From epic cross stitch SALS to mini cross stitched samplers to artfully embroidered quilts, Susan Ache (@yardgrl60) has kept many of us sane through these crazy quarantined times. She’s brought us the Collecting Colors SAL, the Sanctuary SAL, a variety of solo samplers, and has now partnered with Moda to share Christmas in Jacksonville. Is it too early for a Christmas quilt? Absolutely not! This is the perfect moment to dive in… to give yourself time to enjoy the process and to let the practice of hand stitching provide a bit of solace within the solitude.
Christmas in Jacksonville is a Mystery Quilt. You won’t see the finished setting until August but now that we’re 5 blocks in… you can get a solid peek at what to expect. Throughout the Summer, Moda will share fourteen 9″ finished Baltimore Album-inspired embroidery blocks designed by Susan Ache. Only thirteen of them are needed for the setting so there is a bonus block that would be simply perfect for a pillow, for the quilt back, or simply to frame as artwork.
Susan used 8 colors of Aurifloss from her Little Quaker Christmas collection to stitch up these blocks.
- 1231
- 1147
- 2250
- 2255
- 2270
- 2886
- 5002
- 5016
To get started, make sure to check out the first posts on Moda:
- Christmas in Jacksonville Intro/Block 1
- Holiday Stitch-a-long, Block 2
- Holiday Stitch-a-long, Block 3
- Holiday Stitch-a-long, Block 4
Block 5 dropped yesterday (delightfully called Ribbons & Pinecones) in addition to an alternating block!
Head HERE to read more and to grab patterns for both blocks. Moda plans to share the final setting and finishing next month, on Thursday, August 20.
If you’re just getting started, don’t miss these helpful posts:
And as always, if you’re stitching along, be sure to post your blocks — use the hashtag #ModaHolidaySAL to make sure that we, Moda, and Susan can all see your progress!
Thanks SO much to both Moda and Susan for sharing this spectacular Summer Stitch Along.
Happy Stitching!
ABOUT SUSAN
Instagram — Susan’s Book
A love of color makes it easy for Susan to grab inspiration from her native Florida surroundings. With no grand idea other than knowing she wanted embroidery and nine patches in her first quilt, a new world opened up to this mom of now five grown children. Being self taught with many hours of reading about the makings of a quilt and quilt blocks has made this an a lifelong passion. Susan is always searching for new and fun ways to show off as many colors as she can in a quilt. Most of her quilts are a creative impulse from trips to the garden center, a photograph, or browsing through paint chip selections. “I really never see just the quilt, I seem to see the quilt in the room that it belongs in”. Working in a quilt store for years helped Susan to pursue that passion of color and the fabric inspired life she enjoys while constantly striving to make her next favorite quilt.
This would be a lovely embellishment on a handmade christmas stocking! Or gift sack!
I love all these the green and red just create a Christmas POP!