Dear Gay,

It's that time of year - time to tempt you with the 2024 stitch-alongs that begin the first Friday in January. I love it when I get to design something for us to stitch together but I also love sharing an antique quilt from my collection. I get to do both in 2024!

There's a quilt for those of you who love patchwork with a splash of applique and a quilt for all of you applique-loving quilters. I have a lot on my plate in 2024 and am looking forward to diving into the 1930s making Half & Half. I loved every minute of making the 3030 Quilt and think this might be even more fun.

When I saw the antique Pop Tart quilt I just knew it had to be part of the Sentimental Stitches collection. I knew I wanted to share it with you too. My first thought was to recreate it using Kaffe Fassett-style fabrics similar to Kim McLean's Lollypop Trees but then I saw the amazing poison green sashing and all the adorable vintage fabrics used in the smaller blocks with their fussy cutting and now, I'm torn.

I know both are going to be beautiful quilts and great fun to work on. They'll be presented as block-of-the-week projects starting on the 1st Friday in January. You'll receive blocks each Friday throughout the year.

As always, it's a one-time fee that covers the entire year. I did have to raise the price because of large increases sent my way for nearly everything I use at Sentimental Stitches I hate having to do this and I hope $1 a week for a year-long pattern is tolerable.

I know there are lots of stitch-along programs out there. The girls and I are truly grateful when you choose to work on one of my quilts and become a Sentimental Stitcher!

I hope you'll join me!

First up is Half & Half. Half of the blocks are 6" blocks and the other half are 3" blocks.

I'm throwing in a few special applique blocks just for fun! The 3" blocks are foundation paper pieced. The 6" blocks will be a mixture of techniques with most being rotary cut and machine pieced but there will be some hand pieced and foundation pieced blocks too as I always present the patterns using the easiest, most accurate method of construction. There are two sashing options. The layout isn't complicated - it's just a good old-fashioned classic setting.

Just like its name, this quilt is going to be a half-and-half mix of beautiful quilt blocks perfect for any fabric theme. I'll be channeling a life in the 1930s during 2024 as I stitch along with you but you can use any reproduction or modern fabrics.

I hope you'll join me!

•  49 different 3" blocks (foundation paper pieced quilt blocks so all our points are perfect ) and ....... 

• 50 different 6" quilt blocks too!

• A total of 99 blocks over 50 weeks

• 74" x 87" quilt

• Receive one 6" and one 3" block pattern via email each Friday. You can work on them over the weekend or make one each day!

• Once in a while, I'll share a family recipe that uses.........you guessed it! Half & Half.

• The one-time fee paid when you sign up is for the entire year

• The first blocks will be sent via email on - Friday, January 5

Sign up for Half & Half

This is Pop Tart - The minute I saw this quilt I knew it had to become part of my collection to share with you. It's well-loved, faded, and worn but oh what unique applique designs. The larger blocks are mostly solids set together with what was a beautiful poison green print. The little blocks are a myriad of 1800s prints with some fussy cutting to make them extra special. 

• 54 applique quilt blocks, large and small, all adorable!

• 68" x 80" quilt.  

• Perfect for hand or machine applique in any style of fabric

• Perfect for wool applique too!!!

• You'll receive one large and/or one small block pattern each Friday for 52 weeks

• A one-time fee paid when you sign up is for the entire year

Sign up for Pop Tart

This seems like the perfect fall quilt to whip together and quilt with a flannel backing so it's nice and snuggly. Perfect for sitting by the first or heading to a football game. Love Worn isn't a difficult design but it sure is a great way to use up some favorite scaps.

Hush Hush 3 is an amazing collection of those little, low-volume prints we never seem to have enough of. This group is filled with sweet designs, some modern, some vintage, and all perfect. I can't wait to add these to my stash!

PRETTY FABRIC ALERT - I've got a pretty good stash of fabrics so I don't often go crazy over something new but Floralicious has grabbed my heart. Check out those adorable little animal prints and the lace tone-on-tone and then, the heart-stopping floral print! This one got to me and it'll be available by the first part of November so preorder yourself a fat quarter bundle of Floralicious! Do I know what I'm going to do with mine? Of course not, but it's too pretty not to have ready and waiting.

I can't tell you how many times I've been working on a project and all of a sudden needed a different size machine needle for one reason or another and then I have to start digging through a sewing bag or drawer to find a package of the right size - not any longer! This Needle Sorting Pincushion is gonna be perfect to keep next to the machine with one of each size needle in it, ready and waiting. What a great idea!

Fall in Love  with this precut-friendly quilt pattern that is perfect for Fall! There are falling leaves and hearts that end up in a row of pumpkins. This is so fun to sew! Quilt Size: 66” x 82"

The Autumn in a Fruit Jar patterns are almost gone so grab one to stitch up and enjoy the colors of fall mums.

I thought Intrinsic was a fun and cheerful quilt. It's a bonus that you can use 2 1/2" strips to make the quilt. Buy jelly rolls and save yourself a bunch of cutting time. The pattern has two sizes - a lap quilt and a queen size. quilt.

From the folks at Quiltsmart, use the preprinted interfacing guide to make this adorable Bitty Bag. Perfect as a gift bag or to carry your favorite hand stitching. I might make one to carry some jewelry or toiletries when traveling. There are enough panels in the pattern to make 2 bags.

I have heard so many people say once they tried the Elmers School Glue Stick with the Glue Stick Precision Tip they weren't going back to any other glue stick. I gotta admit, this is pretty cool and something I'm going to make the switch to. The hardest decision is what color to buy!

The holidays are going to be here before we know it and this Holly Jolly wool table mat is so pretty and will be fun to work on.

I just love, love, love these little stitchery designs in the Simply Sweet book. I wonder if I could be disciplined enough to do one each week next year. There's even information in the book to order a preprinted panel of the designs!

There are 8 great quilt patterns in this Charming Jelly Roll Quilts book and all for only $9.99

Don't miss taking a look at this one.

This is a really cute Quilty Calendar for 2024. It's a great size to tuck in my purse or tote bag and I plan to use it to keep track of my quilting projects, class, and retreat dates. It's divided by months and each page has a place for notes. It also has several pages with helpful quilt information. Yup, this one is a must-have!

I always say "I'm not really a blue quilt person" but when I saw this Twenty Baskets Quilt pattern I had to eat those words. I've been hoarding indigo prints and think they would be perfect to use in this beautiful lap quilt. If you're not a "blue" person, use another color or make it scrappy from your stash. It's just such a pretty design!

Merry Little Christmas will be so much fun to stitch with all the cute little holiday designs featured in this small quilt. As an added bonus, the designer has video tutorials for you to follow every step of the way.

If you haven't made some of these Folding Christmas Trees, you really need to do that. They are a fantastic holiday/winter decoration and the way they magically fold up for storage makes them the perfect surprise for a long-distance friend to receive in the mail. Check it out!!!

It's that time of the year when we're traveling to retreats and classes and thinking about treats for secret sisters or our quilting buddies for the holidays. These Super Snips Tiny Scissors are both fun, functional, and travel-safe. Tuck one in your purse - you never know when you'll have to snip a thread.

When its time for the holidays, swap out your fall decorations for Christmas Visitors. There's just so much Christmas charm in this sweet chickadee wool applique penny mat! Stitch it up with the pennies or the scalloped base, as shown on the pretty metal stand. Either way, it's sure to dress up your Holiday decor and bring loads of compliments! The penny mat measures 11 inches and the scalloped mat measures 10 inches. Create one, or both using wool or wool felt and enjoy all season long!

Order the Scalloped Metal Display Stand - HERE

This Follow the Star quilt pattern just grabbed my heart. This is one I have to make for myself. It's a great size to use as a large wall quilt or perfect as a lap quilt or topper on your bed.

Have I got you scratching your head with this one? This convenient Purse Light clips to the pocket of your purse to easily find a cell phone or keys that have fallen to the bottom. But, clip it to the collar of your shirt and you have a handy light for hand sewing! The magnetic base works as a needle minder as well. The light has a second mode of a flashing red light as well. I'm going to tuck one of these in tote bags, sewing baskets, and my purse too.

Everyone needs at least one package of these! Yes, I'm sure you do. This is an assortment of 70 needles called Nifty Needles. It's going to have something for every single thing you'll ever need to hand sew. I'm going to tuck one of these in all of my sewing baskets so I'm never hunting for a needle. They're color coded too so you'll always know what kind of needle you're using.

I am so smitten with this Enormous pumpkin wall quilt! Here's my plan - I'm going to skip the outer border and then check Home Goods for one of those magnetic towel holders. I'm going to put it on my front door and use those cafe clips to hold the quilt. This can be up through both Halloween and Thanksgiving!

I hope you'll join us in the Sentimental Stitches Facebook Group. If you're working on any of the Sentimental Stitches quilt projects I hope you'll share pictures of your blocks and finished quilts.

Stay healthy and hopeful everyone. Make some time today to take a stitch or two in your current project.

Happy Stitches,

Gayle

Gayle Bomers

Sentimental Stitches

Lily

Gracie

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