Summerville and Winterville

I made both of these quilts from patterns by Thimbleblossoms. I didn’t follow the pattern completely because that’s just not how it works for me. The first one, Summerville, I did exactly like the pattern except I left the outside border off. The second one, Winterville, I followed the pattern until after the Ohio Star border. I did the piano keys border in blues and green based on my own idea of how I wanted it to look, and then the houses I decided to add just on the top and bottom. I also used my own house pattern which can be found in my book, Scrap Quilt Diary.

There are a lot of fun and vibrant fabrics in this Summerville quilt… and I had it quilted in a Baptist Fan design. The back is an off white newsprint fabric… and it’s available to purchase in my Etsy shop.

Winterville was quilted in a swirling snowflake design and backed with a dark green flannel. It’s already gone to it’s new home…

Not sure what else to say about these quilts. They were fun to make and sometimes I just like to try making something from someone’s pattern. It’s interesting to learn and see how other people write their patterns and construct their quilts. Of any patterns I’ve used (and sometimes I buy a pattern only to see how someone writes their patterns and puts them together) I’d say that Thimbleblossoms always uses a method that I’d choose as well.

That being said, I also realize that my favorite quilts are generally ones where I didn’t use any one’s pattern but just did my own thing. There are so many design ideas in my head, why would I ever use a pattern? I realize that the way that I approach making quilts actually makes it harder for me to write patterns to sell.

In a way, that’s partly why making magazines the way I have been feels like the right fit for me. I can give you the value that I have to share which is more of overall quilting inspiration. Some pattern ideas but not so heavy on the how-to aspect. Because I’m not very good at that.

As I’m working on my next book, I have to constantly contend with the voice in my head that says I should be making more full on patterns. That it needs to be something new and original, that it needs to have full cutting and fabric requirements like people expect from a quilt pattern… but honestly I never use those at all myself. I don’t make quilts that way. So I have to keep propping myself up and reminding myself that I’m doing this my way and no one is forced to like it! The most important thing is that I’m feeling inspired and making things that I truly love… because that will shine through and inspire you as well.

This can be hard for all of us. But I feel strongly that especially in the creative hobbies part of our life, we should not be hampered by any ‘shoulds’ or expectations of what others would think looks good, or what would sell better, or what is the right way to do it. I can’t really help you if you struggle with this in other areas of your life… but in your quilting, you really need to create things that make you happy!

Why am I talking about this in a blog post about these two quilts, Summerville and Winterville? I think because I don’t feel like either of these quilts are what I really want to be making. But when I started them, obviously I was enthused and wanted to make them. So somewhere along the way I misjudged something. But that’s completely ok too! Always learning, that’s for sure! It’s all a good time right?