Quilt Theory Blog Hop: By Your Side Quilt

Finally!

 The day has finally come when I get to tell you all about the By Your Side quilt.

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This one holds a special place in my heart.

When designing this quilt, the Quilt Theory tagline “Where can your quilt take you?” kept ringing in my ears. But instead of thinking about a physical location, I started pondering how the quilts we make for people draw us deeper into their lives.

I am very fortunate to have a group of four ladies in my life who are forever friends… they are really more like family. The five of us have celebrated together as well as weathered the toughest of storms. Birthdays, adoptions, parents being sick and passing away, raising kids, vacations, holidays, family drama, trips to the ER, job promotions, calls to say, “I think I might be going crazy… I need to talk to someone”, and texts just to say “Good morning”…. we’ve been through it all together.  We walk through life together.

Ironically, between the five of us, we couldn’t find one picture with all of us in it…. too busy chasing children when we get together!  (We have 20 children altogether ranging in age from 16 to newborn!)

Those of you who are very observant may have noticed by now that the the By Your Side quilt consists of five Cotton + Steel prints…. one to represent each of us. And of course, there are the solid links that keep us bonded together… shared history, common ground, but most importantly love for each other.

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So, five of us, all linked together…

But as I continued on with this design, it didn’t feel complete. Although it started with those relationships, I didn’t want this quilt to be about just the five of us. I have many other amazing ladies in my life who have supported and encouraged me.

And through this awesome adventure that is Quilt Theory, I’ve made six more friends that I cherish dearly. Through our shared love of quilting and design, we’ve gotten to know each other, encouraged each other, learned to work together, and grown as artists and people.

Beyond all that, there are the friendships I’ve developed with many of you. Through social media, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know so many new friends from all areas and walks of life, all bonded together through our love of making beautiful things. It was this online community that taught me to sew and who has encouraged my efforts along the way.

So, in order to honor those friendships, I added in one more element to the quilt- the second row of squares and links to represent all those relationships in my life.

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For all those wonderful friends in our lives who support, inspire, or encourage us to grow- the By Your Side quilt was made to celebrate the people that walk beside us in life.

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I’m so glad to finally share where I was coming from when creating this quilt. I hope my words will encourage you to honor those relationships in your life and let those friends know how much they mean to you!

If you are currently at Quilt Market, you can see By Your Side in person at the Checkers booth!

Now, a little more about Quilt Theory and how you can get your hands on this collection of super cool patterns:

Our goal at Quilt Theory is to create simple and modern quilt patterns, and we design collections of patterns printed on small cards and one-page PDFs. As a group, we have become a strong team as we worked through writing, testing, editing, and quilting the patterns in our collection.

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For our second collection, we challenged ourselves to write patterns that utilize precut bundles of fabric. We hope you find a lot of inspiration in our collection to make quilts from your favorite bundles in your stash.

PDF patterns are available now through our website QuiltTheory.com.

Pattern cards coming soon to a local quilt shop near you! Let your local quilt shop know you want them to carry Quilt Theory patterns.

If you are a quilt shop and want to carry our patterns, set up a wholesale account here, or order through Checker Distributors, EE Schenck Company, or Erie Quilt Art for Canadian shops.

Giveaway Time!!

To celebrate the launch of Quilt Theory, I am giving away a PDF copy of my pattern, By Your Side. To sweeten the deal, I’m including a Fat Quarter bundle as well. I’m obviously a big fan of the C+S Basics, so I’ve gathered five of them in a bundle for you!  

No. 11 - By Your Side

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To enter, simply leave me a comment here! Anything will do, but if you want a suggestion, tell me a favorite memory you have with one of your friends. 

For extra entries, leave a comment for each way you follow me (e.g. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Bloglovin’, WordPress, etc)

The giveaway ends Monday, May 22 at midnight eastern time and a random number generator will select the winner. Giveaway open to participants 18 years or older and international participants are welcome. 

*If you buy my pattern and then you win it, I’ll refund you or let you pick out another free Quilt Theory pattern!

Be sure to visit Yvonne tomorrow and the rest of the Quilt Theory designers if you missed their posts this week.

Quilt Theory Release Blog Hop Schedule

Friday 5/12 – Quilt Theory

Saturday 5/13 – Kitty @Night Quilter

Monday 5/15 – Michelle @Michelle Bartholomew

Tuesday 5/16 – Daisy @WarmFolk

Wednesday 5/17- Stephanie @Late Night Quilter

Thursday 5/18 – Cheryl @Meadow Mist Designs

Friday 5/19 – Lorinda @Laurel Poppy and Pine  (<= <= YOU ARE HERE!)

Saturday 5/20 – Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

Monday 5/22 – Quilt Theory

 

If you make the By Your Side quilt, be sure the tag me on Instagram and add the hashtag #ByYourSideQuilt so I’m sure to see it!

Happy Sewing! ~L

107 comments

  1. WOW your quilt is beautiful as well as well as the story of it. There are so many stories with my best friend that shouldn’t be put in print – but we’ve bicycled together, commiserated together cried together, laughed, etc. and just had a great time together. thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. Your blog post arrived in my inbox. I get so confused by these various readers, I’m not sure if I am subscribed by a reader or by email. Please smile at my ignorance/confusion.

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. Love your quilt! Wonderful!
    Favorite memory on my best friend: standing at here side at the aisle as the maid of honor! It was truly beautiful!

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  8. This quilt is going to be made over and over by so many! Congrats! Favorite memory of friends and sewing are always filling my heart. When my husband was sick last summer I came home from work one day and there was a card taped to the front door. A vintage Hello card
    signed with names of those I had been missing!

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. I love the story and inspiration behind your quilt pattern! One of my favorite memories with a friend was many years ago in high school traveling to Lake Powell in southern Utah and spending the week camping with her family. Definitely some fun memories that I will remember my entire life 😊

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  15. I love the backstory about your pattern and the way you and your friends support each other. My friends are quilting friends and we sew together and share our frustrations and joys in all aspects of our lives.

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  20. I am not a modern quilter, but I am intrigued by your quilt. I don’t know if it is the colors used, or the design, but I want to make one. It just speaks to me!

    Liked by 1 person

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  27. Gorgeous quilt! A favorite memory, years ago going through military training side-by-side wondering what in the world we had gotten ourselves into. I am following you on WordPress, Instagram, and Bloglovin’. Have an awesome day!

    Liked by 1 person

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  36. I am so honored to be counted among your closest friends. As I read this, tears welled up in my eyes, and I was prompted to pray. So I am praying over your quilt that whomever receives it will be be abundantly blessed! I won’t stop there. I hope my prayer reaches to the millions! Love you!

    Liked by 1 person

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  37. Love your quilt and your story of you and your friends. Not only are you blessed to have such a close group of friends, so are each of your 20 children. They will have wonderful memories.

    Liked by 1 person

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  47. I love both quilt theory collections! I plan to make a graduation quilt from one of the patterns in the first collection. Our fourth and final child is graduating from college this weekend!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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