A Behind-the-Scenes Look at My Latest Quilt Pattern

Hey there, fellow quilters! I’m so excited to finally spill the beans on my latest creation—Big Tractor! This quilt pattern has been such a delightful adventure to design, and I’m here to give you a backstage pass to its journey.

Name: Big Tractor
Tentative Release Date: January 2026
Size: 55” x 65”

The Big Tractor Design

Every great quilt starts with a vision, and Big Tractor was no exception. I imagined something BIG, bold, and timeless—the kind of quilt that would look just as stunning as a baby gift or an eye-catching wall display.

Moda Bella Solids provided just the dreamy palette I needed to bring this tractor to life. And because I couldn’t choose just one vibe, I opted for two adorable colorways: soft baby blues and sweet baby pinks.

Sorting Templates

Organization is the unsung hero of quilting—trust me. I started by printing, rough trimming, and sorting out my templates. Foundation paper piecing can get overwhelming, but staying on top of your pieces makes it way more fun (and way less stressful).

As I sorted templates, quilting clips became my BFF for keeping pieces together. “Every piece has its place, just like every part of this tractor!”

Prefolding Templates

Prefolding templates may not be glamorous work, but oh, does it pay off! It speeds up the sewing process later. I also used my favorite double-sided tape—but recently found out that it my be discontinued. Insert major disappointment here! Guess now it’s time for some product testing (wish me luck!).

A prefolded template shown next to my trusty double-sided tape and Add-A-Quarter® Plus ruler.

Prestarching for Crisp Seams

Boosting fabric stability by prestarching before piecing is honestly a game-changer. It prevents distortion, helps preshrink my fabric, and makes foundation paper piecing even cleaner—and, let’s be real, those crisp seams are a chef’s kiss!

My prestarched fabrics for the tractor body and grassy patches hanging beautifully over a wire rack.

Prequilting Prep

To keep myself organized (and to avoid a wrinkled mess), I hang my fabrics on a repurposed clothes rack using curtain rings with clips. This setup let me see the fabrics side-by-side and right at my fingertips.

My fabric lineup on my handy repurposed rack—it’s all about keeping things tidy.

Prepping to Stitch

Before stitching magic begins, my sewing machine gets its pre-show checklist: a fresh needle and a much-needed clean (seriously, where does all that lint even come from?). There’s something oddly satisfying about starting with a lint-free machine—don’t you agree?

I'm always amazed at the amount of lint buildup in the bobbin area—proof that one project can create a mini lint factory.

Sewing Magic: Watching Big Tractor Come to Life

Ah, the sewing stage—the heartbeat of quilting. Foundation paper piecing always feels like creating a puzzle where every seam builds toward something spectacular. Watching Big Tractor slowly come together template by template was magical.

Piecing close-ups. If you're new to FPP, you'll want to note that I always sew through the entire seam allowance.

Finally! A stacked pile of finished templates.

These tire templates hanging on my design wall look somewhat chaotic, but you have to trust the process. When finished, they have some amazing impact, if I do say so myself!

Mastering Alignment

Perfect alignment makes all the difference in quilting and foundation paper piecing can't be beat for accuracy—because getting those joins smooth is so worth it!

The large panels being joined with precision equals alignment satisfaction!

Longarming

When it comes to quilting the finished design, I’m a sucker for clean, straight-line stitching—it’s my go-to for modern FPP quilts.

My longarm in action with those satisfying straight-line stitches taking shape.

Binding and Labeling

I jumped into binding to give it those clean, polished edges.

Oh, and the custom quilt label I designed? Just the cherry on top of this finished masterpiece.

Creating custom labels for my quilts is a must!

The Finished Quilt: A Keepsake for Generations

Finally, it’s here—the full reveal of Big Tractor! This design isn’t just a quilt; it’s a future heirloom for your tractor enthusiast. I loved every second of creating this project and sharing the process with you all.

Visit the online store to buy your copy today. And, stay tuned for even more exciting patterns on the horizon!

The finished quilt in its glory, soaking in the countryside charm.

Let’s Connect!

What is your favorite part of the quilting process? Which color palette will you use for your own Big Tractor quilt? Pop your thoughts and ideas in the comments below—I want to hear all about it!

Until next time, happy quilting!