Let’s start the new year off with a quilt pattern release! With close to hundred patterns written for this blog over the last 15 years—yes, it’s been 15 years for this blog—some of those early quilt patterns are in need of a makeover!

My Hug & Kisses quilt was my 16th pattern and originally a free pattern up until the end of last year when it got retired. The new pattern has been updated in instructions and quilt size options. Originally just written for a crib quilt, the new pattern now comes with 3 size options of crib, throw (cover quilt), and twin. This is a beginner-friendly pattern that invites you to use lots of those pretty fabrics from your stash. It’s not a fat quarter pattern but if you’re really, really, really, a good cutter, you could conceivably make the throw quilt from fat quarters—it uses a fat quarter to the last thread with no wriggle room for error. The other sizes use 1/2 yard cuts for the prints in the blocks. See the shop listing form material list, HERE.

The name of this quilt inspired me to make a Valentine’s version in reds and mauve. I used assorted prints from my Bookish, Kismet, Kindred, Tumbleweed, Listen to Your Heart, and Fanciful collections for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Brooke Becker at Lady Belle Fabric has kitted my generous-size, 60’’ x 75’’ cover throw quilt so you don’t have to spend your time sourcing the fabrics to get this look. As a special bonus for this quilt release, the first 14 kits order from Brooke receive a printed copy of the new Hugs & Kisses quilt pattern with their order. Otherwise, the pattern is sold separately from my Shop and not included in the kit.

I used Hobbs Batting Polydown batting inside my quilt for a lovely, luxurious puff that’s cozy to snuggle under for the cold winter months. I did a very quick machine quilting of it on my domestic sewing machine of a freeform orange peel design.

For the backing I used the new 108” wide back print from my Tumbleweed collection for Art Gallery Fabrics—it really was the perfect print! The binding is the 2.5 Edition Binding from the same Tumbleweed collection and it lets you choose the light or dark side of the binding to use on your quilt. I decided for the dark binding edge on this quilt. I hand stitched my binding with Aurifil 12 wit thread in the beautiful pink color number 2425.

Give this fast and fun quilt pattern a try and you could have a quilt, or two ready for Valentine’s Day! Happy New Year and happy sewing!