The Perfect Fast Quilt For Summer (on Sale!)+ Summer Sewing Inspiration

Hello friends far and wide! I hope this week's newsletter finds you well.

First off, I have a brand new tutorial for you about how to machine-piece hexagons using Y-seams. Did you know that it's actually easier than it looks?

How do you feel about Y-seams? Do they feel intimidating to you? I’ve built my quilting style around fast and easy short-cuts, but I’m here to tell you, Y-Seams are not as scary, or as difficult, as they’re sometimes made out to be!

Click the button below to learn how relatively painless it is to piece hexagon patchwork quilts on your sewing machine! I go in depth on "What is a Y-seam?", how they're used to piece blocks where three seams intersect - like with Hexagons, and a great washi-tape short cut to make the process even easier!

If Y-seams have always felt intimidating, take a look and see what you think. I recommend practicing on large scale blocks, but once you get the hang of it, the process is really straightforward!

This post is part of a new series about intermediate quilting tips. I'd love to hear if there are other intermediate or advanced quilting techniques you'd like to learn more about!

Quilted Strawberry Coasters

This one is always a crowd favorite. Guest contributor Nadra from Ellis & Higgs created this clever tutorial for these darling Quilted Strawberry Coasters. 🍓 They are a fun little project to help you get ready for summer entertaining and make something super cute while you're at it.

In addition to their useful function, they're a great project for using up some of your favorite reds, pinks, and green fabrics from your stash!

And check out this scrappy quilt-as-you-go version that Amber of @OneShabbyChickHawaii made. Another super fun, scrappy-friendly variation.

Click button for full, free tutorial.

Pattern Sale of the Week - A Fast Fat-Quarter-Friendly Finish

This week I'm featuring the Summer Bunting Quilt Pattern as a perfect quilt for a quick-summer-finish. This quilt pattern is fast and simple - very beginner friendly. It's also the perfect quilt for using a favorite Fat Quarter Bundle that you've had saved or just cleaning out your Fat Quarter Stash.

I also love how much the look can vary based on what color palette you go with. The Summer Bunting Quilt is marked down 20% (both paper and PDF versions) in my shop this week!

Fun Finds on the Web - Sewing For Summer Ideas:

Last week was my turn to share my quilt block for the 2025 Riley Blake Quilt Block Challenge. You can find the free pattern for Block 15 here. The last block will be released next week!

Lillyella has the prettiest foundation paper piecing butterfly patterns. You can get the free Butterfly PDF pattern here. If you like English Paper Piecing, you should also check out her incredible EPP Butterfly Effect Quilt Pattern.

Kristina from Center Street Quilts cute Alpen Belt Bag pattern is still on my "to-make" list. It looks like the perfect summer accessory.

Jamie at Sew Brainy Designs has a series of tutorials for fresh Modern patchwork pillows.

Well, I've got some exciting news to share: I finally put on my big-girl pants and started tackling my spring yard work. This includes tackling the weeds that I've been trying SO hard to ignore and hope they would just go away on their own. I have been seriously procrastinating that effort as I've felt zero motivation to do so.

The good news is that my yard is looking happier for the efforts and it's created a virtuous cycle of motivating me to do a little more each day and now the whole yard doesn't feel so overwhelming.

I've also been rewarded with these glorious irises this year! A new neighbor gave me some starts from her yard after she moved in to my friend Linda's house. Linda was an amazing gardener. Her flowers were always incredible. A few years ago she had to go to a memory care facility because of Alzheimer's and passed away a couple of years later.

When it took a couple of years after planting the iris starts for a bloom to appear, I was pretty sure I'd done something wrong. Then this year they're suddenly exploding with blooms. Don't ask me what I did to make that happen (other than wait), but this year they are making me SO happy. And they make me smile and think of Linda.

There's a metaphor in there somewhere, I'm sure.

Happy May, friends.

xo,

Amy

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