What's On My Sewing Table - April 2026

Chaos. That's what's on my Sewing Table this month! If you're new here, each month I do a report of what projects I'm currently working on. This is where I pull back the curtain from the curated "perfection" when I share finished projects and give a look at the real creative process. It's almost the end of the month and I realized I haven't shared this month's post! So here's a peek behind the scenes of what I'm working on.

I also want to show that even though this is my business, nothing gets made over night. Most projects take time, effort, and planning - just like all of you. And also some projects peter out before they ever get finished, some are WIP's (Works In Progress) resurrected after lying dormant for a long time, and some are "Squirrel" projects - a total distraction from what I was already working on.

Americana Projects

I decided that I wanted to make a quilt this year to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, so I'm making a new version of my Fly the Flag quilt. I never made one for myself using my Portsmouth collection, so I'm pulling out those fabrics and adding others from my stash. It's going to be good and scrappy.

I also decided to make one with a dark background so that will be a fun new look! My Fly the Flag pattern is currently on sale for the 250th anniversary.

AND I'm hosting a quilt along to finish this one before Flag Day (June 14) - plenty of time to enjoy it before the festivities on the 4th of July! You can sign up for the free Quilt Along here.

Since I've already thrown-up red, white, and blue fabric all over my sewing table, I decided it was a good time to pull and cut fabric for another r, w, & b quilt that's been on my bucket list for a while from Susan Ache's Summer Memories book.

It looks like a bit of a disaster, but it's a fun disaster, don't you think?

I love the vintage look of this Summer Picnic quilt and I think I'm going to go for it. I've definitely got enough fabric. 😅 I'm going to use the 1.5" Half Square Triangle papers to help make all of those HST blocks. I figure if I prep the fabric and have it ready to go then I can sew sets of foundation HST's sporadically over the the next few months. And once all of those HST's are ready, I can start piecing the blocks. Stay tuned on this one, it'll be more of a long haul.

Quilts to Bind

I recently picked up 3 quilts from my longarm quilters and I've got lots of binding to keep me busy while I watch shows in the evenings with my husband. (We're empty nesters now and for the first time since we were newlyweds we actually sit and watch TV together most evenings.)

I started this simple HST quilt last summer using a couple of Charm packs and I'm excited to finally get it done! This one was quilted by my friend Monica Steelman with an all-over stipple design. I'm trying 100% Cotton batting in this one and I'm excited to give it a wash and let it shrink and get an antique-y feel. I'll share the results later this week.

Second, I'm finally finishing my navy Scandi Hearts quilt. This quilt took me a while to finish because I was stuck trying to find the right backing. I was determined to only use something from my stash. I finally found something that works great and just got it back from Melissa of Sew Shabby Quilting today!

For this quilt I used a 100% Bamboo batting and it gives the quilt the most beautiful drape and a little more weight. It also makes the quilting design really pop!

I chose the Baptist Heart Clam pantograph and I love the way that it gives traditional texture to the quilt with the cute little heart motif.

Fabric Accountability

I've added a new component to this monthly accountability post. One of my goals for 2026 is to finish longtime WIP's and to only shop my stash to finish them. As a result I've been really good about not buying new fabric this year! Until this month. I kind of fell off the wagon. Not too dramatically, but I did buy a few pieces.

I found a few good basics that I decided I "needed". I'm collecting more indigo/blue wovens for my Trentham quilt. And I couldn't resist those woven hearts from Fableism.

I'm also feeling drawn to the golds right now too. And I always can't resist stocking-up on good low-volume prints when I see them. I actually really dig this combo -

BUT I still did a great job of shopping my stash first (such as the backing for Scandi Hearts quilt. Which I realize I didn't get a picture of but will share with the finished quilt.)

Also new in the sewing room this month - Riley Blake sent me a fat quarter bundle of Tasha Noel's newest collection, Whimsical Woodland that arrives in shops next month.

I have my Summer Bunting quilt mocked up with this collection and I'm excited to see it come to life!

So there's the latest scoop.

To be honest, my sewing room needs a major clean up. All the red, white and blue fabric is in a pile in the floor while I prep the quilts that need binding. As soon as those are done, I think I need to do a clean-up reset and reorganization before I can sew anything else.

I'm also starting piles for a big purge... stay tuned.