Embracing Patterns

Quilt #2 – A gift for a little one

Pattern: Dragon Dreams by Apples & Beavers
Pattern, backing & binding: Cotton
Batting: Wool
Hand quilting: DMC embroider thread & size 8 pearl cotton

Choosing my next quilt was surprisingly difficult. There are so many beautiful patterns out there, but when I saw Dragon Dreams, I knew it had to be the one.

We don’t have kids of our own (unless you count our two furry ones), but our close friends have a three-year-old who adores animals. It felt like the perfect excuse to try a more playful design — and to make something special for their family.

Choosing Fabric

I spent days scrolling through photos online, seeing how others interpreted the pattern — color choices, fabric types, small personal twists. I’m naturally drawn to solid fabrics and the clean, graphic look of modern quilting, but my local quilt shop mostly carries prints.

Ordering from the U.S. wasn’t an option this time, so I decided to work with what was available locally.

I’ve always worked in creative fields, but visual design has never come easily to me. I can spot what works and what doesn’t, but picking colors or patterns myself still feels intimidating. I knew going into quilting that color would be one of my biggest challenges, which is partly why I wanted to do it. It’s a skill I wanted to stretch.

When I walked into the shop, the women there immediately recognized me (“our modern quilter,” as they call me) and offered to help. They’re incredibly kind and endlessly patient — helping me pair fabrics and build confidence with every visit.

With their guidance, I picked a mix that felt both playful and balanced, and finally, I got to work.

Building the Dragon

This quilt was a joy to make. The dragon slowly appeared piece by piece, and with so many small sections, organization became key. I labeled everything, laid out blocks in groups, and tried to stay methodical — though a bit of chaos is probably inevitable when sewing with pets and moving boxes around you.

Each stage felt more rewarding than the last. Watching the shape emerge from tiny, separate cuts of fabric was like seeing a drawing come to life.

Finishing Touches

Once the top was complete, I brought it back to my local shop to choose the backing and binding. I decided to use the same fabric for both; it kept things cohesive and calm.

For the quilting, I wanted each part of the dragon to have its own stitching pattern. Eventually, I realized that the thread colors on the front would show through to the back, so I decided to stitch in the ditch. That way, the back still revealed the outline of the dragon — subtle, but intentional.

All of this happened while we were in the middle of moving into a larger apartment. There were boxes everywhere, and Oakley, our Sheltie, was recovering from a broken leg and a second surgery. Amid the mess, quilting became a quiet, grounding escape.

Imperfectly Perfect

There’s a saying in quilting: if you can’t see the mistake from a meter away, you’re the only one who knows it’s there.

This was my first quilt with so many small pieces, and not every corner aligned perfectly — but I reminded myself that imperfection doesn’t cancel beauty. It adds to it.

When it was finally finished, I boxed it up and sent it to our friends. Their little one loves it — dragons and all — and that’s what matters most.

This quilt pushed me to grow in ways the first one didn’t. It tested my patience, my color confidence, and my ability to let go of perfection. And, like the little dragon it depicts, it taught me that creativity is its own kind of magic — messy, unexpected, and full of heart.