Most of us haven’t yet seen our first snowfall of the season, but we all know it’s coming eventually.  Snow on the roads usually isn’t a welcome sight, but seeing a snowman will usually bring a smile.  What better focus for a winter quilt than a cheery snowman? Here’s a sampling . . . .

Snowmen Forever offers two options: one is colored with crayons and stitched, the other is appliqued.  The snowmen are then placed in a snowglobe so they won’t melt!  Use as a wallhanging, a pillow, or anything else you choose.

Eight Silly Snowmen dance around in a circle holding, um, sticks.  Toss in some holly leaves, stars, mittens, and birds that all combine to make a fun, busy snowflake.  Also available as a quilt kit – comes with the pattern and all the fabric (everything but the batting). No need to hunt up the perfect fabric; just start sewing!

Here’s a few more Silly Snowmen.  Their winter adventures will make you chuckle, and have you wondering how they will manage to survive until Spring.

Straddling Snowboy hugs a birdhouse as he watches the bird play with his shoelace.  Tiny buttons for eyes and floss for the laces add some three dimensional interest to this wallhanging.

Have fun digging through your scraps to find different outfits for each of these Frosty Babies.  Each on is holding a different prop – just for fun!

This is just a sampling of the patterns available.  Browse all the rest of the Snowman patterns and all the rest of the Snowmen patterns.  Enjoy!

The Jacob’s Ladder quilt block is a simple block consisiting of two four patches and two half-square triangles.

Changing the placement of the light and dark can significantly change the look of the block, and by extension, the look of your quilt.

From easy piecing you can acheive great and varied results.  Here’s a few patterns that make use of the versatility of the Jacob’s Ladder block.

Uniform Blues  by Carol Hopkins Designs finishes at 29″ square.  It’s a great project for blue scraps.  The chosen placement of the darks creates squares of different sizes.  The smaller squares in the inner border repeat the size of the smaller squares in the body of the quilt, but their on-point placement repeats the on-point setting of the largest squares.

You have to look closely to see the Jacob’s Ladder block in this one.  Clever placement of colors creates stars in Stars and Ladders!  Pattern includes instructions for a lap sized quilt (63″ x 63″) and for a table topper (35″ x 35″).

Alternating the dark half of the HSTs from the outside of the block to the inside creates a strong diagonal pattern in Sweet Liberty. Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts says this is a great pattern for charm packs.  This quilt is 30″ x 38″ – in the right fabrics it would make a great baby gift.

 
No Jacob’s Ladder here, just a Lizard On A Ladder. It’s cute though, isn’t it?!

There are a few more quilt patterns with Jacob’s Ladder blocks.  Have some fun with this easy block.

Though it’s still warm, summer is over.  The kids are back to school and the weather will be changing soon.  And before we know it Halloween will be here.   Here’s some cute Halloween patterns.

Hang this Trick or Treat Banner on your front porch or in your window to let the neighborhood kids know that you are “open for business” – you have candy and are welcoming ‘trick-or-treaters’!  It’s a felted wool design with hand embroidery…. cute and colorful, and just a little wacky.

There’s quite a dance going on here with the Goofy Ghosts leading the way.  The Circle of Friends includes pumpkins, owls, bats and even the brooms are taking part, dancing around the center of black cats.  The applique can be done by hand or machine – your choice.

October Jacks is a quick, cute 12″ x 12″ project with a 3D look to it.  The button bat, the eyes on the tree and even the rope on the fence give this quilt a unique look.

Would real Bats In The Belfry give you the shivers?  They would me!  I’ll take them contained in this table runner, thank you very much.  Instructions are included for place mats, too.  Perfect for a halloween party.

BFF Trick or Treat is one of a series of Thistledown’s unique “Swap-lique” patterns. The clothing and accessories can be all be changed.  Pattern includes 6 costumes, 5 hairdos and fun accessories.

Grab a glass of cider and browse the rest of the Halloween patterns.  Beware of the goblins!

>We might not be having fall weather yet, but it is September so we all know that it’s coming.   The summer adventures are behind us and we’re looking ahead to fall activities and holidays.   During the ‘in-between’ you have time to make a wall hanging to dress your home for the season.  Here are just a few suggestions . . . .

This scarecrow looks like he is thinking about job security!  If the farmer sees all the birds hanging around he just might be getting his pink slip, so he’s hollering Shoo!, apparently to no avail.

Nothing says fall like apples and apple picking.  This Apple wall hanging measures 22″ square.   A combination of patchwork and applique, this quilt pattern is also available with fabric: Apple Complete Kit.

Soon we’ll be treated to the annual Autumn Cascade of colorful leaves.  We love to see the colors on the trees, and watch the colorful leaves floating to the ground.  Raking them, well that’s another matter altogether!  Enjoy them on your wall – no raking required!

Book 3 in the Table Topper Series is Fall.  Susan and Mary Jane of The Quilt Branch provide instructions for three fall themed table toppers.  You can make one for each fall month.

This Fall Sampler wallhanging pattern also includes instructions for a scarecrow table runner pattern.  Two patterns in one!

Visit the Fall Quilt Patterns section of our website to see lots more patterns.

(Don’t forget to enter our Pinterest contest for a chance to win a free gift card!)

Is the answer your stash?  Most of us love color, but there is something about a black and white quilt. 

Nothing like a Tuxedo to dress things up.   The Rainbow Block Template will make easy work of the curves, allowing you to concentrate on the beautiful contrasts of the black, white, & red.

                                                     Wrapped In Love And Memories is designed to show off your photos.  It’d make a great anniversary or wedding quilt.  Or….you could use those center areas for an accent color.

Easy Does It – yep it does look easy!  A quick finish lap quilt that packs a lot of impact.  

Red does seems to be the go-to color for adding punch to a black and white project.  Have you ever tried a different accent color with a basically black and white quilt?

The ClaudieJo Bag would be great if you have lots of different black and whites. Just carrying this bag would have to perk you up!

And now, here’s a little eye candy for all you black and white fabric lovers….

For more, check out the Black & White quilting fabric section on our website.

Art for art’s sake is not found in a typical Amish home.  Amish quilts are one of the few forms of art acceptable in the Amish community and that is only because they serve a pratical purpose.  No wonder the women enjoyed expressing themselves as they made quilts for their families.  Over time, the quilts evolved from whole cloth with plenty of quilting to added cornersquares and finally color throughout.  Still simple, but beautiful in their simplicity. 

Historian, quilter, and noted expert, Rachel Thomas Pellman provides an information packed look at the development and tradition of Amish quilting in her book,  Amish Wall Quilts.  The distinctive quiltmaking characteristics of three different Amish communities are discussed.  You’ll learn details about how Amish women use quilting as a creative outlet.  Included are fifteen projects for wall quilts in the Amish style.

Almost Amish is less traditional, but still Amish inspired.  Three star blocks and tone on tone fabrics are used to create the beautiful, simple look.

Buggy By The Fence Rail uses the traditional rail fence block to provide a backdrop that looks like a country field.  The silhouette of a buggy is appliqued in the ‘field’.

And, for your puzzling pleasure, Amish Quiltscape Jigsaw Puzzle by SunsOut Puzzles. Relax and enjoy putting together this peaceful scene. Who knows, maybe it will be inspiration for your next quilt!

 When you are not quilting, be sure to enter our Pinterest contest and have a chance to win prizes!