Considering the weather lately, it’s pretty hard to believe that the first day of fall will be here in less than two months! Here in WI, the last couple of weeks have been nothing short of what I refer to as, “swampy.” We’ve been enjoying 90%+ humidity, a ton of rain, intense sunshine, and temps in the mid 80’s to 90’s. While I do love the summer heat, let’s just say the humidity combined with those kinds of temperatures can definitely make life more of a task (IYKYK). Whether it be wrestling to get my hair under control every morning, trying to achieve outdoor exercise sans heat stroke, or even just deciding what to wear for the day, it’s always more of a challenge when it’s hot and humid. If you live in a climate like this, you get it – I never know if I’ll need jeans and a sweater to deal with the sub-zero AC in one place, or a tank top and shorts to keep cool in the next. The struggle is real!
Hey, speaking of fall, I realize it might be hard to turn your attention toward colder weather in the middle of a summer heat wave, but I’m about to be that person and remind you once again that it will be here sooner than we think. In reality, this toasty time of year is a good time to start thinking about any fall or Halloween projects that you’d like to get done in time for the upcoming season. Let’s be honest – depending on what the project is or how many you need to tackle, a couple of months really doesn’t give you that much of a chance to crank it out before the leaves start falling. In other words, the sooner you get the ball rolling, the better!
I know a lot of you have started to work on your fall and winter projects already, which is awesome – it’s always better to be an ant than a grasshopper! On the other hand, I also know many of you are still looking for your next quilt adventure. With so many great choices to choose from out there, I can’t say I blame you! Personally, for me one of the best things about fall is – well, my birthday, of course! – and Halloween is right up there too. There are so many fun projects to choose from to celebrate Halloween that it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite! If I did have to choose a “handful” of top picks, I know for certain that my quilt “Pumpkin Carving Contest” would be right up there.
If this adorable jack-o-lantern quilt looks familiar, that’s because it was originally from the summer block of the week back in 2022. As you can probably guess by looking at it, this pattern was super fun for me to sketch out and design. I mean… Just look at all that personality – all in one quilt!
Talk about a fun quilt to make! Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned quilter, “Pumpkin Carving Contest” is a great project choice for anyone who loves jack-o-lanterns and Halloween! Done with beautiful wool appliqué on cotton flannel, this spooky little number goes together easily without a huge time commitment. Not to mention, at 62″ x 69″ its large pieces and portable “stitch as you go” design make it super easy to work on it anywhere you have time!
Feeling inspired? I’ve seen some pretty ingenious versions of “Pumpkin Carving Contest” over the last couple of years, with creative ideas across the board including one done in all tie-dye (YES it was as cool as it sounds)! How will you make yours? If you’re ready to get into the creative Halloween spirit with your own version of “Pumpkin Carving Contest,” there are a couple of ways you can go about it. The first way is simple – you buy the pattern only and go about your merry way, using fabric and wool from your own stash to make your quilt. The second way is by purchasing what you need of your wool, background fabric, and thread from us à la carte, or as a full kit (kits do not include fabric for the quilt backing – you will need to purchase an additional five yards for your backing – HOT TIP: If you purchase your backing fabric at the same time as your kit, you will receive %20 OFF your backing).
The third way of joining in on the “Pumpkin Carving Contest” fun is by making it a bi-monthly subscription. When doing it this way, your first shipment will be in September 2024, and will contain the pattern, background fabric, and the first two rows of the quilt. Your following shipments will occur every other month for three additional shipments (November 2024, January 2025, and March 2025). You will receive an initial charge of $64.80 that will cover the cost of your background and binding fabric. Shipments will then be charged at $80.00 each thereafter, which will cover the cost of your wool and shipping (international customers will be charged an additional $11.00 PER SHIPMENT). Ready to get started? Click the buttons below to get everything you need to get “Pumpkin Carving Contest” just in time for Halloween!!!
Ok, enough about FALL for now – let’s get back to enjoying what’s left of summer! Ahh, but before I run out the door and toward Anchor Point for the weekend I need to give a Friday shout-out to Marcy P. and Janet J. for their comments on the blog last week. Thank you both so very much (please check your email if you think this is you)!!! You know I love it when you like, share, and comment on my stuff… It’s what makes it all worth it! Have a great weekend everyone. See you Monday at 10:00 a.m. CST for CommentSold! ~Lisa
