We’ve been working with Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill of Whole Circle Studio for six years and she is truly just one of our favorites! She was the mastermind behind the epic 270 Colors Quilt, commissioned in 2017 in celebration of Aurifil USA’s 10th year, featuring 270 foundation paper pieced Large Spools of Aurifil 50wt, each quilted with the coordinating color of thread. It was (and is) a total show-stopper.
Sheri is meticulous and wildly creative in her quilting and patterning and we just love having the opportunity to celebrate her and her work. It doesn’t hurt that she is a fearless thread warrior and one of our treasured Aurifilosophers. Today, we’re excited to turn Auribuzz over to Sheri so that she might properly introduce her 2024 BOM, the perfect quilt for plant lovers and truly a new FPP masterpiece! Huge thanks to Sheri for sharing her insights!
Hello, quilting enthusiasts! I’m Sheri from Whole Circle Studio, and I’m thrilled to share my latest quilt project, Greenhouse Garden, a Block of the Month (BOM) + quilt sew along. As a longtime friend and collaborator with Aurifil, I can’t wait to show you how their incredible threads helped bring this quilt to life.
2024 marks the fourth year of my year-long Block of the Month (BOM) series, and this time, we’re diving into the blooming beauties of Greenhouse Garden. Hundreds of quilters over the years have sewn along with us over the years. Quilters of all levels have not only completed beautiful quilts but also mastered new Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) skills along the way.
Let’s explore the new Greenhouse Garden design!
From Sketch to Stitch
This project started in April 2023. I brought my iPad and Apple Pencil to my local coffeehouse and using the program Procreate, I started sketching a greenhouse scene while sipping on a latte.
Once I was back in the Studio, I brought that sketch into Adobe Illustrator and started tweaking it a bit. Once I was happy with the initial design, I transitioned the sketch to reality by drafting the entire design into Foundation Paper Piecing (FPP) blocks, dividing the scene up into 12 rectangular quilt blocks. The blocks can be pieced next to one another to create a quilt with just the plants or sashing can be added between the blocks to make it look like they’re inside greenhouse windows.
This quilt pattern is TOTALLY Foundation Paper Pieced (no curved piecing or applique). The awesome thing about FPP, other than it being incredibly precise, is that you can sew a few straight lines near one another at angles and then it looks like it’s a curve. It’s an easy way to achieve these organic, curvy plants! If you look closely at the quilt, you see the straight lines but if you step back, they look like curves.
I find that that most quilters either love FPP or haven’t found the love for it — YET. Foundation paper piecing requires thinking about piecing in a different way than other quilt projects and every quilter approaches it slightly differently. I find that with a little bit of patience and practice, quilters can pick up on it and learn to love this technique. Need a tutorial (or refresher) on FPP? I have you covered with a free Foundation Paper Piecing Tutorial/Mini Class.
The video below shows a little bit of my process — how I draft quilt sketches into paper piecing pattern templates. It’s a bit like putting a puzzle together.
Thread Matters
Aurifil thread played a crucial role in bringing these quilts to life. I foundation paper piece a lot, using Aurifil 50wt thread that matches or complements my fabric. The 50wt is thin, allowing me to achieve flat seams when I press, yet is strong ensuring my seams remain securely sewn together after the paper is removed. The result is a quilt that stands the test of time.
Quilting Magic
As a quilter who loves using a walking foot, I found inspiration within the shapes of the Greenhouse Garden quilt. I quilted inside each leaf, stem, flower, and pot with a complementary thread color using my walking foot.
I then quilted inside each shape, echoing the outline. Most lines were ¼” apart but for some areas I decided to go a bit denser with quilted lines only ⅛” apart. For the background, I quilted diagonal straight lines, ½” apart, to create an effect of beams of light, giving the quilt a radiant touch.
For my Throw version of Greenhouse Garden, I selected Aurifil thread colors that perfectly complement the Chalk and Charcoal fabrics (designed by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman Fabrics) for the Throw version of my Greenhouse Garden quilt.
All of the plants were quilted using Aurifil 40wt in the following green colors (2886, 2840, 2870, 2892, 2860, and 2887). I used 50wt thread to quilt the pots and flowers in these beautiful warm colors (1243, 2150, 2250, and 2435). For the background of the quilt, I used 50wt (color: 2024) for the diagonal lines and a thicker 28wt (color: 2021) to outline around the plants and pots in the negative space of the background.
For the Queen version of my Greenhouse Garden quilt, I mixed up the thread color palette a bit from my Throw version in order to have colors complement the Grunge by Moda Fabrics.
All of the plants were quilted using Aurifil 40 wt in the following green colors (1231, 2840, 1114, 2870, 2850, and 2890). I also used 40wt thread to quilt the pots and flowers in these beautiful warm colors (2588, 2145, 4020, and 2440). For the background of the quilt, I used 50wt (color: 4140) for the diagonal lines and to outline around the plants and pots in the negative space of the background. In the Greenhouse mullions (sashing), I quilted straight lines using 40wt in a beautiful gray color (2606).
Versatile Blocks, Bountiful Quilt Options
Quilters, rejoice in choice! These versatile Greenhouse Garden blocks offer multiple layout options. Instructions are included for how to assemble the blocks into: 4 runners, a throw quilt, or pick up the optional Add-On Block Pack and go big with twin and queen-sized quilts. If you prefer, incorporate your blocks into other projects—abstract mini quilts, wall decor, placemats, table runners, bags… the options are endless!
Join the Sewing Fun!
I had so much fun designing and making the Greenhouse Garden quilts but that’s just the beginning! I’ll be sewing along with lots of other quilters from all over the world throughout 2024 —jump in at any time as this is a low-stress BOM sew along and we’ll all be working at our own pace as we make our own Greenhouse Garden quilts.
All skill levels welcome. This Block of the Month was designed for quilters who have some experience with foundation paper piecing (FPP) and are looking for a fun but challenging project. That said, beginners are totally welcome as I’ll be sharing all of my tips and tricks. Wherever you are with your FPP skills, by the end of 2024, your piecing skills and confidence will grow. I’ll be here to share all of my tips and cheer you on every step of the way. We’ll all go at our own pace. There’s no pressure to finish the block each month, but for those who want to keep to a schedule we’ll keep each other accountable and have a finished quilt top by the end of the year.
I hope you’ll join us! Early Bird Registration is now open. If you register before December 18, 2023 you’ll save $10 on registration. Get all of the details and register here:
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Love this design. I’m very green thumb challenged so creating this piece would be amazing hanging in my kitchen. I’ve done FPP and enjoyed it. Will the pattern be available on its own?