I'm thrilled to introduce the Pamela Mae quilt pattern, named after none other than my amazing mom. She has been my right hand for so long. When I got divorced, she was there, helping with the kids while I worked. When I was a Certified Nurse Midwife, she was a labor & delivery nurse taking care of so many of my patients when they were in labor. And now that I'm running a quilt pattern business, she's been my rock once again - helping in my booth at shows, fulfilling orders, and managing inventory. Seriously, does anyone else have a mom like this? Just this week, she's been at my house every day sleeving patterns so that we have enough to take to Houston for our booths at Market & Festival.
I sketched the design for this quilt this summer during our trip to the Bay Area to vend at Pacific International. During that trip, Mom mentioned that she always wished her middle name was spelled "Mae" instead of "May" because "Mae is so much cuter". Well, I can't legally change her name, but I can name a quilt pattern after her - and what better time than now as she just celebrated her 70th birthday! 🎉 Happy birthday Mom! 🎁 That's her in the photo. Isn't she the cutest?
The Inspiration Behind Pamela Mae
The design for this quilt came from my desire to combine curves and straight lines in a fresh way. I just started drawing, not really knowing what would happen and when I finished, I loved the look of it but had no idea how I was going to turn it into a quilt, let alone a pattern to be followed. At first, I considered doing some applique for the crescent shapes or even adding some puffs in there (thanks Sunshine Puff for still being on my mind!). I also toyed with the idea of using bias tape applique to outline the shapes for a cartoon effect. But after letting it simmer, I decided to keep it simple and piece it as I had drawn it (KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid 🤦♀️).
After writing the first draft, it was time to make a sample, editing and improving the pattern as I went. When I heard that my local branch of the Modern Quilt Guild, the Las Vegas MQG, was hosting their second annual quilt exhibit at Sew Yeah Quilting, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to test out my pattern. The exhibit required using the MQGs Windham Color Challenge criteria - using at least three of the six featured fabrics. These colors colors weren't ones I'd typically choose and "Turmeric", the greenish-yellow one, looked very different in person from what I'd seen online. I also struggled with combining pink and red in one quilt but I was determined to make it work using all six colors. And guess what? They grew on me!
These are some digital mock ups I had been playing with. I had just enough fabric to make half of the quilt (pictured below is a quarter).
Piecing the Top
This quilt looks complicated but I've made it really easy to do. To get those perfect red crescents with a pink circle inside, I used freezer paper, a bit of plain old Elmer's School Glue (the white stuff), and reverse applique with invisible seams. This non-traditional method makes getting small, perfectly round, smooth curves much easier than it should be. For the larger curves, it helps to think of pie - with crust and filling. Pie can be sliced! Similarly, the curves are divided(sliced) making them easier to manage and I used Sewline's glue pen to glue baste one slice at a time making stitching so much easier! Check it out in this YouTube Video. The pattern spells it all out with diagrams 😊
Quilting Pamela Mae
Since this version is so modern looking in these solids, I went with matchstick quilting. I found that loading the quilt as squarely as possible really helped. I then used the wheel locks on my frame so the machine could only move right and left, not forward and back. I started in the center stripe then worked outwards. I used a ruler to space the lines 1/4" apart and loved the clean, modern look that resulted. One downside - this much quilting makes the quilt feel quite thin because it's so compressed. I found matchstick quilting is doable for smaller quilts but it would be challenging to keep the lines straight with the quilt on a larger project.
And here’s an amazing part—my quilt won first place in all four categories! 🎉 Most Modern, Best Quilting, Viewers' Choice, and Best Use of Color. I’m still in shock and those four handmade ribbons now hang proudly in my studio.
Testing and Finalizing the Pattern
Next, I sent the improved draft to my testers. Their initial reaction was similar to mine, "How does this come together?!" But they trusted the process and dove right in, creating some incredible versions of the quilt. Because most of the pieces are so large, it actually comes together quicker than you'd think. All the curves are glued before being stitched - making them so very very accurate and much easier to sew. The pattern is packed with tips to help anyone succeed with it! And here's one of my favorite parts... what my testers made and their progress shots!
Amanda @stitchymomma found a Halloween throw at Walmart and used it as both backing and color inspiration. She loves the soft, snuggly feel of these throws but advises using good batting since they're thin.
Cath @cathlmaker was inspired by this fun fruity print and highlighted it in the small circles. Her quilt’s paint-splatter fabrics brought back great memories of my childhood in the '80s and '90s! She donated her quilt to a child in need.🩷
Mary Kay @mkvquilts made her "Martini" quilt at a retreat and everyone there loved her "olives." I also love that she used an all over quilting design with both curves and straight edges. Her quilt is gorgeous!
Mollie @madeby_moonlight played with bold solids using the Recolor app, a digital coloring book. I love how it's coming together and can't wait to see it quilted.
Sandy @mysticsandsewn was instrumental in refining the pattern, catching all the spots that needed more details. She also gave us lots of pictures as she played with different fabrics. Her floral quilt is simply stunning!
Stasi @tennesseequiltretreats was inspired by a blue rubber duckie and she literally had her quilt top finished the next day. She hosts quilt retreats and weddings at her beautiful vineyard on a river in Tennessee. Unfortunately, her property completely flooded during the recent hurricanes and in all the chaos, her quilt top was misplaced. She recently found it and after lots of mud removal, she is back to hosting events next week!
Suzi @redwinequilter took the time to carefully cut her directional green print for her manta ray blocks and it paid off so well! Her attention to detail is incredible!
Making the Cover Quilt
While I’m thrilled with my Windham Color Challenge version of this quilt, it didn’t feel quite right for the pattern cover. While at Sew Yeah Quilting, I got my hands on the latest Tula Pink fabrics—Tabby Road Deja Vu—and knew those playful cats had to be front and center. I decided to feature them in the windows of the quilt and it was an absolute blast working with these vibrant prints.
The fabric designs even inspired my quilting motifs—how could I resist including fish bones and cat toys? Quilting around the cat eyes, cans of fish, stripes, mice, and diamonds added incredible texture, bringing the whole quilt to life!
Coloring Pages
Coloring pages aren’t just for experimenting with contrast and color as you design your version of the quilt—they’re also perfect for doodling and testing out quilting motifs. For this pattern, the coloring pages are extra special. In addition to the blank version, you’ll find two color-by-number pages: one designed for using 6 fabrics and another for 16 fabrics, just like the cover quilt. These coloring pages are a fun and helpful way to plan your quilt before diving in!
Why You'll Love the Pamela Mae Quilt Pattern
The Pamela Mae quilt pattern is a fresh, modern design that blends bold curves with striking straight lines, creating a dynamic and unique look. This pattern is designed to guide you through every step with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Plus, it includes helpful tips and tricks for mastering curves, so you’ll feel confident tackling this gorgeous design.
This pattern offers endless possibilities for customization. Use bold solids or playful prints to make it your own, and bring your vision to life with the free coloring pages to plan out your perfect palette. Whether you’re making a striking statement piece or a thoughtful gift, Pamela Mae will quickly become one of your favorites!
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