2026 Quilting Check In Q2

With June coming to a close in just a few days, it's time to think about the quarterly check in with Melanie Meyer @mellmeyer. Like Q1, I'll basically report on my quilting finishes.

April - June 2026 Quilts

Quantity-wise, I may have made less quilts this quarter, but I feel really good about what I accomplished.

• Billows - made for the Pantone quilt challenge.

• Vessel - made for the WELCA triennial gathering quilt challenge. It was accepted as a finalist, and will be on display at the gathering in July, and auctioned off for charity.

• Banded - began during the final weeks of the 100 Day Project.

• Bonkers - my first controlled crazy quilt, and I'm pretty sure it won't be my last.

So that's it for Q2 of 2026. I'm debating what quilt to start on next. Love when it can be pretty much anything I want!

Linking up with Melanie and her 2026QuiltingCheckIn Q2 Link-Up!

Building a Village

Audrey @cottonandbourbon had been hinting for several days that a special announcement was coming soon, while showing off her latest pattern, a modified courthouse steps block. Then yesterday, the announcement came.... Audrey wanted to host a group quilt entry for QuiltCon 2027, built, of course, of Building a Village quilt blocks.

Obviously, I joined right in by nabbing a free copy of the block pattern on Audrey's site, and didn't waste any time making my block. 

Audrey will make her quilt with the first 100 blocks that arrive to her, so if you're interested, do join in. The block is paper-pieced, just 8" square, and comes with excellent instructions. Hope some of you feel inclined to join in too!

Bonkers

My Controlled Crazy Quilt, which I'm naming Bonkers, was so much fun to make. I really loved  making those scrappy blocks for the front especially, though making the back was great too. I estimate I used 4.25 yards worth of multi-colored scraps in the making of the front and the back.

For quilting, I opted for fancy straight-line, which consists of vertical straight-line quilting topped with organic zig-zags. I thought that went well with the mix of straight lines and angles in the quilt top. For thread, I used Aurifil 50wt 4668 [Strawberry Parfait], a red, pink, and white variegated thread. I originally planned to quilt with plain red, but was afraid it might be overwhelming, so the Strawberry Parfait felt like a good option, plus I'd never used it before. I'm happy enough with the result.

For the binding, there were a couple of ways I wanted to mimic the wide ribbon binding and hand-embroidery stitches on traditional crazy quilts. To prepare my quilt for that once the quilting was complete, I made sure to trim the batting and backing about 1.5" wider than my quilt top all around. This can be a little tricky, but with a block-based quilt, I was able to get it pretty square.

• Then, I used a solid Kona Rich Red, and cut binding strips 8.5" wide, piecing them with straight seams, only because at that width, it would have meant a lot of fabric loss if pieced on the diagonal. Also not my norm, but I sewed it on the back first, then folded it over to the front, mitering the corners, clipping them temporarily with binder clips. [Apologies for not getting a photo of the back before the binding went on. I marked a line 1.5" from all edges, and then lined up the raw edges of the binding along it as I sewed it on. If you need help doing a chunky binding, check out Audrey Esarey's free Wide Binding Tutorial.]

• Another detail to simulate traditional crazy quilts was to sew the binding on with a decorative stitch showing on the quilt front. I just didn't feel like this particular quilt was up for a bunch of hand-embroidery stitches, so at least the thought is there. On my Janome MC 6700P, I used stitch #106 at its widest and longest (9.0/5.0). I chose it since it kind of reminded me of the first embroidery stitch I learned, the cross-stitch, plus it mimics the zig-zag in the overall quilting.

I think it makes for a nice finish!

My priority, of course, was holding down the binding edge on the front, so placement is not always on the binding on the back, as shown below - top and third corners are front corners; second and fourth corners are back corners. But overall, I'm good with it, and I love that it's something different for me and that I tried out a decorative stitch on my machine.

The quilt front originally measured 45.5" x 54.5", but with its chunky binding, the finished quilt now measures 48" x 58".

I remember years and years ago, I thought I might want to make a crazy quilt, and even took a workshop on it. After making a small sampler, complete with hand embroidery, I decided I wasn't interested. I'm glad I waited until now, because Bonkers is much more my style. I'm thinking I might want to make another one. Don't forget! Except for the binding, scraps from my scrap basket made up every inch of this quilt. 

XL Maple Street Pouch

When hubby asked if I'd make him a small tool bag this week, it was the perfect chance to go and sew. I had in mind something like the Maple Street Pouch I'd made recently, but the largest size in Svetlana's @sotakhandmade pattern was 9" x 4" x 3", where I was looking for something more like 12" long. I looked around at some other options, but finally just went with my first instinct, deciding it would be easy enough for me to enlarge.

Hubby liked the overall shape of the large version, so I just drew out a template extending it a few inches. Copying the same template for the lining was a cinch, as was figuring out how long my zipper by the yard needed to be.

For this version, though, I used waxed canvas for the exterior, which meant no need for interfacing. The only other adjustment I needed to make was leaving an 8" gap in the lining bottom instead of just 4" as called for. The waxed canvas is so stiff that you really need some extra room to pull it through to the right side near the end. Not sure it was necessary, but I did use a size 100 needle on this bag, and when I stitched two layers of waxed canvas together, I bumped my stitch length to 3.0.

So the final size of hubby's tool pouch is 12" x 4" x 3", and gotta say, I think it'll serve him well.

Just for fun, I took a photo of this elongated pouch with the large one I'd made previously per the pattern, so you could see the difference. The longer one looks skinnier, but that's just because it's made of waxed canvas, thus is stiffer, and I creased it at the corners along the sides. Either way, they're both proving to be plenty useful.

Weave Got This! :: :: Blocks 6A + 6B

With this month's block assignment, we're over half-way through with this year's Seattle MQG BOM! And for the first time, my blocks used both the main and accent colors together.

There's actually a lighter orange that didn't get used this time, but still. It's fun to see more of a color variety in these blocks. Mirror-image blocks can get confusing, but this time they went together so quick and easy, there's not a seam-ripper in sight!

Fairfax II

It's true that I really enjoy trying and making new bag patterns every now and then. Usually I try something new, but I've enjoyed using my Fairfax Sling so much, that when it began to show wear, I decided I wanted to make another. It's just been the perfect size and shape for me, so why not?

The pattern is by Svetlana Skumanicova @sotakhandmade and it even came with a video, which is nice. As with the first Fairfax, I chose the exterior fabric from my latest Studio Mystery Box from Anna Graham @noodlehead531 - Orchard Run Flowers in Slate, which happens to be printed on Robert Kaufman’s Cotton Flax basecloth, and is like a lightweight canvas. For lining, I pulled a favorite Carolyn Friedlander @carolynfriedlander print from stash, City Grid in Ash; and for the interior pocket lining (which is pretty well hidden), Angled in Royal, both from her Collection CF. You can see the lining - and a peek of the pocket lining - in the photo below.

The lovely khaki webbing also came from my Studio Mystery Box, which was handy.

Like usual with bag-making, I follow the pattern carefully step by step over the course of several days. This pattern happens to use zipper by the yard, which I got from Sullivans Trim @sullivanstrim. I used a stripe khaki zipper on this bag, but also bought a few other striped colorways to try in future projects. 

In case you're new to zipper by the yard, Sullivans also has a great little video saved on Instagram, showing how to attach zipper pulls. Luckily, I got both on really easily for this bag - yay!

I remember noting when I made the previous Fairfax that the interior binding was a little too wide for me. I think it was cut at 2". So this time, I cut it at 1.75" and it worked just fine. So note to self. Anyway, I'm excited to put this new bag into use for the summer. It really is a perfect shape and size for me.

Floral Stitches Year III - The Unexpected Second

The day after I posted that I was only stitching the first floral stitches sampler of Year III, I received a note from Dropcloth saying I actually was paid up through June, IE. the second floral of the series. I was surprised, but of course, I stitch it up when it arrived.

I enjoyed stitching that sunshine very much, with those wonderfully warm colors. 

Though I double-outlined the flowers around the outer edge, I couldn't seem to come up with a way to fill them in that I liked. After trying several different stitches, I decided to let them be for now. Maybe I'll revisit them at a later date; maybe not. It happens sometimes, so meanwhile, I'm calling this one complete for now.

Controlled Crazy Quilt

I often pick up my copy of Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley: May 15-November 6, 2011 when I need inspiration for a new scrap quilt. So far, it's inspired Octo, Housetops, and Timer. Just as I finished the backing for my most recent scrap quilt, looking through the book inspired me to begin a new controlled crazy quilt. Unfortunately, the sample in the book had no maker listed.

A Google search came up with key characteristics of controlled crazy quilts, and it was surprising how well they 'fit' with the example I'd seen in Bold Expressions. First off - uniform block sizes, which is exactly how I'd started off. Rather than randomly sized blocks like I often do for scrap quilts, I made 9.5" blocks for my new scrap project.

Another characteristic is apparently a restricted color palette, rather than using any fabric available. Though I was pretty randomly using scraps pulled from my scrap basket, I was making sure that each block included black, and hot pink/red/coral. I was also trying to include any random pieced bits or blocks I happened to pull out.

Fabric consistency is another frequent feature of controlled crazy quilt - often sticking to one type of fabric (like all cottons or all silks) rather than mixing velvets, denims, and linens together. My solid scrap basket consists primarily of 100% quilting cotton, though I'm finding the occasional Essex blend and cross weave that I'm including in my blocks as well.

A final characteristic is decorative embroidery stitches stitched over seams to add texture. I'm still debating if my quilt will include any of those embellishments, but it's still nice to remember that those are very common with traditional crazy quilts.

So 30 blocks in, I'm calling it a day, and have pieced the blocks together into a top. Considering the blocks were 9.5" each, the top measures 45.5" x 54.5". I rearranged a few blocks from where they had been on my design wall during block construction, but not many. Now off to see how far I get on a pieced backing from the scraps left hanging out on my cutting table. I'm not necessarily expecting to get the entire back, but we'll see!

Gift Handmade

Over the years, I've gone in and out of making and giving handmade gifts. A maker sometimes gets clues about whether a recipient appreciates a handmade item or not. Not always, of course, but sometimes. So I was pretty sure that one particular friend would appreciate the recent gifts I made for her.

For one, she had commented when I made a Small Booklet Pouch for myself using Aneela Hoey's pattern, that it would be handy to store crochet hooks in.

Of course, I made it as cute as I could....

My friend has been a bunny owner more than once, and because of that, the Rifle Paper Wildwood Woodland fabric seemed fun to use for a gift for her. I couldn't resist, and I hope she doesn't feel inundated by my bunny-focused gifts.

Because I also made her a Small Maple Street Pouch by Svetlana @sotakhandmade using the same fabrics. For the pouch, the bunny print was on the exterior, and the floral on the inside.

There are other instances, though, where someone close to me asks outright for me to make them something, such as my daughter, Rachel @snippetsofsweetness, asking if I'd make her some fun pillowcases for her birthday. My reply was an instant, "Yes!" I always use the tutorial by The Twiddletails Blog, this time making the queen size pillowcases. By now, I know that for anything larger than regular, you need to take care if you're ordering a directional fabric. I did, and ordered fabric special for this project, as I don't keep the lengths needed on hand, plus I really wanted all of the fabric to somewhat coordinate, and to be BLUE.

Lizzy House is one of Rachel's favorite fabric designers, and all this fabric was from Lizzy's Constellations line.

Cutting the fabric the right way can be a bit confusing, especially with directional fabrics; so this time, I made myself a little cheat card, and am posting it here in case I can't find it next time I need it. Ha!

Of course, I made a drawstring giftbag for Rachel's gift - it's tradition! This time I used the Easy Going (Single Fabric) Drawstring Bag pattern from Jeni Baker's @jenib320 Lined Drawstring Bag Expansion Pattern. I was glad I had enough of the Pearl Bracelet fabric, as it's one of Rachel's very favorites.

So I was really happy to be able to give these handmade gifts - as well as the scrappy potholders a couple of weeks ago. Now back to some serious scrap-sewing.

Banded

Meet Banded! As much as I love them, scrap quilts always feel like a bit of a workout. I personally don't keep my scraps in a very organized (read: neat and pressed) way, so when it's time to work with them, there's always a lot of pressing, trimming (all those strings!), and overall, digging through the scrap basket. But that aside, it feels great to use them!

For this particular quilt, I used up an entire yard of Kona Haze as background on the front. But other than that, every single bit - blocks, backing, and binding - was from the scrap basket.

Speaking of the back, I first made a panel of all the left over bits from the front. Then, without looking, I grabbed a handful of scraps from the scrap basket, pressed them, and sewed them together. And I did it again. There were a few stragglers from each set that made up a fourth panel. I did it once or twice more, then intentionally looked for any larger pieces to start combining the panels together. The photo below shows the shapes of the final pieced slabs that made up the quilt back.

And the finished back!

For quilting, I went with the fast and no-stress serpentine with an off-white thread. Honestly, I was ready to move on. It wasn't lost on me that I'd spent much more time making the quilt back than on quilting, but so be it.

I knew even before quilting that if I wanted to keep the integrity of the quilt front block design, I would not be trimming this quilt 'square.' I'm not sure what happened to make that so, but I was willing to live with it for this particular 'just for fun' quilt.

So in the end, once bound with leftover binding strips straight from the scrap basket, the quilt measured 47" x 55" x 47" x 58". At least it will make a cozy lap quilt!