A Not-So-Scrappy Scrap Jar Stars Quilt

Thursday, November 6, 2025

 Hi friends!  I'm happy to share a recent quilt finish with you today!
I made this just for fun as I thought it would be beautiful in my own home.


Towards the end of August 2025, I got a wild hair to take one of my most popular patterns,
Scrap Jar Stars and make it not-so-scrappy!  I love two-color quilts and thought it would
be fun to see a simplified, timeless version it!


It was love at first block!  And it brings me so much joy every time I look this quilt because
all of the fabrics are fabrics I designed!  The background fabric is called Sketchy Leaves
in the color Linen from my Feels Like Home collection with Riley Blake Designs. 
The blue fabric is called Daisies in the color Sky from my collection Honey Locust
with RBD.


I got most of the quilt top put together at a quilt retreat that I went to in September.
(My friends and I did a photo shoot with all of our quilts on the last day of our retreat.)

I am not gonna lie, it's all I got done at the 5-day retreat (besides our daily walks,
chatting, floating a river, cooking and eating, shopping, a few naps, etc.  It was a GREAT retreat!)
I brought a bunch of other projects but unfortunately, this took the majority of the time.

I added the border once I got back home.


This pattern comes with 4 quilt-size options - baby, lap, twin, and queen.
I added on one row to the twin size to make it a little wider.


My friend Jen Ostler in Highland, Utah quilted it with straight lines.
Those are always a win in my book!


The backing fabric is also from my collection, Honey Locust with Riley Blake Designs.
It's called Hydrangeas in the color Sky.  I hand-bound it in the blue daisy fabric.


It had been a while since I've hand-bound a quilt and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it!


And per usual, I added one of the simple labels I get from Ever Emblem.  They're so easy to sew into the binding so I don't have an excuse to not label my quilts!  I get the 2" cotton, fold-over, sew-in labels.  If you want to get some for yourself, you will just have to pick one of their basic cotton labels and customize it from there.  I machine stitch my binding down around it because it's hard to hand stitch through it (but then I usually hand stitch the rest of my binding down to the back of my quilt).


I'm not sure where this quilt will "land".  On the back of a sofa, a chair, or on a bed?
But I know I will not regret having this timeless blue and "white" quilt in my home!
This one is definitely a keeper!



I want to give you the fabric requirements in case you want to make a two-color
version of Scrap Jar Stars.  First, you will need the pattern.  You can get the 
paper pattern HERE or the PDF pattern HERE.

All fabric requirements will stay the same, except that instead of using bright print fat quarters,
you will need:

Baby quilt = 1-1/2 yards of 1 accent color + the optional non-scrappy binding fabric
Lap quilt = 2-1/2 yards of 1 accent color + the optional non-scrappy binding fabric
Twin quilt = 2-7/8 yards of 1 accent color + the optional non-scrappy binding fabric
Queen quilt = 5-1/2 yards of 1 accent color + the optional non-scrappy binding fabric

Cutting will be a little different, so here are the number of 2" and 3-1/2" strips to cut for each quilt size:

Baby quilt = cut (8) 2" strips and (9) 3-1/2" strips
Lap quilt = cut (13) 2" strips and (15) 3-1/2" strips
Twin quilt = cut (16) 2" strips and (18) 3-1/2" strips
Queen quilt = cut (32) 2" strips and (36) 3-1/2" strips

Then cut the necessary squares for your chosen quilt size.


Hope that helps!  Let me know if you decide to make a two-color version!
Or even a scrappy version!  They're both so fun!  Who doesn't love stars and patchwork!?!

Happy quilting!


The Flying Geese Project

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

 The other day I got a wild hair to start a new project featuring Flying Geese.
I've made quilts before that have Flying Geese in them.  But not a quilt of just Flying Geese.

I've made a couple of Welcome Wreath quilts...



And, of course, some star and basket blocks incorporate Flying Geese.
But I think it's high time I make an actual Flying Geese quilt.  I would like to do this
in the same "block-a-day" manner that I've made a couple of other quilts, like my
2-Stars-A-Day quilt and an Hourglass quilt I posted about on Instagram a few years ago.


The block-a-day method is great because it forces you to get into your sewing room, have some creative time, and make a little bit of progress each and every day.  I've found that with this method, you usually end up doing more than just one block.  Sometimes getting to your sewing machine is the hardest part but once you get there you don't want to stop!  But even if you make just one block a day, you can feel good about your progress!  This is also great for someone like me (who is going through a bit of a sewing-slump and needs to get his or her "sew-jo" back!)

I've picked out some fabrics from my stash for this project... I have about 4-5 yards
of this beautiful cream with yellow flowers fabric that I'm going to use for my background.


I'm going to pair it with some pinks, browns, aqua's and greens that will really "pop"
against the background fabric.  I think it will be really scrappy and fun!
PLUS, it will be a great scrap/stash buster project.

And you are welcome to join me!

I have a cutting chart and two Flying Geese tutorials for you, below.
You choose the size blocks you want to make and the layout/pattern you want to make with them!
It will be fun to see what everyone comes up with!

Note: Because there are so many different-sized blocks and quilts that you could make
(and different methods you could use), I will not be able to figure out how much fabric
you will need for your particular quilt.  So sorry about that!  But when in doubt,
either make it scrappy or buy a lot of fabric haha!


Here's the cutting chart.  Click HERE for the printable PDF.
You can choose the method of Flying Geese-making that works best for you!
Minimal Waste 4-at-a-time or the Stitch 'N Flip 1-at-a-time method.
If you don't have very big pieces of fabric or very much time per day, I would recommend
the Stitch 'N Flip method.  If you have bigger pieces of fabric and a bit more time,
I would recommend the 4-at-a-time method.  It's up to you!

Note: There are so many ways to make Flying Geese.  You can make them oversized,
the exact size, 4-at-a-time, 1-at-a-time, you can use trimming rulers, or you can paper piece them.
Find the method that works best for you, your fabric sizes, the gadgets you have or want to invest in, etc.!  You may want to do some more research online if neither of my methods
seem like they'll work for you.  I also suggest making some test blocks to see
what you think before you "lock in" to your method and size.
I might do a combination of both methods listed on my cutting chart, depending on my fabric.
I'll mostly do the 4-at-a-time method with my bigger pieces of fabric and then maybe
a few, using the Stitch 'N Flip method to use up some scraps.

Either way, I'll be making 3" x 6" finished blocks.
That works well for me as they're not too big or too small.
What size will you make?

For the 4-at-a-time method, you will need 1 large square of fabric for the Geese
and 4 smaller squares of fabric for the background.  Mark a diagonal line from corner to corner
on the wrong side of each background square.


Place two small squares in opposite corners of the big square, right sides together (RST)
as shown below.  (Notice the direction of the drawn lines.)  The two squares (and lines)
will overlap a little bit.  Pin in place, if desired.  Use a scant 1/4" seam allowance
to stitch along both sides of the drawn lines.  Then cut on the drawn lines to make 2 units.


Press the seam allowances as desired.  Note: I don't plan to use sashing in my quilt.
I also think most of my Flying Geese will be going in the same direction.  This means
that most of my seam allowances will be going in the same direction.  So I am pressing my
seam allowances open so there won't be as much bulk.  You are welcome to press yours
toward the background triangles if you prefer.


Next, place the 2 remaining small squares in the corners of the 2 units (RST) as shown below.
(Notice the direction of the drawn lines.)  Pin in place, if desired.
Use a scant 1/4" seam allowance to stitch along both sides
of the drawn lines on both units.  Then cut on the drawn lines to make 4 Flying Geese blocks.


Press the seam allowances as desired.
Square up the Flying Geese block to your chosen unfinished block size
(which is the finished block size + 1/2" added to both the width and height.
For example, the unfinished size for a 3" x 6" finished block is 3-1/2" x 6-1/2".)


Some people hate pressing seams open.  I don't mind doing it.
It makes for a flat block with less bulk.


If you follow my instructions (using a scant 1/4" seam allowance and the cutting chart above),
you will only trim off a tiny bit when it comes time to square up your blocks.
If you want more wiggle room, I recommend making one size bigger on the chart
(ie, instead of cutting for a 3" x 6" finished block, you could cut for a 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" finished block
and then square it up to 3-1/2" x 6-1/2" unfinished).  It will waste a little more fabric, though.  
That's what I did here, with this chartruse gingham fabric.  I'm going to stick with the original way
but it's up to you!

Note: Several people on Instagram recommended the Studio 180 Design
Wing Clipper Ruler for trimming Flying Geese.  I got it and am really happy with it!
Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.  There is also a video tutorial on how to use the ruler
on that Amazon listing.



For the 1-at-a-time method, you will need 1 rectangle of fabric for the Geese
and 2 small squares of fabric for the background.  Mark a diagonal line from
corner to corner on the wrong side of each square.

Note: This method is exact and you won't need to square anything up if you follow my
cutting chart for your desired finished block size.  Feel free to make them bigger though,
if you want room to square them up.


Place one small square on one end of the rectangle, right sides together (RST)
as shown below.  Pin in place, if desired.  Stitch on the drawn line and then trim 1/4" away
from the stitches.  Press the seam allowances as desired.



Repeat those steps with the remaining square on the opposite end of the rectangle.


Note: You will have some waste with this method.
The triangles you trim off could be used for a bonus project.


I hope you have found all of this information helpful!  Like I said, there are so many options for
how to make Flying Geese.  You can do your own thing but I hope you'll join me in this
fun, block-a-day project!  Please send me pictures of your finished quilt, if you do!

P.S. I don't really know how many Flying Geese blocks I'll be making.
I'll see how far my background fabric takes me.  If I run out of background fabric,
I'll either buy more of the same one or start using multiple background fabrics.
I'm not afraid to mix it up/make it extra scrappy.

Leave a comment below if you're going to join me and if you
have any questions or comments.  I'd love to hear details of what you plan to do!

Happy quilting!

Color Play Finished Quilt

A couple of years ago, my dear friend lost a child.  I wanted to do something to let her know of 
my love and to brighten her day just a little, so I gave her my original Color Play quilt (below).  
It was made out of Riley Blake Confetti Cotton Solids and was very bright and happy.
I thought it suited my friend perfectly.


Fast forward to January of this year, I decided to make a new Color Play quilt for my home
in earthy, fall colors.  I found these two prints (below) at the Quilter's Lodge in Draper, Utah.
They're Morris and Co. fabrics and inspired my whole fabric pull.
I thought they were so pretty and would go nicely in my home.  


I then chose a Tilda solid fabric in the color ginger for the main fabric that runs through
each block and added in a bunch of other coordinating prints from my stash.

I used different shades of peach, greens, yellows, browns and blues.


I made sure there was plenty of contrast between my prints and the solid.


Color Play is a beginner-friendly pattern that encourages you to
play around with different color combinations!  It's easy and fun!


It's 2-1/2" strip friendly (but as you know, I mostly used my stash for this one).  It's a very versatile pattern.  You can even rotate the blocks in different ways to truly make this pattern your own!


Color Play includes instructions for 4 different quilt sizes.  I made the queen-size quilt.


My friend Jen Ostler in Highland, Utah, quilted it for me with the Vinery panto by Karlee Porter.
I thought it suited the feel of the fabrics and the diagonal layout of the blocks quite well!


I machine-bound it and then threw it in the washer and dryer for some extra crinkle.


You can really see the quilting from the back side.


Per usual, I added one of the labels I get from Ever Emblem.  They're so easy to sew into the binding so I don't have an excuse to not label my quilts!  I get the 2" cotton, fold-over, sew-in labels.
If you want to get some for yourself, you will just have to pick one of their basic cotton labels
and customize it from there.

Sometimes I get asked how the labels hold up.  This is after one wash.
I think they do really well; however, I don't wash my quilts all that often, so keep that in mind.


I'm glad this quilt is finally finished (it took me forever to bind it and take photographs!)
But it's the perfect timing to add some nice fall vibes to my son's bedroom.



It's my favorite time of year.  I love the cooler temps and cozy vibes
that blankets, sweaters, and socks bring!  Warm soups and baked breads!
Snuggling up with your people at the end of a long day.  It's just the best.


This pattern would be cute in any color way.
If you want to grab the pattern,
you can get the paper pattern HERE or the PDF pattern HERE.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I'd love to know what you think about this quilt,
your favorite season, thing about fall, or favorite fall recipe!

Happy quilting!