Eclipsed! PDF Pattern Gift-Away!

There was a solar eclipse in April of 2024.

It was a BIG deal – especially for those in the path of totality – of which I was not so lucky.

However, NASA provided live feed from different areas across the country with no commercial interruptions of just what was happening as this phenomenon moved its way across our skies.

Of COURSE it inspired a quilt in my head - how could it not?

I stood there watching as things began to happen live in Kerrville, Texas.

Wow.  Just wow. It was a great experience, even if only from the glow of my studio TV.

And I knew I had to do something that combined what I saw from NASA – and other folks’ social media posts from throughout the path. But what?

I sat down and started drafting.  I wanted something that went from bright total darkness, I wanted something that brought out the colors of the sun’s rays as the moon began to move away –

And it all lead to this super fun string quilt that would work great in other colors too – options are endless.

In my case, I chose purple, black, orange and yellow and hit up my string bins for maximum variety.

If you don’t already have a string stash – start one!  I keep adding to mine with every quilt I make as there is always an odd cut of something left over or strips less than 2’’ that I don’t want to save as a straight strip.

If you don’t have strings on hand – hit up y our strip drawers and fat quarter stash.  Look for COLOR – which usually means what the background of the fabric reads as. And don’t forget the ugly ones. This is a great place to use them up. (Still ugly? Cut it smaller!)

My strings go anywhere and everywhere from 3/4'’ up to 1 3/4.’’ Anything wider than that can be cut in half.  Cutting off-center will give you two different widths of strips to work with.

String piecing is fun and easy with the printable templates included in the pattern. I like to use either the Carol Doak printable foundation paper, or printable newsprint as found in the Quilting All the Time category of the Quiltville Amazon Affiliate Store.

These larger blocks make string piecing a whole lot of fun!

And yes, I included Halloween scraps in with my other fun things - just playing by color family.  The more scraps, the more variety, the better!

I quilted Eclipsed with a gold colored thread in an edge-to-edge design called Day Tripper by Urban Elementz.

A black swirl print binding finishes the edge - no borders required!

Would you like to win an Eclipsed PDF pattern?

I'll be drawing for 2 winners who will also receive a Facets of Black fabric Roll from Cotton to Quilts. And yes - they have other color rolls perfectly suited to enhance your scrap stash for Eclipsed too:

Beautiful purples, oranges and yellows! I love the variety that color rolls give to my quilts.

We'll draw for our winners on Thursday, August 29th!  Good luck, everyone!

Of course, Eclipsed has an introductory price already marked 25% off and good through 8/31/24.  Hurry now and save!

Eclipse Inspired!

Stitch a solar eclipse of your own with fun string pieced blocks! Full color photos and diagrams included. Strings are pieced on paper foundations, PDF templates included.

Quilt Size: 70’’ X 70’’ 

I can't wait to see what you make with this one!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

No one ever really means "Hello 4:00 a.m., my old friend!"

Today's early wake up on pattern release day is an echo of yesterday's 4:30am wake up for round 2 of colonoscopy prep. UGH!!

There may be a nap today -

But all came out well......in the end. (Hahahaha!)

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone!