Summertime fabric bundle and patterns

 

Summertime Fabric Bundles

Hello and welcome to summer! If you're in the northern hemisphere :) We just finished our first week of school break and I have to say it's going pretty well. I think this is the first summer where I'm not worried about little people drowning, or getting lost running away on adventures, or anything like that, and I have to say- it's really nice! The boys are at such fun ages for just hanging out and having fun. 

If you saw my IG stories on Saturday, you know that they were hard at work rolling out a new fabric bundle for you, which will be available Tuesday morning at 9AM PST. Don't worry, the boys are always well compensated, sometimes with outings, treats, but this time with cold hard cash. I assume they wanted it mostly for the ice cream truck. They are set for the summer, haha!

As usual, I wanted to share a few pattern suggestions for the bundle I'm releasing this week. First up is Star Kisses, which always works really well with larger scale prints and busy color combos. The blocks finish at 18" so it's a satisfying sew and showcases all those beautiful florals. 

I mocked it up with solids for the star points as well, which gives it a little more punch. All of the solids are from Riley Blake, and are named: Frosting, Cayenne, Riley Yellow, Riley Green, Sea Glass, and Denim. Keep that in mind for bindings, cornerstones, or any other accents you may want to coordinate. 

Gingham Windows by Flamingo Toes is also wonderful for showcasing larger scale prints in a simple and easy way. I would use Cassidy Coral Gingham for the sashing and Riley Blake Cayenne solid for the cornerstones to get a similar look. Any white will do! There are mixed whites in the bundle. 

As you know, I have a serious thing for granny squares, and I've already released several different patterns and tutorials with that motif. I had another granny square idea for this bundle, but I need 3 more of me to pull off all the ideas I have regarding fabric pulls, so I don't have an official pattern for this one, but I can give some rough math for it! It's just two blocks repeated. They are 10" blocks in a 7 x 8 grid for a 70" x 80" finished quilt. 

Here are the two main blocks- each of them made of 2.5" cut squares. You could use the Frosting and Cayenne solids for sashing and center pieces. If you cut (20) 2.5" squares from 28 fat quarters (yes, you'd need to add two of your own, or use a solid) that will give you enough to use each print twice in different blocks, once set for the inner row and one for the outer. The random outer edge prints can be filled in with the extras.

You make 28 A blocks and 28 B blocks. 

The A blocks need to be made first and put in the desired placement, and from there you can figure out how to make the B blocks, like this:

Sorry that's the best I have for now! I have a long list of pattern I need to write. 

The following is a quilt from my Pinterest board, and I've done everything I could think of to try and find the source, with no luck. I think that a classic Dresden quilt with the crosshatch quilting in between would be just so darling and happy in these fabrics!

This Scrappy Rail Fence by Blooming in Chintz would be amazing! Just place the lighter prints in the center of the block, like she has very skillfully done here. It would be super cute! You could strip piece them to start off too, so fast and easy!

Lastly I think this fabric would lend itself very well to a diamond quilt like I've shared many times. I don't have a pattern, but I do have a video tutorial on my IG. I don't know how to mock up angles like this yet, which is why I haven't written the pattern honestly. But I would do just a print and white in each block, with a color background overall, kind of like this quilt from Tia Curtis Quilts. She did the incredible custom quilting! She didn't link to the maker. Riley Yellow would be so cute, and I'd do the larger, 16-patch diamonds with the chunkier angle. 

Please do let me know if you have any questions! I never know if I'm talking to quilters more advanced than me, or brand new beginners. The reality it's probably both and everything in between, so if I've said anything confusing- don't be afraid to ask! We were all beginners once :)

See you on Tuesday with the bundles, and happy summer!!

Sewing Space Update

If you read my last email, you know there's been a lot of upheaval around here in the last year, and all of the potential changes, and real changes, meant I didn't sew much at all. In the last few weeks I've settled into the idea that for now, things are going to remain as they are. That meant unpacking all of my fabric, selling some of it, reinstalling my design wall (it's just batting tacked up) and settling back into my space, which is located on both ends of our large primary bedroom. I thought I'd give you a little tour of the current sewing space now that we're back in business in here!

This is all of my fabric currently, with the low volumes partially showing on the right, and minus a tote of larger cuts and backings in my closet. I used ChatGPT to search a shelving unit that would fit perfectly under this table, and it worked! I'm so pleased with this arrangement. If you have the IKEA Skarsta desk and keep it at standing, this is a really great option for you! Also, if you have more or less fabric than this, no judgement here. I find that I get overwhelmed with a ton, but it is a constant battle to keep it pared down, especially since I started selling bundles myself. 

 

My latest project is this low volume quilt with rainbow diagonals of color. The pattern is from my book, and the pattern is called Red Rover. I'm using my stash for the low volumes, and RJR Sweet Shoppe fabric. I so wish they would print this again! It's just the prettiest colors. I'm about halfway there on the blocks, which finish at 12". 

 

On the right you can see I'm making another diamond quilt with leftover strips from a baby quilt I gifted last year. All fabric was from my stash! I was off Instagram at the time, so I never shared it, but it was a really cute fabric pull and I made my Baby Basket pattern. It was backed in white minky from Cali Quilt Co., which is local to me but they ship too. They have a LOT of minky options! It's quilted in loopy little hearts by Emilee of Paisley, Prints, and Polka Dots. I gifted it to my dear friend and neighbor who had a baby girl last fall. 

I'm loving using these leftovers in a cute way. It's my goal to write a pattern or do an official tutorial for this one, though there are pretty detailed in instructions on IG. I've made it a few times now, but I still don't always get those points right. I'm lost without perpendicular nesting seams! Still cute. 

 

Here's the last little corner, with my trusty Opal. My Juki is currently in the shop, and I sure hope she comes back working better. Remember last fall when I thought I was going crazy and my seam allowance was way off? Well it turns out my needle position WAS off. I have no idea how that happened, but it likely involved the very busy and helpful 6 year old who plays in here often. For now I'm moving through projects on this slow but steady old girl. I appreciate her for her fancy stitches, but she sure does take her time compared to the Juki!

The boxes under the table on the left are scrapbook boxes from Walmart and they have my WIPs in them. There's some goooood stuff in there! 

I recently ordered this capybara fabric since it reminds my of my parents' time in Bolivia. That shop has the blue stripe too, and heart tag! I added some orange Chunky Thread trim, and I'm excited to make some sort of silly bag or hot pads to send to my sisters and nieces. They will appreciate it :) Never forget that at the Santa Cruz Bolivia zoo they have baby capybaras running around the walkways. Core memory! 

You'll notice I finally have a new headshot to use for publications, yay! My other friend and neighbor Ashley Gilbert took some updated family pictures too. Can you believe these big boys?? We are on day 2 of summer break and learning magic tricks and eating way too many Eggo waffles, which gives me the ick but also I can't make all their food in the summer! 

Lastly I wanted to share these delicious fluffy hollyhocks. I can't believe the color! We've had red, light pink, and bright pink before, but never yellow! Many of you were excited about it too, so I wanted to let you know I'm happy to share the seeds when it's time. Simply email me with your address (woodberrywayblog@gmail.com)  and I'll get it figured out with you. No need to pay for the seeds, just the shipping. I love to share seeds! If I run out, I'll take them in order and may have to cut it off. 

I love to end with a recipe we've enjoyed recently, and this time it's Chickpea Curry from Pinch of Yum. This was such an easy fast dinner, with mostly pantry items on hand. As for treats, we tried Cake by Courtney Blox Bars, and it was so over the top, in the very best way. My husband said it was his favorite dessert of all time, which I knew would be the case since he is a serious PB/chocolate guy. The extra effort is worth it. 

See you soon, hopefully with a new website! Yay! You can ALWAYS email me with questions or comments, I love to hear from you. 

Love at Home fabric bundle, and hot pads!

Hi! Happy almost spring to my Northern Hemisphere friends! Today I'm introducing my Love at Home bundle, which will be for sale this Monday, 3/17 at 9AM PST. St. Patrick's Day :)

The bundle has strawberries, hearts, flowers, precious quotes about home, birds, and the cutest little houses.

I read once in color psychology that red and yellow are often used in restaurant decor and marketing because they can make you hungry! Then I realized if you add the mint to the red and yellow, you've got fries, ketchup, and a shamrock shake :) I just felt like this bundle belonged in the the kitchen, so I took a morning and made some new hot pads that I'm very excited to use. For most of them I didn't follow a pattern, just used my Pinterest Board as inspiration and had fun with it. Each of them are double sided with different prints, so lots of versatile options for different times of year. 

The strawberry hot pad was from a tutorial by Ellis and Higgs as a guest poster on Amy Smart's blog Diary of a Quilter. I printed it at 150% so it would be bigger than a coaster, and added leaves to both sides. 

For this circular one I followed the same construction as the strawberry, and added crochet that I'd made years ago. I was sure glad I had saved them! I kept trying out different bowls from my kitchen as a template to see what size would fit perfectly inside the crochet trim that I already had finished. Turns out it was the 6" cake pan, plus a seam allowance. The Lori Holt Chunky Thread should work well for hot pads since it's 100% cotton, so it won't melt like some yards would. I've used this Chunky Thread for so many things, I really truly love it. It even holds up well in the wash! I found a shop that's having a sale on lots of their colors. 

I whip stitched the trim to the edge of the fabric. This is the same kind of scallop trim I've used in pillows, there's a pattern for it in my shop. 

This next one wasn't all fabric from the bundle, this was an orphan block that I decided to finish up while I was at it. Yes, I had the yellow pot in mind when I made it! Now I feel like I want a hot pad specifically designed for every dish I have, right?!

The yellow binding is from the new bundle, I'm not sure what the blue solid is, but the floral is from this Tilda line. I have the fall one, and the spring one, and I love them so much! I want to make a 

If I had more time, I'd have loved to make the following ones as well! They definitely inspired some of mine. 

Apple, Pear, Lemon, Peach Coasters by Minki Kim of Sewing Illustration

I found this darling image on Pinterest, I guess these used to be available through Stoney Clover Lane, but not anymore. I didn't feel up to tackling pleated ruffle trim this week, but maybe some day! So cute. 

If I were making a quilt with this bundle, my first choice would be Happy Scallops by Emily Dennis of Quilty Love. I think it would be so cute! With 30 fat quarters, you could make the full quilt size, or two medium throws. It would be so fun to split the strips with a friend and make best friend quilts! I'd take out the 2 blue prints and use a light blue solid for background fabric, like Moda Bella Mist. White would also be darling. Don't forget I have a super helpful post about different whites and background fabrics if you need help choosing. 

Whenever we have a bundle that has really high contrast in values, i.e. really dark darks and really light lights, I have two strong recommendations always, and the first is a Scrappy Trip! In this case you could either alternate light and dark for a checkerboard effect, or you could align your darks and lights in a strong diagonal for this effect:

Look how tiny my oldest was! Ah!

Another great pattern for high contrast prints is one I suggested last time also, with the Valentine bundle. High Tide Remix would look so great in these colors.

Lastly, as far as quilts go, you can never go wrong with a Swoon 16 by Camille Roskelley. Take out the lightest prints and set them aside for a low volume project, and use your favorite 16 color prints. That would be darling! Here is my friend Jessica @cutesy_crafts' version that she made with my fall bundle from a couple of years ago. 

I thought I'd offer a surprise at the end of the blog post like I used to do, so here's a secret sneaky discount code for those of you who made it to the end. 10% off anything on my site (including the new bundles) withe the code GREEN. See you Monday!

Valentine Fabric Bundle

Happy almost month of love! We've practically made it through January, and now we get to do pink and red, yesssss!!! I'm delighted to introduce my newest Valentine Bundle. They will be live this Saturday, 2/1/25 at 10 AM PST!

You can hop right to the listings to preview the cuts and prices. I'm trying something new this time- because some of the bolts aren't 15 yds, I have 2 lower priced bundles with less prints. The prints that are missing are all basics that are easily replaceable, and always in print, so all of the novelty Valentine prints are still included, making it a great option if you want to lower the cost. Here's the one with 29 prints:

I wish I could have added F8s or other small cuts, but those require additional sorting and time, and I simply can't pull it off this week. Next time!

All bundles can ship to US, CAN, AUS, and UK, with the exception of half yard bundles, those were too heavy.

Number one question is always- what to make with it? I know exactly what I would make this time if I had a magic free weekend to do so- I'd do High Tide Remix. I just think that would be so fun in all red and pink! A delightful modern twist with these cutesy little prints. 

I'd also love to make some ruffly pillows or hot pads. Maybe I'll get to that, fingers crossed. 

I also really love this new-to-me Heart Gems by Emily Dennis, I think this is such a darling pattern. I love the way she did the simplified version here, with the woven and dark background. Beautiful! We can go ahead and call Emily the Queen of Hearts though, because all of her heart quilts are amazing! Seriously, you're sure to find something you love on her page. 

I have made Emily's Quilty Hearts pattern before, and I really enjoyed that. The blocks are crazy easy to make, and then the sashing takes a bit of doing, but it's really not too bad. 

There's a Free Heart Block pattern on my blog if you're wanting to make a mini quilt or pillow. I gave this one to a friend, but we have one just like it on our wall with everyone's name embroidered on it. 

This is my Where Love Is quilt on grey crossweave. 

One of my favorite heart quilts is I Heart You by Then Came June and Pen and Paper Patterns. I did this one in a sparkle background that I can no longer remember, sorry!

Here are some ideas I came up with for heart quilts, though I don't have patterns for any of them, yet.  

Last is my Where Love Is 2. This is one of my favorite quilts of all time, and it would be so cute in this bundle! You might need to throw in a few solids. This Etsy shop has Riley Red, Frosting, and Sugar Pink, which would be my suggestions. 

Hopefully something here sparked your imagination and you're feeling inspired to quilt some hearts! 

Felicity Pattern release- precut quilt

This new quilt pattern Felicity has been such a long time coming and I'm thrilled to finally officially share it with you. Felicity, which means intense happiness, is a precut friendly quilt pattern with a clever, easy strip piecing method for quick sashing. It has a look of a granny square- without the fabric waste or bias edges. It also has a fun Irish chain motif that connects all the blocks, and allows for a lot of different looks! 

I've never made more than one sample for a pattern release, and this time I have 3, plus one in the making. (I did get help with the blocks on one, full disclosure!) I just really love the simplicity of simple squares, the vintage vibe, the versatility and endless possibilities!

This one is from a fabric pull I've been hanging onto for years, and was the prototype for the pattern. I added Moda Ruby Ice accent chain, and hot pink Swiss Dots background. The quilting was done by Emilee Hathaway of Paisley, Prints, and Polka Dots. I added a simple solid pink binding, and a backing that matches the chain, and I am all heart eyes for this quilt. 

There's an option in the pattern to use a Layer Cake for the granny squares in a scrappy way. You eliminate some of the yardage, and use just one Layer Cake. These three are in Sunnyside by Camille Roskelley. 

These next ones are Strawberry Lemonade by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda, with Kona Mint and Riley Blake Riley White as an accent or background. I loved this version so much that I started one myself. 

One really sweet thing that happened during the making of this pattern was that weeks into its design, my sister Olivia had a baby girl, and she hadn't told us what the name would be. I hadn't talked to my family about this new pattern that I'd decided to name Felicity. Imagine my delight when she announced that the baby's name was- Jane Felicity! OF COURSE she had to have her own version. 

Fabrics used are:

Kona Blue background

Similar green gingham (couldn't find more) for the accent chain

Liberty mostly Betsy prints from Duckadilly

Kona Charm Pack for the solid centers

Black Swiss Dots backing

Ruby Star Food Group gingham binding

I love how scrappy and vintage feeling this one turned out. I quilted it at home with the squiggle stitch on my Husqvarna, and added some white accent big stitch quilting. 

I love this pattern so very much. It feels like years of honing in on what I love about a quilt, both the making of, and the final look. My editor Jessica at Blue Sky Crafter did an amazing job helping me come of up ways to make it super efficient and easy to understand. She's the best! 

See you soon for Ruby Star Scrappy Trip adventures!