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Ask any of my quilty friends, and they'll most likely tell you that flying geese are my go-to quilt block---and they would be right. In fact, I created a whole block-of-the-month pattern exclusively for Pintuck & Purl based on the block. 

Today, I thought it would be fun to show you two of the baby quilts I made last year which feature flying geese in an almost identical layout---geese pointing both north and south with areas of negative space around them---but have a completely different look and feel to them thanks to my fabric choices. 

For this first one, I used only two fabrics for the top: a pretty, textured blue Essex linen for the background and an off-white mini plus-sign print for the geese. Since the top was minimal and restrained in its color palette, I opted to add a vibrant and patterned back to the quilt, for a fun surprise. 

For this second flying geese quilt, I reversed the color placement (opting for a light background with darker geese) and added a third color (an assortment of acid yellow prints paired perfectly with solid coral pink and white). 

The back remained minimal with a gray windowpane print, and I couldn't resist adding in a bit of texture in the form of a recycled hemp and cotton binding. Though these quilts are similar in design, I'm curious to know, do you prefer one over the other?

You can find all of my flying geese quilts from throughout the years here, and you'll find both of the quilts featured here now for sale in my online shop. 

First three photos by Joyelle West. Last three photos by Lindsay Hite. 

From time to time, I take on commissions for custom memory quilts. Most recently, I created this t-shirt quilt for my cousin who is an avid runner. This large throw (65" x 65") features many of the t-shirts she collected over the years from running clubs and track and field events. 

Since the t-shirts are quite busy on their own, I opted not to add any additional fabrics to the quilt's top. Instead, I stabilized the t-shirts, cut them into squares, arranged them in a simple 5 x 5 grid.

I did, however, opt for a stripy binding with a pop of coral, to add my voice to the quilt. I pieced together a back from a navy blue solid and a Japanese elephant print. 

If you're interested in commissioning your own custom quilt, for yourself or a friend, simply fill out this request form to get started! 

For the second year in a row, I designed the free Row by Row Experience pattern for Pintuck & Purl, a yarn and fabric shop in Exeter, NH. (You can learn all about Row by Row here.) For this year's theme of "On the Go," I designed this block featuring two rows of hand-appliquéd tires with Liberty of London rims.  

Since each tire and rim are hand sewn to individual blocks, the row is super portable and perfect for tucking into your carry-on or beach bag. I did a fun little interview for the Pintuck & Purl blog about the row, its inspiration, and even a bit about my background, in case you'd like to learn more. 

The only way to get your hands on this pattern is to visit Pintuck & Purl in person between now and September 5. The shop also has a handful of kits available for purchase, which include those yummy bits of Liberty of London Tana Lawn. If you can't make it to the shop this summer, the pattern will be available for purchase through Pintuck & Purl after November 1, 2017. 

And if you're itching for more hand-appliqué inspiration and projects, be sure to check out Crazy Mom Quilts' "dot your i's" quilt, Suzy Quilts' free Aria Quilt pattern, and Carolyn Friedlander's book, Savor Each Stitch.