Don’t mind me, working ahead of schedule on my Spinny quilt. That’s because I decided to make two Spinny quilts during the course of the sew-along, so there’s no time to be a-wasting. Yesterday I finished all the blocks.

Today I put on some music and began the joining process. Honestly, this is my least favorite part of quilt-making. I mean I can already see the quilt as a whole on the design wall… I wouldn’t mind if the joining fairies did this part on my behalf.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Winter Creek Cloth

Low on helpful fabrics? Winter Creek Cloth stocks lots of lovely ones! Fabrics like these make up the bulk of my fabric stash, because they’re so versatile. Enrich your color options with Remix color-focused bundles!

Still, it is rewarding to see the separate pieces become a whole. With the sunshine and music carrying me along, I can make good progress. Once I get to the stage of joining rows, I start getting excited again.

Plus, these colors are truly irresistible! The circles remind Floris of a child’s playing marble. I can see what he means. Each one is full of color and tumbling shapes.

Hip, hip, hurrah! This quilt top is fit for a princess, and I have just the right princess in mind.

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As a member of the Comfort circle of do. Good Stitches, I sew a couple blocks per month for the collaborative quilt. We skip a few months for the summer and winter holidays, so that we make a manageable 8 quilts per year. When I’m not leading the quilt, I’m following along with the queen bee’s prompt, getting exposed to new ideas.

Really every time I sew these charity blocks, I’m able to use my fabric scraps. It doesn’t take much fabric to eke out two 12” blocks. Here I go prepping the low volumes for the block backgrounds.

This block is sewn with stitch and flip triangle corners. Nice - there’s very little brain power involved.

I’m happy to see how good the black star pops on this background. Black is a good color for making a clear, strong statement. It doesn’t necessarily feel harsh. It’s all about context.

Nice! I’ll put these black star blocks into the mail for the queen bee shortly. They’ll be mixed up with the rest from our circle members to form a quilt that hopefully communicates care and comfort to someone in need.

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What a magical October we’re having in The Netherlands! Most days are a patchwork of rain and sun, creating vivid blue skies and so many rainbows. Welcome autumn!

Come sew-along with Spinny, a spiderweb quilt with gentle autumn vibes! Find out more about the Spinny sew-along at the master sew-along post. It’s a digital pattern, so you can grab it in a flash and sew right along.

get the pattern

WEEK 3 GOAL

Sew 4 Blocks

Now that you are familiar with our Spinny blocks, you’ll be spinning out webs with ease. Put on some music and sew up another batch of blocks this week to keep your quilt growing steadily!

I am sewing block quadrants, which I’ll join at the end. The more random the block arrangement the better, so I’ve invited Elora to place the blocks up on my design wall.

We’re both loving this pink princess vibe! It is a celebration of all things pretty.

I wonder, what is your favorite part of the spiderweb bock making process? It’s hard to choose, but mine might be the trimming of the triangle foundations. I love how this messy, scrappiness transforms in one jump to sleek, triangle perfection.

Wowee! I’m working ahead people. I love, love, love sewing these blocks.

SHARE TO WIN!

This week share a photo of your Spinny progress in our Substack chat!

Your photo enters you into a giveaway for the After the Rain quilt pattern. This quilt teaches value color concepts and machine paper piecing both at an introductory level. You know how the world shines and sparkles, after the rain? I like to think this quilt is akin to that fresh moment. Stormy rain cloud fabrics are swept away to reveal bright, open skies with such a sharp contrast. Already have After the Rain? Then the winner can choose another of my comparable quilt patterns!

Giveaway open worldwide! Winners will be announced weekly in the sew-along newsletter (sign up here) and contacted via messaging.

On the Substack chat your photos won’t be lost to the Instagram algorithm and we’re finding it easier to connect as a community. Why not try?

Good luck!

I never pressure myself to work on my English paper piecing project. I allow myself to pick it up and put it down as needed. This summer I’ve stitched a little more than normal…

These two blocks came together during my Cyprus vacation. I had wanted to add more stripes to the mix, so there you go!

Before departing for America, I prepped another pair. Somehow they both ended up blue and yellow. Maybe my new grandson had an influence?

This patchwork block is not my creation. It’s called Evensong, pattern and kit available from Jodi of Tales of Cloth. The finished blocks are about 10” across.

It’s been a long time since I arranged the blocks on my chosen background. Fortunately, I still love how the light, cheery colors pop on solid Peacock, from Tilda Fabrics. But after opening up the Evensong pattern just now, I discovered that I arranged the blocks incorrectly! There will be more background fabric between the blocks than shown here. Sounds good.

Wondering how many I’ve sewn? I’ve completed 15 blocks of the 28 necessary. After that there are a smattering of half and quarter blocks to make too.

But, no worries. I usually don’t even keep track. I just keep stitching and dreaming until it feels like it’s getting close. Maybe next year or 3 years from now, I will take the last hand stitches.

And then I’ll start another one ;)

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Yay, it’s really October now! Biking home from my morning yoga, I saw how the outermost leaves are starting to show vivid orange against a bright blue sky. I do so love this time of year!

Come sew-along with Spinny, a spiderweb quilt with gentle autumn vibes! Find out more about the Spinny sew-along at the master sew-along post. It’s a digital pattern, so you can grab it in a flash and sew right along.

get the pattern

WEEK 2 GOAL

Sew 4 Blocks

Okay, let’s start sewing our scrappy spiderweb creations. Last week you cut and prepped your triangle foundations. Now it’s time to get stitchy.

Each Spinny spiderweb block is composed of 8 foundation triangles. Since we’re sewing 4 blocks this week, you’ll need 24 foundation triangles in total. If you’re using a mix of fabrics for these foundations, pull a random selection. Prep triangles with marked lines as per page 6 of the pattern, if you haven’t done so already.

Next, gather a bunch of string scraps for the spiderwebs themselves. With my pink princess version, I’m using light-colored multicolor prints as well as soft orange, green, yellow and blue. Short string scraps are totally ideal - think 8” or less. But of course you can use your longer strings too.

Let the foundation piecing begin! You will be covering most of each foundation triangle with spiderweb strings. Only a small bit of each foundation remains visible in the finished quilt block, to form those stars between the webs.

The covered-up foundation fabric may feel wasteful, but it’s a trade-off for ease and speed. A quilt like this would otherwise require a lot of time-consuming and precise cutting. Foundation piecing makes patchwork more relaxing and beginner-friendly.

I spent a few hours on this sunny Sunday enjoying the flow!

Continue until you’ve sewn enough to make 4 blocks in total.

You could join quadrants to complete blocks at this point or do that later. I’m not joining my block quadrants yet, so that I can mix and match them later, ensuring a more even spread of fabrics in the final quilt.

SHARE TO WIN!

This week share a photo of your Spinny progress in our Substack chat!

Your photo enters you into a giveaway for the Geesey quilt pattern. It’s a quilt all about creating movement! The pattern includes a detailed flying geese block tutorial. Already have Geesey? Then the winner can choose another of my comparable quilt patterns!

Giveaway open worldwide! Winners will be announced weekly in the sew-along newsletter (sign up here) and contacted via messaging.

On the Substack chat your photos won’t be lost to the Instagram algorithm and we’re finding it easier to connect as a community. Why not try?

Good luck!

BEST OF STITCHED IN COLOR {September}

• how to choose a man (midlife musings on dating after 40)

• Spinny in Pink Princess (sugar sweet spiderweb patchwork)

• Random Kisses (working out a patchwork idea)

On My Mind

Experimenting:: in September I experimented with making multiple sample versions of a quilt palette to test out ideas. The result? I just want to sew them all! Oops. I think that I will have to sew at least two Spinny quilts to work these ideas out of my system.

Reading:: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. I picked up this book for pure entertainment while traveling to the states. It wasn’t what I expected, but it was entertaining. It definitely brings into focus the importance of authenticity in social media for mental health.

Celebrating:: This soft and dreamy Tapestry Garden quilt top sewn by Clare and shared via the Stitched in Color chat.

After asking the community for quilting input, Clare has decided on serpentine quilting, and I think it’s looking amazing!

Anticipating:: going home. I’ve been away for two weeks in the United States, becoming a grandma and spending time my sick father. While it has been a very important trip, I am looking forward to arriving home tomorrow and reuniting with Elora, who stayed in The Netherlands with her father. There’s no place like home.

Featured Freebie

the Kingfisher stitch-along

Stitched in Color includes a library of free tutorials, 15 years in the making. Each month I’ll feature one to spread the good news.

Kingfisher is a hexie flower quilt that combines English paper piecing, applique and traditional piecing. I co-hosted this quilt-along with Tales of Cloth in 2018. It’s a great project for someone who has sewn a few quilts and is ready to experiment with English paper piecing.

I have become a grandmother! Aria gave birth to baby Michael shortly before my visit, which meant I got to help her in the early days when she was just finding her baby legs. Aria’s a natural, and baby is doing great!

He was a little jaundiced here, as all of my babies were too, but now that’s resolved. Good job, Michael and Aria!

We even got to go apple picking, together with Aria’s husband. Our annual autumn visit to Sky Top Orchard was a dear tradition when we lived in South Carolina, so it was very special to get to join this new little family on their first visit to the orchard. And we had lovely sunny weather too, which now that I live in The Netherlands, I don’t take for granted.

Thank you also for your prayers and well-wishes for my father. He is not doing well, but it was a blessing to him and my mother both that I could be beside them during this difficult time. We’re already planning the next visit.

xoxo,

Rachel

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Greetings! After the busy summer months, October brings glorious autumn in the northern hemisphere. In The Netherlands, the weather is still mild; but, the days are growing shorter. Lighting candles, pulling on a sweater, noticing the leaves begin to change - in a myriad of little ways, we feel the season shift.

Come sew-along with Spinny, a spiderweb quilt with gentle autumn vibes! Find out more about the Spinny sew-along at the master sew-along post. It’s a digital pattern, so you can grab it in a flash and sew right along.

get the pattern

Hopefully you already have a copy of the Spinny pattern. Will you follow the warm/cool color scheme explained in the pattern? Charlotte Maxwell did! Her choice of solids for the background/stars is super effective. The solids give the eye a nice place to rest.

Or, if you want to do a totally different color scheme, that’s also very welcome. I’m so curious to see what you will choose!

WEEK 1 GOAL

Choose Fabrics + Cutting

Ok, let’s get her started! For me, the most tedious part of sewing Spinny is prepping all the background triangles. That’s why I think we should start by choosing fabrics and cutting those backgrounds this week. Then, the rest of the month you can coast with happy scrappy sewing.

If you are sewing a throw sized quilt, you need to cut (64) 9” squares in your background fabrics. For those doing a warm/cool color scheme, you want an equal amount of warm and cool colored squares. See page 5 of the pattern for more details.

Do you need to order fabric for your backgrounds? A fat quarter yields 4 background squares; whereas a yard of fabric yields 16. So, if you are buying yardage, say in misc. solid pinks, you could order 4 yards total of background fabric. I would probably opt for 8 similar pinks in 1/2 yard cuts, just for a nice variety.

And, yes, I’ve opted for the pink princess quilt!

Cut all of your squares in half on diagonal to create foundation triangles. You can also begin marking them as per page 6. That’s a good task for multitasking, like when calling with a friend.

Now is also the time to zero in on a color concept for your spiderwebs. Let your scraps point you in the right direction. This is the kind of project that can really use up your random pieces! I like to gather potential spiderweb fabrics alongside my background fabrics. Adding in some yardage can also be helpful to really define the look.

Or, if you like variety, consider making spiderwebs with different color focuses! It could be a lot of fun, right?

SHARE TO WIN!

This week share a photo of your Spinny progress in our Substack chat!

Your photo enters you into a giveaway for the Parsnips quilt pattern. It’s another trick for emptying out your scrap drawer. ;) Already have Parsnips? Then the winner can choose another of my comparable quilt patterns!

Giveaway open worldwide! Winners will be announced weekly in the sew-along newsletter (sign up here) and contacted via messaging.

On the Substack chat your photos won’t be lost to the Instagram algorithm and we’re finding it easier to connect as a community. Why not try?

Good luck!

If you are in the area, you’ll want to stop in. A recent Google reviewer reports that the place is “packed with hundreds of gorgeous quilters cotton bolts, packaged kits, jellies, quarters, and every notion, book, ruler, cutter you could want. Super staff. There was a class going on while I visited and even the students were helping me decide by sharing their experiences with specific products. Love love love."

Besides selling fabric, Sew On Central is an authorized Bernette dealer. Their class schedule is packed with classes for all ages and levels, kids and adults, beginner to advanced, group or private lessons. All in all it seems like quite a sewing hot spot. I wish that I was in the neighborhood!

Fortunately, we can also shop online at Sew on Central. The webshop makes it easy to shop for fabrics by color or by substrate, to zero in on what you need.

You’ll find a huge selection of modern quilt fabrics from Ruby Star Society, from new collections to basics, plus designers like Lizzy House and Zen Chic. Sew On Central also stocks classic styles like French General and Sherri & Chelsi. The fun stuff is supported by Bella Solids and a delicious selection of Wovens, for those extra-soft quilts.

Do you like quilt kits and small product kits? Sew on Central has them in spades. I like the concept of the Charm Pack Tote kits. What an easy way to enjoy a collection with a quick, useful project.

In fact, if you want to sew bags, this store is a find. They have a lovely selection of ribbons and modern bag making supplies, including a selection of tried and true bag patterns. Skip the trial and error phase and all that research by relying on their expertise to sew that duffel bag, tote bag, or a clever zip pouch. I have had my eye on the Oxbow Tote…

From apparel and bags to quilts and decor, Sew on Central has it covered. I am excited to get to know the ladies at the shop and to work with them in the coming time. Thank you for considering Sew on Central. Happy shopping!

visit Sew on Central

Right now I’m in South Carolina, visiting my sick father and new grandchild. I sewed my September do. Good Stitches quilt blocks before I left The Netherlands, so I could have something to share with you now.

Here is the prompt! Bee member Anne L. created this mock up with the help of Chat GPT. Everyone will make two blocks for the collaborative quilt, focusing each block on tonal fabrics in similar colors.

I chose aqua blues for one block and greens for the other. Together, these analogous colors radiate a peaceful vibe.

After sewing simple stripes, the next step is to intersect the block with a bright yellow strip…

And, done! Simple to sew, yet visually compelling. Nice, Anne!

Serendipitously, these blocks look amazing with Floris’ drawing. It’s lovely when life is like that, when you can make a cohesive story out of disparate elements. Finding the connections takes creativity and a bit of faith, but beauty is there for the finding.

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This is my collection of the dark, multicolor prints from Rifle Paper Fabric. I love them, but I don’t use them so often. Starting with these fabrics feels good.

After cutting my triangle foundations, I wonder what to do for my spiderwebs? Wait, what if I make different colored spiderwebs instead of choosing one theme? Then I can use a wide variety of scraps and come out with a rainbow quilt!

Let’s get to work! Here I am trimming the foundations back to triangle-shape after adding misc. string scraps. I do love the trimming stage.

What do you think? I was a little hesitant at first, but now that there are two, I’m in for it.

And soon I have a whole collection of spiderweb quartets!

Here is a small collection, to test out my idea. I used similar colors in each web, such as yellow/orange or green/teal. That gives the blocks some dimension and allows for a wide variety of scraps.

The Rifle Paper stars are totally great with this rainbow look, in my opinion. If you have a limited scrap collection, this is a great way to use a little of everything in a controlled manner. Fun!

This has been a great, exploratory process. I am a fan of each test palette, so it’s not going to be easy to choose just one. I wonder, what would you choose? This Rainbow version, the Pink Princess or Pastel Christmas?

Want to join us for spiderweb fun this October? Sign up for the sew-along here and purchase your copy of the pattern!

Vintage Inspired quilt by Martina

When I receive an order for custom quilting, I am extra curious to see the quilt in person. As soon as I laid eyes on Martina’s quilt, I understood why she envisioned a custom quilting treatment.

And isn’t it lovely? I suggested Vintage Feathers quilting, which is ideal for double Irish chain-related patchwork. These classic textures and flowing shapes are just perfect for her quilt!

What a beauty! It was definitely a pleasure to see this elegant quilt come alive with classic quilting.

It even looks lovely in my own bedroom! I am sure that it will absolutely delight the gift recipient.

Even the plain white backing has become a delicate treasure.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Quilt Sandwich

Just in - the lovely Cath Kidston Signature Collection by Riley Blake Designs, featuring beautiful florals, stripes, and dots in the classic Cath Kidston style.

Coin quilt by Mara

I also had the pleasure recently of quitting a coin quilt, which was inspired by my own coin quilt. Fun!

And speaking of quilts which look good in my bedroom…

This one also has a palette similar to my own. It fits right in!

I noticed that the fabrics have a fun, pop art feel, so I suggested this Clematis quilting. The playful flowers add interest to the simple patchwork and meld nicely with the sixties vibe of the prints.

We are both pleased with the outcome!

Oversized Bear Paw quilt by Callie

We started today with a classic quilt, so let’s end with a modern one.

Ta da! What a fantastic bear paw quilt in bold, modern colors!

This patchwork is a clever way of showing off novel Ruby Star fabrics to their best advantage.

We opted for Cinnamon Roll quilting. These extra-large quilting curls look so cool with all the sharp patchwork points.

On the quilt back is another riot of Ruby Star fun. Someone is going to be smiling at this quilt, front and back. Well done, Callie!

I’d be happy to finish your projects with a beautiful quilting texture too. My services are available to those who live throughout the European region. Please be in touch if you have any questions or start the process off by placing your order. I can’t wait to collaborate on YOUR quilt!

Order Quilting

Brainstorming here. My Christmas fabrics can be sorted into three piles: darks/greens, low volume and red. It would make sense to sew the spiderwebs from the low volume prints, since I have a lot of variety there. Combined with green stars or red stars?

Red. I love a scrap quilt with red contrast. It always looks sharp.

Here’s my first batch of blocks. Hmm… It looks busier than I expected and also a bit “blah” with so many white background fabrics. It could also be that I rarely sew with white background fabrics, so I’m not used to the look.

To liven things up, I’ll infuse the rest of my blocks with more pastels in mint, rose and ice blue. These soft, wintry colors won’t overpower the holiday prints.

Yes, better!

As I build these spiderwebs, I’m using approximately as many pastel scraps as low volume Christmasy prints. Now the balance feels good.

Hurrah! It’s feeling like Christmas with icing and sprinkles. I can almost smell the sugar cookies. =)

And I used some special scraps for sure!

That’s Spinny, the Christmas edition. Of course, it would also be cool to see in Halloween form, with moody stars and fun Halloween prints. I just don’t have any. Maybe you?

Want to join us for spiderweb fun this October? You can already sign up for the sew-along here and purchase your copy of the pattern!

We can’t get enough of scrap quilts. They capture the heart of quilt-making as it has been practiced for generations. What practical magic to make something so lovely from things leftover! Join us for a feel-good scrappy sew-along this fall.

It’s a dynamic block just perfect for all your long, narrow scraps. And bonus… it also eats up triangle scraps!! In between the spinning spiderwebs, beautiful stars effortlessly form. Download the PDF Pattern and start right in on the fun.

5 weeks, starting September 28th.

Don’t be shy: Subscribe to the sew-along! You can connect with others via the Stiched in Color Substack chat. No need for an Instagram or Facebook account. Your shared sew-along photos don’t get lost to an algorithm and qualify you to win prizes along the way.

You can sew-along, whatever your pace!

THE QUILT

I developed this pattern when I wanted to sew spiderweb blocks with my quilting bee. By focusing on warm vs. cool contrast, we were able to go fully scrappy using totally independent fabrics, and still create a quilt that makes an artful, dynamic whole.

Throw size: 64” x 64” or Baby size: 32” x 32”

You can follow the pattern to create a similar quilt with warm/cool contrast, or approach the color scheme in a totally fresh way.

Got Scraps? Sewing with scraps is not just economical, it also brings so much satisfaction. It’s just amazing what you can make from a pile of cast offs, even when they’re not all favorite fabrics.

If you are new to quilt-making or haven’t saved many scraps, there’s no time like the present to start your scrap collection. Winter Creek Cloth sells scrap bundles for just $7.50 per 1 1/2 yard.

Alternatively, you can combine scraps with strips cut from yardage. Here I was brainstorming a targeted scrappy color scheme. My printed yardage helps me focus the vibe and find the right scraps. I’ll also use width-of-fabric strips cut from the prints in my project.

Scraps are the fabrics that just keep giving! They multiply like rabbits, so I can assure you that once you start collecting you’ll never be short on them again!

THE SUPPLIES

Spinny quilt is foundation pieced. This technique is super beginner-friendly! First you cut triangle “foundations” using your background fabrics. Then you mark the backgrounds to designate the spiderweb area and add strips of fabric on top of the foundation to form that spiderweb.

The background fabrics become the stars between the spiderwebs.

First decide if you will use warm/cool contrast as your color concept, as per the pattern, or if you will create your own color concept. If you’re going with your own concept, begin by choosing the fabric for the stars.

For a throw quilt, you can cut the background fabrics from 16 fat quarters. For a cool/warm scheme, use 8 warm colored fat quarters and 8 cool colored fat quarters OR raid your scraps to cut (64) 9” squares (32 warm, 32 cool).

More details in the pattern!

Get the Pattern

THE SCHEDULE

Relevant Blog Posts thus far:

• Spinny quilt (the original)

• Spinny in Pink Princess

• Spinny in Pastel Christmas

• Spinny in Rainbow

• Week 1

• Week 2

KICK-OFF PRIZES!

Will you be sewing along? Woohoo!

We have two kick off prizes, gifted by my kind advertisers: Sew on Central and Dragonfly Quiltworks. Buy a digital copy of the Spinny quilt pattern to enter to win!

Prize no. 1

Your choice of Jelly Roll from Sew on Central. Sew on Central stocks tantalizing rolls from Moda, from soft and pretty to bright and modern fabrics. This Ruby Star jelly roll called Persimmon would be my favorite!

Prize no. 2

Dragonfly Quiltworks is generously giving away TWO of these beautiful fat quarter bundles, to one lucky winner. It’s the Ombre Wovens collection by V & Co, which would you could totally use for your cool/warm Spinny background fabrics! There is enough in two bundles to cut all your background triangles from glowing ombre solids!!!

All Spinny pattern purchases throughout September qualify for this giveaway. Winners will be contacted via email.

COME SEW-ALONG!

1. Get the Pattern

2. Choose your color scheme and background/star fabrics

3. Subscribe to the sew-along newsletter

4. Spread the news with your quilty friends to pass along the scrappy fun!

   

Spinny is a string scrap quilt with a “background” that forms stars where the blocks touch. To create this first palette, I started with a concept for the stars: a range of exuberant solid pinks!

Then I asked myself what kinds of fabrics I would like to see with those pinks. Hmmm….

The folded yardage on the right is what I came up with. These are my inspiration fabrics. I’ll cut one width-of-fabric strip from each inspiration print and source the rest of my spiderweb fabrics from scraps. On the left I’ve started amassing scraps that coordinate with the inspiration vibe!

Next up was cutting the background foundations. For Spinny quilt it is convenient to cut background foundations from yardage, fat quarters or layer cakes.

Let the sewing begin! Soon my table is covered with long strips of fabric, shorter strips and odd triangle-shaped scraps which are perfect for the tips.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Dragonfly Quiltworks

Need a modern quilt backing? Finish off your quilt quickly and easily with a 108” wide backing fabric from my friends at Dragonfly Quiltworks. Ships from Florida.

This is called foundation piecing because the background fabric (aka the pink triangles) are the foundation on which you sew. I am covering most of each foundation triangle with string scraps. After covering the intended area, I trim the work, using the original foundation triangle as a guide.

Why use a foundation? It makes life easy! You can easily see how big each string scrap should be in order to create the desired finished shape. No pre-measuring or pre-cutting of scraps. Foundation piecing is totally beginner-friendly, folks. If you haven’t done this before, you are in for a treat.

And the result? I LOVE it! This is spiderweb quilt next level.

Do you know that when I first got started with this palette, I felt a little embarrassed. Is it too sweet, too girly, I wondered? Silly, eh? There is no such thing as “too” when it comes to color. If you like it, it’s good.

And like it, I certainly do.

Want to join us for spiderweb fun this October? You can already sign up for the sew-along here and purchase your copy of the pattern!

Get the Pattern

Since Spinny is a spiderweb quilt, October is the perfect time to sew him. We’ll get started on Monday, September 28th with choosing fabrics and cutting foundations. Then, before October is gone, you’ll have a finished quilt!

get the pattern

I’ve already started sewing new Spinny blocks. What gets me is how well this pattern uses up shorter string scraps. Unlike patterns which require long scraps, Spinny is great for the little pieces. I’ve accumulated plenty of those!

Plus (and for me this is golden), every spiderweb block uses 8 triangle scraps!!! I mean, sure, you could use another string scrap or trimming leftover at the triangle tip, instead of a triangle scrap. But, I have lots of random triangle scraps, which are challenging to use. I love that Spinny makes this a snap!

My original Spinny quilt uses cool/warm color contrast to organize your scraps. The digital quilt pattern details this out and teaches a bit of color theory, in case you are not familiar with those ideas. This is the easy route to wrangle a wild scrap collection. =)

In the coming weeks I’ll be sewing up some new Spinny ideas that don’t rely on cool/warm contrast. Let’s get the ideas flowing and gear up for some delicious scrap sewing this October!

Are you in?

Join the Quilt-Along!

Sign up now for the Spinny Sew-Along to be sure you don’t miss a thing! Get your copy of the pattern to start dreaming up your quilt.

First off, I find dating apps useful. I like this way of coming into contact with others and using mainly words to test the waters. There’s a lot you can pick up from a profile. The man who stands arms-crossed and gaze turned away in his profile photo and who has opted not to describe himself - yeah, he’s definitely not the open communicator that I’m looking for. The guy whose profile is chock full of muscle shots and who, from all the many possible prompts, has opted to elucidate his “humble brag” - he might have an ego.

On the other hand, some smiles are just so warm, you sense already that he has a good heart. That’s mostly when I swipe right. And they made swiping fun on purpose.

But amusing app anecdotes aside, dating is serious business if you’re in it for a quality relationship. Here is a reflection on what I’ve learned in the last few years of dating in my 40’s.

no. 1 Raise Your Standards

If you were in a relationship for a long time, you got used to the way that your partner treated you, as well as to his strengths and weaknesses. Even when you take the step of ending that relationship, it’s not as easy as you’d think to raise your standards. If you are not careful, you might fall for someone with a few good new traits, but also the same critical pitfalls as the original model.

So remember this: the other guy(s) weren’t good enough; otherwise you would have stayed. What new qualities or dynamics are essential? Think also about what you valued in your old partner. Don’t imagine that you can trade the old good traits for new good traits. You probably want more, not just different. Embrace that higher standard.

no. 2 Match Experiences

Did you meet your first partner when you were young? At that time, you were wide open to life and able to grow with someone. Now your experiences have shaped you and taught you so much. A new relationship has the best chance of success if you find someone with similar relationship, family and parenting experiences.

I have had two serious relationships since my divorce. One man had never had a longterm relationship and the other had never had children. Although not insurmountable, these inequalities in life experience were felt. They represent real lack of data, context and skills. Ideally a partner will bring skills and experience to the table in the areas of life most important to you.

no. 3 Share a Destination

No, not a vacation destination, a relationship destination. I know this should be obvious, but there are surprisingly many men who prefer to “see where things go.” They are non-committal, which is exactly why they abound in the dating world.

That’s great if you also want to live in question marks, but if you already know what kind of relationship you want someday, it’s best to be on the same page from day one. Do you hope for something that goes the distance? Do you want to live together someday? To get married? Find out what he envisions in an ideal relationship. He’s really not going to change later. Later is already now.

no. 4 the Three Date Rule

I once listened to a podcast interviewing Amy Nobile Messing, a dating coach. Her guideline: allow for three dates to determine if you share chemistry, core values, emotional maturity and readiness for a relationship. Sharing the same relationship destination is an example of a core value that you can discover in a relatively short frame of time.

Why put any time pressure on things? Well, because if you don’t you might keep telling yourself “maybe… in time it could develop… I see potential.” And this is no way to begin a relationship. The better question is “Can I accept him (as far as I know) right now?” When these elements are present after a few dates, that is a healthy beginning.

no. 5 Trust your Intuition

This is the biggest one for me: use less brain and more intuition. Most of the time, my heart and body send me signals, good signals that turn out to be spot on. The red flags don’t fade, even if my brain tries to work its way around them.

What my friends tell me is that it should feel EASY in the beginning. Contact and reflection after a date should calm your nervous system. Expect feelings of trust, peace and curiosity; not frantic energy, over-thinking or puzzling out how it could work.

Remember, dear reader, that you are at this moment your best version of yourself! Your years have yielded growth, depth and valuable perspective. Imagine how much love you have for yourself and are able to give to another. Accept nothing less than so much warmth and love in return.

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It’s called Kisses for the X shapes in each block, but the quilt also has interesting secondary shapes, especially those on point squares.

I recently got the idea to sew this block using my Lattice block tutorial as a construction starting point. Each point of each X is constructed independently, with the addition of a fabric piece at one end to cap off the outer X corners.

Do you ever have the feeling that you are spinning your tires, creatively? Lately I have not been able to maintain a comfortable creative flow. Once I figured out how to sew this Kisses block, I enjoyed cutting a lot of black and white ingredients. Cutting in bulk is one way of resting creatively, while still moving forward. At least, theoretically.

And, I also sewed a few more blocks of course. I like the idea of making scrappy X’s from random fabrics, while the on point squares and corner shapes are super crisp in black and low volume.

But maybe not totally scrappy… perhaps a plethora of bright blue, solid X’s too? That could give the quilt an interesting rhythm.

Well, what do you think?

I like it, but the on point black squares are standing out more than the kisses. I’m not sure I’m okay with that. Hm. Maybe I’ll let it rest and see what I think when I come back to this idea.

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BEST OF STITCHED IN COLOR {August}

• a week in Cyprus (my summer travels)

• like my mom (midlife musings on my mother)

• Dilly Dilly quilt (a finished quilt)

On My Mind

Experimenting:: with sending Elora to the grocery store. One thing I love about my new apartment is that the grocery store is just a walk through the park away. Yesterday I asked Elora if she would like to go to the grocery store and pick out some crackers. ;) She came back with two kinds of crackers, thoughtfully selected, and a new sense of empowerment. Yay!

Reading:: Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed. I took this collection of shorts on vacation in Cyprus. It was easy to drop into, personal letter followed by advice letter. Several stories brought tears to my eye and helped me reflect on my own life journey.

Celebrating:: Inge’s positive experience with the Positivities block of the month.

“I finally finished my Positivities Quilt and just wanted to thank you for this wonderful pattern. At the end of 2023, I really did need some positivity, and when I came around your BOM announcement, I signed up immediatly. The breakdown into monthly portions was just the right amount to keep on and to looking forward to the next month.”

Congratulations on a beautiful finish, Inge!

Anticipating:: a birthday trip to the ballet. Every September the Dutch National Ballet presents a collection of 3-4 short, modern ballet pieces. Long a fan of the classical ballets, I was surprised by how intensely I savored the evening when I attended a few years ago. So, I am treating myself to the ballet again this year, in honor of my 44th birthday!

Featured Freebie

Sawtooth Stars

Stitched in Color includes a library of free tutorials, 15 years in the making. Each month I’ll feature one to spread the good news.

This is a block I come back to again and again. Its charm is universal! This tutorial is designed for a beginner quilter. It requires the use of one special ruler, the Fons & Porter Flying Geese Ruler which is my favorite way to cut and sew flying geese units.

Thank you for all your well-wishes for my visit with my mother. It was very special to have her here with me in The Netherlands! We made some good memories in Enschede and also had two beautiful days in Amsterdam together.

But while my mom was in Europe, we were pretty worried about my father, who had opted to stay home in America. His health issues escalated while my mother was away. This week my father has a full week of tests ahead of him. So, naturally, I am worried about him and grateful that I will be seeing him soon when I visit the United States in September for the birth of Aria’s baby.

In hope,

Rachel

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Today I’ll share a few recent quilts-in-progress from the Stitched in Color chat community. Enjoy!

“The morning light Is photobombing my design wall. Working on finding the right fabric for cornerstones in the Stone Path block. Love this pretty floral but fear it may vanish …” -Clare

“Finally caught up- it probably looks a little chaotic up close but I love all the little sections coming together.” - Deborah Hoppe

“We are getting close to the end! I’m loving it so much. I’m still not certain about the center of my waterlily, but I am going to wait to see how much the last few remaining blocks use up my purple fabrics before I decide on a change.” - Rachel

“The genius of this quilt is that with every addition each month you see how important each piece is to the whole. Even the simplest blocks have their part to play! This month it’s the rhythm of the stone path and the oh so important darks. Just love it!” - Patti M.

“Stone Path was fun and it’s amazing how the blocks are fitting together! In February, I thought I’d have to go back and change out Patio colors but now I think they’re fine. Phew!” - Marcia Fowler

“Just finished August Tapestry Garden BOM. My scraps are beginning to sing together—of course they are loud and a bit out of tune —but I’m really trying to follow Rachel’s design plan and am enjoying the block variety and skill building 🤓” - Virginia Tylenda

“Enjoyed this month!” - Kate Pritchard

“This is the most fun project! It is absolute madness with all the colors and creative blocks and the way they’re put together. I feel like this is exactly what’s in my brain on any given day. 🤣The trad quilters at my guild are going to gasp with shock! I can’t wait to show and tell this mercurial behemoth. It’s the Midsummer Night’s Dream of quilts!❤️❤️❤️” - Hilary

Thank you each and every one (and also those not pictured here) for joining in on this big, quilty adventure!!!

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A garden of purple flowers nestled in every vibrant shade of green, reaching up towards a dreamy blue sky.

This quilt was about pleasure, about play and most of all, about color. I was curious to work out the transition from green through white to blue. I was eager to sew warm and cool purples with sunny yellow and amber centers.

Along the way I finalized the end of a romantic relationship, escaped my normal life for a week in sunny Cyprus and received my mother for her first visit in The Netherlands. My time with this quilt was thus anything but constant. It grew in fits and starts.

TODAY’S STITCHED IN COLOR IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY~

Winter Creek Cloth

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But now that it’s finished, I’m entirely satisfied with the idyllic result. It radiates a sort of purity and simple loveliness, the kind that abounds in nature, the kind that we see everyday and sometimes neglect to treasure.

On my mother’s last day in The Netherlands, we visited the Van Gogh Museum. His works are abundant and astounding. This slice of one of his paintings reminds me of Dilly Dilly quilt. This painting is also simple and idyllic, with the green meadow and blue sky. Simple beauty.

And so for the backing, I also kept it simple. I’ve combined a neutral floral print with green linen. Did you notice already on the quilt top? The quilting changes from fern-like curls at the bottom to airy clouds at the top. It’s a nice, subtle transition on the quilt top, but here it’s easy to see.

Dilly Dilly quilt is an original work, for which I have decided not to make a pattern. If you’d like to play with these shapes, you can find the pattern for each of the flowers in the Tapestry Garden block of the month club. The large dresdens are our Daisy block, the small dresdens are the center of Waterlily and the quarter dresdens are our Coneflowers.

I’ve listed Dilly Dilly today in my Handmades shop. Thank you for supporting my work in all your kind ways!

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