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Before YouTube. Before PDFs. Before Pattern Poole, as you know it… There was a quilt called Happiness . Monica designed it over a decade ago — and forgot all about it. Until one day on Pinterest… she saw it had over 100,000 views on her old blog. So we brought it back.🧵💫 The Happiness Quilt  is finally available as a PDF — five simple fusible applique blocks, four stunning 14” FPP blocks, Monica’s QAYG technique, and a story you’ll love stitched into every seam. The story is stitched below — but if you're ready to dive in, click the button to purchase the pattern and begin your own magical quilt journey. Before YouTube, before PDFs, before we met you on screens around the world — there was Monica, with her suitcase full of quilts, teaching patchwork in bustling classrooms across Australia. She was already a name whispered between sewing shop counters and guild meetups, known for her refined eye, warm teaching style, and patterns that stitched joy into every seam. But what you might not know is that Happiness  — our latest pattern release — is not new. It’s a time capsule . This quilt was born in early 2013, during a chapter of Monica’s life filled with paper patterns, fabric bolts, and teaching marathons. Back then, all of her designs were hand-drawn and printed in bulk for shops. The digital world hadn’t yet woven its way into hers. Computers weren’t required for a fashion designer trained in the art of draping and drafting — but eventually, they became essential. So in her 30s, Monica taught herself to use a computer (with a bit of help from Dad and a whole lot of persistence). She built blogs. She built websites. And then, she forgot about them. One day, while browsing Pinterest, she stumbled across a pin — an image of her Happiness Quilt  construction method. The pin had over 100,000 views . That “forgotten” blog was quietly rippling across the internet, keeping her legacy alive even while she wasn’t looking. Isn’t that just like joy? It lingers, even when we’re too busy to notice. 🧵 The Happiness  Pattern — Reborn We’ve finally brought Happiness  into the digital age as a PDF, complete with Monica’s signature Quilt-As-You-Go method, five cheerful applique blocks and four stunning Foundation Paper Pieced blocks . The Happiness quilt is a celebration of colour, intuition, and play. It’s perfect for those who’ve fallen in love with FPP and are ready to create something vibrant, soulful, and spacious — one joyful block at a time. If you got addicted to FPP after making the Time to Bloom quilt , you'll be happy to know that these FPP blocks are the same size as the Time to Bloom FPP blocks. You can add them to your collection and mix and match them to create your own unique quilt design. Photo from Homepsun Magazine 2014. 👜 A Legacy of Making Many of you know Monica for her QAYG quilts, but her roots stretch far deeper — from elegant handbags to intricate appliqué, she was once approached by an Italian leather company wanting to reproduce her designs. Overwhelmed by her busy life of shipping patterns and replying to endless emails, she never responded — a small regret that she remembered when standing in a leather shop in Almfi, on her recent trip to Italy. But regret doesn’t weigh her down. That mountain of "too much" has since transformed into a beautiful rhythm: slow mornings, sweet cups of tea, a manageable to-do list, and the joy of working alongside her daughter (that’s me — Alaura 💕). Together, we’ve built Pattern Poole into a place where we can share our work with new friends all over the world. 📜 The Lost Blog + Exciting News We found Monica’s original blog — and it’s brimming with forgotten treasures. Beautiful patterns that never made it to PDF. Projects ahead of their time. Photos of fabrics now out of print but stitched into memory. ✨ And here's the best part: many of those gems are coming back  — through our new digital magazine. Each issue will feature archived patterns, fresh projects, and community creations. You get to help us choose what comes next — tell us what you’d love to see reimagined. So, if you are curious, feel free to check it out below: Happiness — Reborn. The Happiness  quilt, originally designed by Monica for Australian Homespun Magazine’s 2014 Block of the Month , has now been lovingly reworked and released as a PDF for the very first time — 11 years later. 🌹 Monica’s Advice? Never stop learning. Never stop creating. Whether you’re picking up a rotary cutter for the first time or uploading your hundredth quilt to Instagram — keep growing. You never know where things will go. That’s where the real happiness lives. ✨ If you love Monica’s unique Quilt As You Go designs, you’re going to fall in love all over again. The Happiness Quilt  — a radiant blend of joy and nostalgia, now available as a digital PDF for the first time. This quilt features five simple fusible appliqué blocks , four striking foundation paper pieced blocks , and a lush floral border  that ties it all together. Designed to uplift and inspire, Happiness  is perfect for those who find peace in stitching and joy in creating something truly meaningful. 🌸 Words from Monica: "One of the biggest highlights of my career was designing the Happiness Quilt for  Australian Homespun Magazine’s 2014 Block of the Month. Throughout my years of teaching, I’ve met so many wonderful people and made dear friends. And if there’s one phrase I’ve heard again and again, it’s this: ‘Quilting is cheaper than therapy.’ Being part of a sewing group gives people the chance to leave their worries at the door and step into a space of friendship, creativity, and pure happiness. The idea for this quilt came to me one sunny autumn morning while walking to a quilt convention with a friend. We passed a fig tree in the front yard of a townhouse. Its distinctive leaves and twisted grey trunk instantly reminded me of my childhood. I grew up in suburban Sydney on a quarter acre block. My father was a wonderful gardener, and our backyard was full of fruit trees, including two magnificent fig trees I spent countless hours climbing with my brothers and sisters. That memory became the seed of a quilt. A fruit tree themed design that would capture the feeling of those simple, joyful days, and I called it Happiness. The fabric collection I chose had nearly every colour I needed for the fruit trees, except for a rich purple. So in the end, the very fig tree that inspired the quilt didn’t make it in. But the feeling it gave me, that warmth and joy, is stitched into every block."* Ready to sew your own kind of happiness?🧷 Download the pattern below and start creating something beautiful. With love, Alaura 🌙✨

🌸 Time to Bloom  — Now Available as One Complete Document! Hello beautiful members, We have some exciting news to share — something many of you have been patiently waiting for… Our Time to Bloom  online quilt course has now been fully compiled into one complete, easy-to-access PDF document!

Welcome to Time to Bloom Month 11: A Quilting Journey

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you. Please log in with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad-free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at * studio@patternpoole.com if you need assistance.*

Mastering Quilt-As-You-Go: Joining Rows with the Easy Cover Strip Method (Part 2 Now Live!) We’re excited to share that Part 2 of our Quilt-As-You-Go tutorial series is now live on Pattern Poole TV! In Part 1 , we walked you through the essential first steps of our Easy Cover Strip Method —a fully machine-sewn technique designed to simplify the quilt-as-you-go process while delivering beautifully finished results. You learned how to: Trim your quilt blocks precisely Make the cover strips Join individual blocks together to form rows Now, in Part 2 , we take the next big step: joining the rows and handling your quilt as it grows in size. One of the most common concerns among quilters using the QAYG method is managing bulk as the project gets bigger—and that’s exactly what Monica demonstrates in this video. You’ll see her expert tips for positioning, maneuvering, and stitching with confidence, no matter how large your quilt becomes. This method is ideal for anyone looking to complete large quilts without the need for long-arm quilting or heavy lifting. It’s perfect for those working at a domestic sewing machine and wanting professional results with less stress. Watch the part 2 video here: I am heading off to work on the border video now before Mum flys out to Europe on Saturday. We will be delayed replying to emails as we must get this done!!!! I will check in with everyone tonight, but for our TTB course members, please note the course notes for this were provided last month. We hope you enjoy this video! Lots of love, Alaura and Monica xox

In this blog post, I will discuss what free motion applique quilting is, some of Monica's best tips, and an easy project explicitly designed to teach you this method so you can go on and add personal flair to your applique quilts. I am engrossed in the art of quilting but most specifically mesmerised by free-motion applique. Especially Monica's unique style of sketchy applique. It is something that I really want to try, perhaps master even. Leading up to our new online Mystery Quilt Course, 'I, Valentine,' I thought it would be a good time to share an applique quilting technique that may seem daunting. Still, after you dive in, it is fun and forgiving and adds a unique artistic flair to your quilts. I am a complete novice at this technique; however, considering our new mystery quilt is all about applique quilting, it would be fun to delve into Monica's tips and techniques. Perhaps we could all learn and try something new together. What is Free-Motion Applique Quilting? Free-motion quilting is a technique where you essentially draw with your needle. Amazing textile effects can be created from this technique, and the best part is you can really personalise your quilts with your own artistic expression, which you can see from Monica's Love Birds Quilt below. Love Birds Quilt Free Motion Applique Quilting (Sketchy Applique): Quilt as you go. Get Pattern Here So How Can You Get Started With Free-Motion Applique Quilting?: On our YouTube channel we have a tutorial all about it where we use Monica's Sketchy Flowers pattern to demonstrate. Sketchy Flowers is a fun cushion designed to help you learn and improve your free-motion sewing skills in 10 steps. Each shape has a different motion for you to practice, from up and down to curves, spirals and swirls giving you the confidence to “Sketchy Appliqué” with ease! Finished cushion size is 20” with a piped edge and button closure on the back. This is a workshop in a pattern that you can follow along with the FREE YouTube tutorial with Monica Poole. Step 1: Prepare your quilt sandwich with safety pins to stop the top fabric from curling on the edges. As we focus on quilt as you go, if you were making a quilt, you would do this to all your quilt blocks and then join them together. Step 2: Monica's Tip for Starting First, place your free-motion foot in the down position and then bring your needle down and up to bring up the bobbin thread. Use tweezers to capture that bobbin thread, and then proceed to do a few small stitches. This ties off the work. From there, cut away the excess threads. The reason for bringing the bobbin thread to the top is to stop it from getting caught in your work as you free motion, giving a neater finisher. Step 3: The Hand Frame Technique The overall goal when free-motion quilting is to glide your work through the machine lightly; this will give your stitches a nice and consistent look. Making a hand frame like this helps the work ease under the sewing machine, don't press too hard! One of the problems people have when they do free motion quilting is they get stressed and tense, making it difficult to glide the workaround. Step 4: Getting Comfortable Practice, practice, practice on samples! Master the hand frame or even create your own comfortable hand position that allows you to glide your work through the machine. The key to free-motion applique quilting is to almost "become one" with your machine. To get comfortable, start by practicing moving backward and forwards. You want to have a stitch length that looks like 2.5. A few tips - if you have a speed control on your machine, set it on a medium setting and focus on moving your hands at an even speed. Don't forget to check the back of your work to make sure your tension is ok. If you have loops on the bottom of the work it means you need to tighten the top tension, and loops on top mean the bottom tension needs to be tightened. Once you get comfortable going backward and forwards, you can create some fantastic effects with such a simple technique. From there, you can go on and learn stippling which is another amazing free-motion technique! Once you progress with this style of free-motion quilting that Monica calls 'Sketchy Applique', the sky is the limit. I love the illustrative effect that it brings out in Monica's work. It adds depth and dimension to an applique design and gives the chance to provide unique detailing to applique shapes like in this quilt, Butterfly Bliss. Butterfly Bliss, quilt as you go, by Monica Poole: See pattern here I know I am definitely going to try this effect, as I wouldn't mind adding some sketchy details to my applique patterns. If you are interested in learning more you can watch the full video on our YouTube channel and get the pattern below. click the image for the full YouTube tutorial And grab the pattern if you would like to follow along with a free-motion project designed to get you started with all the shapes and curves in free-motion quilting! If you have tried free-motion quilting or made this pattern, let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below! Next week I will have to give this a try! Stay tuned. xox Alaura If you liked this blog post, please save it to Pinterest or share it on social media for others to find.

If you love crafting, sewing, and cozying up with a warm quilt, then you've probably heard about the quilt-as-you-go . But for those new to the quilting world, fret not! This blog post is here to guide you through this innovative and efficient quilting method and how you can get started today. A quilt is a multi-layered textile traditionally composed of three layers of fabric or fibre: A top layer with a design Batting A backing layer. These layers are all quilted together by hand or machine. To make a quilt, you would start by making a quilt top in your chosen design, which can be patchwork or applique. Once you have made the quilt top, layer it with the batting and backing fabric to quilt. As you can see in the picture of the unfinished quilt, the quilt top needs the batting for softness and the backing to hide all the raw seams to make it complete. To finish the quilt, you would pin all the layers together and quilt them through a domestic sewing machine or by hand. If you are just like me, and the thought of doing that overwhelms you, but you want to be able to whip up a stunning quilt from start to finish, then quilt as you go is for you. What is Quilt as You Go? Quilt as You Go , often abbreviated as QAYG, is a quilting technique where you create smaller quilted blocks individually and then assemble them together to form the final quilt. Instead of quilting the entire quilt top at once, you work on smaller sections, making the process more manageable and less intimidating, especially for beginners. This photo is an example of a stitch and flip quilt-as-you-go block, which shows the process of creating a complete quilt block in one. From there, you would combine all those blocks to create a complete quilt. Here is the finished quilt! Stitch and flip quilt blocks are a great beginner method for making your first quilt-as-you-go quilt. You can also add fancy quilt-as-you-go borders; the sky is literally the limit. Here is an example of an advanced king-sized quilt-as-you-go quilt from the Pattern Poole private collection. As you can see, quilt-as-you-go can have limitless possibilities, and you can also make full quilts that don't look quilt-as-you-go! Shades of Indigo: Monica Poole, 2001: 94" square. No pattern. How Do You Join The Blocks Together? Quilt-as-you-go can be done in numerous ways with various methods (joining techniques); however, as this is a beginner guide, we are going to explore Monica's easiest method, 'The Easy Cover Strip Method' , as it is perfect for beginners and you can get started today. Things to note: Each quilt-as-you-go method has a set of rules and will produce a different aesthetic when the quilt is complete. For example, Monica's Easy Cover Strip Method , the easiest and most popular method, uses 1" trams (cover strips) between the blocks. However, you can add them to the front or back of the quilt or make them the same colour as the background fabric to make the blocks look like they are floating. Easy Cover Strips on the back of the quilt Easy Cover Strips the same colour as the background fabric Easy Cover Strips on the front of the quilt Easy Cover Strip Tutorials: This first tutorial is for the dabbler interested in quilt-as-you-go but isn't inspired to start just yet. The video shows the basic gist of The Easy Cover Strip Method and was also our first YouTube tutorial. This tutorial is for the curious overthinker who wants to visualise the entire process before getting started. I know this as I am the same, hence why I made a 50-minute full-length video on joining 36 stitches and flipping blocks together quilt-as-you-go. It is long, so grab a beverage and enjoy the journey. By the end of this video, you will fully understand the Easy Cover Strip Method and may even start designing some quilts in your head. This tutorial is for anyone ready to make a quilt-as-you-go quilt right now!! It is another long one, but you will learn the entire process from start to finish, and it also has a free pattern that you can download below: This is another tutorial for any quilter with a ton of scraps. It is also very long, but you will see the entire process of making our classic 'Strumb Quilt'. Next Steps: Once you have watched those tutorials, you are ready to dive into the world of Quilt-as-you-go. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced quilter, quilt-as-you-go is for everyone. You can also check out this playlist on our YouTube channel, which shows more of our quilt-as-you-go joining methods. You can also join our Facebook Group with over 14,000 international quilters to connect, be inspired, make friends, and learn more about quilting as you go the Pattern Poole way. Or, if you are especially eager to learn more about quilt-as-you-go, please check out our book. Quilt-as-you-go is Monica's life work, and her book is 25 Years of her tips and techniques compiled into one book to help you make your own quilt-as-you-go quilts from start to finish. Some Fun QAYG Patterns With Full Joining Instructions:

So, you want to make a quilt-as-you-go quilt but may be unsure where to start. Here are 10 quick and easy designs that also have FREE YouTube tutorials to make the learning process so much more fun! These designs are all PDF patterns so you can download and start today. Read on to find out more. 1. The Rainbow Quilt Make the most of your sewing machine when you appliqué this fun quilt using decorative machine embroidery. Pictured a lap size quilt, requirements and instructions are also given for single and queen size quilts. This pattern is designed to suit all makes and models of sewing machines that have built-in embroidery stitches. Detailed instructions cover every aspect of basic machine embroidery. The quilt is constructed with Monica’s fully machine-sewn, quilt-as-you-go, cover strip method. Sizes: Lap: 170 cm square (67” square) Single: 170 x 210 cm (67” x 83”) Queen 210 cm square (83” square) 2. The Cherry Cheer Quilt A fun quilt that would look great in any colour combination. These blocks would look amazing as a repeated design or mixed and matched together. They are great for scraps and all your odd fabrics, plus they are just really enjoyable to make. The blocks are pieced and quilted in the same step and then constructed with Monica’s fully machine-sewn, modern quilt as you go. (Easy Cover Strip Method) The quilt is completed with a cute picket edging. Pattern includes the following sizes: Lap, 155 cm, (61”) square, Single, 155 x 200 cm, (61” x 79”) Queen 224 cm, (88”) square. 3. Miss Daisy The classic pinwheels but quilt as you go! And this easy daisy block doesn't require any special templates only a square ruler! This block is perfect for beginners because there are no tricky seam matching and it has simple and effective straight line quilting that anyone can sew. Easy to read instructions with full colour step-by-step photo tutorial. A fully machine-sewn quilt-as-you-go design made with Monica's modern method. So much fun to make; you’ll enjoy template-free cutting, no tricky seam matching, easy circle appliqué, and simple effective straight line quilting that any one can sew! Three sizes are included in the pattern, lap, single bed and double bed. 4. Sweet n' Sassy Crazy patchwork is a great place to start, and why not with this fun reversible quilt as-you-go crazy patchwork quilt. The blocks are pieced and quilted in the same step and then joined together with Monica's Easy Cover Strip method. 5. Groovy Hearts With the resurgence of Y2K fashion, why not check out this quilt-as-you-go design made by Monica in the 2000s for her daughter Alaura. This whimsical design is fully machine sewn and uses easy innovative techniques with each block being quilted first with simple straight lines before the bias appliqué is applied with fusible web. The bias appliqué is straight stitched by machine close to either side to secure in place. The quilt is constructed with Monica’s modern quilt as you go cover strip method and finished with a 1” wide machine sewn binding. 6. Fancy Free You’ll whip this divine quilt up in no time. The quilt is constructed with a simple splice and stitch ‘n’ flip method. Perfect for those fat quarters in your stash! There are 4 sizes to choose from: Lap: 1.6 m (63”) sq. Single: 1.6 x 2 m (63” x 78”) Double, 2 m (78 ¾”) square. Pattern includes extra border instructions to make the double a queen: 2.2 m (87”) sq. 7. Fruit Salad An enjoyable quilt-as-you-go quilt. The blocks are pieced and quilted all in the same step and each block has a different backing fabric making the quilt reversible. The quilt is constructed with the help of 1” wide binding strips which can be purchased ready made for your convenience or you can make your own. This quilt is perfect to use up those jelly rolls in your stash. Pictured is a single bed quilt measuring 72” square, the quilt can simply be made into a queen size by adding a border as described in the pattern. 8. Beautiful Bows If you want something a bit more fancy, look no further than the Beautiful Bows quilt-as-you-go quilt! A feminine quilt featuring 3-dimensional bows and a sassy frilled edge. Follow the instructions for quilt as you go, or make the quilt top only. Complete the set with the cheeky bow shaped cushion. Pictured on the pattern cover is a lap size measuring 152 cm (60”) square, instructions are also included for a single bed size: 152 cm (60”) x 215 cm (84”). 9. The Paradisio Quilt The Paradisio quilt is a modern twist on a traditional design. You'll be surprised how easy it is to make these beautiful Dresden Plate blocks that are set between vibrant stars and joined together with Monica's fully machine sewn quilt as you go easy cover strip method. Finished quilt size including the picket edge: 165 cm (65”) Square. Fat quarter friendly! 10. The Strumb Quilt Scraps + Strings + Crumbs = the Strumb Quilt! When you are done with the other designs, get out the scrap bag and sew your scraps, strings and crumbs into a work of art! The rings are made with crazy patchwork and the diamonds are formed from left over strips. The completed blocks are joined together with our fully machine sewn easy cover strip method. We hope you have fun making these quilts! If you have made any of the designs below, please share your experience. And Don't forget to share this post with your friends or save it to Pinterest!

Feel like getting creative? Do you have a stash of fabric and some leftover pieces of batting? Let’s face it: if you’re a quilter, who hasn’t? Well, it’s time to get those bits and pieces out of the cupboard and turn them into a fun, reversible quilt-as-you-go scrap quilt and we have the perfect pattern, The Humming Bird Quilt and the best news is that it’s new to our instant PDF pattern range so no need to wait, you can download it and get started straight away. So, this is the front view........ This is the back view, as you can see, it's great for using up your stash! So here’s a brief outline on how to make this quilt, the pattern has all of the measurements, amounts and step by step photos so you can’t go wrong! Firstly, go to your stash and choose a combination of lightish and darkish fabrics that look good together, cut them into 2 1/2” strips. (You can also use 2 Jelly Rolls). Next, cut up pieces for the backing. These pieces can be squares or rectangles and will be joined together to make the backing squares. Layer together a batting square on top of a backing square making sure that the batting is 1/2” smaller all around the edge, this is to reduce the bulk in the joining seam. I like to use a bamboo or bamboo and cotton blend batting as it grips the backing fabric and stays in place but you can use any batting of your choice, you may have to hold it in place with basting spray. The pattern will show you how to mark up your batting and backing squares so that you can stitch and flip the darkish strips through the centre diagonal of the square. Next, stitch and flip the lightish strips out to either corner. Make 16 blocks like this. Flip the squares over to the wrong side and trim the excess fabric of the strips level with the backing fabric. Here's how you join the quilt squares together........... This is my fully machine sewn method for joining the squares ( I came up with this nifty idea back in 2005 and have published many quilt patterns and a book using this easy technique) First step is to cut 2’ strips, the pattern will tell you how many, then prepare them with a 1” bias maker . This is what I call the trams, they go between the squares. Iron fusible web tape onto the wrong side of the trams, I like to use pre-cut Heat n Bond lite on a roll. Position the quilt squares following the layout in the picture. To join, take 2 squares and place them back to back. Sew the seam with a 3/8” seam allowance (Same as 1 cm) this seam is slightly smaller than the 1/2” gap of batting so you won't be sewing through the batting. Press the seam open on the top. At this stage the back is nice and neat and the raw seam is pressed open on the top, ready to be covered by the tram. To make sure that the tram will be positioned perfectly straight and centred, mark a line that is 1/2” away from the centre of the seam. Now peel away the paper backing from the tram and iron it over the raw seam aligning one side of the tram with the marked line. Also start and finish the tram 1/2” away from the top and bottom edges to reduce the bulk in the across ways seams. The tram will now be fused in position ready for you to stitch down either side, sewing close to the edge with a matching coloured thread. There is no tram on the back and the stitching lines that attach the tram just look like quilting lines on the back of the quilt that are sewn 1/2" away from the seam. You then just continue joining the squares together like this. Well that's how easy it is! So now you know when you see my quilt as you go quilts that have trams, this is how I do it. Happy sewing! Monica xo Learn more about quilt as you go by checking out our YouTube channel, we have over 90 free quilting tutorials.

The Ultimate Quilt-as-you-go Learning Experience The Quilt-as-you-go Companion By Monica Poole  First Print Run Launched March 2024 25 years of Monica Poole's tips and techniques compiled into one book to help you make your own quilts from start to finish, quilt-as-you-go!This trusty companion includes five small projects to assist you in practising the QAYG methods, as well as Monica's quilting tips, ideas for breaking up traditional quilts, and links to her detailed YouTube videos for an immersive learning experience. Words from Monica: 'This book is a celebration of my years as a quilt maker, teacher, pattern designer and now YouTube content creator with my daughter.  It’s a colourful tips and techniques book designed to be your go-to when quilt as you go quilt making.  It includes 5 small projects for you to practice each of the different joining methods and a gallery of my work to exemplify the use of the techniques in larger quilts. (Please note that the patterns for the quilts in the gallery are not in the book; they are there for inspiration.) Here's a sneak peek of what's in The Book: Bonus links and QR codes take you to some of our popular YouTube tutorials: There are five joining methods and four ways to add borders: Each method is broken down into easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions with full-colour photos. The methods included in the book are: 1.     The joining strip method 2.     With sashing 3.     1 to 1 no sashing for patchwork quilts 4.      1 to 3 no sashing for patchwork quilts 5.     No sashing methods for applique quilts 6.     Easy quilt-as-you-go border 7.     Quilt-as-you-go border with mitred corners 8.     No sashing combo border 9.     Easy cover strip method Tips Included in The Book: The tips section takes you through the fundamentals of quilt-as-you-go quilt making from scratch and includes:   10.  The tools and supplies required 11. Fabric and batting 12. Accurate patchwork 13. Fusible applique basics. 14. Sketchy applique 15. Basting 16. Quilting with a walking foot 17. Free motion quilting  18. How to trim a quilted section 19. Binding a qayg quilt 20. Tips for converting a regular quilt pattern Projects Included in The Book: As mentioned, there are five small projects for you to practice the quilt-as-you-go joining methods. Of course, you can make these quilts larger and run with it! Information at a Glance: Price and shipping information: Please note: All prices are in Australian dollars; refer to the currency converter to see the price in your currency. Instant PDF download: $50.00 Spiral bound book: $75.00 plus shipping. Special bundle: Purchase the spiral-bound printed book and get 50% off the Instant PDF download version. $100.00 plus shipping Shipping costs: Australia: $15.00 USA and Canada: $35.00 UK: $ 40.00 NZ: $30.00 Rest of the world: $45.00 (All books will be shipped by standard post and will have tracking) We have completed our 3rd and final print run; after they are sold out, we have no further plans to print more. So get it while it is available in print. Shop Now

Meet the Pattern Poole String Quilt! This quilt is super easy, fun, and simple. It is perfect for beginners who have never made a quilt before but it is also perfect for more advanced quilters looking to transition into quilt as you go or looking for a quick and easy quilt design to make up for charity/gifts! Other reasons you will love making this quilt are: 1. It is only the one-block design keeping it really simple! 2. It is a stitch and flip block, so you are piecing and quilting at the same time. 3. Historically string quilts were made from scraps of fabrics or strings, sewn together to form a stunning geometric pattern. Because they were made from scraps, not all points lined up. Therefore, it doesn't matter if yours don't, however, we designed it so your navy and white strips will easily line up drawing the eye to the diamond design giving you peace of mind! 4. It is quilt as you go using my Easy Cover Strip Method on the back. This is my easiest quilt as you go method which is perfect for beginners and it's fully machine sewn. 5. It has a fully machine-sewn binding. 6. The cover strips on the back give the opportunity to make it reversible so you can use lots of different backing fabrics and make two quilts in one. You can watch that video here: In the video, I show how to join the blocks together. However, this is unlike any other quilt as you go video we have ever done before as we show how to join the entire quilt together. I use my easy cover strip method with the joining strips on the back and start by showing how to join two blocks together. Then I show how to join blocks to form a row and how to join those rows together. I also give a lot of tips for joining a full quilt together quilt as you go and can recommend this video to every quilter interested in seeing more about my quilt as you go process. With the binding, we ran out of fabric so I had to invent a new machine-sewn binding method on the fly. This binding method is suitable for quilts joined together using my easy cover strip method on the back. It looks like a regular binding on the front but is 1" wide on the back to tie in with the width of the cover strips on the back of the quilt. Here is the free pattern for you to download and get started: We really hope you enjoy this project! You can use this string quilt design to make your own stitch and flip blocks with strips in any size you like. If you have just found us, we are Pattern Poole, a Mother (Monica) and Daughter (Alaura) design team from Australia, we have a fantastic YouTube channel with almost 60 free quilting tutorials, a supportive Facebook group and a website that has a giant pool of sewing patterns. We hope that you enjoy our latest video!

I love this bag, it’s so cute and stylish! I just throw in my lipstick, phone and keys, tuck it under my arm and head out for a lunch date with friends. I get so many compliments and people can’t believe that I made it myself. I love how this bag sits up and holds it shape, the secret is the foam interfacing or stabiliser. I prefer a sew-in to a fusible and I show my tips for working with it in the video. From one 18” x 58” pack you’ll be able to make 4 bags. So what are you waiting for? Below you’ll find a link to download the free pattern and another link to watch the free tutorial. When someone asks where you got your bag from, you can proudly say, “I made it myself!”. If you enjoy our free content, please share it to a friend. Happy sewing! Monica and Alaura xo Watch the YouTube tutorial here.

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you! Please login with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad free. (Yay!). (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance.

The time has finally arrived to embark on the journey of joining the blocks! It has been an exciting adventure. I have enjoyed filming this video and learning more about quilting and quilt-as-you-go. Mostly, I have enjoyed seeing everyone's work. It has been such a wonderful experience; thank you.

The Time to Bloom quilt began as a Mystery in May 2024. Now that the mystery has been revealed, you can still sign up for the course! The tutorials are pre-taped, so you can make the quilt in your own time. We have many students at all different stages of making the quilt - we'd love for you to join us! How much does the course cost? The course cost is one upfront payment of $132 Australian dollars. (Approx 85 USD). This gives you 2 blocks for the price of one and an optional bonus border for those who would like to make a larger quilt. There are 12 patchwork blocks and 12 floral appliqué blocks, plus one bonus patchwork block to make a total of 25 blocks. This gives you the option to make 12 blocks of your choice for a small 48" x 64" quilt, make all 25 blocks for a large 80" quilt and add the optional border for a 100" quilt. (Course cost does not include fabric). When you sign up, you'll have instant access to the course members-only section on the Pattern Poole website, where you can download the course notes and watch the YouTube tutorials ad-free! All you need is your email address and password to log in anytime. See how here. Tell me more about the quilt: The floral blocks are fusible appliqué, and you have your choice to blanket stitch, zig zag or sketchy appliqué them. Each patchwork block has a different skill-building technique and a video tutorial to guide you through the process. Each block is quilted as you go and joined together with Monica Poole’s Easy Cover Strip method on the back of the quilt. 12 patchwork block plan: (48" x 64"). 12 applique block plan: (48" x 64"). 25 block plan: (80" square). We decided to include a bonus optional border to make the quilt 100" square. How can I contact the Pattern Poole ladies if I need help? Use the contact form on our website or send an email to studio@patternpoole.com We're always happy to help and offer support when we're awake. We say this because we're an Australian business and we may be on the other side of the world from you ! What fabrics are required to make the quilt? We thought it would be a fun idea to choose your favourite colour, then choose 5 fabrics ranging from a pastel tint to a deep shade. We're using a selection of blues in Moda Grunge. OR Have fun choosing fabrics from your stash. Each block starts at 18” square and is trimmed to 16 ¾” after quilting. This makes it perfect for fat quarters to be used as backing squares and background squares for the appliqué blocks. Requirements List: Here is the document to the requirements list and a run-through video. Please download the PDF and watch the video to see what you need. Why is there the same amount of top background and backing fabric in the requirements list, it seems like a lot? The top and backing squares start at 18" and will be trimmed to 16 3/4" after quilting. The exact amount for the backing fabric to get (25) 18" squares is 6 1/2 yards. We've allowed an extra 3/4 yard for prewash shrinkage, straightening the fabric and a possible cutting accident, which we hope will not happen. We've allowed the same for the top background fabric, as patchwork blocks can sometimes take more fabric than you think. As it's a year-long course, it's better to be generous with the fabric, in case you need more and the fabric is no longer available. Leftover fabric can be made into a cushion or pillow to match the quilt. A plain or solid 100% cotton quilting fabric is a great budget option for the top background fabric of this quilt. Extra wide backing fabric can be used for the back and is also another budget friendly option. How will the course run? This year, the course is run in a special course members-only section on our website. It's a blog post that only course members can see when logged into our website. From this private blog, you can watch the YouTube tutorials, download the course notes, share photos of your work and ask questions. A bonus is that the YouTube tutorials are ad-free when you watch them from the private blog post. How long will I be able to access the course members-only section on the website? You will have 2 years access from the date that you sign up, to download the course notes and watch the videos ad-free. The videos will always be available to watch on our YouTube channel Pattern Poole TV. If you ever lose your course notes, let us know and we'll send them to you via email. What are course notes? Course notes are PDF documents with all the pattern sheets and instructions on what to do. They include step-by-step photos, so you can't go wrong! How will I receive the course notes? When you sign up, you'll have instant access to the course members-only section on our website, where you can download the course notes. How will I watch the videos? Can I watch them at any time? The videos are pre-taped YouTube tutorials. Anyone can watch them anytime and continually refer back to them. If you watch them from the special course members-only section on our website, they are ad-free. Why are the videos free? What's the point of signing up? We believe access to quilting entertainment to inspire people should be free. However, you will need to purchase the course notes to make the project. This fee allows us to earn a living from our work and continue teaching in an easy and inspiring way. Our videos show many tips and techniques that are applicable to all quilting and sewing projects, and we hope our videos can inspire younger people to take up quilting. We hope that anyone, no matter where they are in the world, will have the opportunity to stumble upon our videos and see the kindness and enjoyment of the Pattern Poole Community. By signing up, you can make the quilt with our community and receive tips and feedback directly from us. Will there be a private Facebook group this year? This year, we have decided not to make a private Facebook group as they tend to become inactive after the course is finished, which doesn't help new members who want to do it years later. Our main Facebook group has two excellent, dedicated admins (Marcia Moon and Jackie Kennedy) and many other helpful members who have been sewing with us for over 20 years and have so much beneficial advice; plus, it allows all new Pattern Poole Community Members to get to know everyone. You can also ask questions on our blog or email us privately. However, this year, we want you to be excited to post what you've been working on in the course with an audience of over 15k supportive community members. I don't like appliqué. Can I double the patchwork blocks to make a full patchwork quilt? Of course, appliqué isn't for everyone. Can I double the appliqué blocks and do no patchwork? Yes, the quilt has been designed to look good with both styles or just appliqué or only patchwork. It is up to you how you wish to make this quilt; with so many options, we are excited to see what everyone does differently. Do I have to use a monochromatic colour scheme? No, you can use whatever colours you like and make the quilt using fabrics from your stash. If you would like to use a different fabric combination, here are some other colour ideas: Do all fabrics have to be solids? No, however, the patchwork blocks and appliqué designs lend themselves more to small prints and mottled fabrics. You can also use a small print for the top background fabric, but make sure that it's a small all-over print that is not directional. Avoid stripes and checks, as they will be difficult to line up from block to block. Ensure that your chosen patchwork and appliqué fabric will stand out against it. What binding style is planned for the quilt? This year, I'll finish the quilt with a 3/8" wide topstitched binding. It Looks like a regular binding, but the strips start at 3" wide and are sewn onto the back of the quilt with a 3/8" seam allowance. Half the binding width is folded over to the front and top stitched down. The binding can also be done in the regular way and handstitched on the back. The blocks are trimmed to 16 3/4" square. I'm having trouble finding a square ruler over 15". Do you plan to do a tutorial for squaring off? Watch the video below to see how to make a 16 3/4" template from the medium-weight interfacing that is listed in the requirements list. The template is pinned onto the quilted blocks with flat-head pins. I then use a regular patchwork ruler to trim the blocks, using the interfacing template as a guide. What quilt-as-you-go method will we be using? The blocks are joined together with the 'Easy Cover Strip' method on the back. Watch the video below to see how it's done. Can the cover strips be sewn on the front of the quilt? Of course, we are doing ours on the back, but you can choose how you would like to do it. Check out this video, where Monica puts the cover strips on the front. Can I use another method? Yes, you can use the Joining-Strip method. We are so thrilled with our completed Time to Bloom quilt and appreciate all those who joined us to make their own version. If you would like to see all the wonderful work of the TTB students, join the Pattern Poole Community private Facebook group.

After an entire year, the mystery has finally been revealed.

Welcome to Month Ten! Dear Course Members, Welcome back to Time to Bloom! We are now in month ten, and I can't believe how quickly this journey is flying by. When we first started conceptualizing this quilt, I never imagined how much it would evolve. Seeing it almost complete is incredibly exciting. This quilt has turned out completely different from what I originally envisioned. My first color scheme and applique block design look nothing like the quilt it has become. However, I am pleasantly surprised by how this design journey has challenged me. The result is a beautiful, whimsical blue quilt that I am proud of.

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you. Please log in with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad-free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance.

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you. Please log in with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad-free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance.

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you. Please log in with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad-free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance.

The solution for the tiny unwanted triangle in the exploding star block. When making the 4 at a time flying geese in the exploding star block, did you get an unwanted tiny triangle in some of the units? Download the PDF document below to keep with your course notes. It will explain why it happened and if you’re yet to make the block, how to avoid it.

Back in 2005 I wanted to make a crazy patchwork quilt but I didn’t want to make it in the traditional way. I wanted to make it quilt as you go and fully machine sewn. (At the time I was a busy young Mum and I didn’t have time for hand sewing). This is what I made, I called it the Sweet n Sassy quilt and during the making of this quilt I came up with the concept of the QAYG cover strip method. You’ll see in the photos below that there are strips on the front of the quilt that look like a sashing between the blocks and there is no sashing on the back of the quilt. The Cover Strip method is a nonconventional way to join quilted blocks together. In fact, it breaks all of the traditional patchwork and quilting rules that you have been taught. It’s perfect for crazy patchwork, stitch n flip and applique blocks. It was never intended for joining patchwork blocks together because it uses a 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance and patchwork blocks require a 1/4" (6 mm) seam allowance, for example, a patchwork star block would lose its points when joined with a 3/8” seam allowance. (Unless it's the QAYG Friendly Star Block) Here is a quick rundown on how the method works: The samples below are blocks left over from the original Sweet n Sassy quilt, I would show these samples when teaching or lecturing, they are now 18 years old! The batting is cut 1/2" smaller on all edges to be joined to reduce the bulk in the seam allowance. For this quilt I used a thin iron on polyester pellon because that’s what I had in my stash and after all, it was a scrap quilt. I normally recommend using a low loft cotton batting with a scrim and for stitch and flip blocks a light application of basting spray to hold the batting and backing together. For this quilt, the backing squares are cut 9 1/2" and the batting is cut 8 1/2" square. The batting is centred onto the wrong side of the backing square to provide a 1/2" gap of batting on all four sides. Next, stitch and flip irregular wedge-shaped fabrics onto the batting and backing. When all blocks are complete, trim them to the same size as the backing square. If trimming is necessary to make them the same size, you can trim up to 1/8” on all sides, as this will still leave a 3/8” gap of batting for the 3/8” seam allowance. To join, take two blocks and place them back-to-back. Sew with a 3/8” seam allowance. Press the seam open; it will sit nice and flat because of the batting gap. It’s okay if some of the batting is caught in the seam; it’s just good not to have the batting go all the way through the seam allowance. I chose to use a 3/8” seam allowance because when pressed open, with all the layers of fabric, I felt it would sit flatter than a narrow 1/4" seam allowance. At this stage, the back is neat........ and the front has a raw seam that will be covered with the cover strip. The cover strip is a 2” wide strip that is prepared with a 1” (25 mm) wide bias maker. The bias maker folds the raw edges of the strip over to the wrong side by 1/2" on each side, making a neat 1” wide strip. Although the cover strips are prepared with a bias maker, they are best cut across the fabric from selvedge to selvedge. Because the cover strips are on the front of the quilt, I ironed fusible web onto the wrong side of the cover strips so that they could be ironed nice and straight in place before sewing. (I used Heat n Bond lite 5/8” wide on a roll). (Photos below are from a different quilt) Another thing that I do to ensure that the cover strips are straight, is mark a line that is 1/2" away from the centre of the seam, this can be done on both sides or just 1 side of the seam. (Make sure that you use a fabric marker that can be easily removed from the fabric). The next step is to peel away the paper backing and position the cover strip over the seam between the marked lines. To reduce the bulk in the across-way seams, start and finish the cover strip 1/2" away from the top and bottom of the seam. Iron in place. Machine sew down both side edges of the cover strip, stitching close to the edge. Back tack or reverse stitch at the very top and bottom edges of the seam, not on the cover strip. This is done so that any starting and stopping thread nests will be sewn into the across-way seams and won’t be visible on the back of the quilt. The stitching lines that attach the cover strip, look like quilting lines sewn 1/2" away from both sides of the seam. (Yes, they are hard to see). So that’s how you join 2 blocks together with the cover strip. You would then continue joining the blocks into rows and then in the same way, join the long rows together. Click on the picture below to see a video tutorial of how I made this quilt. Between the years of 2005 to 2020 I have designed and published many quilt patterns that use the cover strip quilt as you go method. My patterns take the hard work out of making a quilt as you go quilt. You are never left with quilt as desired. Every step has been thoughtfully planned and is included in the detailed instructions, including how much fabric and how many strips to cut for the cover strips. Below are just some of my patterns that are available as instant PDF downloads, you'll find them on our website here. My formula was simple and effective: All blocks have a 1/2" gap of batting on all edges, that way you can play with the positioning of the completed blocks before joining them.(Read on to see where you wouldn't leave the gap). The cover strip was always on the front of the quilt to appear as a 1” wide sashing between the blocks. Pictured below is the Cherry Cheer quilt PDF pattern available here. Watch the video tutorial here. If a border was required, it was joined onto the quilt with the cover strip method to enclose the cover strips that finish 1/2" away from the edge as well as the 1/2" gap of batting. Pictured below is the Trendy Techniques quilt that shows a border that is attached with the cover strip method. (Front view on the left, back view on the right) Most quilts are finished with my 1” wide machine sewn binding (another rule breaker) to enclose the cover strips that finish 1/2" away from the edge and the 1/2" gap of batting. The width of the binding also ties in with the width of the cover strips. Click on the photo below to watch the 1" wide machine sewn binding tutorial. Below are some step-by-step photos. The binding is 2 3/4" wide, pressed in half lengthwise with WS facing. It is sewn onto the back of the quilt with a 3/8” seam. The corners are sewn in a different way to a regular quit binding, as you’ll see in the photo. The entire width of the binding is folded over to the front of the quilt and stitched in place; the binding is not visible on the back of the quilt. Before you try this method, I recommend that you watch the detailed tutorial. (Click on the picture above to watch) We also show how to do a scallop edge in the same tutorial. Please be mindful that this binding takes up 1 3/8” of the quilt edge so it’s not suitable for all quilts. In November 2020, due to the world shutting down from Covid and to save our business, we signed up for the Virtual Houston Quilt Festival in which we made a video to promote a PDF book of 5 of my favourite cover strip QAYG quilts. The video could be no longer than 10 minutes so we had just enough time to show the basics of the method and to promote the book that contained the finer details. You can check the book and video out here. The virtual quilt show was not a success for us, so we put the video on YouTube. The video was a hit on YouTube, and we realised that people wanted to know more about quilt as you go so we continued to make more videos, giving more hints and tips on the cover strip method as well as other ways to join quilted sections together. When you put something out into the world on YouTube, it’s natural that it’s subject to change and variation and people will interpret the method in their own way. The biggest question was, can the cover strips go on the back of the quilt instead of the front. The answer is yes, but it changes the formula. Below is a photo of the Strumb quilt, I made this quilt with the cover strips on the back. Click on the picture below to watch the Strumb quilt video: Now onto the point of this blog post....... Here is everything that you need to know If you want to use the cover strip method to convert a regular quilt pattern or come up with your own design. The cover strip method is not suitable for all patchwork blocks. As mentioned, the cover strip method uses a 3/8” seam allowance so it’s not suitable for patchwork blocks that require a ¼ inch seam allowance, especially blocks that have points that finish a ¼” away from the edge. However, you can add a border to the pointy patchwork block to ensure that the points are not lost in the seam. The star blocks pictured below in the Paradisio quilt were bordered with 1 ¾” wide strips in the background fabric before being joined with the cover strip method. ½” of the border is still visible after the quilt has been joined. This could also be done with the cover strips on the back of the quilt. Having said this, there are many patchwork blocks that don't have points and if they were joined with a 3/8" seam instead of a 1/4" seam the loss of 1/8" wouldn't be noticeable. Why is there a ½” gap of batting? The ½” gap of batting allows for movement, shrinkage and a small amount of trimming. The first photo below is a 10” square of batting and backing sandwiched with a 9” square of batting and quilted. For this example, you can see the batting through the light top fabric. The second photo shows that the block has been trimmed to a 9 ¾” square, this allows for a 3/8” seam on all edges. The finished size of the block is 9” square which is the same size as the batting. Most of my quilts that are made with the cover strip method are repetitive designs. I find that repetitive blocks all shrink the same amount during the making process so most times only minimal trimming is required, or trimming is not necessary at all. Pictured below is the Miss Daisy Quilt, you can watch the video here and check out the pattern here. What happens if the batting moves and there is a gap after the seam has been sewn. If the cover strip is on the front: I find that that the cover strip makes up for the loss of the batting loft or thickness. If the cover strip is on the back: Same as above but beware of thin light fabrics, especially on the front of your quilt because if there is a gap of batting it will show through as shown in the photo below. Why not just cut the batting the same size and use a standard ¼” seam allowance. You can do this if you choose but personally, I think that the seam would be too bulky and difficult to press open and flat, especially at the joining seams. The photo below shows the batting cut to the same size as the fabric and joined with a 1/4" seam. I find that a 3/8” seam allowance is easier to press open and it sits nice and flat. Batting To make my quilts, I use a low loft cotton or bamboo batting with a scrim. The type of batting that you use is a personal choice, you can use any batting that doesn’t flatten or melt under the iron. If you have a scrap of your favourite batting, test it with the method first to see if it works. If using light fabric for the cover strips: Sometimes a shadow can show through on the top of the cover strip where the raw edges meet on the back. This problem can be solved by cutting strips from the same light fabric or a soft interfacing that are slightly narrower than 1”. Turn the cover strip to the back and insert the strips inside the folds of the cover strips. Do you have to attach the cover strips with fusible web? No this is a personal choice. My personal preference is to use fusible web to make sure that the strips are held straight and even when attaching the cover strips to the front of a quilt. You can either cut ¾” wide strips of fusible web or purchase pre-cut fusible web on a roll, I use Heat n Bond lite, it’s a bit narrower at 5/8” wide. When attaching the cover strips to the back of a quilt I find that it’s easy enough to hold in place with your hands and sew. You can also use glue such as a Sewline glue pen, Roxanne’s glue baste or a craft glue that is non toxic, water soluble and acid free. (Always test craft glues first before using them on fabric). Why do you cut the cover strips ½” shorter at the top and bottom of the seam. This is done to reduce the bulk in the horizontal seams. It is much easier to press the seams open when you don’t have the thickness of the vertical cover strip in the horizontal seam. The photos below show that the raw ends of the vertical cover strips are covered by the seam when it is pressed open and the horizontal cover strip has been applied. Be careful to not cut the cover strip too short. If putting the cover strip on the front of the quilt, allow for 7/8” (2 cm) around the edge of the block or section to be covered by the cover strip. This is because of the 3/8” seam and ½”, which is half the width of the cover strip. This is especially important when working with strips and if you want them to finish a certain size, you will need to consider making the outer strips wider. I mention this in this video. How do you add a border if you have cut the cover strips ½” shorter than the perimeter of the quilt? Join the borders onto the quilt with the cover strip method. To do this, cut the side borders 2” longer than the quilt, cut the top and bottom borders 2” longer than the width of the quilt plus the width of the side borders. Quilt your border strips with the batting and backing first, leaving the batting gap on the sides that will join to the quilt. If you want to finish your quilt with a regular binding, make the batting level with what will be the outer edges of the quilt. Join the side borders to the quilt first and trim them to the same size as the quilt. Next join the top and bottom borders, this seam will have batting in the seam allowance where it crosses the side borders, I feel that it’s okay to leave it but you can trim it if you like. The Groovy Hearts quilt has borders that were attached with the cover strip method and finished with the 1" wide machine sewn binding. What is the best foot to use to attach the cover strips? Use an edge stitching foot or a stitch in the ditch foot. Move the needle position so that it is 1/8" or 2 mm to the left of the guide. When you sew, just position the guide on the edge of the cover strip. If you don’t have one of these feet, use your walking foot and find a marking on the foot that will help you to stitch 1/8” or 2 mm away from the edge of the cover strip. Can you use premade 1” wide bias binding for the cover strips? Yes, so long as it is made from 100% cotton and the folds on the back meet in the centre. Avoid using polycotton bias binding as it’s too thin, it could be see through and will stretch. For all quilt as you go quilts if you want to use the one fabric for the back, use a non-direction small to medium print. This way the joins are not obvious on the quilt back. Avoid directional prints as well as stripes and checks because they are too difficult to line up on the back when joining the blocks or sections together. You can however use lots of different fabric for the back to make a fun reversible quilt. Here are some examples of non-directional small to medium prints: I want to finish my quilt with a regular binding. Plan ahead to cut the batting level with all blocks that will be on the outer edge of the quilt as shown in the example photo below and finish the cover strips level with the perimeter of the quilt. I have used the cover strip method on the back to make a quilt and I finished the cover strips ½” away from the outer edge of the quilt, how do I bind it? I actually did this with the first quilt that I made with the cover strips on the back so I invented a new way to bind a quilt. This binding looks like a ½” wide binding on the front and is 1’ wide on the back. It’s fully machine sewn and the stitching line is visible on the front of the quilt and it doesn’t look out of place because it ties in with the cover strip stitching on the front of the quilt. You can see how I do it in this blog post here. Want to know more about making a complete quilt with the cover strip method? Check out this blog post , it includes a video that will take you through everything from the tools, cutting the fabric and batting, making the blocks and how to handle a quilt as you go quilt as it grows, there is also a free pattern and it shows my new binding at the end. Interested in learning more quilt as you go joining techniques? Check out our quilt as you go masterclass. Let me know in the comments section if you have any more questions. Happy quilting! Monica

In an age where our lives are more digital than ever, staying safe online is essential. With the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and the increase in texting, scammers are finding new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting users. Additionally, the emergence of AI-generated content adds a new layer of complexity to staying safe on the web. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital landscape securely, helping you spot scams and protect yourself from deception. I spoke with a lovely customer on the phone yesterday who informed me she had been scammed and had her identity stolen. I decided to create this blog post to help protect and inform our community. Understanding Online Scams Online scams take many forms, including phishing emails, fake social media messages, and deceptive text messages and phone calls. Scammers often use tactics designed to create a sense of urgency or fear, prompting victims to act quickly without careful thought. Phishing, for instance, tricks individuals into revealing personal information, like passwords or bank account details. In fact, the Anti-Phishing Working Group reported that over 1.5 million phishing sites were created in 2022. Scammers often impersonate trusted entities, making detection difficult. Recognizing these tactics is crucial for your online safety. Common Types of Scams: Social Media Scams : Fake profiles that mimic your friends can be highly convincing. They may claim to offer financial support, contest winnings, or investment opportunities. A report from the Federal Trade Commission indicated that social media scams resulted in losses of over $770 million in 2022. Text Message and Phone Call Scams : Scammers often send messages claiming to be from banks or government entities, asking you to click a link or share sensitive information. AI-Generated Content : As technology advances, scammers utilise AI to create believable fake content. This can include fraudulent emails, fake websites, or deceptive social media profiles, all designed to lure victims into providing their personal information. Keeping Safe on Social Media: Spotting Scammers on Facebook Facebook is an excellent platform for connecting with friends, but it is also a common breeding ground for scams. Here are some strategies to keep yourself safe: Monitor Friend Requests As a rule of thumb, don't accept friend requests from anyone, period. And lock your profile. Unless you know them, even if you do, reach out to their old profile or via phone to check that it is actually them. All it takes is for one scammer to create a fake profile of a friend, and then they can easily scam all the friends on the real profile's friends list. Recommended Action: Never accept friend requests from people you don't know, especially from a friend you know with a new profile. You can engage with many people on Facebook without actually being their friend. Watch for Suspicious Messages If a "friend" sends you a message claiming they are in trouble or offering an opportunity that seems too good to be true, it probably isn't true. Try contacting them through other means, like a phone call or asking a mutual friend to confirm the message. Recommended Action: Ignore suspicious messages like this and delete them (don't open them; delete them). The truth is, you have too much quilting to do anyway. Plus, you've spent your whole life helping everyone. The only people who need your help will probably ask you in person, like your family or closest friends. Be Skeptical of Ads and Promotions Facebook ads claiming you’ve won a prize or can make easy money often lead to scams. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Before engaging, verify claims by searching for reviews or consulting trustworthy groups. Another is Facebook pages stealing content and having websites with cheap quilting notions for sale. These websites are generally scams, and they will take your personal details. Always Google if a website is legitimate before buying. Recommended Action: Buy your products from reputable stores or websites like Amazon. If you see something you like, google the legitimacy of the business. Reddit is a surprisingly good platform for finding out if something is legit. Here is an example of how I almost got scammed online recently. I was searching for a new cabinet and wanted a mid-century modern vibe. So I googled it and was surprised by all the great and cheap results that came up. This product was advertised on Google with a paid promotional post. So, it seems legitimate. I honestly couldn't believe how great this website was. It was affordable, took multiple payment methods, had many fact pages, and had legitimate-looking reviews on Trustpilot. So, on first look, it was legit. However, the prices were rather low for a product made with "real wood," so I did a quick Google search. Many results came up about how this business sends damaged products months after orders are placed or doesn't send orders at all. Customers reported contacting LiftFad but received no replies. It wasn't just one post, but numerous Google results and dedicated Instagram pages discussing how Liftfad manipulates their online rating to scam people into buying something on their website. Why would they do this, you ask? It's easy to steal money this way, and most people will give up trying to get their money back. Steal your data and on-sell it to other scammers Steal your data when you make purchases. Why is data so important? People's data is incredibly valuable for several reasons: 1. **Personalisation**: Companies use data to tailor products, services, and advertisements to individual preferences, enhancing user experience and increasing sales. 2. **Targeted Marketing**: Businesses can segment their audience based on data to deliver more effective marketing campaigns, leading to higher conversion rates. 3. **Competitive Advantage**: Organisations that analyse data can identify trends, optimise operations, and make informed decisions, giving them an edge over competitors. 4. **Monetisation**: Data can be sold to third parties, such as marketers and advertisers, which creates a direct revenue stream. 5. **Cybercrime**: Malicious actors steal data for various purposes, including identity theft, fraud, and ransom, as sensitive information can be exploited for financial gain. 6. **Social Engineering**: Personal data can be used to manipulate individuals or gain unauthorised access to systems. As a result, the high value of data leads to increased efforts to steal it, whether for legitimate business purposes or nefarious activities. This is why data protection and privacy are critical issues in today’s digital landscape. An Easy Way for Scammers to Steal Your Data and a Tip to Protect Yourself: Email campaigns drive many sales for businesses; for us, they help us generate income so we can keep making free YouTube tutorials. Many websites ask you to subscribe or sign up, which is fine. However, some big businesses will get hacked and have their data stolen, e.g., your email address and phone number. So next time you sign up to a big business, do this: When they ask for your first name, put the name of the business first and then your name. This won't protect you from scammers, but when they try to scam you, they may contact you and call you "Coles Alaura," for example. That way, you know exactly which website was compromised, and you can notify them immediately. And you will know their contact attempt it is fake and to not act. Spotting AI Scams: Many scammers steal legitimate businesses' identities and post them online to try to sell their fake products. They also create AI images to disrupt the political or social landscape. Many fake pages are targeted towards senior women to encourage them to comment on posts with AI imagery. This helps scammers find your profile more easily and then reach out. Some random man may reply and say you are beautiful, and you definitely are, but he isn't real. Here is a YouTube video a friend recommended to me; it shows the types of scam images, ranging from artworks people make to celebrity gossip. Warning: there is some swearing in this video. I recommend looking at more AI scam videos on YouTube to see what else is out there and to assess if you get that type of content in your feed. Phone calls, Text Messages and Email Scams: I recieve so many scam text messages and calls every day. My number must have been put on some list as people call me pretending to be the bank and say I will be charged for some expensive purchase. Another scam I always receive is email scams saying Pattern Poole will be sued because of copyright, and there is always a link to a PDF document about why I am being sued. Can you spot how this email is a scam? When I Googled the company, I found that it actually exists, but the email address that sent the email ended in Gmail. That is a prime giveaway that this is a scam. Can you see the big red button to "View Evidence of Copyright Infrigement.pdf"? Yep, if I clicked on that, it would be bye-bye to my data. Protecting Yourself From Email Scams: Some email scams can be easily spotted by poor grammar and spelling or blurry company logos. For trickier emails that look more like the real thing, there are other clues you can look for. Mismatched sender details Look at the email address. Does the domain name (the part of the email address that comes after the @ symbol) match the name in the From field? If you can’t see the email address, tap or click on the sender’s name. An obvious mismatch would be an email that claims to be from Microsoft, but the email address reads microsoftcustomerhelp8@gmail.com. No large legitimate organisation will email you from a free webmail address such as Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook.com. Unfortunately, mismatched details are not always so obvious. Scammers can use technology to disguise their email address to make it look more like a company’s domain name – this is known as spoofing. Look out for misspellings, extra characters, numbers, or words in a domain name that make it look similar but not the same as the official domain. For example, For NAB banking, they could use @nabbank.com.au or @nab.com their offical domain is actually nab.com.au If you’re unsure whether an email address is legitimate, check for other clues in the email or do an online search to see what comes up. Always check the company's domain name. So, for our business, our website is www.patternpoole.com. You can see our domain name after www. which is patternpoole.com Therefore, an email coming from support@patternpoole.com.au would be a scam. Can you tell me why? Protecting Yourself From Text Message Scams Text messages are a common vehicle for scammers. To avoid becoming a victim, consider the following best practices: Don’t Trust Unknown Numbers If you receive a message from an unrecognised number, ignore it. Do not click on links or provide personal information. Blocking the sender is a smart move. Be Cautious with Links Reputable organisations rarely ask you to click links in text messages. If you receive a suspicious message from your bank, contact them directly using their official number to confirm its legitimacy. In Australia, if the bank ever tries to call you, they will notify you via your bank's app with a code. Only the bank can send you messages via their app. If the bank or some company calls you regarding a bill, say you will call them back and call the legitimate number on their website. If you get through to them, ask them if they called you today, as they should have a log on your account. Recommended Action: Don't ever give away private information to a caller who claims to be a bank or some company that you pay for their service. If the matter is urgent, they should email you. Check that the email is sent from a proper source and not a random Gmail account like the photo above. Lastly, another tip for staying safe online is to use a VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection between your device and a remote server operated by the VPN provider. Here’s how it works and how it helps keep you safe online: Encryption : A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it difficult for anyone (including hackers, ISPs, or government entities) to intercept and read your data. This is especially important when using public Wi-Fi networks. Anonymity : By routing your connection through a VPN server, your real IP address is masked. Instead, websites and services see the IP address of the VPN server, which helps protect your identity and location. Bypassing Restrictions : VPNs can help you access content that might be restricted in your region by making it appear as though you're browsing from a different location. Hello, Netflix from another region with access to heaps more content! Secure Data Transmission : VPNs provide a secure tunnel for data, protecting sensitive information such as passwords and financial details from potential threats. Preventing Bandwidth Throttling : Some ISPs limit bandwidth for certain activities, like streaming or gaming. A VPN can help prevent this throttling by masking your activity. Overall, using a VPN enhances your online privacy and security, especially when accessing sensitive information or using unsecured networks. I recommend Surf Shark as that is what I use. It costs money, but I think it is worth it. And one final tip: very strong passwords with lots of numbers and symbols. Keep note of your passwords in a special book in your house. Being online and connecting with people is fabulous, and don't let scammers deter you. Always stay up-to-date with how to keep yourself safe! I hope you found this blog post helpful. Feel free to contact me if you need help or have a question. Our Facebook group is a safe, scam-free place that is diligently moderated by our amazing admins, Marcia and Jacki. So feel free to join, have fun, make friends and stay safe. Ps. make sure to answer the questions when you join so we know you are real. To finish this post, here are some AI images I whipped up in less than 1 minute to expose you to how they look. If you want more posts like this, let me know. Lots of love, Alaura

In part 7 we make a Diamond Star patchwork block! Okay, they’re not exactly diamonds but they kind of look like diamonds and it’s a really pretty block. We also have some fun, trying out glue basting. If you’re new to sewing, the definition of basting is to temporarily hold fabric pieces together and perfectly aligned, before sewing and that’s exactly what we do this week but with glue. We use the Sewline Glue Pen but you could also use Roxanne’s Glue baste or experiment with craft glue that is washable, non-toxic and acid free. If you do decide to try a craft glue, make sure that you test it first, that includes washing your test piece, so that there are no nasty surprises. The advantage of a washable fabric glue is that it is designed to be sewn through and the applicator is normally quite small, this is handy as when we glue baste patchwork pieces, it’s important for the glue to stay within the ¼” seam allowance to avoid stray glue from messing up your iron. The videos are free for everyone to enjoy on YouTube, click on the video below to watch. How to get the course notes if you would like to make the quilt: Pay as you go The course notes are available to purchase on our website here. Become an Island Home Facebook Member More info here Already an Island Home Facebook Member: Head to the private Facebook group, click on GUIDES to download the course notes. Please note: Facebook members do not have access to the Island Home members section on our website because we are phasing it out). Early Bird Members: Click here. (You must be logged in to our website to access the course notes) If you are in the Island Home Facebook group, you can also download the course notes there. We are thrilled with how our mystery quilt is coming together! We hope that you enjoy the video! Monica and Alaura xo

Welcome back to Pattern Poole TV! Oh, do we have a jammed packed quilting schedule for you to join in on this year! And that is the best part, ANYONE CAN JOIN IN ON THE FUN! Island Home is our 2022 mystery quilt as you go six ways sampler quilt. Prepare to be pleasantly surprised as a new section of the mystery quilt is revealed in each lesson. Remove all personal expectations and be thrown into the world of Pattern Poole quilt as you go with Monica Poole, who will guide you through multiple quilting techniques that you can add to your patchwork and quilting repertoire. Sample various methods of quilt as you go; as each lesson, you will build upon the quilt, taking a deep dive into all of Monica's tips and techniques. By the end of this course, you would have constructed and quilted your own work of art from start to finish. This is Island Home episode 1, where Monica will create some easy pinwheel blocks whilst discussing quilting techniques such as how to stitch in the ditch and how to echo quilt. After the pinwheel quilt blocks are made, Monica will demonstrate how to join them using her new quilt as you go joining method that uses sashing. VIEW THE TUTORIAL HERE: To make this quilt, simply purchase the PDF course notes per episode, they are 10 AUD each and there are 12 sets. You can purchase the course notes from episode one here: Early Bird Members, do not click on the link above. If you have already paid and registered for the course as an early bird member, the part 1 course notes are available to download in the Island Home private Facebook group under the GUIDES tab. Or you can log in to the Pattern Poole website and access the course notes via the button below. If you are not on Facebook, and can't log in to the website, you can arrange to have your course notes emailed to you as they become available, please contact us at studio@patternpoole.com If you would like to join in, you will find the requirements list, along with a video explaining the requirements list here: Want to know the key dates? You will find them here: We hope that you enjoy the video! Oh and if you decide to join in on the fun, please share your work on Facebook or Instagram with #islandhome2022 Monica and Alaura xo

In this lesson we combine all the techniques that were covered in the previous tutorials to make a Big Fancy Star block. Accurate piecing with ¼ square triangles, the pin trick to align the seams and quilting techniques. We also further explore the QAYG with no sashing method, to join multiple blocks together with a horizontal seam. This method is perfect for any patchwork quilt that you would like to make QAYG. You can work with separate blocks or join the blocks into rows, columns, or sections before quilting and joining them. To start with, we make 4 quarter star blocks. The 4 blocks are then quilted and joined with the no sashing method. As usual there is always lots to see in the fortnightly tutorial, you can check it out in the link below. It's fun to see our Island Home mystery quilt taking shape! The tutorials are FREE for everyone to enjoy on YouTube, click on the link at the bottom of the page to watch. (If you enjoy our videos, please like and subscribe to Pattern Poole TV, this helps our channel to grow). The 14 page course notes have all the detailed instructions with step by step photos. How to get the course notes if you are making the quilt: Pay as you go The course notes are available to purchase on our website here Island Home Facebook Members: Head to the private Facebook group, click on GUIDES to download the course notes. Please note: Facebook members do not have access to the Island Home members section on our website because we are phasing it out). Early Bird Members: Click here. (You must be logged in to our website to access the course notes) If you are in the Island Home Facebook group, you can also download the course notes there. We hope that you enjoy our latest episode! Monica and Alaura xo

Search Flying Geese on Pinterest or Google, and you will find endless variations of this classic patchwork block. In this tutorial, we explore the no-waste, four-at-a-time method to make the Flying Geese and then make it into a Two-Tone Star Block. Click on the link below to watch the video tutorial. You can watch the tutorial in this video. Here are some other tutorials that explore flying geese blocks. As promised, below is a chart for 7 different-sized Flying Geese, to be made 4 at a time using the no-waste method shown in part 11 of the Island Home Quilt Series. Disclaimer: Please experiment with 1 set before diving in and cutting all your fabric for a complete quilt. Interested in the Island Home course notes? This is how you get them: Pay as you go The course notes are available to purchase on our website here. Become an Island Home Facebook Member More info here Already an Island Home Facebook Member: Head to the private Facebook group, click on GUIDES to download the course notes. Please note: Facebook members do not have access to the Island Home members section on our website because we are phasing it out). Early Bird Members: Click here. (You must be logged in to our website to access the course notes) If you are in the Island Home Facebook group, you can also download the course notes there. We hope that you enjoy our videos, don't forget to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel to help our small business to grow. Have a creative week! Monca and Alaura xo

WOW! I can't beleive that we are at part 12! The final applique block and joining our quilted sections together. Interested in the Island Home course notes? This is how you get them: Pay as you go The course notes are available to purchase on our website here. Become an Island Home Facebook Member More info here Already an Island Home Facebook Member: Head to the private Facebook group and click on GUIDES to download the course notes. Please note: Facebook members do not have access to the Island Home members section on our website because we are phasing it out). Early Bird Members: Click here. (You must be logged in to our website to access the course notes) If you are in the Island Home Facebook group, you can also download the course notes there. Want to make the quilt with the next group? We are running the course again starting in October 2022. Head to our website and sign up for our email newsletter to receive an email with the details on how to join the course. One more bonus video to go! We hope that you enjoy part 12. Monica and Alaura xo

Jacki and Marcia, our amazing Facebook admins, recently asked me: “What is your favourite or most meaningful design, and where did you get inspiration from it?” The answer is definitely The 'I Valentine' Quilt, designed and made in 2023. I designed this quilt after a breakup, and I believe it represents a time in my life when I was finding myself and my style as an artist. It was a period of self-love and healing. During that time, I moved back to my parent's house and planned a trip to Europe for my 31st birthday when the quilt was finished. I worked on the quilt daily with Mum, learning a lot about quilting and even using Mum's sketchy appliqué technique for some of the blocks. I am frequently featured in YouTube videos for the "I Valentine" quilt course and spent much time researching and designing, which was a very peaceful and happy time in my life. This video is one of my favourites. Usually, our videos take a few weeks to map out, but in this series, we just set the cameras to record and would quilt together. You can watch the series here The inspiration for my design came from European Valentine Devotional cards dating from the medieval to the 1800s. One night, I stumbled upon a blog post from the Victoria and Albert Museum on Pinterest, which detailed the beautiful history of Valentine's devotionals that people would create for each other. I was amazed by the dedication, beauty, and precision it took to make them. This inspired me to create a quilt that serves as a devotional to oneself. Without delving too deeply into the political realm, I often feel that women are encouraged to dislike themselves in today's world. Therefore, creating a quilt focused on self-love is my form of therapy. A snapshot from the blog post; you can read it here I have been fascinated by fantasy and medieval aesthetics since I was young. One of my favourite toys when I was little was my 'Star Castle'. It would light up at night, which must have really inspired me. I started illustrating picture books when I was little before I went to school, often while accompanying Mum at the quilting store when she was teaching. I still have these little books with my fairy tale drawings, and I remember my Mum's boss telling me about a modern-day royal family and a prince called Prince Harry. I wasn't interested in Harry; I was more interested in the idea of beautiful castles with unique tapestries and quilts like my Mum's quilts, which showcase stunning artistry that has lasted for a thousand years. Even a year later, I still look at the "I Valentine" quilt as it hangs in Mum's studio and features in our current videos. I feel proud of my work, although I wish I had done some designs differently. However, I believe this is a common feeling among quilters and artists. The quilt will always remind me of the time of healing and self-love with Mum and everyone who participated in the online course with us. This period of designing the quilt influenced my Nature's Creatures series, which is very Art Deco inspired, and now Time to Bloom, which is an amalgamation of all the styles of art I like. A vlog about designing my Natrure's Creatures Applique After the course ended and we finished the quilt, I finally went on my Europe trip and visited all the medieval palaces and castles I had been obsessed with as a child. There, I saw many handmade quilts, and while no one knew who made them or what they meant, they still hung on the walls of these palaces hundreds of years later. They bore little blood spatters from pricked fingers on the needle, a remnant of the maker's soul for all to see, a mystery that still intrigues many historians today. This is the main quilt that took my breath away as it showcases the intricate and important work of master quilters of the Renaissance period. I spotted this quilt while touring the Palaces of Genoa, Italy. This quilt pictured also had an identical twin hanging opposite it. I found them on the second-floor palace dwelling of Gio Francesco, the Doge (Head of State) of the Republic of Genoa and the last king of Corsica. As soon as you step into his dwellings, you are reminded of the prestigious family he is a part of by the two identical quilts hanging opposite each other, symbolising his family's coat of arms.  True works of art, created by anonymous master quilters, designed to showcase a family's power and wealth, and displayed for all to see. During my European trip, I encountered many important and historical textiles and quilts. Although the creators, both men and women, were unknown, their works were displayed in galleries for everyone to admire. These quilts convey the intricate history of quilting in the Medieval and Renaissance periods and illustrate the significant role quilting played in the lives of the European community. In addition to being a practical domestic craft, they were decorative pieces representing cultural identity and meaning. They were influenced by the artworks of the period, and the quilting techniques heavily influenced fashion trends of the time. Appliqué played a crucial role in the creation of Renaissance quilts. It enabled designers to incorporate intricate patterns and shapes into their work, resulting in visually stunning art pieces. Quilts often took years to produce, and a community of master quilt makers was typically involved. The quilting circles provided creators with a sense of community as they spent years together meticulously appliquéing and stitching by hand. Although only the names of the individuals the quilt was made for are remembered, these works hold significant cultural importance as family heirlooms passed down through generations, sewing the creator's essence throughout time. I asked my tour guide who made the quilts, and she replied she wasn't sure but then proceeded to tell the tour about every artist who painted the large paintings in the room and frescos. I forgot all those artists' names; however, gazing upon the quilts, I could feel the makers hidden in the stitches. They said, "I was here and I mattered." Me standing in a courtyard of one of the Palaces in Genoa. If you want to watch the making of the 'I Valentine' Quilt, you can check out our series 'The Quilt-as-you-go Chronicles' on YouTube. If you made this quilt with us, please share some photos below. I also want to go to Europe again next year, so if you have found some beautiful quilts hidden in castles or galleries, please let me know in the comments so I can visit them. Or feel free to comment on your favourite European destinations for me! Thank you so much! Lots of love xx Alaura

Watch the video tutorial: Download the free pattern by clicking on the arrow below. (Please note that this pattern was designed for Spotlight which is an Australian store so the pattern is for A4 paper, it can also be printed on letter size paper by ticking the actual size box, however, some shapes could be slightly cut off. They are very simple shapes so you can easily trace in the missing lines). Enjoy! Monica and Alaura xo

What is a scant 1/4" seam allowance? Why do we need it? How do we achieve it? Patchwork blocks are like puzzles; the pieces need to fit together perfectly, with a ¼” seam. Have you ever sewn a patchwork block together, trying your best to be as accurate as possible, only for the block to turn out too small? You may need to use a scant 1/4" seam when making patchwork blocks and this is why....... Before you begin any patchwork project, sew three 1 ½” strips of fabric together with a ¼” seam allowance, press the seams with the 3-step pressing technique where you set the seam, finger press the seam and then press with the iron. This will ensure that no tiny creases are pressed into the seam. Now measure the centre strip. The centre strip should measure 1” wide, right? Most times, this isn’t the case, it’s a fraction smaller. Why does this happen? The fold over of the seam and the thickness of the thread can all take up a tiny bit of space in the seam as shown in this picture below. (Fabric and thread thickness can really affect the outcome of the seam, a 50 weight thread is recommended for sewing patchwork blocks). How do we put a measurement on scant? Let’s go back to the photo and try and measure it. The pink centre strip looks almost 1/16th of an inch less than 1” wide so you’d have to divide that by 2, to allow for the seam on both sides, so that's 1/32nd of an inch. I googled a length converter to see what that amount is in metric and this is what I found. It’s less than 1 millimetre! That’s tiny, but it’s the small things that count when it comes to accuracy! The photo below shows a regular ¼” seam in black thread and a scant ¼” seam in the red thread, so as you can see, the difference between them is scant so I suppose that’s how the scant ¼” seam got it's name. How to achieve a scant ¼” seam. First of all, work out your regular ¼” seam. To sew a ¼” seam, use a ¼” foot or a ¼” foot with a guide. These feet are normally an additional accessory that are available to purchase. If you don’t have a ¼” foot, move your needle over to the right so that the distance from the edge of the foot to the needle is a ¼”. You can measure this with a tape measure or a ruler. If using a ruler, be extra careful to not accidently hit the foot control and break the needle. Refer to your sewing machine manual to see how to move the needle position. If you have a computerised machine, try moving the needle with the stitch width button while you are set on straight stitch. Make sure that the needle is in the highest position when moving your needle. It will move by a tiny amount each time. Please note: Never move the needle position if you have a straight stitch plate attached. This plate has 1 small hole for the needle to fit when straight stitching with the needle in the centre position. Some sewing machines will have the ¼” needle position as a stitch that you can select in the quilting menu if your machine is a “quilting” machine. This is to use with the standard foot on your machine. If you cannot move your needle position, measure the ¼” from the needle and mark with masking tape or painter’s tape. You can add layers of tape to make a ridge for the fabric to run along while you are sewing. Position the tape just in front of the feed dogs. Once you have your ¼” seam worked out, sew three 1 ½” strips together as shown in the photo and press the seams towards the centre strip. Measure the centre strip and if it’s less than 1” wide, then it’s time to adjust your seam. It’s a good idea to try pressing the seams out, towards the edge and measuring again. How to adjust the regular ¼’ seam to a scant ¼” seam Computerised machine with a standard foot: Measure and move the needle position slightly to the right. Standard foot or ¼” foot with the needle in the centre position: Measure and mark the scant ¼” seam with tape. This is what I do: The hole on my Brother ¼” foot is big enough for me to move my needle position over to the right by 1 tiny space without the needle hitting the foot. I hope that this blog post has shed some light on the perplexing scant ¼” seam. If you haven’t already, check out our YouTube tutorial for some extra tips for accurate piecing. Episode 2 part 2 will premiere on our YouTube channel, Pattern Poole TV , 12 pm, April 6, AEST. Part 3 will be the following week as scheduled. Wishing you a creative weekend! Monica xo Check out our PDF pattern range here.

The I, Valentine quilt is complete! I love that feeling of accomplishment, we did it! Another quilt course and YouTube video series. All the planning, designing, sewing, filming, editing, pattern writing and meeting the weekly deadlines has come to fruition. I still have to pinch myself that from my home on the Central Coast of NSW, Australia, my daughter Alaura and I create online quilt courses that are enjoyed by people from all around the world. Thank you so much to everyone that was part of the course, we loved sharing the journey with you and can’t wait to see and share photos of your finished quilts! For those that don’t know, the video series is called the Quilt As You Go Chronicles, it documents and teaches the making of the I, Valentine quilt. It’s free for everyone to watch and learn on our YouTube Channel, Pattern Poole TV and if you want to make the quilt, the course notes that contain the detailed step by step photo instructions and applique patterns are available to purchase on our website. You can purchase the complete 10-part set here or 1 at a time here. They're PDF so you receive them instantly. The videos will always be available to watch on YouTube so you can work at your own pace and email us anytime if you have questions. Click below to watch the series. This is how I finished my quilt and some tips for a neat machine sewn binding.(For those that avoid hand sewing like me). After I attached the borders, I marked the leaf shape pattern over the seam. Quilting over the seam is quite challenging with a walking foot but if you take your time, it looks great and is so worth it! I decided to try free motion quilting the leaf shape. To do this, I manoeuvred down one side of the leaf shape, crossed the seam and stitched the opposite side of the following leaf. I stopped, repositioned my hands before continuing in the same way. When I reached the bottom, I removed the quilt from the machine and started at the top again to sew the opposite side of the leaves. My quilting is not perfect and there are a few wobbles here and there but as I’ve said before, there is so much to look at in this quilt that no one will notice a wobble here and there. Okay…. I’ve gone to the dark side and have been using a Pilot Frixion iron off pen to mark my quilting. There’s a lot of controversy about using these pens on Fabric, so if you decide to use them, do so at your own risk as some people have had bad experiences with them, so always test first. I finished the quilt with a machine sewn binding in the same way as our Island home quilt. Click on the image below to watch the video, the binding starts at 15.34 minutes. I cut (7) 3” strips across the fabric then joined and pressed the strip in half lengthwise in the usual way. The binding is sewn onto the front of the quilt with a 3/8” seam allowance. Before folding it over to the back of the quilt, I mark a line that is ½” away from the quilt edge. The binding is then folded over to meet the marked line, which means that it will cover the stitching line by 1/8”. I normally use my Sewline Glue pen to glue the binding in place but thought I would try Elmer’s School glue, I’ve heard a lot of quilters in the US talk about this glue and I was surprised to find it in Spotlight (Large Australian fabric and sewing store for those that don’t know). It was okay, a bit messy but it did the job, I would recommend ironing it to speed up the drying as sewing through wet glue would be a big no no for your machine. I also applied the glue to the seam allowance, not over the stitching line to avoid sewing over the glue. I then turned the binding to the front and pinned in the ditch. Turned to the back again to make sure that the pins have caught in the edge of the binding. I normally use my open toe foot to stitch in the ditch of the binding seam on the front of the quilt but this time I tried using my walking foot with the stitch in the ditch attachment. I had to move the needle 2 spaces to the left but it worked well, sewing the corners was a bit tricky because it was hard to see at the corners but overall I was happy. Here’s a closeup of my binding from the front. Here’s a closeup of the back. Finally, I couldn’t help myself and I decided to add some free motion quilted scallops around the outer edge of the quilt. To be honest, I started then regretted it but I’d gone too far and unpicking free motion stitching can be a chore, so I kept going. When I’m not enjoying something, I stop and work out a process that will make it manageable, so I rolled up the quilt and held it over my shoulder so that it wasn’t dragging on the table and found that it was much easier. And that’s it, finished! Here’s what it looks like from the back (I know that you all love to see the back he he). The stunning applique shapes are designed by Alaura, Alaura loves to push our design possibilities, I was originally going to blanket stitch the applique by machine, but she encouraged me to add sketchy applique as one of the optional applique techniques. Sketchy applique was my thing many years ago but to be honest, I was quite rusty and I’d lost my confidence with the technique, mainly because when being filmed I was trying to sew perfectly but once I let go of perfection and accepted that the technique is free and sketchy I improved and my movement became much smoother, the more you do, the better you get and you’ve got to start somewhere right? It's now my favourite technique again and I was so surprised to see how many took on the challenge, including absolute beginners! Practice doesn’t make perfect; practice helps you to improve and do your best. To all those that watch, like, comment and subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Facebook or Instagram, purchase our PDF patterns and join our courses, from the bottom of our hearts we appreciate and thank you all for supporting our small Mother and Daughter business. Monica and Alaura Poole xo

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In part 5 of Time to Bloom, we make a Carpenter’s Star block using an 8 at a time half-square triangle template. Half square triangles or HSTs as their also known are basically a square with 2 triangles on opposite diagonal sides. The advantage of a paper template is that it’s super accurate and will make perfect half-square triangles, the paper stabilises the fabric and prevents stretching when sewing on the bias grain and you’re not left with individual triangles to trim. This is the good news because the carpenters star is made up of 48 half-square triangles. You can make your own 8 at a time HST template in any size, this is how you do it. Start with the finished size half square triangle that you would like and add 7/8”. So for a 2” finished HST, you would start with a 2 7/8” square. Now put four 2 7/8” squares together with 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. Next mark a diagonal line from corner to corner.   And it’s a simple as that. If you’re tech savvy, you could draw this up on your computer and print it out onto A4 or letter size paper or you could mark it up by hand onto graph paper. This is how it works: Pin the template on top of 2 squares of fabric that are facing right sides together. Stitch a scant ¼” away from both sides of the diagonal line. Trim the outside of the square on the line. Cut in quarters.   Cut both ways on the diagonal.   Press to the dark side.   Remove the paper and you have 8 perfect half square triangles.   So that’s the basics, you can watch the video here t o get extra tips.   Happy quilting! Monica and Alaura   Interested in joining our 2024 online mystery quilt as you go course? You can start anytime. Find out more about it here

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1. TO GET STARTED, CREATE A FOLDER ON YOUR DEVICE. Before downloading a PDF pattern, create a folder on your device. Give the folder a name, such as the name of the pattern.   2. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A PDF READER ON YOUR DEVICE. You need a PDF reader on your device to open a PDF document. Most smartphones, tablets and iPads come with a PDF reader. However, you may need to download and install a PDF reader on your laptop or desktop computer. We recommend Adobe Acrobat Reader software. It’s the free trusted global standard for viewing and printing PDF documents. Here is a link to where you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free: https://get.adobe.com/reader/   3. DO NOT PRINT DIRECTLY FROM THE DOWNLOAD SCREEN. The PDF document will appear on the screen when you first click on the download link. Do not print directly from this screen as the printing options are limited. The screen will look something like this: 4. Instead, click the download arrow (top right corner circled in red in the above photo), to download the PDF document to the folder you created on your device. Now close this screen and go to the folder to open the pattern. Next, click MENU, then PRINT. This will open a print dialog box with more options. Below are the options to choose when using Adobe Acrobat Reader.   5. CHECK THAT THE NAME OF YOUR PRINTER IS IN THE BLUE BOX. If not, use the drop-down arrow to locate your printer. 6. CLICK ON PRINT TO ACTUAL SIZE (As shown in the above photo circled in red).   7. CHECK THAT YOU ARE PRINTING ON THE CORRECT SIZE PAPER. Click on PAGE SETUP If you are in the US, it should show LETTER 8.5” X 11” For the rest of the world, it should be A4 If not, click the dropdown arrow to set the paper to the correct size. 8. PRINT 1 PAGE TO MEASURE THE TEST BOX Use the arrow below the page display to move through the pages to find one with a 1” test box. Print this page only and measure the test box to ensure that it measures 1” square. If it does, then go ahead and print the complete document.   WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TEST BOX DOES NOT MEASURE 1” SQUARE   9. TRY INCREASING OR DECREASING THE SIZE WITH CUSTOM SCALE. 10. TRY A DIFFERENT DEVICE Our customers possess many different devices from iPads, smartphones, laptops and desktop computers. The feedback we have received is, if they couldn’t print from one device, they changed to another and had success. If you have any tips that you would like to add, please leave them in the comments. Happy quilting! Monica and Alaura xo

Okay, so you've signed up and paid for the course. You're really excited to get started and not sure how things work. Trust me, it's super simple and fun, once you know how. This year the course is run in a special course members only section on our website. It's basically a blog post that only course members can see when logged in. From this private blog, you can watch the YouTube tutorials, download the course notes, share photos of your work and ask questions. Oh, and did we mention that the YouTube videos are ad free when you watch them from the private blog? Bonus! Follow these steps to get to the course members only section. Step 1 Head to the Pattern Poole Website : www.patternpoole.com Step 2 Click on log in. Step 3 Click on log in with email. Step 4 Add the email and password that you used when you signed up for the course. Step 5 You will now see that you are logged in. Step 6 When you click the red arrow, a drop down menu will appear. You'll find your course purchase under My subscriptions. Step 7 Click on Member Portal. Step 8 This will take you to the Time to Bloom course home page. Click on the month that you are up to. The blog post contains the videos and the course notes for you to download. There will be a new blog post each month and you can come back to the blog posts anytime you like. Below is what the start of the month 1 blog post looks like: Troubleshooting If you click on month 1 and get WANT TO READ MORE. SUBSCRIBE. Check that you are logged in at the top right corner and click the refresh button in the top left corner. (The curly arrow button). (Close up of the refresh button) Still not working? Make sure that you logged in with the email and password that you used to signup and pay for the course. Some people have more than 1 account on our website that uses a different email and password. If you still can't login, send us an email at studio@patternpoole.com (We'll get back to you as soon as we can but if we're on opposite sides of the world, you may have to wait until it's our daytime). Monthly email We'll send an email on the first Wednesday of every month to remind you that the new course members blog post is available. Please mark Pattern Poole as not spam so the email doesn't land in your junk folder. Due to extra security filters from some email providers, you may not receive our email but don't stress, it's just a reminder as the course notes and videos will be on our website waiting for you. You can download the course calendar from this blog post here. Just scroll down until you find it. We thank you for joining us this year and we truly hope that you enjoy the course! Monica and Alaura xo

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you. Please login with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance.

In the joyous realm of quilting, where creativity knows no bounds and fabric becomes a canvas for our dreams, there exist certain forces that conspire against even the most seasoned quilters. As female quilters navigating the maze of daily life, we often find ourselves tangled in a patchwork of responsibilities. And let me tell you, my recent applique mishap served as a stark reminder that sometimes, life just loves to throw a quilt-wrecking curveball. So there I was, armed with my colourful fabrics and an ambitious vision for my month three applique block, something I designed long ago. The pattern I was hoping would be a showstopper, with intricate applique pieces and a little snail adding that extra touch of whimsy. As I meticulously cut out my shapes and arranged them just so, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at the thought of the final result. But alas, the universe had other plans for my quilting escapade. Just as I was about to secure my applique pieces in place, life decided to make its grand entrance. The doorbell rang, the phone buzzed incessantly, and the dogs decided it was the perfect time to embark on a muddy yarn-chasing adventure. Before I knew it, my applique lay forgotten amidst the chaos of daily life. As I finally managed to reclaim my quilting time from the clutches of domestic pandemonium, I faced a new challenge - my applique wasn't turning out how I had envisioned. The shapes were wonky, the colours didn't work, and my once-majestic design now resembled a quirky abstract puddle of blue. For some reason, it just didn't look right; as I write this, I realise I didn't even take a photo of my first attempt, but I have my design drawing photo, and this is the colour layout I went with. Frustration threatened to take over, as creating a monotone quilt has been challenging for me—one I suggested and gladly took on. However, I usually adorn my appliques in a myriad of colours, and I use different contrasting colours to define aspects of my designs. I went to show Mum, and she agreed it wasn't my best work. The dark flowers were gaudy, taking over the block and the little snail was lost in a sea of blue. But then we remembered the power of second opinions. Calling upon my fellow artistic family members for advice and support, I shared my applique and colour woes. I invited them to witness the magnificent "disaster" that my applique had become. I was ready to scrap the entire design and do month 4's block instead, which would throw the entire quilt out of whack. To my surprise, instead of judgment, I was met with laughter, empathy, and a chorus of "Just change the flowers around; it is fine". So that is what we did, which completely changed the entire design. Through the lens of camaraderie, I began to see my applique blunder in a new light. What I initially deemed a catastrophe transformed into a journey filled with laughter, learning, and the sweet reminder that perfection is overrated in the whimsical world of quilting. We are our own harshest critics; the pieces I thought I had poorly cut due to cold, shaky hands went unnoticed by my family. The monotone colours that I had stared at for too long were met with the bright eyes of my family, who gazed upon it for the first time. Once we changed the flowers and a few details, the design blossomed to life. A few friends said they don't like snails, and others said they love them. I personally love them, but I know some of you might not. So, for those who are a part of the course and don't, I encourage you to add another little creature of your liking. Some course members have been switching up the designs and adding their own details. I love seeing this, and I would like to see more. This whole experience reminded me of fellow course members posting stunning work that they aren't happy with, coupled with comments like it isn't perfect, I am not satisfied with it, etc. When we view your work, we see something extraordinary! You showed up for yourself amidst the chaos of your life while juggling the many dutiful tasks of womanhood. And we love doing these tasks, (most days), but it can take away from our quilting time. This month was chaotic in our family life and my personal life. I've had so many weddings, hen's nights, a friend giving birth, another pregnant, a partner starting a new course, my best friend's 30th, a renovating laundry room with no washing machine and many trips to the laundromat, constant rain, and moving back home with a cost-of-living crisis, my dad's birthday, my dog injuring his leg and costing me 5k for surgery. Then there is my long COVID chronic fatigue.... oh the list goes on and I don't even have kids! I guess Pattern Poole is my baby. But I am sure we all have lists like this, filled with tasks for our loved ones. I mean, that is our superpower as women. Our love for others is boundless, sometimes, though, maybe not for ourselves. We show up perfectly and are devoted to as many people as we can, and as quilters, we also want to make everyone a handmade gift!!! But Time to Bloom is all about taking our time to bloom. Every time you sit at your machine, it is an act of self-love. From beginner to advanced quilters, we all judge our own work harshly. But quilting is the one place we leave perfectionism at the door because showing up to sew, even just a seam, is your special time. Even if you aren't doing Time to Bloom, this applies to you. In the grand tapestry of quilting, where stitches weave tales of creativity and resilience, let us celebrate the mishaps, the mayhem, and the moments of sheer quilting joy. For in the end, it's not about the perfect applique or flawless seams - it's about the love, laughter, and community that come together to create something truly magical. This community we have all created together is one that is special, and it belongs to just us: a reprieve from our busy lives, a moment of peace, self-love and friendship. So go forth, fellow quilters, and stitch your stories with pride. As for me, I'll be over here untangling my thread, embracing the chaos, and eagerly anticipating the next chapter of Time to Bloom. Lots of love, Alaura Month Three Time to Bloom Patchwork Block So, in the first month, we mastered a patchwork block with squares; in the second month, we did rectangles, and now it is time to learn triangles. It is a lot easier than you think with the simple sew-and-flip technique. This time, we will create a beautiful tulip-style patchwork block, and I will show you how easy it is to get the perfect triangle. Without further ado, here is our latest block! And here are our blocks so far; what do you think? Check out the video here:

In the world of quilting, there's a subtle yet powerful secret that can completely change the look and feel of the same quilt block - colour! The way colours are arranged and combined within a quilt block can create strikingly different visual effects, taking a design from traditional to modern or from calm to vibrant. Let's dive into the colourful world of quilting and explore how the choice of colours can work magic on the same quilt block. Colour Magic: Transforming the Time to Bloom Blocks With each of our mystery courses, Mum and I like to explore different colour schemes to challenge ourselves and break outside our usual choices. I tend to gravitate towards using black backgrounds, and Mum prefers a more fresh look using white backgrounds, so this year, we settled on grey. This year, we wanted to make a monochromatic quilt, which is challenging as I use colour to define specific shapes and features in my applique designs. However, it is coming together nicely so far and seeing all the different colour schemes our course members use is very inspiring! With all the unique colour selections, our course members have transformed our classic blue blocks into bold and modern masterpieces or soft and soothing creations. Each member has played with hues, saturations, and contrasts, breathing new life into our designs and showcasing the incredible impact of colour. Let's take a look at some of the blocks from Month 2 Our Time to Bloomers have made excellent colour choices, some using vibrant tones with patterned fabrics and others choosing a monochromatic scheme. You can see each block tells its own individual story. Just like in a painting or a photograph, the colours used in quilting tell a story and evoke emotions. A quilt block in calming blues and greens may whisper serenity and relaxation, while one in fiery reds and oranges shouts energy and passion. Quilters are not just stitchers; they are storytellers who use colour as their language to convey mood, theme, and emotion within their creations. Some tips for picking a colour scheme for your next quilt: 1. Ask yourself what mood you want to evoke with your quilt. When creating a quilt, the choice of colours can play a significant role in evoking a particular mood. For example, using blue hues can create a calming and serene atmosphere, while warm tones like red can infuse a vibrant and fiery energy into the quilt. When selecting colours for a quilt, it's important to consider the mood you wish to convey. Starting with the intended mood and then choosing colours that align with that feeling can help alleviate the stress of deciding on a favourite fabric and matching colours to that fabric, which is sometimes daunting. By building upon the mood you want to bring forth, you can create a beautiful and impactful quilt that resonates with both the creator and the viewer. 2. Once you have your mood, think about the power of contrast. One of the key elements in colour theory is contrast, and in quilting, this principle is put to stunning use. By pairing vibrant colours with neutrals or combining complementary shades, quilt blocks can be elevated from ordinary to extraordinary. The interplay of light and dark, warm and cool tones adds depth and dynamism to the design, capturing the eye and imagination of the beholder. We always say to choose a variety of light, medium and dark fabrics to create balance. Here is an example of creating two different moods starting with the colour red: Can you see how the other colours help create the mood? On the right, we have a vibrant colour scheme, and on the left, we have a calming one. Both colour palettes start with red and use contrasting colours; however, the first one draws on warm, medium and light colours such as orange and yellow and uses vibrant blue hues as the contrast. The second uses pink to keep the red soft and adds two contrasting colours, green and soft blue. Make your own Colour Palette in Paint: So, if you are now feeling inspired, you can make your own colour palette in microsoft paint. Watch the video below to see how I did it in paint. Conclusion: Colour Your World In the vibrant tapestry of quilting, colour is the brush that paints breathtaking landscapes and tells captivating stories. So, next time you pick up your quilting project, don't just stitch - colour! Let your imagination run wild, play with hues and tones, and watch as your quilt blocks come to life in a symphony of colours. Remember, in the world of quilting, the right colour choice can transform a simple block into a masterpiece! Join the colourful revolution in quilting and discover the transformative power of colours in your quilt blocks. From subtle shifts to dramatic contrasts, let colour be your guide as you embark on a creative journey through the world of quilting. Unleash your inner artist, grab your fabric palette, and let the rainbow threads weave their magic in your next quilt. If you are interested in joining our worldwide community to make the Time to Bloom quilt, we have now added a new Time to Bloom subscription on our website. As the course is now in month 2, we have added a 10-month payment plan with a $22 joining fee for months 1 and 2. On signup you will pay $22 plus 1 month in advance for block 3. In the following months you will be automatically charged $11 per month for the the remaining 9 months of the course. There is also the option to pay the full amount of $132 upfront. On signup, you will have instant access to the course section on our website where you can download the course notes and watch the YouTube videos ad free. Sign up below and join in on the fun of Time to Bloom, Pattern Poole 2024 online mystery quilt course. Wishing you all a wonderful and creative week, Alaura

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you! Please login with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance. Welcome to Time to Bloom month 2! We are thrilled to present the latest instalment, where we will be creating a 1/4 log cabin block. In the previous month, we worked on making a popular quilt block called the nine-patch block, which has many variations and is a great addition to your patchwork and quilting skills. We also focused on perfecting your 1/4" seam allowance, an essential skill for this course, and introduced the techniques that will be further developed in this project. Building on the skills from last month, this 1/4 log cabin block will help you work with rectangles and learn how to sew using a factory-style method and chain piecing. Our course has a progressive structure, where each month's project builds upon the skills learned in the previous month. This approach ensures a steady and comprehensive development of your quilting skills. Last month's applique block was a simple flower design. We layered the applique shapes, used quilting techniques such as stitching in the ditch and echo quilting, and added details of the dandelion stars. This month, we are increasing the complexity of the applique block with a mosaic-style flower and little bee detail. With its visually appealing details, this design offers an exciting opportunity to work with numerous mosaic pieces. I'm confident you'll handle it with ease.

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you! Please login with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad free. (Yay!). (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance. Welcome to the applique video for the Time to Bloom course. There's only 1 applique video because all the applique blocks for this course are made in the same way. In this video, we show how to apply the applique shapes onto the background fabric with fusible web. We then show how to stitch around the shapes with zigzag, a blanket stitch and sketchy applique. We also show how to quilt the block.

In this video, we show how to apply applique shapes onto background fabric with fusible web. We then show how to stitch around the shapes with zigzag, a blanket stitch and sketchy applique. We also show how to quilt an applique block. Click on the picture below to watch the YouTube video. Please note: If you're a Time to Bloom course member, click here: https://www.patternpoole.com/time-to-bloom Then login to watch the YouTube video ad free. (You may need to refresh the page). Although this video shows a block from our 2024 online mystery quilt course, called Time To Bloom , the techniques can be used for any quilt as you go applique pattern or quilt. We have lots of applique patterns on our website, you can check them out here. MORE ABOUT THE SKETCHY APPLIQUE TECHNIQUE: With this technique you are appliqueing and quilting at the same time, it’s a very free and artistic way to applique. Think of the needle as a pencil, drawing just inside the edge of the shapes 3 or 4 times then sketching in the inner details. Slight fraying around the edge of the applique shapes is a characteristic of this technique.  However, the fusible web and the multiple rows of stitching keep the shapes securely in place. Once the applique shapes are fused onto the background fabric with fusible web, sandwich the top together with the batting and backing. I recommend holding the layers together with basting spay or glue dab basting as shown in the video. Also, safety pin the corners, just to be on the safe side.   HOW TO SET YOUR MACHINE UP:   TOP THREAD:  There are many thread brands. Choose a cotton or polyester to match or contrast with your applique fabrics. I find that a 50 weight works best for sketchy applique. You can use a colour that stands out or a colour that blends with the fabrics.   BOBBIN: I recommend using the same as the top thread. This will mean less tension problems with balancing the top and bobbin tension. This will also create an outline feature of the applique design on the back of the quilt. The photo below shows the back of the I ' Valentine quilt, where we used the same thread on the top and bobbin. Foot: Free motion foot, preferably with an open front.   Needle: Size 80/12 top stitch needle.   Tension: Approximately 4.0   Feed dogs: Lowered   Stitch length: 2.5 (Normal setting) (When the feed dogs are lowered, you control the stitch length by the speed of your machine and movement of your hands). If you’re considering using the sketchy applique technique, then I highly recommend watching this video first. It takes you through the steps at a much slower pace and it also has lots of great tips and advice that you don’t want to miss. Prepare a practice piece with some scrap fabric and batting before you start stitching on your Time to Bloom block. Now that your machine is set up, you are now in control of moving the fabric. Sketchy appliqué is best sewn in small sections, that fit inside a frame that is made by your hands as shown in the photo below. This is the safest way to keep your fingers away from the machine needle. Start by bringing the bobbin thread to the top. This is done to eliminate the bobbin thread being caught in the sewing on the back of your work. Secure with a couple of stitches sewn close together, then snip away the excess threads. The general idea is to stitch just inside the edge of each applique shape 3 or 4 times. Try to aim for the first row to be 1/8” in from the edge of the shape. The following rows can be inside or outside the first, don’t try to sew them all on top of each other. It doesn’t even matter if you sew outside the shape slightly. There is no perfection with sketchy appliqué, and everyone will form their own style. Hold the fabric taught without pressing down, as pressing down will prevent you from moving the fabric freely. The rubber grips on the quilter’s gloves will assist in gliding the fabric around.   Your stitch length should look like a normal length of 2.5 as it does with normal straight stitch sewing. Your speed does not have to be incredibly fast, it’s all about finding the balance between the movement of your hands and the speed of the machine. If you have a speed regulator on your machine you can set it to a speed that you are comfortable with and that way you only need to concentrate on your hands, also have your needle down function on so that you don’t lose your spot when you stop and start. Sew the stem in small sections with a forwards, backwards and forwards motion. IMPORTANT POINTS: Always remember to keep your fingers clear of the needle.  Start in the centre of the design and work out towards the outer edges of the block.  Remember to keep 2” around the edge of the block free of quilting.   When the sketchy applique is complete, echo quilt around the outer edge of the design and fill in with the dandelions as shown in the video. (The dandelions can also be sewn with your free motion foot). Below is a photo of our Part 1 Time to Bloom applique block. This year we have chosen to zigzag around the edge of our applique shapes.   We hope you enjoyed this video. If you haven't signed up for this year's course, Time to Bloom, you can signup at any time here. Happy quilting!   Monica and Alaura.

Each part of Time to Bloom is released on the first Wednesday of the month. We've created a course calendar for you to print and keep handy, so you'll always know when the next part is due. (Part 2 is due on June 5). Click on the arrow below to download the calendar. The video and course notes are released on a Wednesday at 12 pm, Sydney Australia time. (Australian Eastern Standard Time). Click on the button below to convert the time to your part of the world. You'll receive an email from us when each new part is available, or you can simply login to the course section on the Pattern Poole website to watch the video and download the course notes. Please email us at studio@patternpoole.com if you have anymore questions, or you'll find lots more interesting information about the quilt and course in the Time to Bloom FAQs section on our website. We hope that you have enjoyed part 1 and we can't wait to share the rest of the quilt with you each month! Happy quilting! Monica and Alaura xxoo

Dear Time to Bloom course member, this blog post is exclusive to you! Please login with your email and password, then hit the refresh button to download the course notes, read the blog post and watch the YouTube video ad free. (Yay!) (Do not click subscribe now). Email us at studio@patternpoole.com  if you need assistance.

A Time to Bloom. Theme: Patchwork blocks set amongst floral applique blocks. Video tutorials and PDF patterns are released on the first Wednesday of the month. Start date: May 1, 2024. Cost: $11 per month for 12 months. (Total: $132 Australian dollars). Option to pay upfront or pay by the month. Registration opens on April 17, 2024. 2 weeks before the course starts. (Course does not include fabric).   After tossing around many ideas, we have finally decided on a colour theme for this year’s mystery quilt. Our initial plan was a scrap quilt with a soft red background. However, this could not be found, so we changed our mind and decided to go a colour run with reds to pink. You can still make your quilt a scrap quilt if you like. It's always so much fun to see the different versions of the one quilt! (Each block starts at 18” square and is trimmed to 16 ¾” after quilting. This makes it perfect for fat quarters to be used as backing squares and background squares for the applique blocks).   The plan is to use a solid cream background fabric with a monochromatic colour scheme of red for the patchwork and applique blocks. We thought this would be a fun idea! Choose your favourite colour, then choose 5 fabrics ranging from a pastel tint to a deep shade. The patchwork blocks will look something like this, set amongst Alaura's dancing flower applique blocks. We’re going shopping tomorrow to find our collection of red hues. We’re thinking batiks but small prints would also work well. We’ll let you know what we choose before the end of the week. For those who are keen to start shopping, you’ll find the requirements list here: EDIT: Well, we went fabric shopping and couldn't find a selection of red to pink that we liked, so we changed our minds again and are going with a combination of blues in Moda Grunge. We've updated the first page of the requirements list with the grunge colour numbers if you would like to source the same fabrics as us. It will look something like this: What's your favourite colour? Let us know in the comments. I can imagine quilts made in shades of green, purple or blue like my shades of indigo quilt as shown below. To recap; the 2024 Mystery quilt will have something for everyone! This year we have two blocks for the price of one. A patchwork block and a free floral applique block designed by Alaura, plus, one bonus patchwork block to make a total of 25 blocks. This will give you the option to make all blocks into a large quilt or make 1 block of your choice per month to make a quilt with 12 blocks. For example, you may want to make only the applique blocks or only the patchwork blocks. The floral blocks will be fusible applique and you’ll have your choice to blanket stitch, zig zag or sketchy applique them. The patchwork blocks are all about learning different techniques, we’ll start easy to give you the confidence to build up to foundation piecing, curved piecing and maybe a Y seam. Each block will be quilted as you go and joined together with the cover strip method on the back of the quilt. We'll be back soon to share our exciting day of fabric shopping. Have a creative week! Monica and Alaura

Throughout the pages of the Quilt-As-You-Go Companion are photos of quilts I have made over the years. The patterns for these quilts are not in the book. I included them to inspire and help you imagine what is possible with quilt-as-you-go quilt making. The following quilts have PDF patterns, you’ll find them on our website here. Fruit Salad, 2007. Size 72” (183 cm) square. Stitch and flip blocks are set on point and joined with the cover strip method on the front. Finished with the 1” wide machine sewn binding. Back view: Georgina Rose, 2015. Size: 60” x 84” (152 cm x 213 cm) Horizontal patchwork and the applique sections joined together with the 1 to 3 method. Humming Bird, 2016. Size: 61” (155 cm) square. A repetitive stitch and flip block with a layout that creates an overall crisscross pattern. Constructed with the cover strips on the front and finished with the 1” wide machine sewn binding. Back view Love Birds, 2007. Size: 45” x 65” (115 x 165 cm). Two long vertical sections are quilted first with wavy lines before the Vines, roses, and birds are fused in place and sketchy appliqued. The two sections are joined together with the 1 to 1 no sashing method. To complete the design, an additional vine was appliqued over the join. Kaleidoscope, 2007. Size: 65” (165 cm) square. Applique blocks joined together with the 1 to 1 no sashing method and finished with FMQ stippling over the joins. The Strumb Quilt, 2022. Size 36” (92 cm) square. Scraps, strings and crumbs create this colourful quilt. The blocks are joined together with the cover strips on the back. The quilt is finished with the ½” front - 1” back machine sewn binding. Back view Peacock’s Garden 2009. Size: 72” (187 cm) square. Patchwork and applique blocks joined together with the 1 to 1 no-sashing method. Back view Paradisio, 2010. Size: 65” (165 cm) square. Dresden plate and big stars blocks are straight-line quilted and joined together with the cover strip method on the front.   The following quilts started as online mystery quilt courses. Now that the mystery has been revealed, they are still available to make. The YouTube videos are free to watch on our YouTube channel and the patterns are available to purchase on our website. See more information about the courses here:   Island Home, 2022. Size: 56 ½” x 61 ½” (143 cm x 154 cm). Applique designed by Alaura Poole. This is our quilt-as-you-go six ways, online masterclass.   Twilight Dreaming, 2020. Size: 63” (160 cm) square. Applique designed by Alaura Poole. Fusible applique stitched by machine with a small zigzag. Blocks and borders are joined together with the cover strip method.   I, Valentine, 2023. Quilt size: 60” (152 cm) square. Applique designed by Alaura Poole. This quilt was our 2023 online quilt course. Back view Fi Fi Flamingo Fi Fi Flamingo is an applique pattern that has been featured in our YouTube videos three times. The PDF applique-only pattern is available here. This video will show you how to quilt her. This video will show you how to add easy borders. This video will show you how to add a quilt-as-you-go mitred border. The following quilts are from my pattern archives and have not been converted into PDF patterns as yet. Leave a comment if there is a pattern that you would like to see converted to a PDF and added to our website.   Blossom, 2007. 84” x 86” (213 cm x 217 cm) Applique sampler quilt. Blocks and borders joined together with the 1 to 1 no-sashing method. Finished with a scalloped edge.  Back view Precious Pieces sampler quilt. 2004. Size: 61 x 79” (155 cm x 200 cm) Blocks joined with the 1 to 1 no-sashing method. Finished with a scalloped edge. Back view Gidget, 2005. Size 82” (208 cm) square. Medallion-style quilt. Techniques include a 3D applique centre block and crazy patchwork. Constructed with the cover strip method on the front of the quilt.   The Happiness Quilt, 2014. Size 72” (183 cm) square. Patchwork and applique blocks are joined together with the 1 to 1 no-sashing method and framed with a colourful easy quilt-as-you-go border.   Shades of Indigo, 2001. Quilt size: 94” (240 cm) square. The main body of this quilt is joined with the 1 to 1 no-sashing method. The borders are joined onto the quilt with the no-sashing combo method. I became so busy with my business that I never had the time to make this quilt into a pattern.  Hope that you enjoyed my gallery of quilt-as-you-go quilts! Happy quilting, Monica

This binding looks like a regular quilt binding on the front, but it has 4 differences. It’s cut wider, it’s sewn with a 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance, it folds over to the back, past the stitching line to a width of 1” (2.5 cm) and is machine sewn down on the front of the quilt, making a quilting line that is sewn slightly less than ½” (1.2 cm) away from the quilt edge. This binding ties in perfectly with quilt as you go quilts that are made with the cover strips on the back but you could also use it on any other project where the finish of this binding suits the look of the quilt design. Please note: Instructions are given in imperial measurements to be in accordance with patchwork and quilting equipment. Cutting out: For this method the binding strips are cut 3 ¾” wide. The quilt that is being bound is the Pattern Poole String quilt, it's a free pattern and video, you can check it out here. For this quilt cut (7) 3 3/4" wide WOF strips. Instructions Join the binding strips, right sides together, end to end with a 45-degree seam. To do this, lay 1 strip in a horizontal direction on your work surface with the right side facing up, place another strip on top in a vertical direction with the right side facing down, extending the edge of each strip past each other by approximately ½”. Draw a diagonal line from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. Stitch on the marked line. Trim to a ¼” seam allowance then press the full length of the strip in half lengthwise with the wrong sides facing. Cut one end of the binding straight, this end will be called end A. The finishing end of the binding we are going to call end B. Before you sew the binding onto the quilt, check that all edges are level and trim if necessary. Once all your edges are straight, mark a line on the wrong side of the quilt that is 1” away from the edge, around all 4 sides of the quilt using a fabric marker. Set your machine up with a thread that matches the binding on the top and in the bobbin, the standard foot and a straight stitch with a length of 3. The binding is sewn onto the front of the quilt, start the binding about 2/3 of the way down one side edge. Take end A of the binding and position the raw edges of the binding against the raw edge of the quilt. Measure 10” from end A and mark with a pin, start sewing from the pin with a 3/8” seam allowance, this will leave a 10” section of unattached binding. Smooth the binding out along the edge of the quilt and hold it taught as you sew. Stop sewing 3/8” away from the corner, secure with 2 or 3 reverse stitches, cut the thread and remove the quilt from the machine. To mitre the corner, fold the binding up, making a 45-degree fold from the corner of the quilt. Next, fold the binding down so that the top folded edge is level with the horizontal edge of the quilt. Start sewing from the top edge, there is no need for a reverse stitch. Continue sewing the binding around the edge of the quilt in this way. Stop sewing the binding 10” away from end A and take your work out from the machine. This will leave you with a gap of approximately 20” and 2 long tails of binding so that you can easily join the binding with a 45 degree seam, the tails and spacing will make this step easy. Smooth both loose ends of the binding along the quilt edge, making them taught. Cut across end B so that it overlaps end A by 3 ¾”. Open out end A so that the wrong side is facing up and measure 3 ¾” along the top edge of the binding and make a mark. Connect the mark with the bottom corner of the binding and mark a 45-degree line. Open out both ends of the binding and place them right sides together, rotate end A up, so that the short end is level with the side edge of end B. Pin together on the marked diagonal line. Double check that the binding join is correct and if so, stitch on the marked line. Trim away the excess fabric so you have a ¼” seam allowance. Finger press the seam open. Fold the binding in half again and finish sewing it onto the edge of the quilt. Position the quilt on your ironing surface with the top side facing up. Press the binding away from the edge of the quilt. Turn the quilt over so that the back is facing up. Fold the binding over to the back of the quilt, aligning the folded edge with the previously marked 1” line. Pin the binding in place by turning the quilt edge to the right side and pinning in the ditch of the seam allowance. Continue pining all the way around the edge of the quilt, placing the pins approximately 4” apart and folding the excess fabric at the corners to make 45-degree mitres. I show this in the video at 40:00 minutes, click here to see the video. (Tip: You could also hold the binding in place with a wash away fabric glue). The next step is to machine sew the binding in place from the top of the quilt. (Sounds crazy but it really works). To do this, thread your machine with a colour to match the stitching lines of the cover strips, a bobbin to match the binding, your standard foot and a straight stitch with a straight stitch of 3. Adjust your needle position all the way over to the left, this will give you a distance from the edge of the foot to the needle that is slightly less than ½”, this distance will match the cover strip stitching lines. Start sewing with the quilt top facing up, resting the edge of the foot against the ditch of the binding seam, sliding the pins out as you go. Sew all around the edge of the quilt in this way. This is what the completed binding will look like on the back, you will see that the back of the binding has been caught in the stitching line. If you like, you can hand-sew the folded mitres in place. If you are new to the Pattern Poole blog, welcome! I'm Monica and together with my daughter Alaura, we have a YouTube quilting channel and a website full of creative PDF patterns, you can check them out here. Happy quilting! Monica xo

Meet our Twilight Dreaming Quilt. A quilt-as-you-go applique quilt, with 9 blocks each with a new quilting technique! This was our first online course in 2020 during lockdown and what started our YouTube channel. The videos are full-length tutorials, raw and unedited! View more information in the video below. Watch the series below. Twilight Dreaming Purchase the complete pattern or buy a section separately. There is a pattern for US Letter sized paper and also A4 paper. Twilight Dreaming Tutorials Ep 1. Ep 2. Ep 3. Ep 4. Ep 5. Ep 6. Ep 7. Ep 8. Ep 9. Ep 10. - Part 1 Part 2.

Good news: my Aussie Babies applique collection is complete, and I am 50% of the way through creating all the PDF pattern sheets. Allow me to introduce you to the series. Aussie Babies Applique Collection Since I designed my first Australian animal series in 2017/2018, I wanted to add more animals and redo some. I think this is a natural process of designing and creating where you constantly analyse your work and think of ways to improve it. Original Southern Sky Applique collection (2017 / 2018) I love the Southern Sky set as it reminds me of a fun time in my life, and the name is from a song I also love! Mum and I travelled a lot, doing shows and going overseas. It was so much fun. However, since then, I have learned much more about quilting (thanks to filming Mum for YouTube) and have been refining my drawing for applique. I did a few Skillshare animation classes and bought books on Japanese-style anime drawing. Before, I just drew for the sake of drawing, but this year, I was confused with all the directions I wanted to go in. It is hard to focus on one thing when working from home and spending so much more time alone than in previous years due to the pandemic. However, my saving grace has been our Facebook group and seeing what everyone makes with our designs. This year, our Facebook group has grown to over 12,000 members, and it is so wonderful waking up and looking at all the posts! It has helped encourage me to keep designing, so I decided to focus on a particular drawing style: cartoon animation. I usually design week by week or have a burst of creative energy and then fatigue rather quickly. Hence, I generally release patterns intermittently. However, with the Aussie Babies collection, I challenged myself to design everything first before doing the pattern sheets. I did this to ensure the collection had a cohesive look and to take my time working out colours rather than using scraps in my stash and regretting my colour choices later down the track. I started drawing these animals in 2020 and abandoned my challenge to focus on YouTube and other online courses. I returned to them in July 2023, and since returning from Europe three weeks ago, I have focused on completing them. That is the ebbs and flow of design; for me, it is incredibly unpredictable. However, my New Year's resolution for 2023 is to start drawing daily sketches and set aside days to improve my practice. I was thinking of starting an applique circle, as I have so many tricks for my designs that I could spend hours discussing. Possibly a club with private member's videos taking you through the process and how to make these little critters. Let me know if this is something you are interested in. Without further ado, let's meet the new Aussie Babies... In my previous posts, you have seen The Platypus , Dingo, Emu, Joey, Wombat, Puggle and Croc. Here are the latest additions . 1. Baby Ringtail Possum 2. Bilby 3. Tassy Devil 4. Koala 5. Quokka As I mentioned above, I am about 50% of the way through doing the pattern sheets. Each pattern will be sold separately, and the sizing is to fit a 13-inch square roughly (this may change). There will also be printer-friendly applique shapes. I will notify everyone via our email newsletter when they will be released. Hopefully, very soon! I am already excited about my following collection, which will be Native Australian birds, flowers or dogs, as I love dogs! Hope you are all having a wonderful and creative week! Thanks for reading, Love Alaura