My Abloom Quilt Finish (Sew Sampler – May 2025)
I’m so happy to finally be sharing this finish — my Abloom quilt, made from the May 2025 Sew Sampler Box. This is one of those projects that quietly stayed with me throughout the year, and seeing it fully quilted and finished feels especially satisfying.
The fabric collection, Abloom by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics, is just beautiful. Soft, cheerful florals with a timeless feel — the kind of prints that instantly lift your mood. I especially loved working with the panel that came in the box; it really anchors the quilt and makes it feel special.
I followed the pattern exactly as written, and honestly, it was such an enjoyable make. Even though I did experience a little stall along the way (which I shared in my previous blog post HERE> , the construction itself was smooth and fun. This is something I’ve come to really appreciate about Sew Sampler projects — they’re thoughtfully designed and a pleasure to sew.
Quilt Details at a Glance
(This is where I personally love to glance back later too!)
- Fabric: Abloom by Corey Yoder for Moda Fabrics
👉 FABRIC COLLECTION HERE> - Pattern: From the May 2025 Sew Sampler Box by Fat Quarter Shop – (pattern is exclusively for box subscribers only)
👉 Subscribe to SEW SAMPLER HERE> - Finished Size: 53″ × 70.5″
- Machine: Janome Horizon (domestic machine)
👉 Check out the SEWING MACHINE HERE> - Quilting Design: Large-scale meandering
Check out more photos of the quilt and the process below:
Quilting the Abloom Quilt (Slow, Simple & Manageable)
When it came time to quilt this one, I knew I wanted to keep things simple. The quilt is fairly big at 53″ × 70.5″, and because this one is going to be a gift, I wanted it finished before the end of the year without turning the quilting stage into something stressful.
I quilted the entire quilt on my Janome Horizon domestic machine, using a large-scale meandering design. Instead of trying to finish it in one long session, I quilted about 1/8 of the quilt at a time, usually in 20–30 minute pockets, before taking a break.
This meant the quilting stretched out over about a week, but when I added it all up, the total quilting time was only around four hours.
This pace worked so well for me:
- It kept my shoulders and hands happy
- I stayed focused instead of fatigued
- And the process felt calm and achievable
This is really important when it comes to domestic machine quilting. You need to take lots of breaks to continue to enjoy it and not hurt yourself. The large meandering design helped keep the quilt soft and snuggly, which was exactly what I wanted. It drapes beautifully and feels cosy — perfect for a single bed quilt. If you’ve ever felt intimidated about quilting a larger quilt on a domestic machine, this approach really works. Small, consistent pockets of time truly do add up.
👉 Tools I love for free motion quilting:
- Quilting Glove or Sticky Garden gloves
- the Teflon sheet, Supreme Slider
- Convertible Free-motion quilting foot – get the one to suit your machine, low shank or high shank. Read more about free motion quilting foot here>
Check out Free Motion Quilting Bootcamp HERE> if you’re thinking about starting to quilt on your machine. Quilting yourself with your home machine saves a lot of dollars in which you can use for buying more fabrics! Haha.
Using Every Bit of the Sew Sampler Box
One detail I loved about this project: while I still have panel blocks left over for another future idea, the Jolly Bar that came with the Sew Sampler Box was completely used up.
I love when that happens — when a project feels intentional and well planned, and you really get to make the most of what comes in the box. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy Sew Sampler so much.
And honestly, Fat Quarter Shop patterns continue to impress me. They are:
- Clearly written
- Beginner-friendly yet satisfying
- Full of full-colour diagrams that make every step easy to follow
If you enjoy a stress-free sewing experience, I really can’t recommend their patterns enough. They have tons of patterns 👉 CHECK THEM OUT HERE →
A Little Reflection on My Quilting Year
Looking back at 2025, I may not have made as many quilts as in some previous years, but I have finished a few meaningful ones , and this Abloom quilt is definitely one of my favourites.
It’s been a really fun year of making, even at a slightly slower pace. Sometimes that slower pace is exactly what we need. I’ll be sharing a round-up of the projects I worked on this year sometime next week, including finishes and works-in-progress! So be sure to keep an eye out for that.
For now, I’m just enjoying this moment: a quilt stitched, quilted, and ready to be gifted, made slowly, lovingly, and with a lot of joy along the way.
