Introducing my latest design - Its the Homebody Quilt pattern launch day

Back in August I travelled to Bathurst with a group of friends for a sewing retreat.  Despite having multiple WIPs and UFOs, and an extensive range of designer quilt projects at my fingertips, I couldn't make up my mind what project to take.

I wanted a project that was straight-forward enough to give me the bandwidth to chat and catch up with the rest of the crew while I sewed. But  it also needed to be enough of a project so that I could make the most of this incredibly precious sewing weekend away from the distractions of the shop and home life. Being a one-woman-show here at The Next Stitch, I also had a lot of admin to get sorted before I left, so I was looking for a project where the cutting and prep would be efficient.

While chewing all of this over, Ruby Star Society's Favourite Flowers fabric collection landed.  It had been a long time since I'd seen my fabric rep's samples and I'd forgotten what a pretty group it was.  I was smitten and knew I'd be taking a bunch away with me.

The genesis of the Homebody Quilt

The design grew from a doodle in a notebook, which I then developed further in EQ8. Then I went back to the notebook to figure out an efficient method for making those dramatic pieced side and corner setting triangles.

Once confident in my quilt math I cut all of my strips ready for my retreat.

While away I sewed with my notebook next to me.  The notes I jotted along the way became a rough outline for the Homebody Quilt pattern.  At the end of the weekend I only had the sashing to sew. Yay!

A bit about the pattern & all the options

Making the Homebody Quilt was such an intuitive process.  Almost meditative in fact. 

During the drive home I began thinking about making another.  My mind was brimming with potential Homebody Quilt variations, and questions if I am honest.

Would it work with a jelly roll?  What if I wanted a to use a different fabric for the sashing? Would it still be effective without going to the trouble of making the checkerboard border?  Could Homebody be made a with a jelly roll?

The answer to all of these questions, and more was yes! And so began the genesis of all the three mix and match options.  There is also a sweet baby quilt included called Homebaby

The Homebody Quilt is made using efficient rotary cutting and strip piecing techniques.  It is suitable for quilters with intermediate experience, or beginners confident in maintaining a 1/4-inch seam allowance.

Option 1

Option 1 is the Homebody Quilt variation I made that very first weekend.

It requires a substantial amount of yardage for the background, BUT, you end up with additional blocks that you can use to make the Homebaby Quilt shown below.  It would also be fun to incorporate the spare blocks into a pieced backing for a two-sided quilt!

The instructions and fabric requirements for the binding and backing for this satisfying little quilt are included in the Homebody Quilt pattern.

Option 2

This variation uses a pair of feature fabrics in each of the blocks. This dramatically decreases the amount of background fabric required.  As Homebody is fat quarter - friendly, this one in particular is perfect for shopping your stash.

I've included a mock-up using the same Favourite Flowers fabric pull I used in my first Homebody, as I think it demonstrates the differences between the two versions really well.  Note how the 'reverse' blocks are included.

When choosing fabrics for this one I pulled fabrics from deep in my stash and sprinkled a few from my pal Anni Downs after catching up in Bathurst. There are some yarn-dyed check, Speckled, plus OOP designs from Art Gallery Fabrics and Ruby Star Society. (I have been sitting on that piece of Lindley Lawn for several years now).  My aim was to showcase how perfect the Homebody Quilt pattern is for stash-diving.

I was after a distinctly different look for this one so I leant into the drama with Kona Cotton in Berry.

Of course, you could absolutely use separate fabrics or shades for the border background and sashing.  The choice is yours.

Option 3

This is the quickest Homebody to make.  There is less piecing as you use yardage for the setting triangles.  And there is less cutting as a jelly-roll is used for the  blocks, letting you get stuck into the sewing almost immediately - yay! 

I am using a jelly roll of Curio, by Melody Miller for this one.  Unfortunately I've still a little way to go - hence there's only a mock up to look at so far, but I am enjoying the scrappy vibe of those blocks so far.

Get the pattern

The Homebody Quilt PDF pattern is available for purchase and immediate download.  To celebrate save 15% on my digital quilt designs: Audely, Aunty Thel, Pathways, Quick Trip and of course Homebody, until midnight AEDST Sunday 3 November, when you use the code HOMEBODY