Welcome to the first week of the Plus Quilt Along! I'll be updating the Sew Along Page each week with all the posts so that you can easily catch up or reference these posts after the sew along ends!

I hope you'll sew along with us! Sew from the tutorial or the pattern:
Arithmetic Quilt Pattern
Modern Plus Quilt Tutorial


We're kicking off this week by choosing a quilt size (and square size) as well as fabric for our quilts! First let's look at your size options!

Choose a Quilt Size

The Arithmetic Quilt Pattern has six quilt size options and three square size options to choose from. The free tutorial is the same size as the 4.5" square throw quilt that's included in the pattern.

For quilt sizes, choose between a baby, throw, twin, double, queen, or king. Then choose your square size: 2.5", 4.5" or 8". If you'd like to use a different size square, feel free! The only thing you'll want to keep in mind is that it will change the overall size of your quilt, so you may need more/less fabric for the top, backing, and binding.

Choose Fabrics

There are so many different directions you could go in terms of choosing fabrics for this quilt! The 2.5" and 4.5" square quilts are perfect for fat quarters. For the 4.5" square quilts, you'll want to be extra careful when cutting, you'll need every bit of the fat quarter's 18" dimension!

Really bust some stash with the 8" square quilts, which use 1/2 yards (or 1/4 yard cuts).


If you'd prefer to cut from scraps or random stash, both the pattern and tutorial versions contain totals for each plus shape that appears in the quilt. Most of the quilt will be "full pluses" which are made up of five squares each. There are also partial pluses made up of four or three squares and single squares along the edges of the quilts.


I thought it would be fun to share a parade of plus quilts I've made over the years, to give you some ideas for choosing fabrics! I've made super bold and graphic plus quilts, and also subtle and soft ones. Many were made with quilting cottons, but you'll also see versions I made with flannel, double gauze, and vintage sheets. So many fabric combinations look good in this design!


Soft and Subtle Vintage Sheet Plus Baby Quilt



Sherbet Plus Throw and Baby Quilt


Geometric Bliss Plus Baby Quilt


Dreamin' Vintage Plus Baby Quilt


Sugar Plus Throw Quilt


Nordika Plus Throw Quilt


Castle Peeps Plus Throw Quilt


Double Gauze Plus Quilt


Imprint Plus Throw Quilt


Folksy Flannels Plus Quilt


Giant Neutral Plus Queen Quilt

Pinterest Board

Looking for even more plus quilt inspiration? I have a whole pinterest board filled with plus and cross quilts. Find it here: Plus and Cross Quilts Pinterest Board.

What I'm Making

During the quilt along, I plan on making a larger version of the Soft and Subtle Vintage Sheet Plus Baby Quilt I made earlier this year. I have a bunch of squares leftover from making that quilt, so I thought it would be a good way to use them up. I really want to see how the subtle palette looks on a larger scale too!

Happy Quilting!

Plus Quilt Along Schedule

The Plus Quilt Along is a week away! I wanted to share the schedule for the quilt along so that you know what posts you can expect from me starting Tuesday, April 23rd! Each week I'll be sharing a to do list and some tips/tricks that will help you make your quilt! I've made a dedicated page for the quilt along, which I'll update with each week's post so you can follow along at any time! Here is the schedule:

Week 1 - April 23rd
To do: Choosing fabric and a quilt size

Week 2 - April 30th
To do: Cutting

Week 3 - May 7th
To do: Layout quilt and sew quilt top

Week 4 - May 14th
To do: Quilting and finishing

How to Participate:
Similar to our annual Lined Drawstring Bag Sewing Along, this is going to be casual and no-stress. Participating is easy, we'll be using the #arithmeticquilt hashtag on Instagram to share our progress. Please tag me too @jenib320, I love seeing your projects. Not on Instagram? That's okay! Feel free to quilt along and share your quilts with me via email!

Pattern & Tutorial:
Sew from the tutorial or pattern! The free tutorial is for a throw size quilt using 4.5" squares, you can find it here: Modern Plus Quilt Tutorial. The pattern has six quilt size options including baby, throw, twin, double, queen, and king. There are also three square sizes: 2.5", 4.5" or 8". So 18 different options to choose from! Find the pattern here: Arithmetic Quilt Pattern.


Shop the Pattern:
The Arithmetic Quilt Pattern is 20% off through 4/26/24. Price is already marked down, no code needed.

Happy Quilting!

(More) Adventures in Thrifting

Happy Tuesday! Today I have the next installment of adventures in thrifting where I share my recent thrift store finds. I've found some real goodies lately!

I love collecting interesting art and was immediately drawn to this piece. I believe it is an original drawing, not a print. It's already hanging in our library!


I don't always check out the basket sections too closely, but I thought this one was really sweet. The handle hardware was missing on one side, but a quick repair and it's good as new! I've been keeping one of my crochet projects in it.


After seeing a few videos on instagram of paper making, I really wanted to try it myself. So I bought this fun blender specifically to use for crafting. I've made two batches of paper so far and I'm learning a lot! Hoping to make time to use it for something soon.


Another successful trip to our local craft thrift store, Ecoworks. Found some cute fabrics and some test tubes to use for an upcoming project!



This sweet embroidered piece was a rescue from the Goodwill Outlet! I have plans to finish it. It was a kit, there is the outline of another kitten in the upper right corner. I already finished the partially completed butterfly and have started the kitten. Not sure how I'll finish the quilt in the end, but it seemed worth saving!


I'm very excited about this little lap loop I found! I think it was only $5? I want to use it to make some decorating weavings.


Lately I've been making an effort to visit our local Goodwill Outlet more often. It's of course very hit or miss. Sometimes I find nothing, other times a bunch of goodies! Here are a few recent hauls.

Snatched up a few unbroken ball jars on this trip. The vintage holiday table runner cleaned up really nicely, looking forward to using it next Christmas!


This was one of the best days I've had at the outlet! Found all these sheets and pillowcases in one trip! And two of them are King size, which is a rare find.


Last but not least, this is what I found at the outlet this past weekend! There was a bunch of sewing supplies and fabrics in one of the linen bins, and I found some really cute stuff! Plus a sheet and two different sets of vintage cloth napkins!!


Cute set of pillowcases!

I didn't realize how crafty my finds have been recently! :)

Happy Thrifting!

Scrap Pouf in Progress

Happy Thursday! Today I wanted to share a new long-term project that I started in January, a scrap pouf!


The idea of slowly filling a pillow or other object with small fabric scraps isn't new, but for some reason I never took to the idea. Fast forward to this past January, when I stumbled on this reel on instagram. The maker (Brynn!), shows a pouf that they made, that is intended to be filled with fabric scraps, old clothes, single socks, etc. Something about their description of it really sold me and I immediately decided to make a pouf of my own.

Note: Brynn is going to be releasing a pouf sewing pattern in May! I'll update this post with a link to their pattern when it's published. Looks like I'll be making another pouf then!


I thought about designing something myself, but honestly just didn't feel like it! I did a quick search on Pinterest and found this DIY Floor Pouf tutorial by Heather Handmade. I had one invisible zipper on hand and it just so happened to be the right size! Thankfully I have a good stash of larger canvas fabric cuts, and I went with this beautiful pear print that I've had for nearly 10 years.


I've been slowly stuffing my pouf over the last few months and it's been really satisfying. I genuinely get excited when my little pot of scraps is full and I get to add it to the pouf! So far it mostly has small fabric scraps and trimmings. There are also batting offcuts from quilts and a bunch of random scraps and elastic from processing vintage sheets.


I'm thrilled by how much this pouf has already decreased the amount of trash coming out of my sewing room. It will be interesting to see how long it takes me to fill it!

Happy Sewing!