Stitchin' My Way Through 2021

Wow! We're somehow already halfway through 2021! So I figured, why not finally get my blog started?!

I love sharing pictures of my finished projects on Instagram, so I want this blog to also be a place where I can share my makes (won’t just be quilting), be able to go a little more in depth about a project, and hopefully just provide inspiration to you!

I dabble in all sorts of crafts, mainly sticking to the fiber arts.

One of my goals for 2021 was to quilt more, and I can proudly say this is one (and so far the only) New Year’s goal I’ve stuck with!

So for this first post, I’m going to give a (not that quick anymore) recap of all the projects I’ve completed so far!

Apparently I've been up to a lot!

I promise, not all my posts will be this long!

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So it all actually started in May 2020. The project that made me want to really dive into quilting.

My first finished quilt top.

The pattern is ’Mod Diamond’ by Pen and Paper Patterns.

This one MAY, or may not, still be in the pile to be finished.

All fabrics are from Connecting Threads.

My first COMPLETE quilt finish was the ‘Burn Bright’ quilt by Modernly Morgan.

I actually made the quilt top back in May with the ‘Mod Diamond‘ one, but finished this quilt up in December.

All fabrics were from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts.

Since this was my first quilt, I decided to hand quilt this one...and also because I knew I wouldn’t be able to machine quilt with the little machine I had.

I even tried big stitch binding for the first time...and let me tell ya, I’m now hooked on this binding finish! There’s something so yummy about the running stitch popping against the fabric that makes my heart so happy!

My next quilt finish was a fun one!

In my vow to quilt more, I also decided I wanted to start making some wall decor for my room, and decided to make a mini quilt.

For this one I made a block from the 'Journey Home' quilt by Blooming Poppies.

All fabrics were from Jo-Ann's and were leftovers from masks I made earlier in 2020!

On the back, I sewed little triangles when I attached the binding and am able to hang the quilt with a dowel rod.

My next finish was this adorable romper I made for my best friend’s baby!

Fun story about this project…

So my friend wanted to find out the gender of her baby by opening something at Christmas with her husband and his family.

Since I was tasked with making the reveal gift I had the honor of being the only person to know the gender!

I was so excited to find out it was a girl!

I immediately knew I wanted to make a little romper. I used the Glasgow Baby Romper pattern by Little Lizard King on Etsy.

All fabrics are from Jo-Ann’s, and I went to my go-to online snap shop Snap Source for coordinating snaps.

So now, my first COMPLETE quilt finish of 2021!

This was a special one.

This was for my best friend's baby girl (born June 2021).

Mama is a lover of all things vintage and retro and brightly colored.

As soon as I saw 'The Cleo Quilt' by kitchen Table Quilting I knew this was the perfect pattern! Mama has always hinted about how she loves scrappy quilts, but my somewhat perfectionist brain just can't handle placing colors all willy-nilly. Ha!

This quilt allowed me to use multiple fat quarters to get the scrappiness, but everything still coordinated.

I had eyed this fabric line for a while, so I was so happy to use for this special quilt. Y'all! This fabric line 'A blooming Bunch' by Maureen McCormick (yes, Marcia Brady) for Moda Fabrics is even better in person! I'm so glad I have enough fabric left over to use in a quilt for myself!

The backing is Riley Blake Designs Shades of Summer from fabric.com and has that perfect vintage, yet modern feel.

Then of course I had to do my favorite big stitch binding finish! This was also my first time doing scrappy binding, and I am in LOVE!

I also did hand quilt this one due to the design I wanted, and honestly, I was intimidated to try machine quilting!

My next project was the Color of Connection Quilt!

I made this quilt top for my first-ever quilt-along! This one MAY, or may not, still be in the pile to be finished.

This quilt-along was so fun, I made so many quilty friends on Instagram, and the ladies of Color of Connection (Meesh, Porfiria, and Keyana) were so great to interact with!

Not only did they create a fabulous pattern, but it was great knowing that my little pattern purchase was helping them to do big things in their communities.

The solids I used are all Kona Cotton solids (acid lime - my new fave, chartreuse, capri, pacific, mulberry, honeysuckle) from fabric.com

Can't wait for their 2022 quilt-along!!

At the same time I was doing the Color of Connection quilt-along, I decided to join the 'Stronger Together' quilt-along. This one MAY, or may not, be in the pile to be finished also.

This quilt-along happened during Black History Month, and all proceeds from the pattern purchases went to the UNCF.

It was nice to be able to help contribute to a good cause, and stitch along with other quilters during this time.

For my fabrics, I used all Kona Cotton solids (graphite, limelight, teal blue, hibiscus, pansy, salmon) from fabric.com

Next up was another baby quilt.

This one is 'Nightingale' by Lo & Behold Stitchery.

Now that I've discovered the true magic and joy of quilting, I just want to make all my friends having babies quilts!

Mama is into more neutral, soft colors, so it was fun to make a quilt that is different from my normal brightly colored ones! The colors also went perfect with the natural wood finishes of baby girl's nursery.

This was also the first quilt that got me into actually doing my own machine quilting. I did start out with a simple quilting pattern.

Fabrics for the top are all Kona Cotton solids (ivory, peach, bellini, primrose, deep rose, foxglove, parchment, sand, suede, khaki) from Fat Quarter Shop and the backing is Cloud9 Organic Fanciful Climbing Tendrils from fabric.com

My next quilt was a special belated birthday present for my own mama!

This time I made the throw size 'Journey Home' quilt. Remember before I made a mini quilt.

She loves color, not as bright as the ones I love (ha!), so it was fun to pull together these beautiful jewel tones and batiks.

Fabrics for the top are from fabric.com, and include Riley Blake Confetti Cotton solids (curry, oceanside, marsala) and various batiks. The backing is from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts.

Next, was more childrenswear!

A friend had her second little girl earlier this year, and who doesn't love matching outfits?!

Patterns are 'Tekapo Girl' for the dress and 'Tekapo Baby' for the romper from Little Lizard King.

Also, I am OBSESSED with pearl snaps, so decided to use some for both garments. Of course I went to Snap Source!

All fabrics are from Jo-Ann's.

Guess what! Another baby romper!

Another gift for my favorite vintage, color-loving mama!

I made another Glasgow Baby romper and used fun pearl snaps.

All fabrics are from Jo-Ann's.

In another project break from quilting, I made myself a purse.

I had been wanting a new bag, and when I can't find something I like I make my own! Everyone makes their own bags when they can't find something they like, right?!

The pattern is the Rosie Crossbody by Swoon Patterns. This is my 3rd Swoon bag, and I absolutely love their patterns.

This is also my second time using cork fabric for a bag! I love this stuff!

This time I decided to use black cork with rainbow metallic accents in it. This is high quality cork fabrics and is actually quite easy to work with.

For my hardware, I went back to my favorite source, 2Minutes2Stitch on Etsy. The color-shifting rainbow hardware is my fave!

Now back to your regular scheduled quilty program!

The next quilt was actually a commission quilt.

Mama already had the backing fabric, so I just needed to find the perfect pattern.

'Petal Points' by Strawberry Creek Quilts spoke to me.

Fabrics for the top are all Kona Cotton solids (honey, wood rose, deep rose, orchid) and the binding is Art Gallery Chromatics Fancy buttons, all from fabric.com

My last quilt for this post is a very special 'Sunshowers Quilt' by Megan Collins for my favorite color-loving mama!

This one holds a lot of meaning, not only because of the colors and prints, but because the baby recipient is a rainbow baby.

All solids are Designer Essentials (plum, royal, aegean, tropical, kiwi, solar, carrot) and the accent print for the top is Tula Pink Fairy Dust in Cotton Candy. This is the quilt that started my obsession with Tula Fairy Dust!

The backing is Freshly Picked Pink Daisies by Melody Miller for Cotton + Steel.

All fabrics are from Fat Quarter Shop.

I even did scrappy binding again!