State of Mind Quilt Pattern
Tap into your inner peace with the State of Mind pattern now available HERE!
PATTERN DETAILS
The fast pattern is great for all sewing skill levels but I wrote it with confident beginners in mind! It includes print-at-home templates, clear diagrams, and easy-to-follow instructions to piece the top. Links to video tutorials, including tips on how to sew half ovals, are added for extra guidance!
WHAT FABRICS TO USE
Two fat quarters are all you need to whip up the two-color option. Or use those random leftover pieces from previous projects! I’ve made versions using solids, prints, linen, and chore coat so whatever you have in your fabric stash should do!
Fabrics: chore coat toweling in sunshine (ruby star society); essex yarn dyed linen in charcoal (robert kaufman)
Fabrics: First Light collection and Sugar in Neon Pink by Ruby Star Society
Fabrics: roasted pecan and bone (kona fabrics)
Fabrics: evergreen, dragon fruit, sweet tangerine, olive oil, and white linen (art gallery fabrics)
Fabrics: Starry collection from Ruby Star Society
Fabrics: unknown woven print; bone (kona fabrics)
NEED MORE INSPIRATION?
Check out more versions by the wonderfully talented testers here!
BEHIND THE SCENES
If you’re new here, my love for sewing curves is hardcore. State of Mind was conjured up by my desire to try half ovals while wondering how to use leftover curvy scraps from the Pacific Sun quilt. Naturally, the international peace symbol, designed by Gerald Holtom in the 1950s to represent nuclear disarmament, immediately sprung to mind. It’s simple, straightforward, and impactful. It was exactly what I needed to experiment with ovals.
The odd thing about this project is how soothing it made me feel every time I brought it to my sewing table. The trial and error approach to writing this pattern was a refreshing change because it was relaxing and tactile (see below for some of the prototypes!). There wasn’t any sense of rush to get this out. I took my time playing with different:
block sizes to make sure it doesn’t use up a lot of fabric ✔️
line widths so the “stems” look proportional to the block ✔️
piecing methods to make sure it’s quick-to-make and suitable for confident beginners ✔️
I ended up making several samples but because it’s a small project, it was a perfect way to practice slow stitching. It took years for me to get to this place so I’m gonna put it on a mug to make it official: I LOVE HAND QUILTING!
ABOUT THE PATTERN
The pattern was originally named Serenity Now (hello, Seinfeld fans!), a rage-controlling mantra uttered by Frank Costanza that, at first, seemed hilariously fitting when this project began. Pandemic, self-imposed deadline dates, doomscrolling, and health issues had started to really get to me. However, as mentioned earlier, working on this helped put me in a peaceful mindset and thus, how the pattern got its new name. ;)