Introducing my new quilt pattern Vira

Meet Vira

Vira was a pure joy to create. This design was originally created for the 2026 Patchwork calendar. But now it is it’s own, standalone pattern, ready for making.

I created Vira back this summer and was excited about it from the minute I started drawing it. Sometimes designs are hard. Like, really hard. Meaning they just don’t come easily. I never reach that creative flow with them. But there are quilt designs and projects that just happen so easily. Vira was one of those designs.

Read more: Introducing my new quilt pattern Vira

First of all, I really love stars in quilts. Starflake is still one of my favorite designs. I’m not sure what it is about stars that make them so appealing to me (and so many others!). I especially love smaller stars, and Vira started as a quilt of small stars. Those, I knew I wanted. From there, I would need a background, and the light and dark scrappy background sort of came together as quickly as the idea for the stars. Before I knew it, I was cutting fabric and already getting started! The stars in the Vira design are on the small, twinkly side, and because of that I played with using solid fabrics instead of my usual go-to printed fabrics. Having a scrappy background and scrappy stars felt like alot, so I tried solid fabrics for the stars (not my usual choices at all). Playing with a full range of my chosen color (a rosy, coral-ly pinkish shade–hard to describe but perfectly clear in my mind’s eye) seemed to bring the right amount of “twinkle” that I was hoping for.

As with each of my patterns, all written instructions and accompanying illustrations are tech edited and checked over for clarity, consistency, and math (oh math). This pattern has full instructions, fabric requirements, cutting instructions, etc for sizes- Mini Quilt, Throw, Twin, Queen, and King sizes. Inside the pattern there are also links (QR codes) to videos for additional tips and my free online finishing class.

If you want to see exactly how I lay out my patterns, watch this video-

Vira is a straightforward sew, and because of that, you really get the chance to play with color combinations. How will your stars “lift” off of the diamonds in the background? There’s so many great color combinations to play with. And because of that, and because I am already thinking about what my next one will look like…

And good news! Look for a Vira quiltalong coming in January!

I asked everyone on my email list if they would be interested in an online sewalong, and the answer was a resounding yes! Me too! Look for more information in December so we can take advantage of that wonderful January mental and creative reset that happens (at least around here), and make a brand new quilt. I’ll be with you every step of the way.

If you’d like to know details about the sewalong, new releases, or other news, be sure you are signed up for The Batch, my weekly newsletter

Wise Craft PDF Patterns- A Primer

The current quiltalong for my newest quilt pattern, Dash, is in its 3rd week (and there is still time to join us if you’re interested, just visit this page). I am thrilled that I have gotten so many new followers since this quitalong began! Welcome to you all, we’re so happy to have you! I wanted to add some additional information for you in case you are ordering a PDF pattern from my shop. We are always trying to make the purchase process in our online shop as easy as possible, and hopefully this will clarify how purchasing and downloading a PDF pattern will work.READ MORE

My newest quilt pattern, Dash

Dash quilt pattern

Creativity is so weird...

It’s so funny to me how waves of creativity come and go. Some days it’s a dry well, other days, it smacks you in the face before you even realized you were looking for it. When I was planning out the kinds of things I would be launching, carrying, etc for Quiltcon, one minute I’d have a flurry of ideas but nothing concrete. The next minute I was completely convinced I should simplify. I think the reality is a bit of a merging of both.READ MORE

The Taos Color Study Series

Taos Color Study No. 7

Back at the end of August I went on a week-long artist’s retreat in Taos, New Mexico at the Mabel Dodge Luhan house. (If you are on my email list, you probably heard about it already.) I “gifted” this creative trip to myself many months prior when I reserved a spot. As I have mentioned a little bit, our family has been in the throes of an interesting couple of years. In-laws passed away, my mom passed away, health battles preceding those, passings, and lots of things to settle afterwards. When this trip came up, I thought, I should really do this trip for myself, then reserved it.

 

And promptly forgot about it.READ MORE

New Pre-Treated Cyanotype Fabric Squares In the Shop

“Cyanotype” from Wise Craft Quilts is filled with poems, sketches, and other mementos from my kids.

 

When I wrote Wise Craft Quilts, I was interested in creating a book that had all kinds of quilts that had some sort of meaningful element to them. Quilts with fabric that has meaning is certainly important to my work, but what if you have memories you want to preserve in a quilt, but no meaningful fabric tied to those memories to use?READ MORE

Earth Day idea- The Advantages of PDF Patterns

Nuts and Bolts Scrappy Modern Quilt Pattern Easy

photo by Cate Dingley

 

In honor of Earth Day this week (April 22), I wanted to talk about PDF quilt patterns. I think they are so great. For both buyers and sellers. When I design a new quilt pattern, I offer it in PDF form (the buyer downloads as soon as they purchase, then print at home if they want), and in printed form (sourced and printed from a local company, packaged in a clear envelope, shipped, etc).READ MORE

New Pincushions coming 12/14

PincushionsDec20

 

I was thankful to have a few extra minutes this weekend to work on a small batch of #wisecraftfoundandforaged pincushions in time for holiday shopping. To say that this has been a weird and busy year is an understatement. Which is why I enjoyed sitting down to make these even more relaxing. Those on my newsletter list will be notified by email tomorrow (Monday, 12/14) when these are added to the shop. If you would like to be on my list, you can sign up here.

READ MORE

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