Patchwork Scraps and Umbrella Block Pillow Cushion Cover

It's time for April showers! And my turn again at QUILTsocial.com. I designed this fun pieced umbrella block to welcome the season that melts the snow where I live.

Celebrating Spring with a cheery quilted umbrella cushion

I got to use the PFAFF quilt expression 720 to create my project - my favourite PFAFF yet! 
For this cushion I decided to design one side using scraps from my stash to create a double four patch set of blocks with no repeating fabrics. Of course you could make it more controlled scrappy, but the challenge to reduce the stash is an ongoing one. With Earth Day next week I thought it would be a fun way to remind quilters that most of us already have enough fabric. What?!

Or, maybe this message is more encouraging:

Use up your stash so you can build a new one!

 Honoring Earth Day: use your stash to make a quilted patchwork cushion

I used the built in Patchwork Program to make quick work of sewing all the patchwork squares together. You can see it at work in this post.

When it came time to quilt the patchwork side of the cushion, I used different decorative stitches along the seams. 

Using handlook stitches on the quilt expression 720 for quilting patchwork

And I used a zipper to close the cushion this time. Of course I found a yellow one in my stash!

Finishing the quilted umbrella cushion with a zipper

When I took my cushion cover outside to find a good place for a photo, I discovered that I have daffodils coming up in my front garden bed. This is my first Spring in our new house and I'm delighted to be finally living on the Sunny Side of the Street! Bring on the bulbs!

Embrace the season of change and find some time to quilt JOY into it:)

With Joy,

Sarah V.