Two Log Cabin Heart Quilts for Identical Twins’ Graduation from High School

I am in the Canadian Modern Quilt Bee on Instagram this year (#canadianmodernquiltbee) and for my bee block in January I chose the log cabin heart block by Just Jude. You can read more in her blog post. She has a free tutorial/pattern with a YouTube video.

Originally I wanted my blocks to have a Kona snow background and I was going to make a large rainbow quilt. Some of my bee mates didn’t have Kona snow though so half my blocks came with a white background and I decided to make two quilts.

One quilt is for my son’s girlfriend and one is for her twin sister. Both girls are graduating from high school this week.

The Kona Snow background quilt for my son’s girlfriend for graduation.
The white background quilt for the twin sister for graduation.

I am so appreciative to my bee mates for helping me make the blocks for these quilts and I know the girls will love them as they have grown up with quilts from their Mom and their Grandma too.

I put a cute Anne Kelle print from Robert Kaufman on the borders of Matryoshka dolls and used striped Essex linen for the binding.

The Matryoshka doll borders and striped binding.

The back is an ombré dots wideback by Vanessa Christenson for Moda.

The back of the quilts is moda wideback ombré dots by Vanessa Christenson.

I am so pleased to have finished these two quilts in time for the graduation and can’t wait for the girls to receive them!

Thank you for visiting my blog today!

A Free Love Letter Postcard Quilt Block for Valentine’s Day

Hello quilting friends! I have designed this fun Love Letter Postcard quilt block today. You can use it for Valentine’s day or anytime of the year. It features a cute fussy cut postage stamp. Mine has a frog prince for the postage stamp.

This quilt block can be 8 x 12 inches finished or 12 x 12 inches finished if you add a top and bottom border.

Note: my sample block has borders made from the background fabric but I suggest using a different fabric so the postcard shape shows up. I think I will take my borders off and either make this into a mug rug or switching up my border fabric.

Love Letter Postcard Quilt Block by Daydreams of Quilts

Download the free quilt block pattern here.

I have created a companion sewing tutorial video on YouTube so make sure to check that out too!

YouTube Sewing Tutorial

Thank you for visiting today and happy quilting. Tag me on your blocks on social media so I can see them! 🙂 I am @daydreamsofquilts

Free Snowflake Quilt Block Pattern

Enjoy this free snowflake quilt block pattern that I have designed for the Daydreams of Quilts Community! This block finishes at 12 inches square. You will need two fat quarters of fabric and a 2 1/2″ square fussy cut.

The two main fabrics in my sample block are by Canadian Fabric designer Libs Elliott for Andover Fabrics. I used a fussy cut from a batik fabric for the block centre.

Free Snowflake Quilt Block by Daydreams of Quilts.

Download the free pattern file to get started. I have created a YouTube tutorial for this quilt bock as well.

Free Snowflake Quilt Block Pattern by Daydreams of Quilts.

Enjoy this free pattern and thank you for being a part of the Daydreams of Quilts community! 🙂

How to Make a Patchwork Drawstring Bag Free Tutorial

Hello sewing friends! I am back today with another free patchwork bag tutorial. This is the same bag from yesterday’s post but with a different closure!

Patchwork drawstring bag by Daydreams of Quilts using Heather Ross fussy cuts.

You can download my free zipper pouch tutorial here for all the cutting measurements and then follow along in my YouTube tutorial video to change the zipper closure to a drawstring closure! Make a matching pair if you like. 🙂

Happy sewing!

How to Make a Patchwork Zipper Pouch Free Tutorial

Today I have a free tutorial, video and PDF download for all you wonderful sewing people! 🙂

I have been meaning to sew a patchwork zipper pouch with fussy cuts from Heather Ross fabrics for a long time so today was the day!

Patchwork Zipper Pouch made by Daydreams of Quilts with Heather Ross fabrics.

Download the free tutorial PDF pattern here and then head to the Daydreams of Quilts YouTube channel for a video tutorial.

Happy sewing!

Free Sailboat PDF Quilt Pattern

I have written a free quilt pattern for this sailboat quilt! It’s fun to make and finishes up at a good size at 64″ x 76″. Scroll down to the bottom of this post and sign up for my maker’s email list to get this free pattern. If you do not wish to subscribe to my email list you can purchase this pattern in my Etsy shop here.

Sailboat quilt made by Daydreams of Quilts with Daysail fabrics.

I used a charm pack for the sails and a few fat eighths for the boats. This is a nice quilt for any gender and of course it’s perfect for sailing enthusiasts.

Free sailboat quilt pattern.
My husband and son are behind the quilt struggling to hold it against the breeze.

Subscribe to our Maker’s email list for free pattern downloads, discount codes and exclusive content. Plus be the first to know about new pattern releases! You will receive a welcome email from Daydreams of Quilts with the download link for the pattern inside as well as links for several other free patterns from us. Check your junk and/or promotions folder if you don’t see it in your main email folder.

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A Minecraft Quilt Friday Finish

Minecraft Quilt with sixteen Minecraft character blocks.

Today I went down to my studio and looked at the pile of quilts waiting to be finished. This Minecraft Quilt was on the top of the pile and was more than half quilted. I decided that today was the day to finish this quilt and that it would be done before the end of the day. Mission accomplished! 🙂

A Minecraft quilt with 16 Minecraft character blocks.
Minecraft quilt pieced and quilted by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts. Tutorials for blocks written by Kelli Fannin.

I quilted each block with stipple quilting and switched out the threads to match the fabrics as best I could.

Pink pig Minecraft quilt block.
The pig block quilted in pink thread.
Steve and Creeper Minecraft quilt blocks.
Minecraft Steve and Creeper blocks.

The tutorials for all of these blocks and many, many more were written by Kelli Fannin and are available on her blog.

The Mooshroom Minecraft quilt block.
The Mooshroom (red cow) block.

I backed the quilt with the paper dolls fabric from the Heather Ross Kinder line which I thought was appropriate for my kids who are thrilled to finally be receiving this quilt.

The quilt back with paper dolls fabric.
The back of the quilt with paper dolls fabric.

I am so happy to have this quilt finished! I hope to get quite a few more WIPs through to the finish line over the summer. A huge thank you again to Kelli for all the amazing block tutorials!

Minecraft quilt with sixteen Minecraft character blocks.

Free Pixelated Skull Quilt Pattern

I thought this Pixel Skull quilt would be a great quilt for Halloween but several people are enjoying it year-round. It’s a fun scrap buster quilt.

This pattern was created from scratch and was based on a photo of a perler bead creation. I worked on this pattern for hours mainly because I wanted to figure out how it could be made into a quilt. I always had the intention of making it a free pattern. You can subscribe to my email list for the pattern or if you do not wish to subscribe you can purchase it in my Etsy shop here.

The pattern includes five quilt sizes, a quilt layout diagram and a coloring page.

I hope my quilting community will enjoy this free pattern. Please click the sign-up link below for a free PDF pattern download of this Pixelated Skull pattern and several other free patterns I have made available. You will receive a welcome email from Daydreams of Quilts with the download links inside. Please check your junk and promotions folders if you don’t see it in your main email folder.

Canadian Summer QAL Final Week Snowbird Block

Welcome to the 12th and final week of the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! I have seen some amazing nearly-finished quilt tops popping up on social media! So exciting!

This week’s block is designed by Julie Johnston of Owly Patterns. This one is another foundation paper pieced block and was the one that was the most challenging for me to sew.

EDITED TO ADD: If you’re easily offended then do not click through to Owly Patterns as she has designed some patterns that some people find offensive.

Snowbird Jet Quilt Block
Anita’s version of Julie’s Snowbird block. Quilted by Dara of Stitched Quilting Co. I love how Dara put the mountains into the quilting!

Julie’s Snowbird block represents the Snowbird Jets of the Royal Canadian Air Force that we see flying over special events and at air shows around the country in impressive flying formations.

Head to Julie’s Craftsy shop to download your free block pattern for the Snowbird block.

EDITED TO ADD: Julie has donated many hours of her time to create her free block pattern but if you’re easily offended then do not click through to Owly Designs. 

This is the final block in our quilt along. To enter the grand prize contest please post a picture of your quilt top in the hashtag #canadiansummerqal by September 3rd, 2018 (Labour Day).

Your quilt top does not need to be quilted or bound (a flimsy is okay) but it does need to include at least 12 of the 16 blocks from the Canadian Summer Quilt Along. They can be set however you like and you can add other blocks/elements if you wish.

To see more information about the grand prize and find links to our prize sponsors and all the blocks in the quilt along please visit the main Canadian Summer Quilt Along page.

Thank you so much for quilting along with us! Thank you to all of our prize sponsors and block designers! I couldn’t have done this without you! I can’t wait to see everyone’s quilt tops!

Thank you to Dara Tomasson of Stitched Quilting Co. for quilting my Canadian Summer Quilt Along quilt.

Canadian Quilt
Canadian Summer Quilt Along Quilt Pieced by Anita LaHay. Quilted by Dara Tomasson. Designed by 12 Canadian Quilters.
Quilt Along Sponsors
Thank you so much to our sponsors and designers! Please visit the Canadian Summer Quilt Along page for links.
Canada Quilt
A truly Canadian Quilt! Designed, pieced and quilted by Canadian quilters. Pieced by Anita LaHay. Quilted by Dara Tomasson. Designed by 12 Canadian Quilt Designers.

Canadian Summer QAL Week 11 Canada Goose Cabin Block

Canada Goose Quilt block

Welcome to week 11 of the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! This week we have a Canada Goose Cabin Block designed by Tish Leupen that combines traditional piecing and appliqué.

Canada Goose Quilt block
Goose Cabin Block, designed by Tish Leupen, made by Anita of Daydreams of Quilts. Quilted by Dara of Stitched Quilting Co.

Above is my version of the Goose Cabin Block beautifully quilted by Dara Tomasson of Stitched Quilting Co. I love this block so much! And with fall coming soon I will be watching the skies for these birds flying over and I will feel a tinge of sadness as I do every year. But I know they will come back in the spring and that always brings happy excitement.

Tish is here to guest post today about her block. So without further ado here is Tish!

Finally, it is my turn to present my block for the Canadian Summer Quilt Along! I am thrilled to be part of the design team for this beautiful quilt. This week’s block should be pretty easy for everyone to put together. No paper piecing involved! This is the second last block, which means we can start sewing our quilts together and finish them in time to snuggle under this fall.

My inspiration for this block, is the iconic Canada Goose that most Canadians have a love/hate relationship with. We all know they are not the brightest birds in the world. They inundate our parks all summer and leave behind plenty of their waste. They lose their flight feathers for a short time and become earthbound, not the least bit alarmed by the cars and bikes hurtling towards them.

When autumn arrives and the days are shorter and colder though, they answer an ancient ingrained call to head south to warmer climates. Much as the Canada Geese annoy us , we can’t help but look up when we hear their flight call as huge flocks of geese are once again in their V formations flying away.

My block had to have Flying Geese in it. I was inspired by the heavy woolen socks we wear when summer ends for my colour scheme. I used grey for the main part of the block and the top suggests the traditional cream and red strip of cabin socks. It makes me sad to think that summer is coming to an end soon. School will start again in a couple weeks, and we will be have our summer memories to keep us warm in the coming months. Sigh!

I’m looking forward to seeing your colour choices for this block. Be sure to post them on Facebook or Instagram with #canadiansummerqal. There are great prizes to be won for your finished quilt tops. Check Anita’s blog @daydreamsofquilts for the dates to keep in mind.

A huge thank you, Anita, for organizing this great Canadian quilt along. I really appreciate the opportunity to be a part of it!

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Thank you so much Tish for your guest post and for designing this fun block of an iconic Canadian symbol. Click the link below to download the free pattern for Tish’s block.

Thank you for visiting the Daydreams of Quilts blog today. Visit the main Canadian Summer Quilt Along page for links to all the previously released blocks and for photos and sponsors of the grand prize package being drawn on Labour Day!