Words are funny things.

Someone can say ten lovely things about something we’ve made, and we’ll smile, say thank you, and go about our day.

But let someone say one less-than-complimentary thing?

That one moves right into our head, rearranges the furniture, and makes itself comfortable.

Why do we do that?

As quilters, we put so much of ourselves into what we make. We choose colors that make us happy. We fuss over fabric combinations. We cut everything into little pieces—and then spend hours sewing those pieces back together again.

We enjoy the process. The piecing. The rhythm and hum of the sewing machine. Watching blocks pile up beside us. Seeing a design emerge on the wall. And finally, that wonderful moment when the last stitch is taken and we can stand back and say, “I made that.”

We quilt because we enjoy quilting.

So why do we sometimes give someone else’s words the power to take that enjoyment away?

But first, let’s enjoy a free pattern download and then I’ll tell you what was said.

XYZ-PDQ

Introducing XYZ-PDQ! It’s delightfully simple and has multiple sizes in the pattern. The download link expires October 14, 2026. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

I have a confession.

We designed XYZ-PDQ back in 2019.

It’s cute. It’s scrappy. It’s simple. It uses those little cuts and leftovers we quilters accumulate. And it’s pretty darn quick to make—which, of course, is part of the name.

XYZ-PDQ comes from that silly old expression some of us grew up with. If someone’s zipper was down, you discreetly said, “XYZ-PDQ!”

Examine Your Zipper—Pretty Darn Quick!

They knew exactly what you meant.

So when we designed a simple zipper-block quilt, XYZ-PDQ seemed like the perfect name.

I was excited about it.

And then someone made a less-than-positive comment. “It isn’t as nice as some of your other patterns.”

That was all it took.

Instead of thinking about the things I liked about the quilt, I started looking at it through someone else’s eyes. Was it too simple? Was it not interesting enough? Would people like it?

And XYZ-PDQ quietly got pushed aside.

For seven years.

All because I gave one person’s opinion more weight than my own.

Judy’s Bucket

My friend Judy has a quilt sitting in a bucket for much the same reason.

She was working on a pattern but decided she liked the blocks arranged differently from the layout shown in the pattern.

Good for her!

That is one of the wonderful things about quilting. A pattern is a starting point. Change the colors. Turn the blocks. Move things around. Make it yours.

Except someone looked at Judy’s arrangement and told her it was wrong.

Wrong.

That little word was enough. Judy put the project back into its bucket. And there it sits.

But here’s the thing:

Judy’s quilt wasn’t wrong.

It was different.

More importantly, Judy liked it. That should have been enough.

Who Are You Quilting For?

Somewhere along the way, I think we need to remind ourselves why we quilt.

We’re quilting because we love fabric. Because playing with color makes us happy. Because we enjoy figuring out how blocks fit together. Because the hum of the sewing machine is comforting. Because sometimes spending an afternoon sewing is exactly what we need. And because at the end of all that cutting, stitching, pressing, ripping—and occasionally muttering—we have made something that didn’t exist before.

That’s pretty wonderful.

Of course, constructive criticism has its place. Lora and I depend on our testers and proofers to tell us when something isn’t right. We want to know if instructions are confusing or a measurement doesn’t work.

But constructive help and a careless negative comment are two very different things.

We need to learn the difference—and be careful which words we allow to take up residence in our heads.

Our Words Matter, Too

There’s another side to all of this that I think is especially important for those of us who teach.

Lora and I have taught quilting for many years, and we have to remember that our words carry extra weight in the classroom. When someone brings us a block, they’re not just showing us a few pieces of fabric sewn together. They’re showing us something they made with their own hands.

And sometimes they’re showing it to us with a little bit of their heart attached.

As teachers, we believe part of our job is to be cheerleaders.

That doesn’t mean we can’t teach, correct, or help someone improve. Of course we can. That’s why they’re taking the class! But there’s a big difference between, “That’s wrong,” and, “Your block looks wonderful! Let me show you something that might make the next one even easier.”

We hold our craft very close to our hearts. So when someone criticizes something we’ve created, those words don’t always land on the fabric. Sometimes they land right on the heart. And words that land there can stay for a very long time.

That’s worth remembering—not only when we’re listening to what others say about our work, but when we’re choosing the words we say about theirs.

Making What We Love…

Make something simple just because it’s fun. Make something meaningful because the story behind it matters to you. Try a new technique because you want to see if you can do it.

We’ve been doing quite a bit of that around here lately, and we have some new quilts to share with you!

Easter Morning

Easter Morning is one that’s especially close to our hearts. This appliqué design tells the Easter story through little details tucked throughout the quilt—the bunny at the foot of the cross, Easter lilies and tulips, and an overturned basket representing the empty tomb. Three spilled Easter eggs represent the three days before Christ rose from the dead.

It’s a quilt with a story, and I’m delighted to finally share it with you. Lora did an amazing job with the quilting.

Seasonal Breezes

Then there’s Seasonal Breezes, our new 12″ x 48″ runner.

This one grew out of our Beyond the Basics workshop and combines several techniques in one pretty little project: Flying Geese, Parallel Flying Geese, Half Square Triangles, Square-in-a-Square, and fusible appliqué.

We’ve made it in a couple different colorways, and that’s part of the fun of this design. Change the fabrics and it takes on an entirely different personality. Seasonal Breezes is a perfect example of why I don’t think a pattern should ever be considered a set of rules carved in stone.

It’s an invitation. Make our version—or make your version.

Hurkle Durkle

And then we have Hurkle Durkle.

Hurkle-Durkle is an old Scottish term meaning to linger in bed when you really should be up and about.

This 70″ x 88″ quilt is another reminder that quilting is supposed to be fun. Two blocks are made simultaneously—one light and one dark—with easy block assembly and surprisingly bold results.

But the really fun part comes when the blocks are finished.

How do you want to arrange them? There are 14 layout options!

Turn them. Move them. Mix them up. Stand back and look. Move them again. There isn’t just one “right” answer. We’ve included fourteen layout options in the pattern so you can play until you find the one that makes you happy.

Sound familiar?

Easy to piece. Fun to arrange. Hard to make just one!

And if you’d rather Hurkle-Durkle in bed for another half hour before getting up to sew, we certainly won’t judge.

There is room in quilting for complicated quilts and ridiculously easy quilts. Traditional quilts and modern quilts. Meaningful quilts and quilts we make simply because the fabric made us happy.

Not everything we make needs someone else’s approval.

Get It Out of the Bucket

So I’m giving myself a little challenge this month, and I’m giving it to you too.

Think about that project you stopped working on. Maybe somebody didn’t like your fabric. Maybe someone questioned your color choices. Maybe your blocks aren’t perfect. Maybe you compared your quilt to somebody else’s and decided theirs was better.

Or maybe a few words—spoken years ago—are still rattling around in your head.

Pull that project back out.

Look at it again with your own eyes.

Do you like those colors? Does sewing it make you happy? Do you want to see it finished? Then keep going.

Turn the blocks sideways. Add another border. Leave the border off. Make it smaller. Make it bigger. Change the pattern. Follow the pattern exactly. Chop something up and sew it back together.

It’s your quilt.

Come See Us Before We Sail Away!

If you’d like to see XYZ-PDQ, Easter Morning, Seasonal Breezes, Hurkle Durkle, and all our other Material Girlfriends quilts in person, come see us at the quilt show in Pleasanton, CA!

We’ll have the Material Girlfriends booth packed with patterns, kits, new designs, and plenty of quilting inspiration. Lora and I would love for you to stop by, say hello, and see what’s new.

And then—almost immediately after we pack up the booth—we’re packing our suitcases!

September 28, we’re heading out on our Hawaii quilting cruise for two weeks, where we’ll be teaching, quilting, sightseeing, and probably doing at least a little Hurkle-Durkling. After the September we’ve had, I think we’ve earned it! If you’re considering a quilting cruise, check out the cruises available through Stitchin’ Heaven. They are a fabulous team. We’re looking forward to the Alaska cruise in August 2027!

A quick shipping note: While we’re away, there will be a delay in shipping physical orders from Sept 28-Oct 13. Digital PDF patterns will, of course, still be available for immediate download. We appreciate your patience while the Material Girlfriends are out at sea!

Then we’ll come home rested, inspired, and probably with far too many photographs and a few stories to tell.

Until then, remember:

Make the quilt you want to make. Use the colors you love. Turn the blocks whichever way makes you happy. And don’t let someone else’s words put your quilt—or your creativity—back in the bucket.

Now go sew something.

Happy quilting,