Signs of Life ... And Productivity! / Beauties Pageant 314

In the past ten-plus years of blogging, I don’t think I’ve ever gone three weeks without posting something. For those of you who showed up since October 24 wondering what the heck I was up to (because apparently it was not writing blog posts), I was having fun!

First there was a girls-only vacation to Disney World, followed by days of recovery from the girls-only vacation to Disney World, and then a guild retreat in the backwoods of New Hampshire.

The retreat was a WIP marathon for me. I found that I had multiple projects close to the finish line, and there was nothing like two days in the middle of nowhere to get me to finish them. (More on that sometime soon!) 

But even Disney required some sewing, as evidenced here by the six Hudson pouches I made in advance of the trip. (The pattern, by Sotak Handmade, is available here.) I gifted each amusement-park goer in my party—including my mother-in-law, who couldn’t make the trip—one of these beauties. 

I followed my favorite approach to small projects: I discovered that I had six nylon zippers in my stash. I purchased a pattern that would work with the sizes on hand. I dug around in my drawers for fabric options that coordinated with the zippers and might appeal to the recipients. The result? Six different and lovely pouches!

I cut into two ladybug fabrics I have been hoarding for the endeavor. For my pouch, I paired a bright-red ladybug fabric with scraps of a dark denim-linen blend on the exterior. For another pouch, I used a ladybug fabric as the lining. 

I considered venturing to a local bag-making-supply store to purchase zipper pulls for the pouches but opted to adorn just one pouch with a Sarah Hearts charm I purchased at QuiltCon last year.

I have more production lines planned—not for Hudson pouches, but for other little bags and more thread catchers. My best word of advice on that subject is to minimize thread changes. Nothing slows down production more than stopping to replace a spool or bobbin, so I stuck with cream or pale gray for all of these gifts. : )

If you’re like me and gearing up for sewing holiday gifts, can I suggest my own Ornament Collection as an option? It’s a fast sew and makes the most out of a layer cake (although it works for fat quarters, too). You can sew the generously sized throw or a few runners, all in advance of December 25!

And best of all, between now and November 28, the PDF version is 50 percent off in my main FBTB shop (you will see the discount in your cart)! 

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Putting a Mini Charm Pack to Good Use / Beauties Pageant 313

 

 

What is it about small projects that sucks me in? Beguiled by their size, I never make just a single pouch or pincushion. It’s always 6 ... or 16. 

Such is the story behind my latest small obsession: thread catchers. I started by cutting out enough pieces for 15 catchers. It may seem like a lot, but what can I say? I have a lot of quilty friends in need of a new thread catcher, and these little projects pack a big scrap- and stash-busting punch. I am using mine to use up:

• Batting scraps
• Canvas scraps
• Essex linen scraps
• Mini charm packs

I have all of those components in spades, but I’m especially excited to put my mini charms to good use. I’ve acquired so many of them over the years—at QuiltCon, in quilty treat bags, and as thank-you gifts in online fabric orders. With the free pattern I’m following, each pack of 42 squares 2.5" x 2.5" can make panels for 3 thread catchers. [EDIT 11/21/2025: I think each pack has just 40 squares—contrary to the mini-charm listings at the Fat Quarter Shop, where I fact-checked my details. Sorry about that! Did into your scrap bin to make up the deficit!]

Interested in making your own? 

1. Download the free pattern here. (The blog that originally published it is now defunct, but Quilting Digest has a free PDF download.)

2. Open up your mini-charm pack and divide it into 3 groups of 14 squares 2.5" x 2.5". Choose 1 of the 3 groups to work with; set the rest aside. 

3. Cut each of 10 squares 2.5" x 2.5" into 2 rectangles 1.25" x 2.5" (for a total of 20 rectangles 1.25" x 2.5"). Trim each of the remaining 4 squares 2.5" x 2.5" down to 1 rectangle 1.5" x 2.5", discarding the scraps (for a total of 4 squares 1.5" x 2.5").

4. Following the instructions in the pattern, layer your canvas and batting to create 2 panels. If you don’t have leftover canvas on hand, think of other more-substantial scraps you might have used for home-dec or bag-making projects. They may do the trick!

5. Start to build the quilt-as-you-go patchwork with your mini-charm pieces. Begin the patchwork on each panel with 1 rectangle 1.5" x 2.5". Then sew 10 rectangles 1.25" x 2.5". End with 1 rectangle 1.5" x 2.5".

6. Continue to follow the instructions to complete the thread catcher.  

I veered from the instructions in minor ways: Because the Essex linen I was using shifted a bit, I found that I had to trim up my panels after quilting them. Also, for my first thread catcher, I finished my binding by machine. It wasn’t neat enough for my liking, though. After that, I used a contrasting 12 weight thread to finish the remaining catchers with visible chunky stitches. (If you want to give that a try, check out the tutorial here.)

I am a big fan of making simple projects en masse to give away as gifts. These beauties could even be billed as baskets and given to nonquilty people in your life. 

Do you set up sewing production lines to make gifts, too? I’d love to hear about the small gifts you conquer in the comments!

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Entries Open; My Parenting Story / Beauties Pageant 312

Quilty friends, I am popping in today with some quick updates ...

First off, if you’ve completed at least one ghost block for the Five Little Ghosts quilt-along, enter to win a prize by uploading your information here. There is one entry per person. Entries will be accepted through November 4, 2025, and winners will be notified via email. Good luck!

EDIT (11/5/25): The prize winners are: Lori B. ($50 gift card to Camberville Threads), Brenda D. (ebook from C&T Publishing), Kathleen M. (ebook from C&T Publishing), and Sandra W. (collection of PDF patterns). Congratulations!

Also, long-time readers will know this. For those of you who are new to From Bolt to Beauty and my story ... I have the privilege of raising a son with Down syndrome. I still call him "my little guy," but he’s far from little anymore. He turned 15 in July and started high school last month. He’s thriving there, excelling in both reading and math and on the basketball court. 

Because October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I thought I’d share with you a project I made about my experience raising this kiddo. (See pic above.) I designed and sewed it in 2018, and it showed at QuiltCon 2019.

As I explained to Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims when I interviewed with them in August, this isn’t a quilt that you regard for its beauty. It’s a stripped-down, minimal piece that clearly has something to say. I suspect you’ll agree!

Read my parenting story and learn more about 47XY+21 here. 

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• Post your finish in the linky tool. (No links to your own giveaway or linky, please!)
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Five Little Ghosts QAL: Week 4 / Beauties Pageant 311

Hello, my fellow ghost-sewing friends! This is the final week of my Five Little Ghosts QAL. (Read all the QAL details here.) This week, we’re assembling our quilt tops, and starting next week, those who’ve complete at least one ghost block can enter to win one of the QAL prizes!

If you’re sewing the runner, you will be adding 3.75" x 9" background blocks to your ghosts and then sewing five ghosts together with sashing rectangles in between the blocks and at each end of the row. A final border on the top and bottom completes assembly.

If you’re sewing the throw-size quilt (download the free PDF expansion pack for Five Little Ghosts and Friends here), each block is sashed individually, creating the patchwork effect in the background. Then you will add your side borders, followed by the top and bottom borders.

Choosing a Pressing Plan

There’s no subject more divisive among quilters than pressing. As I explain on page 13 of Not-Your Typical Jelly Roll Quilts, my default is to press seams open because I think doing so creates a flatter, easier-to-quilt seam. The exception is when pressing to the side facilitates nesting and prevents me from having to pin joins to get them to line up properly. 

Throughout both Five Little Ghosts and Five Little Ghosts and Friends, I press my seams open. If you’re a side presser, you could press the seams for the top and bottom borders of each ghost block in alternating directions. This approach would help you nest the seams of blocks in the same row. If that makes you happy, go for it!

Then you could press the seams in the finished rows in alternating directions to nest those seams. 

My caveat is that the blocks are 11" x 16.5". Because of their size, I am going to pin my blocks together before sewing. I could nest my seams, but because nesting won’t get me out of pinning, I’ll press open. 

Thinking About the Quilting

I passed my throw-size project on to a longarmer who quilted it with a fabulous spider-web panto. I love it!

The runner was an opportunity for me to have some fun, though. In general, I am a straight-line quilter. (I do free-motion quilt, but I don’t FMQ enough to be particularly good at it.) I made a template to quilt wavy lines on my runner using my walking foot. I was super pleased with the results!

Embroidering the Details 

You can read on page 25 of Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts how I embroidered the ghosts’ eyes. I added those small details after my runner was quilted and bound because I wanted the cross-stitches to stand out a bit from the quilting. You could just as easily embellish with some embroidery to your quilt top before you quilt it.

For my Five Little Ghosts and Friends project, I think I am going to embroider the eyes of one ghost in each row. All I need to do is to finish the binding and embroider those details. See tuned for a full reveal next week!

Quilt-Along Schedule and Resources

Fabric Pull (Week 0): Blog post and YouTube video

Cutting (Week 1): Blog post and YouTube video

Sewing Ghost Blocks (Weeks 2 and 3): Blog post and YouTube video

Assembling the Top (Week 4): [you’re here] and YouTube video [forthcoming!]

Halloween Parade of Blocks and Tops: Fill out this form by Nov. 4, 2025EDIT (11/5/25): The giveaway is over, and winners have been notified!

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• 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

Five Little Ghosts QAL: Week 3 / Beauties Pageant 310

A show of hands, please: Who’s sewing up some sweet and silly ghosts with me?

If you’re following along, this is week 3 of the Five Little Ghosts event. (If this is news to you and you would like some cute, quilted ghosts in your life, get all the details here.) Last week we started piecing our ghosts, and this week we are sewing more ghosts. There’s not much to add right now; I’ll share my thoughts on assembling and quilting the project in next week’s blog post. 

This quilt-along runs through the end of the month, so there is a bunch of time to whip up some ghosts. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the QAL. All that is required to enter the giveaways is sewing a single ghost block.

The Schedule

Fabric Pull (Week 0): Blog post and YouTube video

Cutting (Week 1): Blog post and YouTube video

Sewing Ghost Blocks (Weeks 2 and 3): Blog post and YouTube video

Assembling the Top (Week 4): Blog post and YouTube video [forthcoming!]

Halloween Parade of Blocks and Tops: Fill out this form by Nov. 4, 2025 EDIT (11/5/25): The prize winners are listed below!

Prizes 

What’s a quilt-along without a little motivation to get things going? Everyone who completes at least one ghost block is eligible to enter giveaways for the following prizes. 

1. $50 Gift Card to Camberville Threads (1 winner): Congratulations to Lori B.!

I love Camberville Thread’s carefully curated selection of fabric, notions, and EPP supplies. I have no doubt you will, too! One winner will receive a $50 gift card to the shop.

 

2. An ebook from C&T Publishing (2 winners): Congratulations to Brenda D. and Kathleen M. 

C&T has released some super fun (and eagerly anticipated) new titles recently, including Rashida Coleman Hale’s Zakka Sewn and Lindlee Smith’s Lone Star Legacy Quilts. Two winners will pick the ebook they would like to receive.

3. Pattern bundle from Megan Collins Quilt Design, Down to the Letter Quilt Co., and From Bolt to Beauty (1 winner): Congratulations to Sandra W.!

One winner can pick his or her choice of one pattern from three different designers: Megan Collins, Janie Brady, and Michelle Cain. It’s just what you need to get started with your next project! 

 

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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

Five Little Ghosts QAL: Week 2 / Beauties Pageant 309

Hello! This is the third post in my Five Little Ghosts Quilt-Along series. 

The pattern we’re sewing is found in my book, Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts. Many participants are sewing the original runner project. I, however, am sewing a throw-size version—and you can, too. Just download the free pattern expansion PDF here. (Please note: For either project, you will need the instructions included in Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts.)

The Schedule

Fabric Pull (Week 0): Blog post and YouTube video

Cutting (Week 1): Blog post and YouTube video

Sewing Ghost Blocks (Weeks 2 and 3): [you’re here!] and YouTube video

Assembling the Top (Week 4): Blog post and YouTube video [forthcoming!]

Halloween Parade of Blocks and Tops: Fill out this form by Nov. 4, 2025EDIT (11/5/25): The giveaway is over, and winners have been notified!

Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the QAL. All that is required to enter the giveaways is sewing a single ghost block.

This Week 

This week we’re starting to piece our ghosts. If you’re sewing the runner-size project, which requires 5 ghosts, you’ll be able to sew up your blocks in an afternoon. If you’re sewing the throw-size project, which requires 20 ghosts, you’ll need some more time. One way or another, the QAL schedule provides two weeks to accomplish this step (and plenty of catch-up time at the end, too). You’ve got this!

Measuring the Jelly Roll Strips 

The first thing I do when I open a new jelly roll is measure one of the strips because I want to know exactly where the 2.5 inches fall on that strip. Sometimes strips measure 2.5 inches from peak to peak of the pinked edges. Sometimes they’re measured from valley to valley. Knowing that up front will help you sew more precisely. 

The strip I measured is from a Moda collection and is slightly bigger than 2.5 inches, so I’ll take that into account when I go to my machine.  

Adjusting the Seam Allowance

Like almost everything in quilting, there’s not one right way to adjust your seam allowance to sew jelly roll strips. I always use a basic foot and use the quarter-inch mark on the bed of my machine as a gauge. When sewing regular (non-pinked) fabrics, I line my fabric up just to the left of that mark. Doing so gives me a good scant quarter-inch seam allowance. 

Because these strips are slightly bigger than 2.5 inches, I extend the pinked edges just over that. It’s not a big change, but it will account for the extra fabric.

Perhaps you have the ability with your machine to adjust the needle position to the left or right. (I cannot. I sew on a semi-industrial straight-stitch machine. She’s a workhorse and I love her, but she doesn’t have any bells or whistles.) In that case, you could change the needle position to accommodate the jelly roll strips you’re sewing with. 

Lining Up the Ghosts’ Eyes

In my opinion, the ghost block is a forgiving one. After all, there are no points to worry about preserving. When sewing my blocks, however, I make sure that the two eyes are aligned correctly. Because they’re black rectangles against a light background, misaligned eyes might be noticeable (to me, at least!).

Got any questions or comments about the blocks you’re sewing? Let me know in the comments!

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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

Five Little Ghosts QAL: Week 1 / Beauties Pageant 308

* View this content on YouTube here*

Hello, jelly roll enthusiasts! This is week 1 of the Five Little Ghosts quilt-along. 

You didn’t know about the quilt-along? Here’s the scoop ...

Five Little Ghosts appears in my book, Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts. It’s a fast and easy sew. The quilt-along happens over multiple weeks, but you could completed the runner project in a weekend. 

If you’d like to make something bigger, I designed a throw-size quilt with the same block. The directions for supersizing the Five Little Ghosts pattern are available free in my store (although you’ll need a copy of Not-Your-Typical Jelly Roll Quilts whether you sew the runner or the throw).

No registration is required to participate. Prizes (see bottom of this post) will be randomly awarded at the end of the quilt-along, on October 31. The only thing you need to do to enter is sew a single bootiful ghost!

The Schedule

Fabric Pull (Week 0): Blog post and YouTube video

Cutting (Week 1): [you’re here!] and YouTube video

Sewing Ghost Blocks (Weeks 2 and 3): Blog post and YouTube video

Assembling the Top (Week 4): Blog post and YouTube video [forthcoming!]

Halloween Parade of Blocks and Tops: Fill out this form by Nov. 4, 2025EDIT (11/5/25): The giveaway is over, and winners have been notified!

Now that you’re up to speed, let’s talk about cutting our projects ... 

Sticky Lint Rollers

If you are opening a new jelly roll, I recommend you use a sticky lint roller to roll both sides of your jelly roll before unwinding the strips. Doing so cleans up a lot of the loose threads from the pinked edges. I keep my lint roller close at hand because little bits will continue to fall off, and I like to clean up my cutting mat and ironing board as I work on my project.

Directionality of the Jelly Roll Prints

You should read through the entire project before cutting anything. That read-through will show you that the ghosts are made in columns. In other words, your jelly roll strips will appear vertically in the finished block. If you are using prints with directionality, the design could appear on its side. If that would bug you, swap those strips out for different options now. 

Starch 

The other thing to think about is starch. In general, I do not starch my projects. If I am working with a lot of bias edges in the quilt top, however, I will starch everything—foreground and background fabrics—in advance of cutting anything. Also, if I am sewing with something other than quilting cotton—like a linen or chambray—I will starch my fabric. 

What about starching regular quilting cotton? I did an experiment: I made two little ghost blocks, one with starched fabric and one with unstarched fabric. I realized that starching the fat quarters I was using for my Five Little Ghosts and Friends project caused shrinkage. I lost about a quarter-inch along the crossgrain, or weft, threads—also called the width of fabric. I didn’t experience any shrinkage along the length of fabric. 

The other thing I noticed is that my snowballed corners came out nicer with the starched fabric. Sometimes my snowballed corners with the unstarched fabric were a little wonky—not unusable but not perfect, either. Perhaps that happened because I was sewing on the bias, or maybe I distorted the sewn pieces while pressing them. Even though the starched fabric was nicer to work with, I don’t think the benefits outweigh the time it takes to starch everything before sewing. 

Cutting Your Project

Cutting the runner-size Five Little Ghosts project is pretty straightforward; just follow the instructions in the book. Cutting for the expansion pack is complicated somewhat by the fact that the entire width and length of a fat quarter is necessary. You'll need to measure your fat quarters first and cut with care, especially if you like to stack your fabric and cut through multiple layers at once. I recommend having an extra fat quarter or two on hand in case of a cutting error. (It happens to the best of us!)

Prizes 

What’s a quilt-along without a little motivation to get things going? Everyone who completes at least one ghost block is eligible to enter giveaways for the following prizes. 

1. $50 Gift Card to Camberville Threads (1 winner): Congratulations to Lori B.!

I love Camberville Thread’s carefully curated selection of fabric, notions, and EPP supplies. I have no doubt you will, too! One winner will receive a $50 gift card to the shop.

 

2. An ebook from C&T Publishing (2 winners): Congratulations to Brenda D. and Kathleen M.!

C&T has released some super fun (and eagerly anticipated) new titles recently, including Rashida Coleman Hale’s Zakka Sewn and Lindlee Smith’s Lone Star Legacy Quilts. Two winners will pick the ebook they would like to receive.

3. Pattern bundle from Megan Collins Quilt Design, Down to the Letter Quilt Co., and From Bolt to Beauty (1 winner): Congratulations to Sandra W.!

One winner can pick his or her choice of one pattern from three different designers: Megan Collins, Janie Brady, and Michelle Cain. It’s just what you need to get started with your next project! 

 

 

 

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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