Quilters' Playcation Adventure Sewalong 2026 Quilt Tops

We wrapped up the Quilters’ Playcation Adventure Sewalong a few weeks ago. To be honest, it took me those weeks to both recover and finish the quilt tops. I knew I wanted to get the tops done quickly so that I didn’t lose any blocks or momentum. But let me tell you, I was tired! 30 days straight of live events is a lot. (How do streamers do it?)

Exhaustion aside, it was a truly fantastic month! I’m going to write more about it in the Quilters’ Playcation newsletter and I’m editing a longer video for You Tube. I just have to say, though, that it was such a heartwarming month full of connections and support. Whether folks were sewing along or just hanging out, it was a joy for all of us to be together. We shared the joys and sorrows of the world in the moment, the fun and challenges of making a new quilt block every day. Most importantly, we shared being together in play.

These are the three quilt tops I made throughout the month. Each of them have the same blocks, but showcase different fabric selections and layouts.

The rainbow version shows what happens when we pick a different combination of fabrics for each and every block. I chose a rainbow layout to keep it cohesive. All in all, it has both energy and order.

Using slabs I put together the centre version in the order the blocks were made. I loved the secondary patterns that developed as I went and wanted to keep that. Using the slabs was not difficult, as long as you pay attention when cutting and pressing. The result is absolutely worth it!

The 2-tone version was a definite challenge for me. To be so minimal AND in colours I am not generally drawn to. I kept wanting to throw in just a little bit of something. At the same time it was cool to see the graphic nature of the blocks really pop. I’m glad I stuck with my original intentions.

Now to get all these quilted!

Interested in making your own versions and missed the live events? Don’t worry, all the videos are saved on You Tube and available at any time.

Kai - The Quilters' Playcation Adventure Sewalong 2024 Quilt

Kai

70” x 70”

Kai is full of adventure. They live life in a just jump in and see what happens kind of way. If someone asks them to try a new food, they don’t even ask questions, they just open wide. If someone wants to climb a mountain Kai packs the snacks. When the airlines offer a deal and there is money in the bank, Kai hops on a plane. They want to see all the things, meet all the people, try everything. And the one thing that brings them the most joy? Rainbows. Rainbows are experienced the world over and never fail to make you smile.

The 2024 Iteration of the Quilters’ Playcation Adventure Sewalong is now a finished quilt. Well, one of the versions I made. (The other one remains an unquilted quilt top.) For 49 weeks in 2024 I hosted a live session on Instagram where we made an improv block. My theme for the year was Rainbows so each block contained the 6 colours of a rainbow (or any gradient chosen), and half the blocks included an additional background fabric.

Want to catch the replays and make your own? All the tutorials are saved on You Tube.

Unlike previous years, I decided on a size for the blocks at the beginning of the year and planned out this 7 x 7 layout. That way I was alternating the background/no background blocks for a somewhat checkerboard effect. It came out well.

The rainbow on this quilt was made from a selection of pastel colours of Moda Grunge. This textured, not quite solid colour at all made for a lovely rainbow. I liked that it read as rainbow without being overly cliche.

When I started the quilt I bought a meter or so (I can’t remember exactly) of each colour. At the end of the day, I had a lot of the fabric left so I used the remainders to piece the quilt back in a rainbow stripe. Look at me being all coordinated! And while the quilting on the front amounts to great texture, the pattern itself is very visible on the back. I combined spirals and lines in a free motion pattern that I did on a rented long arm. Full credit to Angela Walters and one of her books for the idea. It is pretty densely quilted and feels a bit stiff now but as soon as I wash it the cuddles will come out.

The background fabric I chose is this terrazzo inspired fabric with a creamy base. It had all the rainbow colours in it so it was perfect. Midway through the year I did have to go buy more, thankfully my local quilt shop still had it in stock! Of course, I bought more than I needed that time so it was ready for me to round out the rainbow stripe backing AND use it for the binding. We know how I love a contrast binding, but this quilt asked for something more subtle. Sometimes it is good not to introduce something new when the original is already working.

There is no doubt that I chose rainbows deliberately for the theme. They really do make me happy and never fail to stop me in my tracks. But this is - for me - also a political quilt. I have queer family members, my kids have queer and trans friends, and I want the entire community to know that you are welcome here, and everywhere. It’s just a quilt, I know, but I can use it to share my support, amplify your voice, and wrap everyone in the love and joy they deserve. I can’t give every single queer and trans youth a hug, but know that that is what this quilt intends.

Bjork - Scandi Village Quilt Complete

Bjork

82” x 86”

She’s a Scandinavian snow princess. Okay, princess is a strong description for her soft, yet strong personality. She is just at home in the forest or on the mountain as she is in a coffee shop with friends. Loyal, but not a fault. Adventurous, but always safe. Bjork is from a small town, up North but makes her home in the city. Longing for open spaces and comfort, she dreams of her little village in the snow.

This quilt is an epic journey into making cute. I don’t normally do cute, but that’s truly what she is. From the little houses and trees to the finishing details, it was a near constant squeal of delight as I made her.

She started as an experiment for a the little tree. That grew to the houses, of two shapes, and even a gnome. I’ve taught the class as a Quilters’ Playcation Playdate a handful of times, always added to the pile of adorable blocks. Eventually, I put them together into a quilt top. Then, a year later, I finished her.

Finishing her was also a delight. I quilted her with a pale pink thread on a rented long arm. It was all free motion waves, with the goal to make it look like snowdrifts. I love choosing a coloured thread versus white, when quilting a predominately white quilt. It adds an extra dimension to the quilt. It’s a little bit unexpected.

The backing is mostly a holiday version of Rashida Coleman-Hale’s famous washi tape design. It is mostly green, so it coordinates nicely with the front. It did need to be pieced so I added in a strip of reds and pinks left over from the houses on the front.

No doubt, I went a little extra in finishing her.

First, instead of standard handstitching on the binding or instead of big stitch with a heavy thread, I made these little green Xes. Using the stripe itself as a guide I did the diagonal lines in one direction first - all the way around the quilt. Then I went around again, adding the other side of the quilt. I used an 8W from Wonderfil for these stitches.

Second, I decided to add little white snowflakes/stars randomly all over the quilt. I chose a bright white 8W thread, also from Wonderfil. The background of the quilt is Kona Snow, which is ever so slightly off-white. It makes these little elements glow. To be clear, the stitches of these only go through the top and batting, they can’t be seen on the back.

Finally, I used a whipped backstitch in two shades of pink, also 8W from Wonderfil, as a type of piping. It’s so very extra, but a beautiful finish.

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NOTE: I am offering two more Scandi Village quilt workshops in March 2025

March 1 (In Person) 2-5 PM

March 4 (Virtual) 5-8 PM

Register here.

Ariel - A Cut Sew Repeat Playdate Finish

Ariel

56” x 56”

Ariel is a wild child. She comes from a solid suburban background but never felt like she fit. Not that she wants to turn her back on her childhood and her family, but she is itching to move beyond. She wants to taste pomegranates in the Middle East, swim over the Great Barrier Reef before it disappears, hear the crunch of snow underfoot in the Arctic. Her parents long ago gave up/gave in to her wanderlust and can only watch from a distance as she travels the world, trying new things. That’s because she always comes home.

This particular quilt started life as a bit of play. Then again, that’s really how most of my quilts start! I was teaching the Cut Sew Repeat technique in a Quilters’ Playcation Playdate and these were samples. Full disclosure, I went through a few iterations of blocks before settling on this particular Cut Sew Repeat Process. I loved the fabric together, but the earlier trials weren’t that exciting or were messy. As soon as this one was done I knew we had the winner.

Two of the fabrics were from deep in the stash - an original Architextures from Carolyn Friedlander and this lovely ‘dot’ from Angela Hooey. I think the the gold and pink were more recent fabrics from Ruby Star Society, but don’t quote me on that. Maybe Allison Glass? Regardless, I remember having to buy more of the gold to finish off the blocks before I ran out of the other fabrics too.

For quilting I attempted some point to point work on the long arm. I had the appointment and wanted to finish the quilt. I knew, however, that an all over design wouldn’t help the quilt any so I decided to play. It’s clear that I am beginner at this point to point stuff, but you have to start somewhere, right? I used a pale pink thread that didn’t stand out too much on any of the fabrics.

The backing came together with an older piece from Carrie Bloomston that was sitting in my stash. The swatch/paint chip fabric had all the colours, and then some. And, in usual fashion for me, I went with a contrasting binding. The teal speckles were just perfect for finishing off this bold piece.

I’m teaching this technique again in a Quilters’ Playcation Playdate in April. I can show you how to make this specific style of block, but we will explore a lot of options. For example, you could go a lot more random like this one, or really showcase your fabric like I did here. You can join online or in person at my new studio.

Cut Sew Repeat Playdate

Online - April 8

In Person - April 12

Register here.