June Fabric Usage

If not for a sudden urge to hunt down a favorite Carolyn Friedlander fabric after I used the last of it from stash, I might have resisted bringing in fabric this month, as I was furiously sewing through scraps and stash. The piece from Collection CF was actually hard to find, so I grabbed two yards when I finally found it. Chances are I won't find it next time.

The biggest fabric uses this month was for a scrappy backing and binding for one scrap quilt and another front and back for a second, plus a big (60" x 90") patchwork curtain. I also made several smaller projects - it was a very productive month, I guess - which all added up to some really good fabric usage from both the scrap basket and the stash. I won't be smug, though, as I know darn well I've already ordered a fat-quarter bundle of Carolyn Friedlander's new line, Memento; and placed a restock solid order, and both of those will show up in next month's tally. So obviously, I need to just keep sewing to help even things out. 

June Fabric Usage

Used up: 17.53 yards [15.23 projects + 2.3 recycled]
Brought in: 2.0 yards
Net: -15.53 yards

Patchwork Curtain

After weeks of scrappy quilt-making, I needed to take a detour and make a different kind of project - a patchwork curtain. We have a space in our home that needed a bit of a cover. Nothing fancy, yet something we wouldn't mind looking at when we were in that space.

The flooring in that space is a bit old-fashioned and worn, but we're working with what we have. So to coordinate as best as possible, I pulled a handful of solid neutrals - Kona Snow, Bone, Cream, and others that remain unidentified.

There were a coupe of tutorials I glanced at before starting:

• DIY Projects - Patchwork Curtain from the Fabric Store
• How to Sew a Flat Felled Seam by Jennifer Wiese of Workroom Social

From them, I gleaned that I should use a 5/8" seam allowance to begin my flat-felled seams, and that the 'right' side would be the side that showed two rows of stitching, not just one. For all the stitching, bobbin and top, I used Aurifil 50wt 2000 [beige].

At the start, I knew that for our 30" opening, I would need the total curtain width to be 45"-60" for a standard look. As I began sewing, I thought 45" would be fine, but once I got that far, I changed my mind and decided to go wider, to 60". At first I thought that meant that I needed to order some fabric, as I'd worked through all my neutrals. But luckily, I found a yard of Kona Putty that I could borrow from my BOM project, which was perfect with the odds and ends I had. I figured that the best way to add the extra width was to add a narrow panel on either side, each 8" wide. And then, wouldn't you know, I decided to make the curtain just a tad longer by adding a short width of Dear Stella Dash Flow in Fennel along the bottom. THEN it was time for hemming. After unsuccessfully figuring out how to do a rolled hem on my machine, I just folded over 1/4" twice for the sides and bottom hem and stitched that down.

I'd found another good tutorial mid-stream - How to Sew Patchwork Curtains by Rachel LaBour @stitchedincolor, and she suggested that 5" tabs 1" wide work well. Due to what I had on hand, I cut fabric 2.5" wide, then folded and pressed like double-fold bias tape. Once sewn along both sides, they were about .75" wide. Rachel suggested placing tabs approximately every 4.5”, so I made 13 of them using a variety of my fabric scraps, and followed her suggestion. She also explained how to insert and secure the tabs in the top hem, and that was easily done. In retrospect, I think I'd make the tabs longer, but for this project, they look and serve well enough.

So with the addition of the hanging loops, my curtain is very nearly 90" tall x 60" wide. Though I wondered at times if I had enough fabric to make it, I barely did, though I definitely need to restock all of these colors. I'd often admired similar patchwork curtains, and though many of them were made of prettier, lighter-weight fabrics, I'm glad to have sewn through the process with this project, and am quite happy with the result.

Potato Chips

Many Hands and Many Hearts June-August 2026 block drive hosted by Cynthia Brunz @cynthiabrunzdesigns consists of making 8.5" Potato Chip blocks. Apparently, a true potato chip block, a design by Stacey Lee, is 12.5", so the version for MHMH this round has a similar flavor but is a variation. Both blocks are scrappy, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I had much to work with. Requirements asked for blocks in specific pairings of colors:

• yellow with a purple center or purple with a yellow center
• green with a red center or red with a green center
• blue with an orange center or orange with a blue center

So I checked my scraps, and yeah, I didn't really have the print scraps to make more than a block or two. But what I did have was a pretty good stash of various charm squares. So I paired what I could, and managed to come up with a decent collection of blocks in most of the various color groupings - some more, some less.

So my 22 blocks are on their way to Cynthia. If you're able to join in, there's still time!

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. 

Linking up with Yvonne of Quilting JETgirl's Favorite Quilt Finish {June 2026}.

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.