Prickly Pear Quilt

There’s a new quilt pattern in my SHOP called Prickly Pear and you’re in for a real treat but first there’s a little notice I need to talk about that affect changes to my newsletter sign ups.

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Now, let’s get to the quilt show!

Prickly Pear Quilt Show

I’m thrilled to bring you the newest quilt pattern in my Shop called Prickly Pear. This PDF pattern comes in three sizes: Crib, Double (full), and for the first time ever offered in one of my patterns, a king-size quilt!

I ended up making two quilt samples; a crib and a double. The crib size was made first while I was testing the pattern and waiting for the rest of my Lilliput collection to arrive. Let me introduce you to each of the quilts I stitched, then have you meet the quilt testers who also made versions of this pattern.

First up is the cover quilt for the pattern. It’s the smallest size, finishing at 50” square and really an oversized crib quilt. I was excited to mix prints from my Spirited and Kismet collections for this quilt as I’d not had a chance to combine the two collections before. They were meant to be together! That pop of solid red is Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids PE-456 Aurora Red.

This is a very traditional color palette but looks fresh and modern in this quilt.

I’ve been wanting to try rayon as a backing fabric for some time now and had this AGF Luna and Laurel rayon on hand which was the perfect look with this palette. Brooke Becker of Lady Belle Fabric did the long arm quilting on this quilt as I have to admit I was a little nervous about quilting with a rayon backing on my own. Brooke took a little extra time and slower speed but said it quilted beautifully and when asked, said she’d absolutely do it again—which I take as the best recommendation to use rayon as a backing again in the future!

For batting, I used Hobbs Tuscany Silk Blend batting and together with a rayon backing and Art Gallery Fabrics percale-like quilting cottons this quilt feels like a cloud and the drape is amazing!

This crib quilt is available as a kit from Lady Belle Fabrics and Brooke can even do the quilting for it as well. I used the Ginger Flower quilting design she offers and I love the playful floral and curly-q design.

Get the Kit HERE

Photo courtesy of Lady Belle Fabric

The second quilt I made was in the double-size (or full) and I used Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids and prints from my new Lilliput collection.

I took cues from the pattern name for this color palette and my Lilliput collection has the most amazing green prints and beautiful blushing peach prints paired with Snow and Tender Green AGF Pure Solids—it was a match made in heaven!

I’d set up the guest bed for photographing the quilt and it still remains on that bed—I love it so much and it feels like summer time when I walk in that room—it’s prettier than my master bedroom!.

Brooke Becker of Lady Belle Fabric also did the long arm quilting on this quilt and we selected the design called Peek Bloom. I backed and bound the quilt in the same Lilliputain print from Lilliput for a whole cloth-look backing if the quilt were reversed.

Lady Belle Fabric also has kits for this double-size quilt in this coloring/fabrics. Be sure to act fast if you’re wanting either one of the kits as they sell out fast!

Get the Kit HERE

Photo courtesy of Lady Belle Fabric

I used Hobbs Heirloom Premium 100% Bleached Cotton batting for this quilt and it’s the perfect drape and weight for a classic quilt feeling. I like to use a bleached cotton batting with a white background for the brightest white quilt.

Meet the Testers

For sometimes a couple months before a quilt pattern release I have quilt testers stitching behind the scenes making versions of the quilt and of course double checking everything in the pattern as is it should be. These testers are the most amazing ladies and so talented! I say this every quilt release but they’ve really out done themselves this time and three of them even made the king-size version of Prickly Pear!

Prickly Pear quilt made by Sharon Holland

If you remember with the last quilt release, South Paw, I had not only made the normal Meet the Tester collage that I do for my tester’s quilts but we added an additional feature of including pinned inspirational images we’d gathered from Pinterest. The testers and I use the inspiration images to help with the quilt color story and the vibe we want our quilt to have. You’d be amazed how this helps us all stay focused on the mood of the quilt and even helps when it comes to photography time. Above is the mood board for the full size Prickly Pear quilt I made and you can see the southwest desert influence in my color choices and images.

Prickly Pear quilt made by Sharon Holland

For my crib quilt I went a mix of Victorian-Boho-Free People, if that’s even a thing, I don’t know but am hoping the added inspiration images help to convey that energy I wanted to capture in this quilt.

Prickly Pear quilt made by Mary Gove

Mary Gove is a delight and always a surprise to me when I see what she creates from my quilt patterns. Mary made this king-size Prickly Pear for herself and her color palette is inspiration in itself! She used all AGF Pure Solids in the most sophisticated and cool-girl color way—it’s sublime! Be sure to follow Mary on Instagram @thecurlyquilter.

Prickly Pear quilt made by Brittany Tunison

Brittany has a great eye for mixing prints and chose Amy Sinibaldi’s new Velvet line from Art Gallery Fabrics together with AGF Wicked Sky Smooth Denim for a quilt that really shines. This is the crib size quilt and is a kit available in Brittany’s shop White Plains Quilts. You can also find Brittany on Instagram @brittanytunison.

Prickly Pear quilt made by Joyce Ulm

Joyce Ulm is a powerhouse quilter and fearless! This is another of the king-size Prickly Pear quilts made and is stunning. Not only did Joyce make the quilt but she made the entire bed ensemble complete with toss pillows from my pattern seen in the Fall 2020 issue of Quilts and More to the pillow shams. The entire look is perfection! If you’d like to make a quilt like Joyce has in a king or a double-size, Country Chick Fabrics is offering kits in both sizes, find the KING HERE and DOUBLE HERE. See more of Joyce’s work on Instagram @evamaecustomquilts, Etsy shop, and on her Facebook blog HERE, and does long arm quilting as well!

Prickly Pear quilt made by Marija Vujcic

I love how working with my quilt testers I can start to see their personalities show through in their work and Marija Vujcic is a classic example of how knowing your style can translate through your work and create a signature look. Marija’s not intimidated by color and loves it pure and saturated. She used Katarina Roccella’s Aquarelle collection for Art Gallery Fabrics to create a crib-size quilt that looks picnic-ready for summertime. Her inspiration images bring the quilt full circle and makes me want to take a trip to Nantucket just to stay in that scene longer. Follow this talented lady on Instagram Marija Vujcic and on her blog at Mara Quilt Designs. Her passion for sewing and life has no bounds!

Prickly Pear quilt made by Megan Eckroth

Megan Eckroth also made a king-size Prickly Pear quilt and is planning an entire master bedroom makeover around this quilt. I loved seeing how Megan took the Ruggable inspiration image and translated that room into a fabric pull for her quilt. She really nailed it and now has the dreamiest king quilt for her bed! Megan used a mix of Art Gallery Fabric Pure Solids, with prints by Bonnie Christine for her Her and History collection and the AGF Studio Luna and Laurel collection. Be sure to follow Megan on Instagram, FB, and her Etsy Shop and see more of what this gifted maker has to share.

Prickly Pear quilt made by Christine Trotta

Christine Trotta has a flare for florals and a sweet bohemian/coastal style that is elegant and casual all at once. Christine used Art Gallery Fabrics Aurus Pure Solid with Amy Sinibaldi’s new Velvet collection to make this crib-size Prickly Pear version. This captivating quilt is being kitted by Christine in her Serendipity in Love Creations shop. You can also follow Christine on her Blog as well as her Instagram account @serendipityinlovecreations.

Prickly Pear quilt made by Shannon Staton

Shannon Staton of Pennily Quilt Shop has made a double-size Prickly Pear quilt that she’s kitting. This bold and beautiful quilt is made using Art Gallery Fabrics new Adina collection mixed with coordinating Pure Solids. Find the fun kit at Shannon’s Etsy shop Pennily Quilt Shop. You will also find Shannon on Instagram @shannonsquiltingadventures.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the Prickly Pear quilt show today and are inspired to make one of the kit versions or strike out on your own and create something uniquely you!

For other sewing inspiration, be sure to check out the Art Gallery Fabrics Lilliput Look Book that was released last week. It’s a virtual magazine full of Lilliput fabric projects and ideas—you’ll love it! I’m planning an entire future blog post, maybe two to show you more behind the scenes and images of the Lilliput projects I contributed to the Look Book.

Find a growing list of your favorite quilt shops carrying Lilliput on the FABRICS page.

Happy sewing!

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New Fabric Collection!

New Fabric Collection!

Spring is an exciting time of year with trees leafing out, flowers blooming, and the weather warming up for spending time outdoors. I’ve been anticipating spring even more than usual because my newest fabric line, Everlasting for Art Gallery Fabrics will be available in May at your local quilt shops and favorite online retailers.

Everlasting is my seventh collection for Art Gallery Fabrics and it tells the story of love, marriage, and family.

The summertime palette or navy, coral, blush, and teal pull at my heartstrings as I associate this collection with my daughter, Anna. As my only girl, Anna and I have had a special bond. She has a creative mind, is a nurturing mother, is smart, positive, and has a tender soul. Sometimes I see myself in her mixed together with the other important women in my life, my mother and grandmother but mostly she’s her own person and I love her dearly. I’m so proud of the woman she’s become.

Photo credit: Red Tree Photos

Everlasting has a classic elegance to the prints that were inspired by my daughter’s wedding. The colors for her wedding were navy and sunflower yellow. The bridesmaids, groom and groomsmen all wore navy. Anna’s bouquet was simple, ivory roses and the other flowers and colors came from seasonal wildflowers.

Photo credit: Red Tree Photos

My daughter wore my mothers 1959 wedding dress and the cut of this dress couldn’t have been any more perfect for my daughter’s classic yet modest style. See more about this collection and the other spring collections in the AGF Fabric Collections | May-August 2019 Look Book.

Just as it would be hard to image a wedding or springtime without flowers, I can’t image a fabric collection without floral prints. Joyful blooms and fresh picked wildflowers make this collection feel like you’ve stepped into a summer garden party.

Rather than calling my Everlasting collection a mini collection (because there’s only 10 quilting cotton prints in one color way) I think of this collection as being an intimate gathering. 

Everlasting has all the things needed for stitching beautiful quilts from the large floral hero print, medium scale prints in coordinate colors, and beloved, low volume blenders. Think of this fabric line as a marriage ceremony with only close loved ones in attendance.

There’s three knits and one rayon prints—perfect for summer garment sewing!

In just a few short weeks, the Everlasting LookBook will be published for inspiration viewing and quilt shops will have these prints in stock for your next make. Let your local shop know you’d like them to carry Everlasting from Art Gallery Fabrics and as online stores start listing their inventory I’ll be adding links to those shops on my Fabrics page.

Meanwhile, myself and a bunch of other super talented makers will be busily stitching up beautiful and inspirational projects from Everlasting prints. Here’s a peek at a new quilt pattern I’m working on called, Diamond-Cut. I can’t wait to show you more!

Hold Tight Quilt

Hold Tight Quilt

Hold Tight Baby Quilt by Sharon Holland Designs

I’m so excited to bring you this new PDF quilt pattern! I swear this is has been the most fun I’ve ever had designing and making of a quilt.

My niece is having their first baby and is decorating the nursery in an Up theme from the movie by that name. Balloons are an important part of the movie and I certainly had a challenge on my hands to create a special quilt that carried (pardon the pun) that fun and colorful aspect of the storyline.

I knew right away this would be an all solids quilt and since I sew with nothing else but Art Gallery Fabrics I got out all my Pure Solids and made some fabric choices. The image above was an early fabric pull and you’ll notice some colors changed in the final quilt design.

This baby quilt is purposely over-sized as it will be a great design for baby to grow into. I envision blanket forts, snuggles at story time, and naps out on the sofa well past toddler years.

Gender-neutral, colorful balloons are given an extra layer of fun with playful transparency overlapping colors. This quilt uses 20 different Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Solids (that number includes the background) and the possibilities are endless for creating looks and nursery color matching. Playing with color is the so much fun that I’ve included a coloring page in the PDF pattern so you can test out different options.

Since this quilt will surely be laundered a lot and I wanted it snuggly warm I used Hobbs Tuscany Collection 100% Premium Polyester batting for extra loft, durability, and warmth.

As if this quilt wasn’t fun enough I added some chunky hand stitching in Aurifloss 6-strand thread to make “strings” for the balloons after it was machine quilted and before binding.

This pattern is available to purchase as a PDF download on my SHOP page. Because of the curved piecing I am labeling this an Intermediate level quilt pattern but I feel a confident beginner will also achieve great results.

Included in the that PDF pattern is a block squaring template for perfect results every time. I highly suggest using Dritz brand Heavy Duty Template Plastic for making your templates from the PDF templates and a 28 mm rotary cutter for cutting curved pieces. See full materials list on the listing for the pattern and affiliate links at the end of this post for my Amazon picks.

I can’t wait to see your Hold Tight quilt make for your special little someone. Be sure to tag me @sharonhollanddesigns and use the hashtag #HoldTightQuilt and #SharonHollandQuilts when posting to social media and if you’re using Art Gallery Fabric Pure Solids don’t forget to tag @ArtGalleryFabrics and use the hashtags #AGFPureSolids and #PureSolids so they can also see your beautiful sewing!

Apples to Apples

Apples to Apples

Apple Season Coasters by Sharon Holland

Can you guess what’s the theme is for this blog post? Yup, apples and I have two super fun (and scrappy) apple-themed projects for you to make.

Aurifil 2018 Designer Block of the Month block by Sharon Holland

Apple Season Coasters

It’s always nice to have some quick, small projects that use up scraps and yet are still useful! I had designed these apple mug rugs several years back as a project for my magazines I worked on. The neat thing is I had originally made them with Art Gallery Fabrics and I am again—only this time with my Signature prints and Maureen Cracknell’s newest collection called Autumn Vibes!

Download the free PDF pattern for making these easy coasters. It’s the perfect time of year to have extra mug rugs on hand for family gatherings and cozy relaxation with your favorite hot drink.

If you’re like me you have lots of beautiful fabric scraps as well as left over pieces of batting. I couldn’t stop at just making a set a four Signature Apple Season coasters, I had to make a few more.

Later this week I’ll be sharing a beginner-friendly quilt project made from Maureen’s new Art Gallery Fabrics collection called Autumn Vibes. The beautiful fall colors and motifs really speak to me. I had some scraps left over from the quilt and made an additional four coasters.

Wouldn’t these make the cutest hostess gifts? I can just picture them tucked into a basket with mugs, tea or hot cocoa, and don’t forget some cookies or apple butter!

Aurifil 2018 Designer Block of the Month

Courtesy of Aurifil

Last fall I was asked by Pat Sloan to be part of this year’s Aurifil Designer of the Month sampler sew along—how exciting, huh?!!! This year’s theme is “The Places We Go” and the 12 designers are to make a block inspired by favorite places.

I love NY collage by Sharon Holland

I decided to use New York City, NY as my muse and what better way to show this iconic city than with a Big Apple!

Photo by Nick Holland

For the free PDF download on how to make this block along with my interview with Pat Sloan and a further look at this block and my inspiration, visit the Auribuzz blog post about my September block-of-the-month.

You can jump in at anytime to make this travel-inspired quilt and get to know all the fabulous designers behind the blocks, read about their inspiration, and meet new quilty friends as you share and post your blocks. As host, Pat also has loads of awesome prizes and tips, too!

Big Apple block by Sharon Holland

I used a variety of Art Gallery Fabrics prints and Pure Elements solids in my block. The color theme for this year’s Aurifil quilt is black and white plus one color of choice. There’s so many amazing black and white graphic prints from AGF that narrowing it down was the hardest part! I kept the apple a bit simpler and used solids except for the Mudcloth Bachelorette print that made me think of apple seeds. Of course, Aurifil thread was used and I had some luscious colors to choose from.

Here’s a look at my small and large Aurifil Color Story box sets of curated threads to go with my Art Gallery Fabrics fabric collections. Look for them wherever Aurifil threads are sold.

Happy fall everyone!