Hi!  Did you see my last blog post with my big announcement?  I have a new fabric collection with Riley Blake Designs coming out any day!  It should be shipping to stores this week!

It's called Feels Like Home and it's full of warm browns, deep pinks, navy blue, forest green, teal, and gold.  Plus 10 different low-volume prints.  It's so scrappy and I hope you love it!

Today I want to share more about the 4 new patterns I designed to go along with the collection:

Star Tiles, Welcome Wreath, Feels Like Home, and Family Ties.

First up is Star Tiles:

It's full of itty bitty 4" stars that are framed and set with some simple sashing that creates a fun secondary design.

It comes with instructions for 3 quilt sizes: crib, throw, and queen.

The skill level is "confident beginner".

This is the throw-size quilt and Jen Ostler in Highland, UT quilted it for me with the Plaid Stars panto.

This was a new-to-me panto and I think it's really fun!  

Next up, is Welcome Wreath!

It's a fun Flying-Geese pattern that comes with instructions for 3 different quilt sizes: lap, throw, and full.  I made the throw-size.  The skill level is "confident beginner".

I just love the quilting on this one.  Jen Ostler quilted it with the Lovely Loops panto.  It reminds me of meandering eucalyptus leaves which is perfect for these "wreaths"!

The quilting shows up so well on the back.  I used Riley Blake Confetti Cottons in Chive for this one.

As per usual, Jen quilted a hidden object into the quilting.  Do you see the little house with a heart inside (below)?  Isn't it the cutest!?!  Totally matches the Feels Like Home logo, selvages, etc.!

 

The third pattern I designed is called Feels Like Home.  I haven't made this one yet because I am doing a quilt-along for it this summer!  I'm so excited and hope you'll join me.  I'll be announcing more details about it soon.

This pattern finishes at 92" x 92".  It's big!  The roof units are paper-pieced and the rest of it is traditionally pieced.  It will be a fun, scrappy make!  The skill level is "intermediate" (I will be making a video tutorial for the house blocks, if you're nervous.)  You can grab the pattern HERE.  You probably don't know this but the first quilt I ever made was a scrappy courthouse steps pattern.  So this is my little homage to my first quilt!

And finally, the last pattern I designed for this fabric collection is called Family Ties.

It will be a free pattern on the Riley Blake website.  It will be available very soon.  I'll link to it here when it's ready.  The skill level is "beginner".

This pattern is so simple and quick to make but I loooove it!  It really shows off the fabrics and quilting!  It uses 5" and 10" Stackers.  I'm kind of dying to make another one soon.

Jen Ostler quilted it with another new-to-me pantograph called Madi Rose.  Jen has such awesome pantos and is so awesome to work with.  She is the best!!!  The tiny heart is the hidden object on that quilt.

Oh, and I added one of my favorite labels from Ever Emblem.  They're so easy to sew into the binding so I don't have an excuse to not label my quilts!  I get the 2" cotton, fold-over, sew-in labels.  If you want to get some for yourself, you will just have to pick one of their basic cotton labels and customize it from there.

Sooo...do you have a favorite of the new patterns I shared today?

I love them all and can't decide!  

For more information about my fabric line, Feels Like Home, you can check out THIS blog post.

To visit my Etsy shop, click HERE.

To receive my newsletter about the upcoming Feels Like Home quilt-along, sign-up HERE.

Thank you for stopping by today and please let me know if you have any questions!

Happy quilting!

Feels Like Home Fabric and Patterns

 Well, I think I am overdue for a little announcement on here...

I have a new fabric collection coming out with Riley Blake Designs and it's shipping to stores any day now!  I have talked a lot about it on Facebook and Instagram but if you're hearing about this for the first time, I apologize!  It's something that's been in the works for over a year so to say "I'm excited" is an understatement!  So without further ado, I'd like to introduce...

The prints in Feels Like Home were inspired by peaceful walks through my beautiful hometown of Alpine, Utah, hikes in the nearby majestic Wasatch mountains, and my home - my favorite place to be!  I tried to make this collection have a cozy, curated, scrappy feel.  I hope the prints and colors will feel right at home in your home like they do in mine!

The collection includes 14 vibrant prints and 10 low-volume prints.

PLUS, one cheater print that I haven't shared yet!  Any guesses on what kind of cheater print it might be?  Stay tuned, I will share more info on that soon!

I had so much fun naming the prints.

For instance, "Alpine Meadow" was named after my city and the meadows on some of my favorite hikes.  "Peonies" are my favorite flower and I finally planted some in my yard a few years ago.  "Albion Basin" is a beautiful hiking area in a nearby canyon.  "Scrub Oak" is a native tree here in Alpine - I have so many in my yard!  "Around the Block" is a geometric print that reminds me of the awesome neighbors I've had for over 20 years!   

There are 14 different prints in total; each one comes in 2 different colors ways (plus the cheater print).  So this is a very scrappy collection!  Fat Quarter bundles, 1-yard bundles, 2-1/2" Rolie Polie's, 5-inch Stackers, and 10-inch Stackers are available!  Here is a list of stores carrying the whole collection (they should be receiving it in the next week or so!):

Handmade is Heartmade

Cute Little Bugs

Corn Wagon Quilt Co

Quilt Etc

The Quilter's Block, LLC

Fabric Mill Orem

Pine Needles - Gardner Village

Checker Notions Company Inc

The Quilter's Crossing - UT

Dianne’s Quilted Square

Stitchers Garden LLC

A Clean Stitch INC

Mended Hearts Quilting & Boutique

Checker Notions Company Inc

A Quilters Oasis

Checker Notions Company Inc

Sew Yeah Quilt

There will also be stores carrying individual/random bolts, but I don't have a list of those stores, unfortunately.  But you can google "Feels Like Home Fabric" (and the name of the print if you know it).

I've also designed 4 patterns to go along with Feels Like Home:

Star Tiles, Welcome Wreath, and Feels Like Home are now available in my Etsy shop.

Click HERE to check them out.  And just a heads up, I will be hosting a quilt along for the pattern, Feels Like Home this summer!  I'm so excited; this is the only one of these patterns that I haven't made yet.  Stay tuned for more details (I hope you'll join me!!)  You can sign up for my newsletter HERE to stay in the know, and receive freebies, coupon codes, and even recipes!

The 4th pattern that I designed to go along with this collection is a free pattern that will be available on the Riley Blake Designs website soon!  It's called Family Ties.  It requires a 5" Stacker, a 10" Stacker and it's a really quick make!

I know this will be one of my go-to patterns when I need a quick, yet really cute quilt!

To see the samples I made of Star Tiles, Welcome Wreath, and Family Ties check out THIS blog post.  

Lots of details and photos are there for you to enjoy.

I'd love to hear what you think about Feels Like Home.  And, I can't wait to see what you make with it!

Please, please tag me on Instagram (@gigis_thimble) if you get some of the fabric or make something with it.  I know it will make my day!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy quilting!

Cherish - Alternate Version

 Hello, hello!  2 posts in 2 days!  What's up with me?!?

Well, you may remember I posted about my new Cherish quilt pattern back in February.

Well, I made another version of that pattern that I want to share with you!

Since I know applique is not for everyone, I wanted to make a version of this pattern that doesn't have the appliqued scalloped border.  When I was making the original and writing the pattern, I knew it could be cute either way.  I always want to encourage you to think "outside of the box" and make each quilt your own!  If you don't love one aspect of a pattern but love the rest - you can change it!

I purchased this quarter-yard bundle of woven fabrics.  They're so dreamy and soft and I love the texture and colors!  I knew I wanted to use the navy blue fabric for the background so I pulled out a few of the other colors that were similar in value and saved those for another project.  I wanted to make sure I had enough contrast between the background fabric and hearts.

Cherish comes with instructions for 3 different size quilts - lap, throw, and full.

This is the throw-size quilt.

I had my longarm quilter, Jen Ostler quilt it with the Domestic Stitches Squared panto by Leisha Kaye.  I LOVE how it turned out!  I think the geometric pattern goes really well with the modern vibe of these fabrics and colors.  Do you see the "hidden object" Jen quilted into the design (see below)?

I bought some leftover fabric from a friend (who was using the same line of fabrics but in plaids) for the binding.  Don't you think the plaids really pull the whole thing together?

For the back, I debated between a pretty, large-scale floral print in similar colors and this solid pink woven fabric.  You know I love prints, especially floral ones, but in the end, I decided to keep the modern vibe going and get the solid pink.  I think it sweetened the whole thing up.  I'm glad I decided to go "outside of my box" but again, to each their own.  There is no right or wrong here.  What would you have done for the back?

I would describe the skill level for this version of Cherish as "confident beginner".

You can use scraps, your stash, 2-1/2" wide precut strips, fat quarters, or 10" squares for the hearts in Cherish.  I love a versatile pattern!

If you want more details about this pattern or would like to see the original version click HERE.

So, I'm curious, are you a solid or a print person?  I don't use a lot of solids but I am interested in using them more often.  I am definitely a texture person though.  I use a lot of wovens in my quilts!  They make for the softest quilts!

Well, that's it for today!  

If you'd like to grab a Cherish pattern for yourself you can visit my shop HERE.  Be sure to tag me on Instagram or shoot me an email if you decide to make this pattern.  I'd love to see your version!

Happy quilting!

Riley Blake Designs 2024 Block Challenge

 Good morning!  Today I want to share a little project I'm working on - the Riley Blake Designs 2024 Block Challenge.  This is the 4th annual RBD Block Challenge and I am thrilled I got to design a block for it since I am now a RBD fabric designer!  Whaaat?!?!?

This challenge started in January and ends in May (but don't worry, there is still time to join the fun because all of the block patterns are on the Riley Blake Designs blog for you to access anytime).  The pattern includes sixteen 10" blocks + finishing instructions.  It's a really great way to improve your quilting skills as you try new blocks and techniques.

The block I designed is called Square Pegs.  I used my upcoming fabric collection, Feels Like Home for this block and it was so surreal to sew with it since I just got some advanced fabric!  Feels Like Home ships to stores at the beginning of May!  (And yes, I'm doing a happy dance over here.)

I am having so much fun with this challenge and want to personally invite you to join the fun!

I mean, who doesn't like free-block patterns???  I know I do!

Click HERE for all of the details about the 2024 Block Challenge.

Click HERE for details about the previous years' Challenges.

I'd love to hear what you think about this block design!

Thanks for stopping by today and happy quilting!