2026 Small Project Summer Challenge

Small Project Summer Challenge and a New VRD Scarf Tutorial, Inessa Jane

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

I hope all of you are having an amazing summer filled with family, fun, sun, and maybe a little bit of quilting and sewing, too! For me, the quilting and sewing has come in little fits and spurts, but never fear – I am still getting my creative groove on very regularly. Which is a good thing because I tend to get cranky when I haven’t spent time doing creative things for a while. Are you like this too?

Colorful illustration featuring a sun, sewing tools, and summer-themed elements like watermelon and lemonade, with the text 'Family Fun & Sun' and 'Stitching in the Sunshine'.

We are now finishing Week 4 of our Small Project Summer Challenge and I’m thrilled to say that participation has been right around 50%. That is really terrific. I wasn’t sure what people would think of our smaller projects, but folks seem to be having fun and enjoying them. I’ve had many lovely comments about how fun the projects are and if it hadn’t been for the challenge, participants might not ever have tried making a particular small project. I’m hoping that next summer, we can do this again and my fingers are crossed that we’ll have even more small project options for you. My question for everyone is:

What kind of small projects would you like to see as VRD Rose Card patterns?

Please keep in mind that our space is limited for instructions, so each project has to fit on the back of a 4″ x 6″ postcard. This is not always an easy task and sometimes we have to get creative with our allotted space, which may even include several revisions. But somehow, we always figure it out in the end. It’s definitely a special skill to write a complete project pattern on the back of a postcard along with appropriate diagrams. Big high-five to all of our VRD designers for their creativity and problem-solving skills! Yay you!

Before we get started on our Week 4 Challenge, we can’t forget our Week 3 drawing winner!

Week 3 Winner

Big giant ovation for our Week 3 Winner!

Toss some confetti!

Where are those cheerleaders at?

Oh well…..

Congrats to…..

Pat C. of NY

Yay Pat! Well done! Kudos!

Here’s Pat’s version of Louisa Jane:

A teddy bear wearing a purple hat and dress made of light blue fabric featuring colorful Mickey and Minnie Mouse patterns.
A piece of fabric featuring a repeating pattern of cartoon characters, including Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, on a light blue background. The fabric is laid flat on a cutting mat with measurement markings.
A pillowcase featuring a repeating pattern of Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters on a light blue background.

She made it for her granddaughter and the pillowcase doubles as a bag to carry toys and stuffed animals to Grandma’s house! What a wonderful idea, Pat!

Graphic illustration featuring Louisa Jane pillowcase and laundry bag designs by Villa Rosa Designs, showcasing colorful patterned fabrics on a decorative background.

You can find the digital pattern HERE or the print pattern HERE

What a cool pillowcase with a secret double life as a laundry or toy bag.

Let’s dive into our Week 4 Challenge next!

Week 4 of the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge

Wow! Hard to believe we’re in Week 4 already. This week’s project is a scarf, but not just any scarf – a VRD scarf. VRD has 2 fun and fast scarves:

Graphic displaying three styles of infinity scarves on mannequin busts. The top text reads 'Inessa Jane Infinity Scarf,' with fabric requirements detailed below. The design features floral embellishments and a colorful background.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

and

Image showcasing the Savannah Jane Charm Square Patchwork Scarf by Villa Rosa Designs, displayed on mannequins. The scarf features a variety of colorful patchwork patterns and is styled with different outfits.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Should you choose to accept the Week 4 scarf challenge, your scarf is due by midnight Friday, July 17th EST.

This blog post will self destruct in 5 seconds……no, not really. I just wanted to write that. LOL!

Do you wanna see my scarf for this week???

Here it is…….I made the Inessa Jane infinity scarf. And here I am modeling it.

I’ve never really worn a lot of scarves except for in the winter here in chilly NW PA, but…..I might reconsider. This scarf turned out great and I think the colors of these Hoffman batiks are so pretty. And funny enough, my blue frames look great with the scarf. LOL!

A smiling woman with short brown hair wearing glasses and a blue patterned scarf, against a textured background.

I thought a tutorial for Inessa Jane would also be nice…….

VRD Inessa Jane Tutorial

Of course, choosing fabrics is pretty much always our first step (and maybe a favorite, too). I picked two coordinating but different batiks for the scarf so it could be worn with the blue side out, the lavender side out, or folded so you could see both sides. Lots of fun options. You could use a single fabric too.

Now I’ll have to learn how to wrap and fold my Inessa Jane Infinity Scarf. You can check out a fun video HERE for 10 different ways to wear your infinity scarf!

Two pieces of fabric on a cutting mat: one with a purple and lavender floral pattern, and the other in varying shades of blue with a leaf design.

Next I cut my batik strips for the scarf. You can make your scarf longer by adding additional strips, just remember to increase the number of strips for both fabrics.

A rotary cutter placed on a cutting mat with a grid pattern, surrounded by layered fabric in various colors and patterns.
A rotary cutter on a cutting mat with a blue patterned fabric and a transparent ruler.
Two pieces of fabric laid out on a cutting mat; one has a floral pattern in purple and blue shades, and the other features a blue background with light leaf designs.

Off I went to my sewing machine to sew each fabric’s long strips together end to end.

Throughout the project, I back-stitched at the beginning and end of my seams so they didn’t have a chance to unravel while I handled and manipulated the scarf during the sewing process..

Two fabric pieces showcasing floral and leaf patterns, one in pastel colors with purple and teal hues and the other in various shades of blue.

Next I layered the long strips of my 2 batiks together with right sides together (batiks are the same on both sides, so I had to watch to make sure that the seam sides were my “wrong sides”) and I stitched down both long sides of my scarf. I matched my seams and nestled them together.

A close-up view of two pieces of fabric being sewn together on a sewing machine, featuring a blue patterned fabric and a purple floral fabric.

The fun part is next – turning the scarf right sides out. Such a weird feeling thing to do, but pretty cool, too.

A collection of colorful fabrics in shades of blue and purple, arranged in a crumpled manner on a sewing table.
A close-up view of two pieces of fabric, one featuring a purple and blue floral pattern and the other in a blue tone with a subtle leaf design, placed next to a sewing machine.

Now it’s time for the tricky part. I matched up the rights sides of the short scarf ends with the help of a few pins and carefully stitched around the scarf width as far as I could go. I also made sure to line up my seams and nestle them together again.

Close-up of a sewing machine with colorful fabric pieces being stitched together, showcasing a blue and purple floral pattern.
Close-up of a sewing machine stitching together two pieces of patterned fabric, featuring a pink and blue floral design.

Once I sewed as far as I could, I back-stitched and stopped. There were maybe 4 inches or so left unsewn.

Close-up of fabric with a blue and white leaf pattern, with a pink floral print visible underneath.

So, my final step was to slip-stitch the opening closed by hand. Boy, I learned something very important during this step – I’m not that great at slip-stitching especially really late at night. LOL! But I finished it. It wasn’t completely horrible but it did pucker a little bit. Oh well…..

A sewing needle threaded with white thread lies on a blue fabric with a leaf pattern, alongside a spool of beige thread.
Close-up of a blue fabric with a leaf pattern, partially folded with a purple patterned edge visible.

Ta da! Here is my finished scarf….again! Pretty cool. I think I’ll make some more of these and play with different ways to wear them.

A smiling woman with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue and purple patterned scarf over a white top, posing in front of a softly blurred background.

Next week is Week 5 of our VRD Small Project Summer Challenge and our project is a finished table runner due by midnight Friday July 24th EST.

See you then! Don’t forget to take a moment and smell the roses. summer is going fast.

Sew. Laugh. Make. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Small Project Summer Challenge · Rose Cards · villa rosa designs

Small Project Summer Challenge Week 3 and NEW VRD Quilt Patterns for July

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

I hope everyone enjoyed the past holiday week end. Did you do anything special? I did get to see some great fireworks – both on TV and in person. Yay! There really was a lot of very interesting content on TV for the 250th Celebration – I even learned the history of American blue jeans. LOL! I hope that the 250 celebrations aren’t over, though, and we get to enjoy more throughout the year.

This is our 3rd week of the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge and the Challenge is a VRD pillow (pillow cover). Pillows are due by midnight, Friday July 10th EST.

There are many more pattern options for the pillows than for the tote bags last week, for sure. And I’ve been having fun checking out everyone’s projects, so keep ’em coming. I just love love love seeing how everyone adapts patterns and changes things up to work for you and your needs.

If you aren’t checking out the VRD Facebook page, you are missing A LOT of wonderful inspiration and ideas. It’s also a great place to connect with other VRD quilters and sewists. You can share projects, support each other, and even ask questions. It’s such a good place to visit!

Colorful crafting display featuring fabrics, a quilt, sewing tools, and a cheerful sun graphic with the text 'Halfway There! VRD Small Project Summer Challenge. We're 3 weeks in and 3 weeks to go!'

I really hope everyone is having fun with the projects. One of the many ideas behind this Challenge was that I wanted to share some of our other projects because VRD isn’t just quilts. And I can’t believe the Challenge is half over now. Golly! Time really flies!

Now, I must be honest with everyone … this week’s challenge pillow for me is still a work in progress. I’ve been under the weather recently, so my sewing machine has been getting more rest than exercise. Me, too.

The good news is – I know many of you are stitching right along through the weekly Challenges and creating some wonderful projects for yourself or for someone else. Some of you are also working on the Challenge projects with others – how awesome is that??? Sigh…..sometimes creativity means giving ourselves a little grace, particularly when we don’t feel well. Here’s to next week’s project.

And now it’s time to celebrate – yeah!

Week 2 Winner

Let’s give our Week 2 winner a big high five!

Congrats to…….

Kim C. in Washington

Woohoo! Way to go!

Here is Kim’s finished Tote Bag, Olivia Jane. Kim added another row, lined her bag/handle, and boxed the corners. And her tote turned out adorable with her fresh fabrics. It makes me want to make another tote right now!

Yay Kim!

Colorful patchwork tote bag featuring various shades of green and yellow fabrics arranged in a grid pattern.

Olivia Jane is a charm square friendly pattern or use your stash! And it’s simple to add pockets or batting/interfacing, quilt the layers together, box the corners, make it larger, etc. It’s a go-to pattern for sure!

You can stop over HERE to see a tutorial about some of the things you can adapt/add to the pattern.

Promotional image for the 'Olivia Jane Charm Square Patchwork Tote' featuring three tote bag designs labeled 'View A', 'View B', and 'View C', along with colorful patchwork fabric swatches. The design includes vibrant backgrounds and floral decorations.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Now let’s take a look at new patterns – who doesn’t love that???

NEW VRD Quilt Patterns for July

Yay! It’s the Thursday after the first Friday of July and that means NEW PATTERNS!

Let’s check ’em, out!

A collage showcasing five quilt patterns for July 2026, including 'Avoca,' 'Dahlia,' 'Bedelia,' 'Dump Cake,' and 'Horizontal Planes,' each with distinct designs and colors, advertised as new cards for $8.95.

Get the set of 5 HERE

Avoca is Rachelle’s newest pattern. It’s FQ friendly and you can find a kit featuring Pat’s Kalinda fabric HERE.

Bedelia is Catherine’s (Running Doe Quilts) latest star design. It’s also FQ friendly and you can find a kit featuring Tilda fabric HERE.

Dahlia is Melissa’s July pattern. This pattern is super for showcasing you large print fabrics – you know, the ones you don’t want to chop up. You can find a kit featuring the Night Garden collection HERE.

Dump Cake is Heidi’s latest pattern and it features a 36″ x 44″ panel. You can find a kit for Dump Cake HERE with the same fabrics as you see on the front of the pattern.

Horizontal Planes is Molly’s newest design and it also features a panel – a 44″ x 24″ horizontal panel this time. You can find a kit with the same fabrics as you see on the front of the pattern HERE or one with Chickadee Christmas HERE.

But wait…….of course, there’s more. This is VRD!

July’s table runner is called Liberty Cove and it’s perfect for your late summer events and excursions. The lake…….the beach……..your own backyard.

A quilted table runner featuring a geometric pattern in red, white, and blue colors, placed on a wooden surface, with text indicating the design name 'Liberty Cove' and designer details.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

And we can’t forget our July Pillow pattern!

Here’s Sail Away, perfect for your summer celebrations or even a quiet evening curled up in your favorite chair with a good book.

A small dog sitting on a blue sofa beside a decorative pillow featuring a sailboat and quilt patterns.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Yes, Queen Bailly finally got her summer haircut. I wish she’d let me put her hair up in a topknot with a pretty bow, but she’s just not that kind of gal. Instead, the hair on her head is usually standing on end! LOL!

You’ll notice how much lighter she is with her hair cut short than in June’s Parade Day pillow when her hair was longer. She really is a magical little Shih Tzu with mysterious hair color changing skills. When she was a baby, her hair was really really dark, then it kept lightening as she got older and now with it cut short, she almost looks blond – we practically have the same color hair now.

I wonder which pattern you are going to make first! Me, I was going to make a second Sail Away pillow so I have a set for the sofa………at least that was the plan for Week 3 of the Challenge. Oh well……life happens.

Week 4 of the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge

Looking ahead to next week, Week 4, our project is a VRD scarf which is due by midnight Friday July 17th EST. VRD has 2 different scarf patterns to choose from:

Graphic promoting Inessa Jane's Infinity Scarf pattern, featuring three scarf designs displayed on mannequin necks, with instructions for fabric requirements from Villa Rosa Designs.

Get your digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE

OR

Colorful patchwork scarf displayed on mannequins, showcasing multiple styles and patterns. Title 'Savannah Jane Charm Square Patchwork Scarf' and brand 'Villa Rosa Designs' featured above and below the images.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

You can find a super fast and fun tutorial for Savannah Jane HERE.

I also have a third option for you if you are feeling adventurous……………………………………how about turning a VRD table runner into a scarf??? Some of the runners are pretty narrow or would be if you remove the border. Just an idea for you to explore…….

Stay cool and enjoy your summer!

Until next week!

Sew. Laugh. Make. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Small Project Summer Challenge · Rose Cards · Tutorials · Welcome Blog Post

Small Project Summer Challenge Week 2 and a NEW VRD Rose Card Tutorial – Tabitha Jane

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

Happy 250th birthday to America!

A patriotic illustration celebrating America's 250th birthday with fireworks, a vintage red truck, and an American flag. The design features bunting, colorful stars, and the text 'Happy 250th Birthday America!' along with the years '1776' and '2026'.

I hope you are all set to enjoy the celebration this weekend for the 250th Birthday of the United States of America. I’m looking forward to the fireworks and all the different events going on.

Of course right now the weather is looking rainy, but I have hopes it will clear up and be a gorgeous weekend for everyone. We’re having a heatwave right now with temperatures in the mid 90’s. I am not a hot weather girl at all, so I will stay in the air conditioning and ride out the heat. Just hand me a bowl of ice cream – something with chocolate – and I’ll be happy as a clam. And cool. LOL!

We are wrapping up Week 2 of our Small Project Summer Challenge this week – our project is a VRD Tote bag. Here’s the info and schedule in case you need it.

Colorful graphic promoting the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge, featuring six weeks of project themes with images of a sewing machine, fabric items, and decorative elements. Each week lists a different project due date.
Promotional graphic for the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge, outlining how the challenge works and how to join.

Now let’s revisit Week 1 with a winner!

Week 1 Winner

Yay! It’s time to announce our first Small Project Summer Challenge winner!

Toss the confetti!

Cue the band!

And our Week 1 winner is………….

Susan L. from WV

Congrats, Susan!

Susan made a fun dog lover’s version of Fairhaven. This one really makes me smile because of all the canine fabrics. A fun fast make!

A colorful quilt hanging on a wall, featuring a patchwork design with red, navy blue, and floral patterns.

Guess what? Susan already donated her Fairhaven quilt to Project Linus!

Project Linus has been giving handmade blankets and quilts to kids since 1995. And in 31 years, they’ve given over 10 million blankets to children. WHOAH! You can find additional information or how to get involved on the Project Linus website HERE.

A colorful quilt titled 'Fairhaven' featuring various fabric patterns with pink and green tones, displayed against a pink background, along with a floral accent in the upper right corner.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

VRD Small Project Summer Challenge Week 2

Our Week 2 Challenge this week is for a VRD tote bag. Your tote bag project is due Friday, July 3rd by midnight EST.

We have 2 different VRD tote bag patterns or you could adapt a different VRD pattern into a tote bag. What a fun idea! I hadn’t thought of that until one of the participants asked me about it. Thanks for the great idea!

So……..my tote bag this week is Tabitha Jane. Have you made this one yet? It’s totally reversible, which means you get 4 looks with one tote bag. That’s uber cool, right?

So here’s my red, white, and blue version of Tabitha Jane!

A handmade tote bag with a red top section featuring small polka dots, and a navy bottom section with white star patterns. The bag has patterned straps.
A fabric tote bag featuring a pattern of red and blue flags on top and a solid navy bottom with white polka dots.
A tote bag with a star and stripe pattern, featuring a solid red striped bottom and handles.
A plaid and polka dot fabric tote bag hanging against a light-colored backdrop.

Like I said: 1 tote bag – 4 different looks! I can’t decide which side I like the best. Which one do you like?

It was really quick, perhaps 2 or 3 hours (including photography on my end) to make this super useful and fun tote. Tabitha Jane would be a great tote for yourself or for someone else! I can’t wait to make a few more, maybe one for each season? Did I mention it’s made out of fat quarters???

Graphic showcasing a reversible tote bag design by Tabitha Jane, featuring four different looks with vibrant patterns. The text highlights fabric requirements and the finished size of the tote, along with design credits for Nancy Lorene and Villa Rosa Designs.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

I also created a tutorial for you for Tabitha Jane. Now you’ve totally got to make one of these!

VRD Tutorial Tabitha Jane

Probably the hardest thing about this pattern is choosing your 6 FQs! Of course, you can absolutely make more than one of these totes so you can can choose 6, 12, 18….or more FQs. LOL!

I settled on these 6 patriotic FQs from Deb Strain’s America 250 Years collection by Moda Fabrics. What a surprise – I’m making red, white, and blue projects for the Summer Challenge. Ha ha!

A collection of six fabric pieces featuring patriotic patterns, including plaid, stars, and American flags, arranged on a green cutting mat.

Next up is cutting. I layered my FQs together so I only had to cut once. Do likewise if you feel comfortable, but cutting 1 layer at a time is perfectly okay too.

A piece of red fabric with a star pattern, layered with patterned fabric featuring American flags and stars, alongside a blue plaid fabric, on a green cutting mat with grid lines.
Four pieces of red fabric with a star pattern, arranged on a green cutting mat with grid lines.

Now to cut the other 2 FQs. And with that, the cutting is finished. Wow! That was quick!

A green cutting mat with a rotary cutter, a patterned fabric piece in red and white stripes with stars, and a clear quilting ruler placed on the fabric.

We’re going to make our straps first. Here are my 4 fabrics for my straps.

Four pieces of fabric in red, white, and blue patterns laid out on a cutting mat, featuring stars, stripes, and plaid designs.

To make the straps, the first thing to do is stitch the smaller strips together to make 4 long strips. I chose to sew matching strips together, but you can totally scrap this up if you want to. You do you.

After I stitch my strips together, I’m going to press the seams open.

Close-up of a sewing machine with fabric pieces laid out, featuring red fabric with black stars and light reddish fabric with a subtle pattern.
A collection of fabric strips featuring patriotic patterns, including American flags, stars, and plaid designs in red, white, and blue colors, arranged horizontally on a grey surface.

Next I am going to layer 2 strap strips right sides together (RST) and sew down both long edges to make my 2 straps.

A sewing machine on a table with three different pieces of fabric, including a red patterned piece and a plaid piece, along with a pair of orange scissors.
Close-up of a sewing machine with a piece of fabric being stitched, featuring a plaid pattern.
Three strips of fabric laid out on a gray felt surface, featuring patriotic designs in red, white, and blue, including stars and stripes.

Oh goody (not really)….Time to turn both straps right side out (RSO). This is one of my least favorite things to do when sewing bags. Usually I fold my strips in half and then in half again to avoid having to turn things RSO. But these straps are pretty wide, so here goes……

I am using a large safety pin (Yup, one of my quilt basting pins) to turn my strips RSO. The pin gives me something to hold onto as I turn the strap.

An assortment of fabric strips with patriotic patterns, including American flags and stars, pinned together with a safety pin, placed on a textured surface.
Close-up of two pieces of fabric: one patterned with red and blue stars on a cream background, the other in a solid red with small speckles, partially sewn together.
A close-up image of patterned fabric featuring American flags and stars, with additional fabric pieces in the background including plaid and star-patterned fabric.
A fabric-covered sword or sword-like object lying on a gray surface, surrounded by additional fabric pieces featuring patriotic patterns.

Now I need to press my straps flat.

A close-up view of fabric strips featuring red, white, and blue patterns, including American flags and a plaid design, laid out on a gray felt surface.
Three fabric strips featuring patriotic patterns, including American flags, stars, and plaid designs, laid on a textured background.

I’m going to sew close to both sides of each strap. This is for 2 reasons – 1st because it will keep the straps flat and 2nd because the stitching will help stabilize the straps as we did not add any interfacing or batting.

I’m also going to add more stitching down the middle of each strap for even more stabilization. And I’m going to use one of the zillion special stitches on my sewing machine to make it fun. I chose this cute star and decided to use variegated thread.

After I finished the straps, though, I wish I had used a solid navy blue thread instead of the variegated because the stars would have shown up better. Oh well…….

Close-up of a sewing machine stitching a fabric strip decorated with red stars and blue patterns.
Two strips of decorative fabric with red, white, and blue patterns, one featuring stars and the other with plaid and stars, laid on a gray surface.

Time to work on the body of the tote now. I’m going to sew the smaller rectangles to the top and bottom of the large rectangles to make 2 bags. The finished bag doesn’t have any interfacing or batting, so if you want to add any to make your bag sturdier, now would be the time to add it. But I’m going to continue without adding any stabilizer for this one.

When I make a project for the first time, I like to follow the directions pretty close so I understand how it all goes together. Then if/when I make another one, I might choose to make changes or adapt the pattern.

Close-up of fabric pieces featuring red, white, and blue patriotic patterns as well as quilting stars, alongside a sewing machine.
Two fabric panels displayed side by side, featuring various patterns including plaid, stripes, polka dots, and stars in red, white, and blue colors.

I’m going to fold each bag body section in half with RST so the top and bottom edges match. Then I’m going to sew down both sides of the tote for both pieces. When you turn them RSO, don’t forget to push out the corners and give the bags a press.

Assorted pieces of fabric featuring patriotic patterns, including American flags, a checkered design, and a star print.
Close-up of a sewing machine with fabric under the needle, featuring a light gray patterned material. The machine is positioned on a work surface, with measuring lines visible in the foreground.
A selection of four fabric swatches featuring various patterns: a light blue plaid, a red and white striped fabric with stars, a solid red fabric, and a navy blue fabric with white floral designs.

All that is left is to assemble the bag parts and the straps.

If desired, you can fold under the tops of the bags as the next step before placing one bag inside the other with wrong sides together, but I prefer doing the top seam allowance after 1 bag is already inside the other bag because I find I can get the top seams lined up better.

I’m going to turn one of the bags inside out again and place it inside the other bag (which is RSO) so that the wrong sides are facing towards each other. Smooth the bags out and line up the side seams.

I like to work with one bag at a time as I fold and press the seam allowance to the wrong side of the bag. Next I’ll match the top edges as I fold the 2nd bag seam allowance towards the wrong side and press. I pin generously to keep the bag tops lined up.

Two pieces of fabric with star patterns, one in red, white, and blue, and another in gray and red stars on a white background, laid on a gray surface.
Close-up of a sewing project featuring red fabric with black star patterns, pinned to a blue fabric with red and white stripes, on a gray felt surface.
A piece of red fabric with a star pattern, pinned with colorful fabric clips for sewing, partially layered with a contrasting fabric featuring stripes and stars.
A piece of red fabric with a pattern of stars and small flowers, pinned to a striped fabric and a blue patterned fabric underneath.

Before I sew the top of the bag, though, I need to insert my straps and pin them. I used my ruler when I pinned the straps between the 2 bags so that everything would be neat and square.

A close-up of a cutting mat with a ruler on top, featuring a patriotic fabric printed with American flags. A sewing needle and pins are also visible.
A close-up view of a quilting workspace featuring red, white, and blue fabric with American flag designs, a cutting mat with measurement grids, and pins holding the fabric in place.
A close-up view of a partially assembled tote bag featuring a red fabric with stars, decorated straps with star patterns, and colorful pins securing the fabric pieces on a gray surface.

The last thing to do is to sew around the top of the bag close to the edge. I then zigzagged around the top of the bag to give the straps a little more support. Apparently, I forgot to take a few photos of this step. LOL! Sorry about that.

Anyway, here is my finished bag (again). All 4 sides.

A handmade tote bag featuring a red and navy polka dot design with star-patterned straps.
A tote bag featuring a patriotic design with red, white, and blue colors, including American flags and polka dots.
A patterned fabric tote bag featuring a star design on the top section and horizontal stripes on the bottom.
A fabric tote bag featuring a plaid design on the top half and a striped pattern with small dots on the bottom half, hanging against a textured background.

What a super fun tote bag! Hmmmmm……..I’m thinking these would make great “gift bags” for Christmas. A gift within a gift.

Small Project Summer Challenge Week 3 Next Week

Next week for Week 3 of our Small Project Summer Challenge, we’ll be making pillows/pillow covers. We have some really fun VRD options for you! You can find both digital and print pillow patterns HERE.

Garden Wishes

Parade Day

Spring Blooms

Good Luck

Dot to Dot

Happy Hearts

Belinda Jane

Louisa Jane

Your pillow project is due by midnight July 10th EST.

Enjoy your 250th celebration this weekend!

Until next week!

Sew. Laugh. Celebrate. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Small Project Summer Challenge · Rose Cards · Tutorials · villa rosa designs

Small Project Summer Challenge Week 1 and a NEW VRD Rose Card Quilt Tutorial – Cabin Fever

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

Are you ready for our Small Project Summer Challenge? I know I am! I can’t wait to see what everyone is making for Week 1 – a quilt under 50″ square. I’ll be checking Facebook out eagerly to see everyone’s projects, so make sure you get a photo of your completed Week 1 project onto the VRD Facebook page before Friday, June 26th midnight EST. Or you can email me your photo at tricia@villarosadesigns.com.

Colorful promotional graphic for the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge featuring sewing themes. It lists six weeks of projects with due dates: Week 1 - Quilt smaller than 50" x 50", Week 2 - Tote Bag, Week 3 - Pillow, Week 4 - Scarf, Week 5 - Table Runner, Week 6 - Snack Mat Duo.
A colorful promotional graphic for the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge, featuring sewing-themed illustrations and details on how to join, including weekly photo submissions and prize eligibility.

So far I have 34 folks signed up for our Summer Challenge. I am thrilled and welcome each and every one of you with a great big hug! A BIG high-five to those of you who already participated in one of the 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenges…and a super special welcome to those of you signing up for a VRD Challenge for the first time. Be prepared to laugh a lot and be inspired by everyone’s projects for the next 6 weeks. Not only are you creating some fun small projects that make great gifts for yourself or someone else on your gift giving list, each week that you complete the weekly challenge, your name goes into a random weekly drawing. Prizes will be shipped after the Challenge is over.

Wanna see my Week 1 Project???

Tricia’s Summer Challenge Week 1 Make

I’ve always wanted to make Cabin Fever by Running Doe Quilts for VRD. Log Cabin quilts are some of my many favs so when I hatched the Summer Challenge, I just knew I had to make Cabin Fever……finally.

A woman holds a colorful quilt titled 'Cabin Fever' in front of a rustic wooden backdrop, showcasing its vibrant patterns and designs.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

And since it’s summertime as well as the 250th birthday of the USA, I simply had to use patriotic fabrics, of course. LOL!

Sooooooo, here’s my Patriotic Cabin Fever!

A colorful patchwork quilt featuring red, blue, and white fabrics with floral and star patterns, displayed outdoors against a grassy field with trees in the background.

I think it turned out really cute and I plan to hang it in the living room over the sofa just as soon as I get a chance to do it.

And here’s a fun photo I just had to take on my cute little red Jeep Compass. It was a perfect day with the gorgeous summer sky and fluffy clouds, about 75 degrees. And all the green in the background. Welcome to NW PA!

A colorful quilt displayed on the hood of a red car under a blue sky with fluffy clouds and green trees in the background.

I used a 100% cotton variegated red, white, and blue Aurifil thread to quilt it in my usual loopy design. The binding is a navy blue solid and I machine stitched it on. I think I’ve finally gotten the hang of that now – it saves me so much time these days, although I still like the look of hand-stitched binding better.

You might notice that my blue strips at the top and bottom are actually 2 similar blue prints sewn together in the center of the strip. I was using a collection of fat quarters and a couple pieces of coordinating yardage to make my Cabin Fever quilt. I didn’t plan out the fabric very well and then I ended up not having enough of 1 blue fabric to use for the top and bottom, so I improvised. I ended up piecing 2 very similar fabrics to make the strips long enough for the top and bottom of the quilt. But, you know what? I think it turned out pretty well and it looks intentional, not random.

How about a tutorial for Cabin Fever?

VRD Cabin Fever Quilt Tutorial

I started with a leftover collection of Moda Star Spangled FQs plus a few coordinates as you can see here. But my blue FQs weren’t complete as I’d used some of them in another porject.

A collection of folded fabric pieces featuring various patterns, including polka dots and stars, in red, white, and blue colors, arranged on a cutting mat.

I started with the center square. I cut my pieces as I sewed, do likewise of you want. Or you can cut everything out at once before you begin sewing. You could even cut multiple quilts out at once.

I chose this really pretty light floral print for the center because I didn’t want it to be a quilt that necessarily screamed patriotic, but I wanted my quilt to be patriotic. Does this make any sense at all?

A square piece of fabric with a floral pattern featuring red, blue, and white flowers on a light background, placed on a cutting mat.
A rotary cutter positioned on a red polka dot fabric square, with a transparent ruler placed over it, resting on a cutting mat with grid lines.

Then I sewed the red strips to the top and bottom of my floral square.

A patchwork fabric piece featuring a floral pattern with red and blue flowers on a cream background, bordered at the top and bottom with solid red fabric with white polka dots.

Time to cut and add the side strips next.

An arrangement of red, white, and blue fabric pieces, featuring floral patterns and star designs, placed on a cutting mat.
A quilt square featuring a floral print center surrounded by red and blue patterned borders with polka dots and stars.

Next up are top and bottom strips. You’ll notice that the strips get wider for each top/bottom or sides round. I think that’s part of the magic in this pattern. Going bigger means less strips and less piecing to get to the desired size which translates into a faster project. Yay!

A patchwork of colorful fabrics, including red, blue, and white patterns, showcasing floral designs and polka dots arranged on a cutting mat.
A patchwork quilt design featuring red, white, and blue fabrics with floral patterns and stars, arranged in a rectangular layout.

Side strips again. This quilt is coming together really fast!

A close-up of colorful fabric squares, featuring a mix of red and blue patterns including checks, floral designs, and stars, laid out on a cutting mat.
A colorful quilt block featuring a mix of red, white, and blue fabrics with various patterns including polka dots and floral designs.

Last, but not least are the final top/bottom strips. This is where I ran into trouble. LOL! I wanted dark blue at the top and bottom, but I didn’t have enough of a single fabric. So, I improvised by piecing 2 similar fabrics together for the top/bottom strips. I took a few extra minutes to line up the center seams so they matched and looked intentional. And I flipped the bottom strip so the same fabric wasn’t on the same side. I think it turned out pretty well in the end.

A close-up view of three fabric pieces, featuring a blue fabric with white stars, a solid blue patch, and a floral print in red and white, arranged on a cutting mat.
A colorful quilt top featuring a central floral pattern, surrounded by varying patterns of red, blue, and pink fabric.
A handmade quilt displayed on a wall, featuring a patchwork design with red, white, and blue fabrics, surrounded by a blue border.

Voila! The finished quilt top!

A colorful quilt featuring red, white, and blue fabrics with various patterns, displayed on a white wooden wall. A vase of fresh flowers and a decorative star are placed on a wooden table in front.

I hope you’ll give this fast and fun small quilt a try sometime. It really is a great summer make. It is a super wall quilt (I’ll show you when I actually get it up on the wall) or a wonderful table quilt – perhaps for a summer picnic – or as a lovely quick baby quilt. Use your stash or use it as an excuse to go shopping at your local quilt shop.

Next week for Week 2 of our Summer Challenge is a TOTE BAG. We have 2 different VRD tote bag patterns to chose from: Olivia Jane or Tabitha Jane. Olivia Jane uses 5″ Charm squares while Tabitha Jane uses FQs.

Here’s a fun tutorial for Olivia Jane where I show you some of the adaptations you can add to your Olivia Jane tote.

Image showcasing three views of the Olivia Jane Charm Square Patchwork Tote, featuring colorful patchwork designs and information about tote construction using 18 five-inch squares.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Promotional poster for a reversible tote bag by Tabitha Jane, featuring four colorful bags with different patterns, fabric requirements, and construction details.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Well, that’s it for me this week!

Enjoy your Small Project Summer Challenge sewing and I’ll see you next week right here!

Sew. Laugh. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Small Project Summer Challenge · Curated Rose Card Pattern Lists · Rose Cards · villa rosa designs

The VRD Small Project Summer Challenge and a Curated List of Small Quilts under 50″ x 50″

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

Are you getting ready for our Small Project Summer Challenge? The first project is a quilt 50″ x 50″ or smaller and is due Friday, June 26th by midnight EST. Here’s all the info for you in case you missed it last week or on our VRD Facebook page:

Promotional poster for the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge featuring instructions on how to participate, deadlines, and prize information. Includes colorful graphics of sewing tools, quilt patterns, and decorative elements.

And here’s the schedule for the Challenge:

Graphic for VRD Small Project Summer Challenge, featuring a colorful layout with sewing icons and a schedule for six weeks of sewing projects, including a quilt, tote bag, pillow, scarf, table runner, and snack mat duo.

I had some questions about the Challenge, so I thought I’d share them with you in case you were wondering the same thing. 🙂

  1. Do the projects have to be completed? Yes, the projects need to be fully completed (quilts need to be quilted and bound) and a photo uploaded to our VRD Facebook Page or you can email photos to me at tricia@villarosadesigns.com by the week’s deadline midnight EST.
  2. Can I change/alter a pattern? Absolutely! As long as you are using a VRD pattern, you are welcome to change the size of the project, number of blocks, size of blocks, etc.
  3. Can the pillow be a pillow sham or cover? Yep, I believe most if not all of our VRD pillow patterns are for pillow covers.
  4. Do I have to do all 6 weekly challenges? Nope, you can do as many of the 6 weekly challenges as you are able. You will be entered in the weekly prize drawings that you create a project for. Easy peasy.
  5. Can I make projects ahead or can I only make one each week? I have no problem if you work ahead when you have time (hey……that’s how I roll, too). Just remember to upload your weekly project photo to the FB group or send it to me via email by each week’s deadline.
  6. Is there a separate FB group for the Small Project Summer Challenge? Nope, I have found it a lot more efficient if I stick with the VRD Facebook page that way everyone can see our Challenge projects and they’ll wish they signed up if they didn’t. Personally, I love all the inspiration I get from seeing everyone’s projects (wink, wink).

If you have a question I haven’t answered yet, just email me at tricia@villarosadesigns.com.

Our Week 1 Challenge, due June 26th by midnight EST, is a quilt under 50″ x 50″. Yes, it does need to be quilted and bound. When I set this size for the project, I was totally thinking wall quilts or table quilts (NOT runners). If your project ends up a bit wider/longer than 50″, that’s okay – I’m not that fussy. 🙂

There are quite a few smaller quilts hiding in our VRD Rose Card pattern catalog, so i thought I share them with you. And besides, it’s been a while since I created a curated pattern list.

Curated List of Small Quilts under 50″ x 50″

In addition to the 50″ x 50″ or smaller patterns below, here’s a few other suggestions for you: 1. Make larger VRD patterns smaller by making less blocks or making the blocks a smaller size. 2. You could expand a table runner, pillow cover, or other small project if desired.

Now let’s check out some great smaller VRD patterns! I’ve included links to both the digital and print versions of the patterns for your convenience. Remember, print patterns always ship for free, regardless of how many you purchase.

A person holding a colorful quilt named 'Asagail' featuring hexagonal patterns in various bright colors, standing against a wooden background with greenery.

Digital pattern HERE or Print pattern HERE

A colorful baby quilt titled 'Baby Zip Tease' featuring a zigzag pattern with shades of orange, blue, pink, and floral designs, displayed on a textured surface.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt featuring a colorful block pattern with shades of orange, purple, black, and white, titled 'Baraboo Two' by Rachelle Handmade for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design featuring three vertical panels of colorful patchwork patterns in vibrant reds, purples, and floral prints, with the title 'BE MY BABY' and 'Villa Rosa Designs' branding.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A fluffy dog sits in front of a vibrant quilt with purple and floral patterns, featuring the text 'Birdie' at the top and 'Running Doe Quilts For Villa Rosa Designs' at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Blinds' featuring a variety of patterns in blue, green, and floral motifs, designed by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A decorative quilt titled 'Borderline' featuring various festive animals, including a Christmas tree, surrounded by red and green borders, designed by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring a geometric pattern of triangles in various colors and textures, titled 'Boscobel', designed by Rachelle Handmade for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Bunny Hop' displayed outdoors against a backdrop of green trees, featuring a mix of floral and geometric patterns.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A woman holding a colorful quilt titled 'Cabin Fever' in front of a rustic wooden backdrop.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Candies' featuring a patchwork design with various patterned squares in pastel colors, created by Heidi Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring a diagonal pattern of various fabric squares on a floral background, with the title 'CAREFREE' at the top and 'Villa Rosa Designs' at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design featuring floral patterns in various shades of pink, green, and black, titled 'Child's Play' from Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt with a deer head design in shades of brown, featuring geometric patterns. The title 'Chili' is at the top, with the name 'Heidi Cook for Villa Rosa Designs' displayed below.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design titled 'Chips & Dip' featuring a patchwork of vibrant fabric squares in various patterns, created by Heidi Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring cat designs in various colors, displayed against a brick wall, with text at the top reading 'COLOR CAT' and additional branding at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring letters A to Z, each surrounded by patterned fabric squares and decorative motifs, designed by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Country Life' featuring various floral and geometric patterns, bordered with a decorative design by Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Dainty Machines' featuring various sewing machine designs surrounded by floral patterns, displayed against a brick wall.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring a patchwork design with red, blue, and cream fabrics, showcasing floral and festive patterns. The top of the image displays the word 'Dakota' and the brand 'Villa Rosa Designs'. A pink rose is also included in the design.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt named 'Duffy' displayed outdoors with cows in the background, featuring a mix of patterned squares and designs, under a blue sky.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring a patchwork of various floral and geometric patterns in shades of pink, green, blue, and cream, with the title 'Eden Rose' and the label 'Villa Rosa Designs' displayed prominently.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A vibrant quilt design featuring floral patterns in various colors, titled 'Easy Does It' by Villa Rosa Designs. The background is a blend of soft pink and intricate designs, with the title and brand name displayed prominently.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Elegant Braids' featuring a zigzag design made from various patterned fabrics, displayed against a brick wall.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring various patterned squares on a green background, with the title 'Emma Grace' and a rose graphic in the upper right corner. The design is framed with a decorative border at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring various patterned squares in vibrant colors, with an orange background and a rose graphic in the top right corner. Text includes 'Eureka' and 'Villa Rosa Designs'.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful patchwork quilt featuring a mix of floral and animal patterns in pink, green, and yellow shades, titled 'Fairhaven' by Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design featuring a patchwork of red, black, and white fabrics, with floral and geometric patterns. The word 'FREEDOM' is prominently displayed at the top, alongside a graphic of a red rose. The design is branded with 'Villa Rosa Designs' at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring patchwork squares in various patterns and colors, labeled 'GALAXY' at the top and 'Villa Rosa Designs' at the bottom, with decorative floral elements.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Game Play' featuring sports-themed fabric squares, including soccer, basketball, and football designs, framed with a yellow border.

Digital pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring a patchwork design with varying patterns and colors, displayed outdoors with greenery in the background. The design is accompanied by the title 'Giggles' and credits to Tricia Lynn Maloney and Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Gilda' by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patchwork pattern with various floral and geometric fabrics in shades of green, pink, and purple, set against a pink background.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring various dog breeds and playful fabric patterns, titled 'Happy Daze' by Tamara Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Happy Hollies' displayed against a brick wall, featuring red and green patchwork designs with polka dots.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Quilt design titled 'Hollandale' featuring a colorful patchwork pattern in shades of blue, green, and purple, displayed against a teal background.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt named 'Jasper' displayed against a white brick wall, featuring geometric patterns in various shades of blue, red, yellow, and green. The quilt is partially draped over a flat surface, with a logo for Running Doe Quilts and Villa Rosa Designs at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring various patchwork squares in vibrant patterns, framed by the title 'LA FRANCE' and 'Villa Rosa Designs', with a pink rose in the corner.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design called 'Leucadia' featuring a patchwork of red, green, and white fabrics with various patterns, bordered by a floral print. The design includes text elements like 'joy' and 'peace'.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Lollipop' featuring a patchwork pattern with bright squares on a white background, displayed outdoors among greenery.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design titled 'Malaysia' featuring a patchwork pattern with dark blue and white squares, adorned with colorful floral prints. The design is framed with a decorative maroon and gold border, and includes the text 'Villa Rosa Designs' at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Mesa Verde' featuring abstract patterns in various shades of blue and green, with floral motifs, against a light beige background. The design is accompanied by branding for 'Villa Rosa Designs' and a decorative floral image.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design featuring a patchwork layout with various shades of blue, gray, and yellow fabrics. The quilt is surrounded by a simple wooden border and includes text indicating the title 'Mod Tiles Too' along with the designer's name and affiliation.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design titled 'Moondance' by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patterned background with geometric shapes in gray and light blue tones, and a white rose in the top corner.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design titled 'Moonstone' featuring various floral and animal patterns in shades of blue, purple, and green, with branding from Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt with geometric patterns displayed on pine needles, set against a backdrop of trees and stone structure. The title 'native' is prominent at the top, and 'deeply rooted in clay' is featured at the bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt featuring a geometric design with squares and contrasting colors, labeled 'Neenah' by Rachelle Handmade for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Digital quilt pattern titled 'Nevada' designed by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patchwork of floral and geometric fabric squares in various colors against a teal background.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Night Light' featuring a variety of patterned squares in shades of blue, yellow, pink, and orange, with floral and geometric designs, by Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful nursery rhyme-themed quilt with various patches featuring playful illustrations, surrounded by colorful toys including yellow construction tubes and small vehicles.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Odyssey' featuring a patchwork of various fabric patterns in red, blue, yellow, and black, with whimsical motifs including hot air balloons and flowers. The quilt is framed by a decorative border.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design titled 'On Stage' by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patchwork of vibrant patterns, including florals, paisleys, and checkered designs, set against a red background with a rose graphic.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design titled 'Painted Moon' featuring a star pattern with floral background, designed by Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Playdate' with various playful fabric patterns, placed on the floor with a stuffed bear and an open book on top.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Cover of a quilting pattern titled 'Pocket Change' by Kate Griffin, featuring a colorful quilt design with rectangular patches in various shades against a white background.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt titled 'Pristine' designed by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patchwork of gray and black fabrics with floral and patterned designs, complemented by a decorative rose in the upper right corner.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Rebound' by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a mix of patterns and vibrant colors.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A vibrant quilt design titled 'Rhiannon' featuring a patchwork of colorful squares in various floral and geometric patterns, with a decorative border and a yellow rose in the top right corner.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt named 'Scallywag' featuring a pattern of yellow and blue rectangular sections against a black background with abstract designs, displayed outdoors.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Quilt design featuring a seafood theme with patches depicting fish, octopuses, and waves, titled 'Seafood' by Heidi Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design titled 'Seasoning' featuring various animal and nature-themed fabric blocks, created by Heidi Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A woman holding a colorful quilt featuring a chevron pattern in yellow, orange, and blue against a wooden background. The quilt is titled 'Serengeti' and is associated with Running Doe Quilts for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design titled 'Silver Star' by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a star pattern in vibrant hues of yellow, green, blue, orange, and purple, framed by a patterned border.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt design featuring horizontal stripes with various patterns of animals, flowers, and trees, titled 'Simple Simon' by Tricia Lynn Maloney for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A young woman is holding a colorful quilt featuring zigzag patterns with various fabric designs, standing in front of a rustic metal backdrop. The quilt is labeled 'Smidge' and features branding for Running Doe Quilts.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt featuring various patches in bright colors like pink, green, blue, and orange mixed with black and white patterns, titled 'Specks of Color' by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Split Charms' featuring a pattern of squares in black, white, and vibrant colors, designed by Sugar Pine for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design featuring a star pattern in red and black, titled 'Starfire' by Villa Rosa Designs. The quilt is made with alternating floral and geometric prints, set against a bold red background, with decorative elements at the top and bottom.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Colorful quilt design featuring various patterned squares in yellow, blue, red, and green, titled 'Sunprite' by Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design named 'Taffy' by Heidi Cook for Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patchwork of colorful and patterned fabric strips.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design named 'Take 5' featuring a pattern of blue, cream, and black fabrics arranged in a geometric layout, attributed to Melissa Milligan for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Tic Tac Toad' featuring playful patterns and designs, displayed on a chair. The quilt is predominantly made of green, blue, yellow, and patterned fabrics.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt titled 'Triple It' designed by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a patchwork design with colorful fabrics in red, green, orange, and blue arranged in a grid pattern.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A cozy quilt titled 'Tumblebug' displayed on a bench near a window, accompanied by a stuffed bear and a decorative pillow.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design titled 'Underline' featuring colorful patterned squares in a grid layout. The patterns include letters, animals, and abstract designs. The design is attributed to Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Quilt design titled 'Up & Away' featuring hot air balloons, clouds, and inspirational quotes. Designed by Tamara Cook for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A colorful quilt titled 'Ups and Downs', featuring zigzag patterns in purple and pink tones set against a gray background. The quilt is framed with a purple border and displayed on a textured wooden background with pink hues.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Quilt titled 'Viroqua' featuring colorful arrow patterns in bright pink, orange, green, and blue against a contrasting background.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

A quilt design titled 'Whirly Bird' featuring geometric patterns in shades of gray and white on a wooden backdrop. The design is framed with black borders and includes text noting the designer, Tricia Lynn Maloney, and the brand, Orphan Quilt Designs for Villa Rosa Designs.

Digital Pattern HERE or Print Pattern HERE

Well, that’s it, folks! What an amazing collection of small quilts 50″ x 50″ or smaller. I knew we had a lot, but this is even more than I remembered!

I sincerely hope you made it all the way through the patterns, because there are some really awesome patterns. I bet you added some new-to-you ones to your “want to make” list. I know I did.

That’s a wrap! Next week I’ll show off my first project and I can’t wait to see what all of you participants are making for Week 1 of the Small Project Summer Challenge here on the VRD blog.

Until next week!

Sew. Laugh. Make. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Small Project Summer Challenge · Quilt Shows and Trade Shows · Rose Cards · villa rosa designs

NEW VRD Rose Card Quilt Patterns for June, A Local Quilt Show (YAY!), and the Upcoming VRD Small Project Summer Challenge

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

Gosh, we have a ton of stuff to do today. I was hoping to add another post over the weekend to finish my quilt show experience, but with my Dad sick, I was just too busy to sit down and write it. Sorry about that, but we’ll get the rest of the trip added to today’s post about NEW PATTERNS and our VRD SMALL PROJECT SUMMER CHALLENGE. Let’s dive right in!

NEW VRD Rose Card Patterns for June

I won’t even say it – you know – how much I love the Thursday after the first Friday of every month. Dang – I said it. Well, hopefully I get an E for effort because I tried. LOL!

Here are this month’s new patterns!

A collage of quilt patterns for June 2026, featuring five designs: Blinds, Loomed, Oh Helena, Breezy, and Rosholt. Each quilt design is displayed with its respective name and designer, promoting all five patterns available for $8.95.

Get all 5 print patterns HERE.

Molly’s latest pattern is called Blinds and uses your favorite Jelly Roll plus a background. You can find a kit featuring the same fabrics as the pattern front HERE or one in Pat’s Bedazzled fabrics HERE.

Catherine of Running Doe Quilts is back with another fun star pattern called Loomed. I know what you’re thinking – where are the stars? You’ll just have to trust me if you haven’t gotten your pattern yet. LOL!

Deanne of Creative Sewlutions has a new pattern this month called Oh Helena. What fun! You can find a kit featuring the Birds collection HERE. And you might remember one of her earlier pattern called Oh Henry. I think they are fraternal twins….

Rachelle’s latest pattern is called Rosholt. It’s fast, fun, and fat quarter friendly. You can find a kit featuring Hearts and Stars + Sunprint fabrics HERE.

My new quilt pattern this month is called Breezy and it really is an easy breezy quilt. Grab a set of fat quarters or fat eighths and a background fabric and this quilt practically makes itself!

Next up are the Accessory patterns for June!

A colorful quilt featuring star patterns, draped over a gray armchair with a plant nearby, showcasing a cozy indoor setting.

Get the digital pattern HERE or the print pattern HERE

Rachelle’s second pattern this month is this cool table runner, Shannagolden. It’s another fat quarter friendly pattern and I can just imagine it in red, white, and blue. I think it would look like fireworks!

A cozy pillow design titled 'Parade Day Pillow' displayed on a blue quilted sofa, featuring a patterned quilt in shades of blue and red, with a fluffy dog resting beside it.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Last but certainly not least is my June pillow pattern, Parade Day. I really love the bold red, white, and blue fabrics – it’s charm square friendly so grab your favorite patriotic charms and get started on this great pillow. And there is little Miss Bailly posing beautifully like the little queen that she is. You might even recognize the quilt on the chair – it’s my VRD Farmhouse Blues quilt. It provided such a great backdrop for both the Parade Day Pillow and Bailly. You can find the Farmhouse Blues digital pattern HERE or the print pattern HERE.

I’m really getting my red, white, and blue on right now and I think any of this month’s quilts would be wonderful in patriotic colors. Time to get busy making those quilts in anticipation to all of the awesome events happening in July to celebrate the 250th birthday of the Declaration of Independence!

Quilt Show Wrap Up

Now I’m going to finish last week’s post about my quilt show trip, so if you missed the beginning of the post last week, you can check it out HERE.

I stopped last week right after the slide show of quilts that inspired me at the All Hands Around Erie Quilt Show because I took my Dad to the Emergency Room and I never got back to my computer. He is hanging in there, but he still has an awful cough a week later. Ugh.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you about the vendors at the show. Many of them had VRD patterns and kits. Yay! My local shops were vending so it was great to catch up with them and to visit with some new-to-me ones, too.

One of my local shops, Quilter’s Cupboard, had – not one Sisterhood sample and kit available – but three totally different options! Wow! They just love VRD there. So, a big shout out to Shirley and Brenda at Quilter’s Cupboard!

Colorful quilt display featuring a geometric pattern with bright colors on a black background, alongside a blue and white quilt in a craft booth setting.
A woman with long gray hair seated at a table with a cash register, working in a booth surrounded by colorful quilts displayed behind her.
A display at a fabric show featuring colorful quilts hanging on the wall and various quilting supplies organized on a pegboard. The quilts include geometric patterns in pastel and bold colors, while the supplies include quilting tools and accessories.

Sisterhood digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE

Another of my local shops, Fox’s Sew and Vac was there vending, too. They always have tons of great stuff and offer VRD patterns and kits. I bought a really cool panel to make a bucket hat at their booth. I spied this Addison at Fox’s booth. Big Howdy going out to my friends at Fox’s!

A basket containing two bundles of fabric squares tied with twine, labeled 'Addison'. Each bundle features colorful fabrics with different patterns, and a tag stating 'Backing Not Included'.

Addison digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE

Detzel’s Sewing Center was there too. It’s also a local shop and I must admit, I haven’t been there. It used to be only sewing machines, but they have expanded and are continuing to expand. They had lots of VRD kits in their booth! I was totally delighted to see some of mine and introduced myself. I met Cathy and we really hit it off and now she’s reserved July 25th and 26th for their Christmas in July event. Now we just have to figure out what we are doing. LOL! So a huge huge HELLO! goes out to my new friends at Detzel’s.

A colorful quilt display featuring a table runner with red round shapes and green leaves, alongside various fabric stacks in bright colors.
A colorful quilted table runner featuring a patriotic design with eagles, American flags, and stars in red, white, and blue fabric.
A green patchwork quilt displayed on a table, featuring various shades of green and intricate designs. Nearby, several quilting pattern booklets are spread out, showcasing quilt designs with colorful covers.

Left: Berry-liscious (digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE)

Center: Independence Day Snack Mat (digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE)

Right: Goody Goody Gumdrops (digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE)

Basically, the shopping was awesome!

Here’s what I bought at the show – a one of a kind quilt clock, a quilty USA panel, a fun pot holder pattern, Minki Kim pouch panel, and the bucket hat panel.

A decorative wall clock with a diamond shape, featuring colorful patchwork patterns and black hour and minute hands, displayed against a patterned background.
Fabric art of the United States map featuring various patriotic patterns in red, white, and blue, including stars and stripes.
Sewing pattern for Potholder Parade featuring colorful potholders and a matching dish towel.
A fabric print featuring various colorful patterns including strawberries, polka dots, and floral designs, along with sewing patterns and illustrations of small characters.
A layout of sewing pattern pieces on fabric, featuring floral designs in various colors and solid teal sections for garment construction.

I’m really interested in what is going on with panels these days – pouches, hats, toys, etc. give sewists and quilters a lot of new and exciting options.

Did I mention there was live music at the show?????? I thought this was really awesome, it added another layer to the quilt show experience.

A woman playing the violin and a man playing an accordion on stage, with vibrant quilts featuring various designs in the background.
A decorated frame featuring the names 'Don and Jean Wisniewski' accompanied by illustrations of a violin and an accordion, with musical notes in the background.

Finally, I saved one of my favorites for last…….a display of antique quilts. The display was put together by our local antique quilt expert, Jill Meszaros, who has also curated a quilt exhibit at The Baldwin Reynolds House Museum here in Meadville, PA. I haven’t gotten there yet, but it’s one of the things I have on my summer bucket list (I’ll be sure to tell you all about it when I go).

So, please enjoy this slideshow of antique quilts. The info card is after the quilt photo.

Finally! I finished last week’s post about the quilt show. Now let’s move on to our VRD Summer Challenge!

VRD Small Project Summer Challenge

Who’s up for a Summer Challenge????

I know I am – I had a super time completing the 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge with you and I have decided I want to continue doing fun Challenges on the blog.

So……here’s the info you’ve been waiting for……..

VRD Small Project Summer Challenge

Colorful graphic promoting the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge with details on weekly projects and deadlines, including quilts, tote bags, and more.

The Rules and All the Details of the Challenge:

Promotional graphic for the VRD Small Project Summer Challenge, highlighting participation details and deadlines. Features a colorful quilt pattern, a sewing machine, and various crafting materials, with sections detailing how to join, weekly drawings, and submission instructions.

Each week for 6 weeks, participants will post a photo of their completed weekly projects to our VRD Facebook page or if you prefer, you can email the photos to me at tricia@villarosadesigns.com.

I will post my before/after photos on the blog, villarosaquilts.com, each week and I will try to post them on the VRD Facebook page as well.

All projects must be VRD patterns – this is the VRD blog, after all. All projects must be completed by the Friday at midnight EST each week to qualify for the weekly drawing.

Each week there is a different project theme: Week 1 – Quilt under 50″ x 50″, Week 2 – Tote Bag, Week 3 – Pillow, Week 4 – Scarf, Week 5 – Table Runner, Week 6 – Snack Mat duo. Each week, you get to choose which VRD pattern you want to make as long as it fits the category. Easy Peasy.

Each week, I’ll draw a name randomly from those participants who posted photos of their completed projects by each weekly deadline. Weekly winners will get a surprise quilty surprise in the mail after the Challenge ends. Goodies might be from me or from one of our lovely quilting partners.

This Challenge is open to all, but please note that International winners will receive a selection of VRD digital patterns.

You might be wondering what happens if you don’t post a photo for a weekly Challenge or you miss the deadline. It’s pretty simple – your name won’t go into that week’s prize drawing – that’s okay because life gets busy. I’m not kicking you out of the Challenge, though – feel free to participate in any or all weeks. Your name will go into each weekly drawing that you complete a project and post your completed project photo before the weekly deadline.

All participants are on the honor system – please post only newly made and completed projects for the challenge. It’s not fair to other participants to post items that you made prior to the challenge.

I think that’s all the important info. I hope I’ve answered any questions you had. If not, feel free to email me.

Send your name and email address to me at tricia@villarosadesigns.com to officially join the challenge and be eligible for weekly prizes. Your name and email will only be used for this Challenge, I promise you.

So, the Challenge begins….now. Your Week 1 Finished Project photo is due by Friday, June 26th midnight EST (yes, you have 2 weeks to sign up and get your Week 1 project finished). Post your completed project photos on our VRD Facebook group or you can email them directly to me at tricia@villarosadesigns.com if you prefer.

Ready! Set! Go make something fun!

WHEW! That’s it for me this week. If you managed to get through the entire post, I applaud you. KUDOS! Hope you’ll join me for the Summer Challenge.

Sew. Laugh. Make. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

Quilt Shows and Trade Shows · Rose Cards · Tips and Tricks · villa rosa designs

A Local Quilt Show (YAY!) and More Info About the Upcoming VRD Small Project Summer Challenge

rosecards4 Comments

Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

I’m SO excited to say that spring has finally sprung here in northwestern PA. The weather has been sunny and comfortable for almost a week with – gasp! – no rain. I’ve even been able to get outside more – I’ve done some weeding and weed whacking and I’m about ready to plant my mini veggie garden on the back porch.

A decorative spring-themed graphic featuring text that reads 'Spring is in the Weeds' along with colorful flowers, a silver bucket filled with greenery, a trowel, and gardening gloves, against a garden backdrop.
image by moi with the help of AI

Sigh……I used to have a big garden in the middle of the yard but I got so frustrated with the critters eating everything before it had a chance to grow that I gave it up and have since moved to a small 2 foot x 4 foot raised garden box. Eventually I want to add another box, but right now I’m not quite sure where it would go on the porch. Right now, I just love to have something growing so I can watch it and enjoy a little bit of fresh produce. I also have 3 small flower gardens as well, 2 of them are weeded and in good shape while my third is only partly weed right now.

Right now I am planning to plant a yellow grape tomato, cucumbers, peppers, and beans in my little garden. Even though my garden is small, I’ve discovered a fantastic gardening book that makes so much sense to me. Have you ever heard of (or read) the gardening book, Square Foot Gardening? I just love it – it breaks a garden into 12″ square spaces so you can plant more in less space. For example, my 2×4 garden box gives me 8 square foot spaces to plant. And the book tells you what kind and how many seeds/plants you can put into a 12″ square plus so much more. Are you having a garden this year? What are you planting?

Cover of the 4th edition of 'Square Foot Gardening' featuring gardening plants and tools, highlighting its efficiency in growing food from limited space.
Square Foot Gardening book

After some time battling weeds that seemed determined to take over western Pennsylvania, I decided it was time for a change of scenery. So I brushed the dirt off my shoes, left Mount Cluttermore behind (my studio, formerly known as The Dungeon, has officially been renamed), and headed to a quilt show where the only things growing were creativity and inspiration.

Hands All Around Erie Quilt Guild Quilt Show

Of course, I couldn’t go to the quilt show alone. I had to share the fun! So I grabbed Robin and Mary Lee on the way. I felt like I hadn’t been to a quilt show in forever, so I was really excited. Not only were there lots of great quilts to see, there were vendors, too.

Yay quilts! Yay shopping!

Oops…I’m very easily distracted. LOL!

The first thing I saw when entering the show was an entire corner devoted to the Basket Raffle – oh goody! I rarely win anything, but I had to buy some tickets just in case. The baskets were wonderful and completely overstuffed with fabric, notions, precuts, gifty things, and even wine. One of the first baskets I saw looked even had a VRD quilt kit – my Slice of Summer table runner as a kit, another kit, a bundle of fat eighths…….plus a bottle of wine. Nice!

A wicker basket filled with summer picnic items, including fabric squares, a bottle of wine, and craft kits for a table runner and popsicles, topped with a red ribbon.

Slice of Summer digital pattern HERE or print pattern HERE

Of course, I didn’t win anything. But that’s okay – those who did won gorgeous curated baskets. No, I’m not jealous – I have only to look around my humble studio, Mount Cluttermore, to find my own basket goodies. I could make my own baskets full of quilty stuff, but then I’d just have a mountain of baskets instead of a mountain of fabric. Oh well, at least I’ve got the goodies even if I don’t have the wine.

I tried to focus on the quilts first. Robin and Mary Lee went ahead of me and went back and forth between the quilts and the vendors as I took the time to photograph all the quilts that inspired me or caught my eye. I’ve often found that photographing quilts helps me to remember what inspired or surprised me at the show – whether it’s a block, the quilting, fabric choices, layout, or even the color palette.

The only thing that frustrates me is that quilt makers don’t always include enough information on the quilt information tag. Sigh…

If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone entering or displaying a quilt in a show, it would be this: please include the pattern name, book name, or indicate if the design is original. You can bet that at least one person viewing your quilt is going to fall in love with it and want to make their own version. That’s one of the highest compliments a quilt maker can receive, isn’t it?

As a quilt designer, I especially appreciate seeing examples of my patterns hanging in a quilt show. When the maker includes the pattern name and designer information, that’s pure gold. Not only does it give credit where credit is due, but it also helps other quilters find the pattern if they’re inspired by the quilt.

On the other hand, when I spot one of my designs on display without any attribution, I have to admit it makes me a little sad. So when you’re filling out that quilt information tag, please include as much information as possible. You never know…the pattern designer might be walking through the show admiring quilts right alongside you.

I did find several VRD pattern quilts on display, which made me very happy. Including my own Sisterhood! Woohoo! The top 3 VRD quilts were made by Mary Beth Cook and Sisterhood was made by Jean Malthaner. Panama City was made by Mary Beth Cook.

A quilt displayed on a hangar, featuring a pattern of alternating squares with floral designs and dark stripes, showcasing intricate stitching.
Fandango
A colorful quilt displayed on a wall, featuring a patchwork design with floral and geometric patterns in shades of pink, green, yellow, and white.
Variation of Gridwork or Wellington
A colorful quilt featuring horizontal stripes in various patterns and colors, displayed against a backdrop of light fabric.
Messages
Colorful quilt displayed on a gray backdrop, featuring a geometric pattern of triangles in various vibrant colors including red, blue, green, pink, and black.
Sisterhood
A colorful patchwork quilt displayed at an exhibition, featuring various rectangular fabric pieces in vibrant shades, surrounded by a dark border.
Panama City

Fandango – digital pattern or print pattern

Gridwork – digital pattern or print pattern

Wellington – digital pattern or print pattern

Messages – digital pattern or print pattern

Sisterhood – digital pattern or print pattern

Panama City – digital pattern or print pattern

Now here’s a slideshow for you of my favorite quilts in the quilt show (no, I didn’t photograph every quilt, just most of them). The photo with the maker’s name follows the photo of the quilt. Huh! Sorry but occasionally, you will find my fingers in the photo. Also, I apologize for the fuzzy maker images. I am clearly an amateur photographer.

Well, I hope you really enjoyed the slide show. Aren’t they really great quilts? It was a super show and hopefully the first of many this year. I will must have to find out where all the quilt shows are in my neck of the woods for the rest of the year.

I was hoping to talk about the vendors, too as well as information about the Small Project Summer Sew Along, but I had a family emergency while I was writing the blog and we are still in the ER 4+ hours later. I am sorry I won’t get to share more with you this week, but truly I am exhausted and I have no idea what time we will get home tonight. I’m actually wrapping up the blog on my iPad while sitting beside the bed in the ER cubicle next to my Dad.

So stay tuned next week for the second part of the Quilt Show along with the scoop on our upcoming Sew Along. And new VRD June Rose Card quilt patterns. Lots to come back for next week.

See you right here next week!

Until then –

Sew. Laugh. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

Rose Cards · villa rosa designs

Permission Granted to Sew/Quilt Small This Summer

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. Surprisingly, I had a lovely holiday weekend myself. Normally holidays don’t always run very smoothly for me, but this one was relaxed, fun, and filled with quilting inspiration.

On Saturday, my parents, my dog, Bailly (yes, THAT cute little furry shih tzu featured on all my pillow patterns), and I headed to a really fun indoor flea market called Lisa’s General Store in Greenville PA, which is less than an hour’s drive away from home.

Bailly was good as gold (Lisa’s is a dog friendly place) and loved meeting anyone who wished to give her a little pat. Of course, she couldn’t understand why everyone who was there did not want to meet her because in Bailly’s world that’s why everyone was at Lisa’s in the first place. LOL! She loved riding around in the shopping cart and sometimes she would walk ahead of the cart like she was pulling it along behind her. I’m just sorry I didn’t take any photos of her little highness, but I definitely will next time.

Bailly has always had a personality larger than life (she weighs all of 12 pounds). One of her funniest quirks is that she absolutely loves green vegetables. I know, right? Completely adorable. Her love of green veggies actually inspired me to create a printable coloring book featuring Bailly and her beloved green beans. If you’d like to see Bailly’s coloring book, you can find it HERE.

Interior of a vibrant flea market with colorful signs, antique decor, and collectibles. Features items like vintage lamps, a rocking horse, and a cheerful atmosphere.
Image created by moi with AI tools

VRD Small Project Summer Sew Along

All weekend long, I found myself thinking about smaller projects for summer. It is now unofficially the summer of 2026 – yay – summer! Summer can make quilting time feel almost impossible sometimes! Who wants to have a big quilt lying across your lap when the temperature is in the 80s or 90s so you can hand stitch the binding? Whose studio isn’t even air conditioned (sadly, that would be mine)? Who has time to even sit down at their sewing machine between soccer games, swim lessons, family vacation, gardening, and a million other things all going on at the same time in the summer?

With these things in mind, I started thinking about our smaller VRD projects like tote bags, pillows, snack mats, table runners, place mats, etc. and how those would be great projects for a VRD Summer Sew Along. I’m tentatively thinking 1 small project per week for 6 weeks – do you think that’s too much in too short a time during summer? Then again, I know that participating in a sew along can be a big motivator for finding little pockets of time to sew. I’m thinking to start the sew along after the middle of June.

Promotional poster for Villa Rosa Designs' Small Project Summer Sew Along featuring colorful quilting projects and text encouraging participation from all skill levels.
Image created by moi with AI tools

Maybe we should simply make this a Small Project Summer so we can focus on creating without all the pressure and stress. And a sew along built around quick, fun projects would anchor that idea perfectly, don’t you think?

With all the go-go-go of summertime, do you get frustrated when you don’t have time to sew/quilt? I know I get kind of antsy and that’s not a nice feeling for me. I’ve discovered that sewing and quilting are a little like breathing and I need to do them regularly to feel my best. It’s not just a habit, it’s become part of my self-care routine. Sewing and quilting make me happy and it’s important to make time for happy in my life. Huh. I really think organizing and participating in a Small Project Sew Along would really rock my summer.

Speaking of smaller projects that finish quickly, did you know Villa Rosa Designs has a growing collection of smaller projects??? We have patterns for table runners, place mats, pillows, snack mats, tote bags, scarves, wall quilts, and other cute fun small accessories. You can find our VRD table runner patterns HERE and our VRD accessory patterns HERE. And of course, we have oodles of larger projects – baby quilts, throw quilts, and even big quilts that are fun to make and go together fast. With over 700 patterns, we have a lot of different options for fun summer sewing.

Progress counts too! Maybe it takes longer to finish a project in the summer, but you are still working towards that goal. And once you complete one project, then it’s time to pick another one to work on. Of course, if you are like me, you usually have multiple projects going at the same time in different stages from piecing to layering to machine quilting to binding. But the plan is always the same – keep working on a project until it’s finally finished. Finishing might take longer in the summer, but time spent working on a project is valuable, too. Don’t forget that.

Creativity doesn’t really disappear just because life gets busy – sometimes it simply changes pace. And we simply need to change pace with it. That’s perfectly okay.

A cozy sewing room featuring a BERNINA B 335 sewing machine, a patchwork quilt on the table, quilting supplies, and decorated shelves with fabric rolls. Natural light floods in through a window.
Image created by moi with AI tools

When things get super busy and you are longing for your sewing machine, just remember a little sewing is still sewing.

You stitched one seam? Yay you!

You made one block? Awesome applesauce!

You sketched a quilt you want to make…someday? Great!

You had a sew day with friends? Fantastic!

You sat outside and read a quilt magazine? Wonderful!

All these activities are part of our quilting process. So maybe you don’t make any big quilts this summer. That’s okay. Maybe you started but haven’t finished yet. Perfectly understandable. Perhaps all you had time to do was listen to a quilting podcast in the car on your way to a work conference. Way to go!

Quilting isn’t just one thing. Quilting is pretty much a way of life with many many different parts. So take a little time this summer and enjoy some of those parts of quilting. At the end of summer, you might just surprise yourself with what you created in those little pockets of time.

So this summer, let’s challenge ourselves to do fun (and small) sewing. Go ahead and pick easy patterns. Use your favorite fabrics. Stop worrying about perfection and simply enjoy the process. Let’s have sew much fun!

Permission officially granted – sew small, sew simple, and sew joyful.

Would anyone be interested in participating in a VRD Small Project Summer Sew Along? Please leave a comment on this blog post or you can email me at tricia@villarosadesigns.com.

Sew. Laugh. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Spring 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge · Rose Cards · villa rosa designs

Wrapping Up our Spring Edition of the 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

This week we’re all about wrapping up our totally AWESOME Spring Edition 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge. If you missed the Challenge or the timing wasn’t right for you to participate this time, never fear – I am planning to do it again this Fall. We all need motivation to get stuff done, don’t we? And I can’t think of any better motivation than doing it together.

Let’s take a look at Challenge stats.

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge Final Stats

By the end of the Challenge, I had 70 people signed up to participate in the Challenge. WOWZER!

Of the 70 folks who signed up, 37 people participated in at least 1 week of the Challenge making at least 1 finished quilt. That’s a 53% participation rate, which is totally fantastic! What a great turn out for our Challenge.

And I know you’re all wondering how many quilts we completed in 6 weeks, right?!? Well, keep wondering for a minute because I want to build a little suspense for that answer yet. (Tehehe.)

Next let’s congratulate our Week 6 Winner!

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Week 6 Winner

It’s time to announce our Week 6 winner!

Norma K from WI

HOORAY!

Way to go, Norma!

Congratulations!

Here is Norma’s Week 6 finish – Silver Star. Isn’t it super? Just perfect for the upcoming 250th birthday celebration in the US this summer.

A handcrafted quilt featuring a star pattern in red, white, and blue fabrics, framed by a patchwork border.

As you can see, Norma carried the pieced square border the whole way around the center star instead of only at the top and bottom. Great finish, Norma!

Colorful quilt pattern titled 'Silver Star' by Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a star shape surrounded by a vibrant border and an orange background.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Next up is the winner of our Best Guess Contest. Whose best guess was the closest to the actual number of quilts finished in 6 weeks?

Total Number of Quilts Completed and Our Best Guess Winner

Guesses were all over the place, but at the end of our 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge, only one guess came close to the actual number. Very close actually.

First, the total number of quilts completed for the 6 in 6 Challenge was an astonishing

162 FINISHED QUILTS!

Wow! Isn’t that amazing? I’ll say it again –

162 FINISHED QUILTS!

Our closest guess was 157.

Congratulations!

Cyndi S in FL

YIPPEE!

And we have 1 more winner to wrap up our Challenge.

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Finishers’ Circle

I want to congratulate ALL of the folks who completed the entire Challenge – there were 14 (15 with me, but I don’t count. LOL!). Which ends up being 20% of all the sign ups who actually finished a quilt every week for 6 weeks. Whoa!

I added one more drawing for these 14 finishers because completing a quilt a week for 6 weeks is a real commitment and I want to celebrate that. Actually I want to shout it from the rooftops, but I’m thinking that might not be so safe…….

Some folks completed UFOs while others created brand new from start to finish quilts. Remember, to be eligible for the weekly drawings projects had to be completely finished – quilting, binding and all.

Drum Roll please…………..

Our Finishers’ Circle winner is

Regina S in MO

Yay you!

Congrats!

Now it’s time to celebrate all the wonderful quilts that were completed during the challenge. Some were made for loved ones, some were made just because, while others will find their way to charitable organizations.

162 quilts in 6 weeks.

I really enjoyed seeing the VRD Facebook page (and my email) light up with so many quilts every week. And it was exciting to see other folks getting inspired to complete their own projects even though they might not have actually signed up for the Challenge. I also saw participants fueled by the momentum and continuing to finish UFOs after the Challenge ended.

162 quilts in 6 weeks.

All I can say now at the end of the Challenge is THANK YOU. Thank you for quilting along with me. Thank you for your encouragement and your support. And thank you for all the amazing inspiration. I have now added oodles of new VRD patterns to my Make List. I bet you did too. It’s a good thing we’re going to do the Challenge again in the Fall.

KEEP THOSE QUILTS COMING!

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge Sponsors

I want to do a special SHOUT OUT to Hoffman Fabrics and Riley Blake Designs who are sponsoring the prizes for the Challenge. Thanks SEW much for partnering with us for this awesome Challenge!

Logo of Hoffman California-International Fabrics featuring the brand name 'Hoffman' in a stylish cursive font.
Logo of Riley Blake Designs featuring a stylized blue bird above the text.

What’s Next???

I’m thinking it’s going to be hard to come up with a new idea to follow our very successful Challenge. So I thought I’d ask you – what would you like to see on the blog this summer?

I was possibly thinking perhaps a Fun Summer Sew Along, but then I wasn’t sure what exactly to make for the sew along. What do you think?

A woman with curly hair and glasses excitedly expressing her enthusiasm for quilting projects, surrounded by colorful speech bubbles featuring various quilting themes like 'smaller projects', 'runners?', 'patriotic projects?', and 'jelly rolls'.
Yeah…..this is me. Every day! LOL!

Smaller projects? Runners? Accessory patterns? Patriotic projects? Fat quarter projects? Charm Squares? Jelly Rolls? Whew! Do we want to do a project a week or a project a month? Sigh…….too many choices.

So I thought I’d ask for your help. I am open to your thoughts and ideas, so please leave a comment and tell me what you’d like to do this summer on the blog.

See you next week!

Sew. Laugh. Keep finishing. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD

2026 Spring 6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge · Rose Cards · villa rosa designs

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge Week 6 and NEW VRD Rose Card Quilt Patterns for May

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Hello Quilty Friends!

Happy Thursday to you!

Welcome to Week 6!

I must admit I’m a little sad that this is our final week of the Challenge, but at the same time I know all good things must come to a close. And this was certainly a GOOD THING! 6 more quilts completed! Done and done! And I wasn’t the only person who finished a quilt each week for 6 weeks, so that it totally incredible. For those of you who missed the Challenge or were unable to participate, I hope to repeat the Challenge in the fall, so stay tuned for the Fall edition 6 in 6 Challenge later this year.

YAY ME!!! With 6 quilts finished, now I can get back to the business of creating new tutorials for the blog as well as tackling some new fun projects I have on my list and I won’t feel that little bit of guilt for not finishing stuff first. Woohoo! It’s really amazing how completing 6 projects can really give you a burst of energy and inspiration. I really love that.

Of course, my week long vacation at Myrtle Beach has certainly filled up my creative bucket and I imagine I’ll be creating beach-inspired quilts for a while. Just thought I’d warn you. LOL!

How about I show off my Week 6 finish now?

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Challenge Week 6

Before I left on vacay, I did a little prep work so I could finish my Week 5 and Week 6 quilts while at the Beach. Last week I completed my mini version of Eclipses on the long ride to Myrtle Beach and on the way home back to good ol’ PA, I actually finished the binding on 2 table runners (including my Week 6 project) as well as hand stitched a set of Drunkard’s Path blocks. I was thrilled to be able to get so much sewing done on the way home.

All I needed to do for my Week 6 finish was to hand-stitch the binding on a second version of Molly’s Amen table runner pattern. I completed the first Amen runner for Week 4 and now this one for Week 6.

A colorful patchwork table runner featuring various fabric squares with text and designs, titled 'Amen' by Molly Cook for Villa Rosa Designs, set against a brick background.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

I modified this version of Amen by eliminating the narrow border around the rectangles. Instead, I used a large bold floral. I also made a few extra blocks to make the runner longer. I quilted it simply with an allover meander in red cotton thread. My backing was a blue floral fabric left over from another quilt. And the binding is a blue texture. All in all, I think it turned out well and I really love it. Although it’s floral, I could definitely use this in July to celebrate the 250th birthday of America.

My BEFORE photo: Here’s the runner quilted but not bound in 2024. It only took 2 years and a road trip to get ‘er done. LOL!

A colorful patchwork table runner featuring floral and geometric patterns, displayed on a blue wooden rocking chair.

My AFTER photos:

A colorful patchwork table runner featuring floral and geometric patterns, laid out on a grassy surface.
A colorful patchwork quilt featuring floral and geometric patterns, laid out on a grassy surface.

You know, I haven’t had much time to hand-stitch binding lately and I actually really enjoyed doing the hand sewing. I always have a few go projects ready to grab if I’m going to have time to stitch, but binding hasn’t been at the top of my list for a while. I’m hoping that I’ll put a little more effort into finishing those bindings, whether by hand or machine, going forward. Fingers crossed….

6 Quilts in 6 Weeks Week 5 Winner

It’s time to announce our Week 5 winner!

Fiona M. from Ontario, Canada

HOORAY!

Way to go, Fiona!

Congratulations!

Here is Fiona’s version of Pocket Change. Isn’t it delightful? I just love the pink background. And the red coins really add a fun pop of color. The diagonal striped binding – perfect finish!

A colorful quilt featuring a patchwork design with various patterned blocks in red, green, blue, yellow, and pink on a light pink background.

Pocket Change is a fun and fast to make wall or baby quilt using 5″ squares. If you’ve never tried it before, now’s your chance. I’m thinking to raid some red, white, and blue 5″ square stacks to whip one of these up for July. Stay tuned….it’ll probably be a new tutorial soon.

Cover of 'Pocket Change' by Kate Griffin for Villa Rosa Designs, featuring a colorful quilt design with rectangular fabric pieces in various shades of purple, green, and blue.

Get your digital pattern HERE or your print pattern HERE

Now let’s take a peak at the newest VRD Rose Card patterns!

NEW VRD Rose Card Patterns for May

Usually I show off our new patterns the Thursday after the first Friday of each month – which would have been last week’s post, but instead last week I wanted to share my trip to the beach with you. So, here are this month’s newest patterns, a week late, but always right on time!

Collage of five quilt patterns for May 2026, featuring titles: BoBevlynn, LaRue, Main Street, Hors d'oeuvres, and Nautical. Each pattern is displayed with colorful designs and includes a price of $8.95 for the set.

Get all 5 print patterns HERE

Bobevalynn is Catherine of Running Doe’s latest mod star design. The quilt finishes at 48″ x 72″ and uses fat quarters plus yardage. You can find the kit HERE.

Hors d’oeuvres is Heidi’s new foodie quilt pattern. It is fat quarter friendly and finishes at a generous 65″ x 72″. You can find the kit HERE.

LaRue is Rachelle’s brand new mod quilt. It finishes at 52″ x 65″ and uses 5″ squares or fat quarters. (no kit available at this time)

Main Street is Pat’s latest delightful pattern. It finishes 45″ x 54″ and uses fat quarters. (kit sold out)

Nautical is Molly’s very timely newest design. It uses yardage and finishes at 48″ x 57″. You can find the kit HERE.

There is no table runner pattern for May. (Awwww, don’t cry….) Instead, there’s a brand new fun and flirty place mat pattern called Petal Pop. This is a fun mix and match fat quarter pattern, made in multiples of 2.

A colorful display of two quilted place mats featuring floral patterns and geometric designs, titled 'Petal Pop Place Mats', designed by Tricia Lynn Maloney for Villa Rosa Designs.

Get the digital pattern HERE or the print pattern HERE

This month’s Seasonal pillow pattern is called Dot to Dot and it’s cuter than a little bug, that’s for sure! As you can see, little Miss Bailly is looking quite pleased with herself! She seems to really enjoy being the “star” of the pillow pattern photos! LOL! SHHH! Don’t tell her it’s really about the pillows, I don’t want her to be disappointed.

A decorative pillow featuring a red and black hexagonal design is displayed on a brown couch, accompanied by a small, fluffy dog resting beside it.

Get the digital pattern HERE or the print pattern HERE

That’s 7 brand new patterns for you in May – place mats, an 18″ pillow, and throws. Which one will you make first?

Well, that’s it for me today. We’ll have one more challenge winner for Week 6 next time and we’ll also find out how many quilts were completed in 6 weeks. The anticipation is killing me and I can’t wait to find out the answer. Someone is going to win a prize for guessing the closest number to the total.

See you next week!

Sew. Laugh. Finish. Repeat.

Always,

Tricia @ VRD