my favorite fabrics from my stash
and
D. The Baptist Fan quilting gives it a very vintage vibe.

This is the original version:

It's the Blossoms and Buds 
pattern from my book,


It's amazing how different this
version looks compared to the orange version!


In the orange version
the background is scrappy and
in this version the background is all
one fabric.  They look so different!
Which one do you prefer
(and disregard the orange if that's not your thing)?


I've seen several different versions online
and they're all awesome.  There are
so many ways to make this pattern your own
depending on your colors and fabric placement.


The only fabric I bought specifically
for this project was the background fabric -
Emily Belle Liberty from Riley Blake
in the color, Magnolia (a soft, buttery yellow). 
Emily Belle comes in about 45
different colors so you could
pick the one that speaks to you!


And it's such a great stash buster!
Even the binding is scrappy!


Quilt the Rainbow gives instructions
on how to make a scrappy binding
or scrappy quilt back!
There are lots of useful nuggets of 
information in it, besides the 10
versatile quilt patterns.
You can grab the book HERE.



I had this wild backing fabric in my stash
just waiting for the perfect project!
It's called Cameo by Kaffe Fassett.
It incorporated so many of the colors I used
for the quilt front so I thought
it would give this simple quilt just
the "wow factor" it needed.


I like to label my quilts with labels from Everemblem.
I get the 2" cotton, fold-over, sew-in labels.
If you go to their site, you'll have to pick a cotton label 
and customize it from there.  They're so convenient.
Now I don't have an excuse to not label my quilts!


Jen Ostler of Dry Creek Quilting
in Highland, UT quilted it with this
classic Baptist Fan pattern.  There are many different
Baptist Fan pantographs out there but I love this particular
one because it's so traditional.  It's the
pantograph and I've used it many times!


Before I let you go, I just want to remind you
about the 2023 Quilt the Rainbow Challenge.
If you make any quilt (in any size and colorway)
from the Quilt the Rainbow book and 
post it on Instagram with the hashtag
#quilttherainbowchallenge
you could be entered to win some fabulous
prizes!  I'm giving away prizes quarterly
and you can enter as many times as you'd like!
All the details are in THIS blog post.


Well, I hope I answered any questions
you might have but if not, be sure to drop them in the
comment section below.  I love any interaction with you!
Thank you for stopping by today!

Positive Vibes Quilt-Along

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Get ready for some fun because it's time for another quilt-along!


The Positive Vibes Quilt-Along is for one of my newest patterns,
Positive Vibes.  I designed it for my new fabric line,
Treasured Threads with Poppie Cotton, which is in stores now.


Positive Vibes comes with instructions
for 2 size options - baby and throw.
For the quilt along, we'll be making
the throw-size quilt that finishes at 71-1/4" x 85-1/2".

You can get the paper pattern HERE.
Or the PDF pattern HERE.


Positive Vibes is a fat quarter-friendly pattern,
perfect for a Treasured Threads fat quarter bundle!

You are welcome to use whatever
fat quarters you'd like, of course, but if you would like
to make the same quilt version that I'm making, there are
3 awesome quilt shops that are offering kits!


[This Positive Vibes block features Bloom True fabric by Terri Conrad for Poppie Cotton.]

The fabric requirements for the throw-size quilt are:
Bright Print Fat Quarters (Includes Scrappy Binding) - 20
Good Measure Natural Background Fabric - 6¼ yards
Optional Non-Scrappy Binding - 2/3 yard
Backing - 5¼ yards
Batting - 80” x 94”


The quilt-along will start on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023
and last for 12 weeks.  The weekly assignments
will be posted on Instagram every Wednesday.
Here's the schedule:

Week 1: March 1st - cutting, fabric mix and match
Week 2: March 8th - make 6 blocks
Week 3: March 15th - make 5 blocks 
Week 4: March 22nd - make 6 blocks
Week 5: March 29th - make 5 blocks
Week 6: April 5th - make 6 blocks
Week 7: April 12th - make 5 blocks
Week 8: April 19th - make 6 blocks
Week 9: April 26th - make 5 blocks
Week 10: May 3rd - make 6 blocks
Week 11: May 10th - assemble rows
Week 12: May 17th - assemble quilt top
May 24th - show the completed quilt top!


I'm so excited to announce that we have one fabulous prize 
sponsored by Katie's Quilting Co.!  Katie has so generously offered to give 
one winner - free quilting (does not include batting or shipping).
She is also offering all QAL participants: 
20% of quilting (quilt must be received 
within 30 days of the end of the QAL).
I will choose the winner at the end of the QAL from the
#positivevibesqal hashtag pool on Instagram.  
Only people that post a picture of the finished quilt top 
by May 24th will be eligible to win.

To participate, you can do one or more of the
following things:

1. Print off the schedule and follow along privately.
2. Check in with me on Instagram @gigis_thimble
every Wednesday to get the assignment for the week.
Tag me and post your progress on Instagram
using the hashtags #gigisthimblepattern and
#positivevibesqal.  This is a great way to find and
encourage friends!  I love it because I get to see your
version of Positive Vibes, too.
3. Sign up HERE for weekly email reminders.


In case you're wondering, the skill level for this pattern 
is confident beginner.

And finally, I've created a Positive Vibes Quilt-Along PDF
with all the pertinent details and a coloring sheet!
Click HERE to get the PDF. 

Please let me know if you have any questions!
I can't wait to sew along with you this spring!

Treasured Threads is in Stores Now!

The day is finally here!
Treasured Threads is in stores now!


 My new fabric collection with Poppie Cotton
is full of sweet prints in varying shades of pink,
butter yellow, aqua, orange, navy, and creamy white (with a little
touch of red!)  It's bright and happy, vintage and modern -
all at the same time!

The following stores are carrying Treasured Threads:

Ace Sew & Vac
Al's Vacuum & Sewing
Cardinal Creek Quilting
Cherry Tree Cottage
Cornwagon Quilt Company
Country Sampler
Crimson Confection
El Cajon Sew & Vac
Farmhouse Fabrics, INC
Good Vibes Quilt Shop
Hunnie Quilt
Lou Lou's Fabric Shop
Mountain Stitches by Susan
Olie and Evie
Orange Quilt Bee
Precuts Quilt Shop & Craft
Quality Time Quilts
Sew It Seams
Sew Let's Be Quilty
Sweet Daisy Quilt Shoppe
Teal House Quilts
The Backstitch
The Quilted Cow LLC
The Quilting Studio & Fabric Mercantile
Thread Play Quilt Shoppe
Tilly Dee's Quilts and Embroidery
Under the Garden Moon

I've created 3 companion patterns
to go with Treasured Threads:


A 10" square friendly pattern.
3 quilt size options 
Beginner-friendly


A 10" square friendly pattern.
3 quilt size options 
Beginning applique


Fat-quarter friendly
2 size options
Quilt-along starts March 1st
See QAL details HERE.

You can check out all of my paper and PDF patterns HERE.

If you're a shop owner and would like to get
bulk quantities of any of my patterns at wholesale prices
please email me at gigisthimble@hotmail.com.

If you get your hands on Treasured Threads or
make anything with it please email me or tag me on
Instagram @gigis_thimble.  It would make my day
to see it in your home.  Happy shopping!

Scrappy Pink Irish Chain Quilt

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Today I am finally sharing my scrappy pink Irish Chain quilt that
I started in December 2021.  I finished it shortly
thereafter but just recently got some pictures of it!


But first (before I share the details of this quilt),
thanks to all of you that watched my LIVE Thursday Trunk Show
that I did on Instagram this past week and that wanted to see more
of this quilt!  Several of you reached out and gave me just the
motivation I needed to get this quilt photographed and blogged.

FYI:  I do Thursday Trunk Shows once in a while.
It's something fun I came up with to share
5-10 quilts within a certain theme.  It's a fun way for me
to connect with my Instagram followers, show who
is behind all the little squares, get outside of my comfort zone,
and hopefully, inspire and teach a few things I've learned
from my 24 years of quilting experience.  I usually announce them
in my Instagram stories a day or two beforehand.
You can follow me @gigis_thimble if you're not already.

So let's start back at the beginning...  
THE INSPIRATION:


In August 2018, Janine of @happyhappynester shared the
gorgeous photo above on her Instagram feed.  I was immediately smitten and 
saved the photo.  (By the way, Janine's whole IG feed is lovely and I have been 
following her for a long time.  She is very sweet and gave me permission to share her photo.)
About a year later I was feeling like I "needed more pink in my life" 
and came back to that photo as the inspiration for a quilt color palette!


I just wanted a simple project so I went with the classic 9-Patch block.
I paired them with 6-1/2" low-volume squares
to create an Irish Chain.  My quilt finished at 66-1/2" x 78-1/2".
Click HERE for a simple PDF for this pattern.


This sweet color palette definitely cheered up my
sewing room during those winter months!


I had some of that sweet pink and white daisy fabric in my stash
(but not enough so I ended up ordering a bit more) to use for the backing.  
It's called Flower Glory Morning - Wonderful Things by Bonnie Christine 
for Art Gallery Fabrics.  It reminds me of a vintage sheet!  I love it!


I also had this pink herringbone fabric in my stash
that I used for the binding.  Sorry, I can't remember what it's called!


My quilter, Jen Ostler, used the Interlocking Orange Peel
pantograph by Karlee Porter for the quilting.
It's one of my favorite all-over designs and I've used it many times!


This quilt was so fun to make.
Partly, because - mindless sewing for the win!
And partly because I got to pull out all of my really girly
low-volume prints.  If you're on Instagram,
I shared a reel this week where I scanned over all the fabrics
so you can check that out if you want to see more.
They're so whimsical.  It was the type of thing where I'd 
pull one out of my stash and say, "Oh, I love this one...
and this one...and this one!"


I wanted it to be mostly pink with little hints
of green, orange, and yellow - so I spaced out those accent colors
sporadically through my 9-Patches.  One thing I've learned
over the years is that colors don't always have to be in equal amounts.
That's what makes a quilt unique and interesting sometimes.


So that's it.  I am very happy I pulled this out
for the Thursday Trunk Show the other day so I could be
reminded of just how much I love this very simple,
very scrappy Irish Chain quilt!  I would be happy to make
more of these in the future.  

If you feel inspired and decide to make one
and share it on Instagram, please tag me @gigis_thimble.

Again, here's the Scrappy Irish Chain PDF
and thanks for stopping by today! 

Flora's Baskets

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Hello, hello!  Today I am sharing my
third (and final) pattern that I designed
for my upcoming fabric collection 
with Poppie Cotton called, Treasured Threads.

Meet - Flora's Baskets.


It's a Layer Cake (10" square) 
friendly pattern and it comes with instructions
for 3 different size quilts - lap, twin, and queen.


It's my spin on a vintage-inspired
Basket pattern and I love this particular
basket block!  Quilting and basket blocks
go hand-in-hand in my opinion.
Basket blocks are just classic.


The quilting was done by Jen Ostler in Highland, UT.  
I always love crosshatch quilting.  It's timeless!


Last night I got the itch to make a scrappy
version of Flora's Baskets using lots of different 
low-volume fabrics for the background.


I'm loving where it's headed!  It's a bit messier
and more time-consuming to make those 
blocks.  But you know me, I love scrappy! 
I'm thinking about doing a tutorial for the scrappy
version of these blocks that you could use in
conjunction with the pattern?  Maybe newsletter
subscribers would get it first??? 
You can join the newsletter HERE.


It's so surreal to be able to play with my own fabric!
I'm loving seeing it pop up in the wild by people
that received advanced yardage.
To follow along with the Treasured Threads
fabric tour click HERE.

To snag a copy of Flora's Baskets  -
click HERE for the paper pattern
or HERE for the PDF pattern.


Do you have a basket quilt? 
Are you more of a scrappy person or not?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Thanks for stopping by today!