Have You Seen My Sewjo? / Beauties Pageant 264

Thank you for your kind words about my upcoming book release! As I wrote in the acknowledgments to that collection of patterns, I owe so much to this blogging community. I wouldn’t be the quilter I am today without the encouragement and mad quilting skills I’ve encountered here. So again, thank you!

Designing the projects and writing the book required a ton of time and effort. Then there was the not-so-small matter of making all 14 projects, which range in size from wall hangings to bed-size quilts, over the course of nine months. At this point, the big milestones—the text, illustrations, and photographs—are finished, but there’s still work to do.

The result of this process? I am one tired quilter, and it has affected my nonbook projects. I’ve been thinking a lot about quilting, doodling ideas and considering whether I should attempt a QuiltCon submission, but the mere thought of those projects I began and then set aside to work on the book makes me want to cower under my sewing table. Where do I start?

Without the urgency to get any project in particular done, I came up with a plan. I’m tackling the lowest-hanging fruit. First, I bound the Kitty Cat quilt I got back from my longarmer a few weeks ago (here’s a shot of the flimsy before quilting) ...

Then I quilted a throw that has been basted for over a year (it’s Camille Roskelley’s Patchwork Sky pattern and is great for jelly rolls) ...

After binding that—perhaps this weekend?—I’ll move on to whatever WIP is furthest along in the quilt-making process (Rosemary quilt, I am looking at you!) ...

It’s worth noting that I am buying zero fabric because new fabric is just future WIPs, and my brain does not have the capacity to consider additional projects!

A few questions for you in conclusion ... How do you revive your sewjo? And when faced with a mountain of WIPs, where do you start? I know Leanne at Devoted Quilter will be launching her annual WIPS-B-GONE challenge soon. I’m super bad at following sewalongs and such unless I organize them myself, but that event may be the kick in the pants I need to forge ahead!

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I Wrote a Book! / Beauties Pageant 263

Cover by C&T Publishing, Inc.

 

I can sum up the past year of my life in four words: I wrote a book! It’s been a long journey—my design process started even earlier, back in 2022—but the end is on the horizon. Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts: 14 Cute & Creative Projects will release next April!

I have so many things to say about the 14 patterns I designed and sewed for this book, but all the quilty details will need to wait until next year. Right now, Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts is available for preorder on sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. (The Amazon listing contains some of the project pictures in addition to the cover art—woo hoo!)

For those of you who’ve asked, I will be putting together and selling my own special book release bundle with autographed copies. More details on that next year, too ...

So, apparently, this whole post has been one big tease. The gist is, I wrote a beautiful book! We’ll all have to wait until next year to get our hands on it! 

: )

Cover photograph by Melanie Zacek.

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• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
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Zip It Good Pattern Release / Beauties Pageant 262

A few years ago I had this idea to create a line of patterns that would make everyone happy ...

People who love a free PDF pattern could sign up for my newsletter to get their copy without charge. Sewists who appreciate a deal could pay just a few dollars to receive their copy. And makers who want their purchases to make a difference would be happy to hear that I would send a portion of the profits to a worthwhile organization.

Up until now, I have released two Almost Free for Charity patterns. Today I am unveiling my latest: Zip It Good!

Do you have larger cuts aging in your stash? Let those prints shine in Zip It Good! Strip sets and nesting seams will make quick work of your yardage, creating an awe-worthy quilt in one of four different sizes:

Small Throw: 53" x 55 1/2"
Medium Throw: 53" x 65 1/2"
Large Throw: 67" x 75 1/2"
Twin: 67" x 90 1/2"

Newsletter subscribers already received their link to download the pattern (a reminder will go out in the September 6 issue). For everyone else, the pattern is available here in my Etsy shop.

I thought that would be a fun way to wrap up the summer. : )

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The pageant rules are simple:

• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
• Point your readers back here with a text link or use the button above.
• Visit and comment on other participants’ finishes.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter