You might think there’s some magic behind the patterns you see in QN. Yes, there is, but it doesn’t happen until the art staff gets an old-fashioned, drawn-with-a-pencil block draft from the editor. I think better with a pencil in my hand, and I rarely understand how a pattern works until I draw it. That’s when I figure out the sizes to cut the patches, how many of each are needed, and everything else I have to know before I can write instructions for making a quilt. And it’s no different for my own projects. I’m going to get started piecing my parents’ quilt over the holiday weekend, and I made this drawing so I’ll know what to do.

My draft

I’ll pin the draft on the wall right next to the sewing machine, and no matter how many blocks I’ve made, I’ll still glance at it now and then.

I hope you have time to sew this weekend!