Memories in scraps
The Sparrows Quilt
There's something magical about finally completing a quilt that's been waiting patiently—marinating— in your sewing room. Last weekend my Sparrows quilt finally made its way onto the frame of my Bernina Q24 to be quilted. This project has been quite the journey—one filled with memories stitched into every piece.
The Sparrows quilt top was completed back in 2022 using the beautiful Pen + Patterns "Sparrows Quilt Pattern".
Early evening birdies
What makes this quilt particularly special is that every fabric square tells a story from my quilting adventures over the years. Each piece of fabric, many now long out of print, sparks a memory for me of another project, another time in my life.
Perhaps the most meaningful element is stitched into the back of the quilt. The extra sparrow block holds my label as well as the very first fabric I ever purchased for my first "proper" quilt.
I smile thinking about that purchase—it happened during a quilting class at the Anchorage Park Community Centre when my children (now adults!) were just toddlers. That hand-pieced sampler quilt was my true beginning after an earlier, less successful attempt. Looking at that fabric now is like looking through a window to the past.
The pantograph quilting pattern I chose is "Calder" by Natalie Gorman from Urban Elementz—an 8" wide pattern that complements the sparrows beautifully.
For thread, I used Madeira AeroQuilt 40 wt 9510 in a variegated yellow for the top with 40 wt white in the bobbin. The binding came from scraps of William Morris wideback fabric (the exact name escapes me now, as happens with our fabric stashes sometimes!).
Little last block for the back of the quilt - the head of this wee sparrow is the first fabric I purchased for my hand made sampler quilt in the late ‘80s
One thing I've noticed about this pattern is its remarkable versatility. I've seen countless versions on Instagram, each one stunning in its own way. It seems impossible to make a bad version of this quilt—every color combination just works. It's truly what I'd call a bulletproof pattern that consistently results in a gorgeous finished piece.
This is what I love about quilting—the stories our quilts tell. They're not just blankets; they're time capsules. Each stitch represents a moment in our lives, each fabric a memory. My Sparrows quilt contains snippets from projects spanning years of my quilting journey far beyond the time it took to make, all coming together to create something new that connects to my past.
Those fabric pieces waiting in your stash hold stories waiting to be told and retold. And if you're looking for a pattern that won't let you down, I can't recommend the Sparrows Quilt Pattern enough. Your fabric memories deserve to fly.
