Week 8, Quilt 3 of the 52 Quilts Challenge
Well… if you’re keeping track, this is Week 8 of the 52 Quilts Challenge… and I’m finally posting Quilt 3: my Fall Framed Windows quilt.
I could sugarcoat it, but honestly? Let’s just “eat crow” as we say… 🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛
It got a little hairy there for a minute! Quilting this Fall Framed Windows quilt took SO. MUCH. LONGER than I had anticipated. Add that to a very busy couple of weeks at work and with family, I was only able to work on it here and there.
But hey, it’s finished now, and that’s what counts in this challenge where the true theme is: Finish. The. Quilt.
This week I’m revealing my Fall Framed Windows Quilt, made with the deliciously moody All Hallow’s Eve line by Fig Tree & Co for Moda. If you love fall colors, cozy vibes, or anything Fig Tree touches, this one is right up your alley.
If you’re new here, you can read the full backstory of the 52 Quilts Challenge and why on earth I decided to finish 52 quilts in 52 weeks right here: 👉 52 Quilts Challenge HQ & Index
(This post links to every quilt in the challenge and the FAQ!)
Follow along as I attempt to clear out my extensive collection of UFOs (unfinished objects) and aim for 52 quilt finishes in 52 weeks. Crazy, I know… but I’m crazy that way!
(Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)
🍂 A Busy Week, Three Finishes (Somehow)
This quilt is actually one of three finishes that happened during Thanksgiving week — a rare burst of quilting productivity fueled by a mix of determination, stress relief, and “I want cozy things right NOW.”
I’ll create separate posts for each of them though to include source information, the story behind the quilt, and, of course, all the reveal pics. Be sure to check out my tips for each quilt at the end of each quilt reveal blog post!
But let’s start with this autumn beauty.
🎃 The Backstory: A Long Nap Under My Fabric Cupboard
When Moda released All Hallow’s Eve by Fig Tree and Co, I fell in love instantly. The orange-and-charcoal palette was absolutely impossible to resist.
I may have made a precut layer cake purchase without any idea of what I would make with it. I also may have enjoyed that precut stack with occasional flips through it here and there when I felt the cozy vibes… 🙈
Fabric: All Hallow’s Eve by Fig Tree & Co for Moda
👉 View the full fabric collection here on the Moda Facebook page (totally worth the diversion!)
What I knew was that I wanted a pattern where the gorgeous large-scale prints could shine.
But I was paralyzed for a bit trying to decide what I wanted to do with it.
Anyone else hoard and pet their fabric? Tell me it’s not just me! 🫠 I simply did NOT want to cut these prints into small pieces and lose their lusciousness – I wanted the prints to SHINE!
My Pinterest boards didn’t fail me! I chose this Framed Windows pattern by Ann Ferguson to highlight the beauty of the prints.
🪡 Piecing: Easy, Fast, and Fall-Inspired
Cutting and piecing this top was an absolute delight. Simple shapes, bold prints, fast blocks — all the things that make cozy sewing feel so satisfying. ❤️
For reference, I think I pieced it a few years ago (possibly 2022 ish). I recall that I enjoyed laying out the blocks and arranging the darks “just so” and then sewing the rows to complete the top.
And then…
Well, this quilt top lived in a zippered project bag under my sewing cupboard for a good long while! Like many of my UFOs, it settled comfortably into long-term storage.
But then came the real challenge…
💪 Machine Quilting: The Arm Workout of the Year
Let’s be honest: I procrastinated quilting this one because I loved the fabrics too much. Perfectionism can stall great intentions. I didn’t want to “spoil” a great quilt top with bad quilting.
My piecing skills are intermediate level (perhaps advanced on a good sewing day)…
My machine quilting skills however?
Let’s call them “enthusiastic novice.”
I knew I wanted this quilt to be one of my early finishes for the 52 Quilts Challenge, so I needed to push through the fear… I’m so glad I did!!!
It’s amazing what a timeline can do for breaking through quilting paralysis!
I decided to quilt parallel lines, about 1.5” apart, across the whole quilt. I used painter’s tape to mark my quilting lines because I didn’t want to mark the entire surface – funny how I go from wanting it to be “just right” to using an efficiency hack.
It worked beautifully… for the first few lines. For the rest? Let’s just say it’s harder to keep straight over a long distance.
That said, this quilt was for our family. I knew they wouldn’t care a lick if the quilted lines weren’t straight. And I was pretty sure I wouldn’t either.
And quilting it on a domestic machine?
Arm. Day. Every. Day.
🎥 Watch me quilt this beauty on Instagram
🍁 A Mountain Reveal at Amicalola Falls
At long last, the wait on this gorgeous fall themed quilt is over! We reunited with extended family for Thanksgiving at Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge in Georgia — the leaves were mostly gone, but the views still made for a beautiful fall backdrop!
🎥 Check out the full reveal on Instagram, waterfall included!
🧵🪡✂ Maker’s Notes:
Pattern: Framed: My Most Popular Moda Layer Cake Tutorial by Ann Ferguson
Fabric: “All Hallow’s Eve” by Fig Tree & Co and Moda Fabrics)
Finished Size: 72″ x 72″
Batting: Wool Batting (90” x 90”) (the exact one I used) – This was my 1st try with wool batting, will post my thoughts on it soon. Spoiler: Love the final result, a bit fussy to work with.
Thread: Aurifil 50 wt in White
Quilting: Straight-line quilting, approx. 1.5” apart using Scotch painters tape to mark quilting lines
Tools used: Quilting gloves (similar pair here on Amazon) and walking foot
(Note: I enjoy supporting my local quilt shops but I do also buy online as well. I’ve included links to online options but highly recommend checking out your local quilt shop – there’s nothing quite like building community locally when possible.)
💡 Tips for This Fall Framed Windows Quilt
This was a very beginner-friendly quilting pattern – great for quick quilts (unless you’re me!) or to showcase prints you love 💕
- Backstitch your blocks. I admit, I don’t usually backstitch my blocks. BUT with the amount of pull I had on some of these seams while I sewed this larger quilt, I’ve decided to change my tune for upcoming quilts if bigger than lap size.
- Finish. The. Quilt! This one seems like a silly tip perhaps, but here’s what I learned. As much as I really do love piecing tops, I’ve been robbing myself of the absolute joy that comes from a finished quilt. I don’t snuggle with quilt tops. Finish the quilt!
- Square your quilt the right way. I love this free tutorial from Missouri Quilt Star – explains so well how to get a perfect trim to your quilt sandwich before binding! [I admit I was making some mistakes myself until I saw this] Link to this free tutorial here.
🌟 Final Thoughts (and More Quilt Reveals Coming!)
“Finish the quilt” is definitely the overall theme of this 52 Quilts Challenge. I’m so excited to gift myself the joy of completing so many of my UFOs in these upcoming months…
In fact, Thanksgiving week I also finished up hand sewing the back of the binding on the next 2 quilts: Under the Pines Table Runner (newer purchase for a quilt swap) and Christmas BOM (from wayyyy back). Both of those blog posts are coming right up!
If you missed my first two quilt finishes in the challenge, you can read about them here and here.
See all quilts from the 52 Quilts Challenge in the Challenge Index.
Follow along:
