A lot has been happening in my sewing studio this April: a new quilt started, a scrap quilt finished (well, everything but the binding), tops for Elora and the ongoing Quilter’s Color Quest.

I’m usually more of a monogamist maker. Maybe the variety reflects my restlessness, as I’m certainly feeling restless at this point in the pandemic. It’s not so much the waiting, as the not knowing. I’m sure you agree that there is much not known.

But today my design wall holds the Penny Sampler once again. It had been stashed away for most of the month, hibernating. Today is a Dutch public holiday - the king’s birthday; thus, a fitting time to share my project on this, my Dutch-inspired version of the Penny Sampler quilt.

You might spy the latest addition - an economy block with my favorite kitty print.

I hadn’t been planning to use that fabric in this quilt, but when looking for something to fussy cut for this economy block, it occurred to me that cats are super-popular pets in The Netherlands. (As a cat person myself, it’s another thing I “get” about these people). Anyhoo, it was too perfect to resist.

In fact, I love this little block so much right now that I am sorely tempted to start a new scrap quilt of economy blocks. Somehow, I have never made an economy quilt! How is that? I enjoyed foundation paper piecing it, as the points are perfect without the need to cut and piece with care.

Lower down on the design wall are the rest of my Penny Sampler blocks, including this fish from the April delivery. I don’t think I shared this one yet.

When sewing a fish it is paramount, of course, to find yourself some fishy fabric. I was drawn to the organic character of the gold flecks on this teal Windham Fabrics print. From there, the dark Rifle Paper Champagne print was a natural pairing, as it too has organically shaped and clustered dots.

Well, anyhow, it looks fishy to me!

Over the weekend I also sewed this block, called Flower Pot.

This one has lots of steps, so the finish is super satisfying. Each of the diamonds is individually paper pieced, making it easy to fussy cut for a special effect. For the background of this block, I used the same Freespirit Designer Solid in Sap that I used for the bicycle block. I think it will give the quilt a nice symmetry.

I have another Penny Sampler block to sew this week for the May delivery. Then I can focus on finishing up the materials and getting them out to club members! I almost always send out the materials on the 5th of each new month. If you don’t receive yours by the 10th, definitely drop me a line. I’m happy to re-send as needed.

Seeing an opening for a new project this year? Don’t feel shy about joining the Penny Sampler Pattern club now. I’ll send you all previously-published materials right away so you can dive right in. You’ll receive monthly pattern club deliveries throughout 2020. It’s nice to have something to look forward to, right?

Check out the #PennySamplerPatternClub to see what everyone else is sewing. There are members at all points of the process - we’re just having fun wherever life finds us!