Under the Maple Tree Sew-Along
the master post
Celebrate the season.
Each year lovely leaves come and go, creating canopies of soft shade, rustling sound and brilliant color. Come find a spot under the maple tree this autumn. With busy hands and grateful hearts, we’ll create patchwork that grounds us in the majestic turning of the season.
Three unique blocks, sewn with squares and half square triangle units in a traditional manner. No paper piecing or fancy tools or supplies. Just relax with your sewing machine and focus your spirit on color, shape and the wild beauty of nature. The PDF Pattern offers color inspiration for sewing a scrappy version as above or directions to sew leaves from 9 fat quarters.
6 weeks, starting October 6th.
Join us by subscribing to the sew-along! We really enjoyed in our last sew-along connecting via the Stiched in Color Substack chat. 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
This pattern developed from the idea to sew leaves from scrappy squares. But rather than simply repeating a maple leaf block, I was inspired to recreate the feeling of lying under a tree. Gaze up at the canopy, where the leaves rustle in the breeze. Here, they overlap in thick clusters. There, gaps allow sunlight to stream through with glimpses of the sky beyond. That wild, expansive feeling feeds my soul.
Throw size: 64” x 64” or Baby size: 43” x 43”
1st Under the Maple Tree QUILT
Tilda Soft Teal background, Freespirit Spark Gold accent
Next Under the Maple Tree QUILT
Art Gallery Sweet Macadamia background + Cinnamon accent
Sew your Scraps! This quilt is quite adaptable to your scrap collection. If you wish to recreate the vibe of the cover quilt, you can sew some leaves that are totally wild + scrappy. Use any random fabric scrap!
Other leaves can have a focused color scheme, such as these analogous examples. The really cool thing is that this variability mirrors the beauty of nature. No two leaves are exactly alike. They even change color in different ways.
Let your quilt develop organically from your scrap collection - that’s pleasurable and economical!
THE SUPPLIES
Begin by choosing your background color. It’s surprising how different everything can feel, just by switching out the background. Is your sky a clear aqua, a sunny yellow, stormy blue or maybe a neutral shade? Any color that you love will work as a background color, I promise! Then choose an accent color for the traditional blocks that marries well with your background. These two choices create a strong foundation so that your leaves can be as wild as you like.
Here are some pointers for the fabrics. More details are included in the pattern.
FABRICS FOR THROW SIZE
Stems: 1 fat quarter
Leaves: fabric scraps or 9 fat quarters
Accent: 2/3 yard
Background: 4 yards
Binding: 1/2 yard
Backing: 4 yards
THE SCHEDULE
Relevant Blog Posts thus far:
WEEKLY PRIZES!
Stitching with friends is great fun; stitching with prizes is even better! Share your Under the Maple Tree quilt progress on Instagram or on Substack for chances to win weekly prizes. You don't have to keep up with our schedule to win. Stitch at your happy pace and enjoy!
Each week of our sew-along, one lucky participant will win a copy of my Trimmings Pattern Pack (€24). Deck the halls with handmade goodness this year! this pattern set includes:
Zigzags in the Round Tree Skirt
Evergreen Pillow
Quilted Stockings
Giveaway open worldwide! Winners will be announced weekly in the sew-along newsletter and contacted via Instagram or Substack messaging.
COME SEW-ALONG!
Order your background fabric and start cutting squares for the leaves!
Subscribe to the sew-along newsletter
Post the quilt-along button with #UndertheMapleTreeQuilt to pass along the rainbow-sewing fun!
I'm gnashing my teeth that I have to be out of town (and away from all sewing tools) for four weeks but I have purchased the pattern and will use all accumulated inspiration to get started in early November.
I have a huge work project this month, so I can't sew along. But I am, in my mind!