There are several firsts in this story about me making a quilted pillow. While being home more than usual for the past year, I have looked for things to keep me busy and because I like to do crafts and sew, I decided to try my hand at quilting something.

My grandmother used to make the most beautiful quilts. She give me my first quilt when I got married in 1984. That poor quilt went through hell and back. I wish I still had it or at least a picture of it, but unfortunately I have neither. A past mother-in-law also used to quilt and I got one of her patterns to make a quilt top, but never finished it and somewhere through the years the quilt top got thrown out with the trash.

While looking online at one of the local quilt shops in town I discovered a pillow kit, which I though went I purchased it included everything you would need to make the pillow. I was wrong. It only included the pattern and applique pieces for the kite part of the design. Being that I paid $26 for this I almost took it back to the store for a refund, but decided to just go for it and buy the necessary fabrics to make it and see how it would turn out.

So along with this being my first quilted pillow, this is also the first time I have made flying geese. I actually had to look that term up to see what everyone online was talking about when I was researching quilt sites and blogs. It was the first time I have every actually quilted something and used the straight line quilt method to do this. I wanted to do the free motion quilting on it, but after several practice sessions and many hours of YouTube videos I decided to straight line this one. Maybe I will attempt the free motion on the next one.

My flying geese made individually

My flying geese after sewing them together!

The front piece after adding the inner and outer borders.

Upclose of the flying geese on the finished product.

My First Quilted Pillow

Next one? Yes the pillow I chose was actually part of a series representing 12 months of pillows. They change with the season. The patterns are from KimberBell and can be found online or at your local quilt store. The patterns are for actual pillow covers that you change out each month so you only have to make the actual pillow the first time. The pillow cover is made to where you can slip it on and off through the envelope opening in the back. That way you can also wash it if needed. They are approximately 16" x 38". Making the pillow was definitely the easy part. I've done that several times before.

Another first was doing applique as I have never attempted that. Still not sure that I done that correctly, but chose to use a zig zag stitch all the way around the edge. I will do a little more research on this before I make the next pillow. At this point I think I will skip the April design and go for May as I have so many projects going right now that I don't want to be overwhelmed trying to get one completed in just a few days as it is very close to the end of the month and I need time to get the pattern and fabrics.

The one for March is called, Let's Go Fly a Kit!"

I plan to make more for each holiday, but I don't think I will be buying patterns as the background and border are pretty much made the same way, just use different colored fabrics and then you applique whatever design you want to use. I'm up for the challenge of learning how to do the applique myself. If your experienced in quilting or applique, please feel free to share any advice you might have.

In one of my FB groups, I kept noticing people posting their blocks for a Stitchery Sampler Quilt. The fabrics used in these blocks was bright and beautiful. So different from the fabrics I am using on the current block challenge that I'm working on. The more I kept seeing these blocks, the more I started looking for this other challenge.

The challenge had started back on January 8th so the group challenge was already into its 10th week by the time I even knew it existed; however, the more and more pics I saw I decided to go ahead and order the kit. I rationalized my purchase by telling myself that I could do the quilt whenever I wanted. I didn't have to do it week to week with the group. 

The entire process was supposed to be thirteen weeks and if you ordered the kit you would get everything you needed to complete the quilt top. The only additional fabric I needed to order would be the backing. I placed my order on the 21st of March from the designer herself.

All the blocks are different, appear to be simple basic blocks that mimick a traditional stitched embroidery sampler. There is applique and hexagons involved, which I am excited to try. The fabric in the kit is a new collection called Figs & Shirtlings, designed by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Company. They also have a Christmas version which I have seen several people make instead of or in addition to the traditional colors. Some people are using their scraps, so theirs has an even different look.

Each finished block is 11 inches and the finished quilt should be 49" x 59 1/2".

I plan to follow the colors shown on the quilt instructions provided I have enough fabric to do that. Some of my research has lead me to believe that I might have to switch it up a little as I go as I might not have enough fabric in my kit to match up exactly, but will have enough fabric to complete the quilt.

I'm looking forward to getting my kit and getting started on this quilt as well.

What the finished quilt is supposed to look like!

The first time I made the begonia backpack I made it for myself, but this time around I was looking to make one for my granddaughter's for her 4th birthday. I picked out a cute fabric with ladybugs all over it. I only used it for the front side. The back side was made out of a black polka dots. The lining was also the ladybug fabric.

The longest part in making these is cutting out all the pieces. Once you have that part done, it really goes together pretty fast or at least I think it does. 

Unfortunately I was unable to make the trip to Louisiana to deliver it in person, but her momma said she loves it and carried it around like it was the best thing in the world.  

The front side!

The back!

Close up of the charm I added!

Had to add my "NANA" label!

Close up of fabric

It’s Week 6 of the RBD Block Challenge, and I feel very defeated at this point. This week’s block was the Windmill Block provided by Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter. After all those half square triangles last week, I was expecting this week to be easy since it too included HST. Cutting them out wasn’t the problem, assembling them the right way was apparently as when I posted my block on the Facebook group page, it was pointed out that I had a mistake. It wasn’t that the mistake was pointed out that bothered me as much as the way it was said. It almost made me want to give up completing the quilt, but in the end, I decided it was not worth letting someone who knows nothing about me get the best of me. Mistakes show we are not perfect and that is okay. I might leave it to use as a reminder that it’s okay to not be perfect at everything.

The Windmill Block features a soothing color palette of Oxford Blue, Dove, Canyon Rose, Bark, and Le Creme Confetti Cottons.

If you would like to follow Amy on Instagram @diaryofaquilter and see all of her projects.

Windmill Block, Week 6

It’s Week 5 of the RBD Block Challenge and I feel like I’m really getting into this and actually looking forward to getting a new block each week. This weeks block is called the Ocean Waves Block and was provided by Rachel Erickson of Citrus & Mint Designs. This block has so many half square triangles, I should be a perfection at this now. NOT!

The fabrics I used this week were Lodge Pole, Cape Verde, and Le Crème, which makes me think of being on the coast. Rachel made her block using fabric from her upcoming Riptide collection. You can check her out on Instagram @citrusandmintdesigns to see the collection she used and more project ideas.

Ocean Waves Block, Week 5

It’s Week 4 of the RBD Block Challenge, and I am excited to be finishing up another block.  This week’s block is the Stella Block provided by Sandy Gervais. My fabric choices were Curry, Colonial Blue and Dove.

This block was a little more challenging and included some seam ripper time, but in the end the block looks pretty good. The triangles were more of a challenge than I expected. Some of my points are not exact, but that’s what gives it it’s uniqueness. I didn’t expect this quilt top to be perfect, but it will have all my sweat, tears and laughter in it.

You can follow the Sandy on Instagram @gervaissandy to see her block design and many more projects.

Stella Block, Week 4