Candlewicking

Welcome, friends! Louise here. Today I have a quilt made from blocks embroidered by Moira's Mom to share.

Moira is a member of my quilt guild, an online-only group called Sunshine.  

Moira sent me eight blocks made with an embroidery technique called "candlewicking."

I learned from wikipedia that

"Candlewicking, or candlewick is a form of whitework embroidery that traditionally uses an unbleached cotton thread on a piece of unbleached muslin. It gets its name from the nature of the soft spun cotton thread, which was braided then used to form the wick for candles. Motifs are created using a variety of traditional embroidery stitches as well as a tufted stitch. Subject matter is usually taken from nature—flowers, insects, pine trees, and so on, Other traditional motifs resemble Pennsylvania Dutch or Colonial American designs.Modern designs include colored floss embroidery with the traditional white on white stitching."

Moira's Mom's designs all include this off-white stitching, often in the form of french knots.

Some of the blocks were also printed with this pretty blue background, making the central designs really pop. 

I knew I would need to carefully quilt around all the stitching, so I decided to also add flanged borders around each block to frame them. Flanges also require a lot of tip-toeing around. In for a penny, in for a pound! I set the blocks in simple pale blue background to let them really shine.

Here is the finished quilt, full of softness and crinkles after a good wash and dry. I loved working with these special blocks. Many thanks to both Moira and her Mom for sharing them with Covered in Love!

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday

Bits and Bobs

Happy Friday, quilters! I've got several quilts to show this week without any real theme.  First up are two tops by Kathy H that were quilted by Dee. Kathy got together with her friend Suzanne to make some tops for CiL and we've just gotten them all quilted. 

There were two of these mosaic block quilts and they're both stunning! I always see things like this and think, that could be a good block drive...

This quilt is simpler, but shows off the fabrics and the quilting panto more. 

The next top came from Jocelyn and was quilted by me. A nice scrappy design with great colors in a unique design. I just stippled it as usual.

And lastly, a top by Bev and quilted by me. Showing off a focal fabric with nice blue and yellow accents.

Fudge brought another bird in the house this week, and this one was already loose and flying around before I knew about it. You can just imagine the destruction when the cats are chasing a bird around the house, ricocheting off every surface. The bird eluded us for quite a while, and everyone laid down for a break. When I went looking I found he'd conveniently crawled into a plastic bag on a high shelf. He flew away just fine... I really need to block up the gaps they use to get into the porch.

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday

Sunshine Sarah

Happy Friday, quilters! I have several quilts to show which were sent in already finished by Sarah C of the Sunshine Guild.

This nice masculine quilt makes use of panels and simple piecing.

Next, a couple of more feminine quilts. The one below is made of flannel and very cozy.

Things are going well here. It's been warm, but I'm waiting for that one last could snap we usually get. Foster Kitty Stuart is still looking for a forever home. He really is the best boy, aside from his distaste for other cats.

My sweet Fudge boy just wants to be friends, and Stuart just wants his space!

Speaking of sweet Fudge, he brought me breakfast in bed this morning.... This is what love looks like.  (The bird flew away seemingly unharmed).

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday

More Scrappy Mountains Quilts

Happy Friday, quilters! I have a couple more of the Scrappy Mountain quilts from our block drive to show this week. Both of these were assembled by Becky and quilted by Linda.

The multicolor thread Linda chose coordinates great with the colors in the top.

For the backings I used some donated fabric in navy and teal with metallic copper highlights.

I think Becky did a really good job choosing which blocks together and laying out the tops.

Thank you ladies! Everything is good here at the cat house. Stuart is getting to spend more time out in gen-pop. He slept on the bed last night and everyone behaved themselves.

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday

More Hugs from Lori

Happy Friday, Quilters! I have more quilts to show today that were sent in by Lori. She has such good color choices!

And the perfect backings, too. 

Me and the cats are still making it. My foster cat Stuart is still with us looking for his new forever person. 

Last Saturday I hung a screen door on the foster room so that I have the option of letting them see and smell one another behind a barrier. I have to say I'm pleased as punch with how it came out.  I let Stuart out to mingle when I'm home. He's been fine with my cats, so far, although they've not exactly been welcoming toward him.

Stuart has obviously never been outside at all and was terrified of the Catio at first, but after several days of gradual introduction he's decided it's pretty cool after all.

Thank you to Lori for these beautiful quilts!

Stuart on the catio

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday

Even More Potato Chips

Happy Friday, quilters! I've got some more finished quilts to show from our big potato chip block drive. This first top was sent in by one of our frequent supporters, Beth T, and then quilted by Linda. 

These next two were assembled by Becky M from block drive blocks and then also quilted by Linda. 

I've been busy sewing this week. Mostly assembling tops from your blocks, but I did sew up a string block top from a box of scraps Rena sent me.

In non-quilty news, I have a new foster cat, a five year old orange boy named Stuart. He is sequestered in my spare room because he doesn't care for other cats. 

Stuart is a people cat. He was obviously very bonded to his human mom and has been struggling since she had to go into a nursing facility. He loves pets, cuddles, and play. Hopefully we can find him a new person soon.  

Thanks to everyone who participated in this block drive, and especially to those helping me finish the quilts!

Stuart looks a lot like my cat Fudge, but Fudge has nose freckles and black whiskers.

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday

Rena, Donna & I

Happy Friday, quilters! The quilts in this post are some tops that were sent in which were small enough for me to quilt myself. These first 2 tops were sent in by Rena.

I just stuck to a stipple as usual. Things have been quiet in my house without the kittens. I don't think Fudge and Sundae miss them a bit! The seem thrilled to be back to being only-kitties. I am looking at doing some more fostering in the Spring, so their peace and quiet may not last for long.

I'm planning to get into the sewing room tonight to play with some scraps I was sent. Why is it that other people's scraps are so much more compelling than my own?

These last two tops were sent in by Donna and also quilted by me. I'm paying attention to these patterns (above and below) since my 2.5" strip drawer is over full. 

It's warmed up nicely here, I hope the rest of you are thawing out, too. I know we will probably have at least one more bad freeze, but I am going to appreciate the nice weather while it lasts. 

Covered in Love is a 501(c)(3) charity that donates quilts to patients dying in the hospital, over 1700 so far! The Winter 2026 block drive is live now.  Check out the main post HERE if you want to get involved. 

  Linking to Finished or Not Friday