When I saw Cluck Cluck Sew’s new free pattern, I knew immediately I was going to make it. I love house quilts. I didn’t always, but they have grown on me immensely over the last few years. I have been struggling with finding a new balance in this weird new “normal”. I’ve wanted to sew, but it’s hard to find something I can work on in 5 second increments. I knew this pattern would be conducive to being interrupted as it doesn’t require a ton of concentration, it can all be chain pieced, and I knew it would be super cute.

I used Sweet Shoppe and Sweet Shoppe Too by Andover Fabrics and used up 37 fat quarters from my stash! I LOVE a quilt like this! When I finished the blocks I was having a really hard time trying to decide how to lay it out. I had an idea. … I decided to turn over the layout of the quilt to my adorable 8 year old son.

He stacked the blocks into groups of 10, then I sewed them together without changing much. I pressed the rows, then he decided how the rows would fit together. It was HARD to give up that much creative control to a cute 8 year old, but he was sure it would be cute and I just loved how enthusiastic he was about it.

Once I finished the top, I quickly made a backing, got it spray basted, and then did the trusty straight line quilting 3/4″ apart with Aurifil thread. By this point my son was asking if the quilt was done yet because he wanted to use it on his bed. Cue squeals of delight! Is there anything better?!?!?

We happily displayed it as part of the Quilt Porch Parade, then it got washed, and I imagine it will be his bed quilt for awhile. Have you ever given up creative control like that to your children? I must say it was really hard, but I knew on a quilt like this that was inherently busy it would look awesome no matter what, and it does! It will forever be a memory of this hard time, letting my sons participate in something I love to do.