I read recently how Japan has multiple micro-seasons, not just our talked-about four. Some of the micro-seasons are East Wind Melts The Ice, or First Cherry Blossoms, or Great Rains Sometimes Fall. Devon Peticolas has worked out that New York City has 12, and one of my favorites is what he calls “Hell’s Front Porch.” (photos by my DH and I)
Apparently, one of my quilting micro seasons is Make Something in Red, White, and Blue. I know people who have this season year-round (Carol, I’m looking at you), but mine just comes around about every May, right around Memorial Day.
Here is The Kid Sister to Aerial Beacon, a quilt finished some time ago, but the when the Computer Ate My Homework (aka, my Patterns), it took me two more years to redraw and re-write to get the pattern out.
But now I have.
The pattern, Aerial Beacon, is now my PayHip Shop.
But there’s another there, too: Santa’s Night Ride, which was published in Simply Vintage Magazine, December 2023. The copyright restrictions are now past, so now you also can get this in PayHip, my online pattern shop.
Why didn’t I combine them? The publisher wasn’t interested in the larger quilt, but did like the smaller version, so I wrote that up and it was published. When I went back to finish up the original Aerial Beacon quilt — because I included so many photo illustrations and variations of the pattern (FPP, EPP and regular piecing), as well as three different border treatments — the page count became quite large, and I didn’t want to freak anyone out with the size of the two combined. But I’ve got them both on sale for a couple of weeks (no coupon needed) and combined it’s about the price of one pattern. (So you don’t have to choose, if you don’t want to.)
If your quilty micro-season is calling out for a red, white, and blue quilt, here’s my recipe for this one. Make the four blocks, then add a 1″ border. I added cornerstones in that border.
I tried a new-to-me half-square-triangle method when I found a small baggie of already cut blue and red/white print triangles, cut off from some other project (I have no idea what). I had recently purchased the Quilt in a Day Triangle Square Up Ruler, and I laid the 2 1/2″ marking on the stitched line, then trimmed. Then I pressed to the dark side, as always, and trimmed the dog ears. I was only lacking 7 half-square triangles for my outer border, showing that truly, I am in the right micro-season and the red, white, and blue gods are smiling down on me.
I had a bit of fabric leftover from making these center blocks, so I used that fabric in the corners of my two outer borders.
I’d originally made these red, white and blue blocks to test the Aerial Beacon pattern using the cut-out-the-pattern-pieces method, rather than using the foundation-paper-pieced method. I do think it’s easier to do the FPP method, but take your time with the first block to get the hang of it.
But since school is out in some places, and going-to-be-out-soon in others, maybe you are in your Go To The Beach micro-season, and need something seagreen and sunny. Then maybe make it up in these colors.
All three together in the garden, showing their relative sizes: 26 1/2″, 36 1/2″ and 65″ square.
I’ve been trying to think of other micro seasons for quilters. Certainly the Sew Until You Are Too Tired To See Straight could be put on the calendar somewhere around October and end the night before Christmas. There’s also the New Fabric Lines Drop, which happens right after quilt market. I can think of also think of seasons for Make a New Tote Bag (right before a trip somewhere), Clean out the Stash to Make Room For More (when you see a new group of beautiful fabrics). And I just noticed ads pushing holiday quilts: I detect another micro-season heading our way!
Whatever season you are in, savor it–
Some Real Aerial Beacons
I wrote about Aerial Beacon here, if you want to read about the genesis of it all, and here, for the early signposts, the large concrete arrows, and how airplanes navigated once upon a time (scroll down in the post to get past the Ladies’ quilt). Here are some more images.
The new Chicago central aerial beacon atop the Roanoke Tower will begin operation on July 15th. It will be lit by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Aeronautics, and will be visible for 100 miles in every direction from LaSalle & Madison Streets in Chicago.; Photo © Underwood Archives.
This one is in the hills overlooking St. George, Utah.
Yep. I planned those airplane contrails in the background.
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Another great little quilt! I’m more of a “red, white, and green” fan than I am of “red, white, and blue” and am tempted to start another of those 😵💫, though that urge tends to come more often around Christmas rather than Memorial Day. I think I’m actually in a “finish it up” season (or “clear the decks!” season 😊) and driven to finish a few tops already in the works before starting something new!!
I enjoy your posts, both for the inspo and for the chuckle. I’m sitting here, now, trying to figure out what micro-season I’m in quilt-wise. Hmm. My design wall has a variety of projects in the works, so maybe that’s my micro season?
This is fun. I have only made one red, white, and blue quilt in my 36 years of quilt making. I was chatting with a quilter in the workshop I took about how rarely I use blue so I think I might need a blue season. Right now I am in my what am I going to do with all this fabric season which usually hits in June for me.
Is it even Christmas if you are not sewing at midnight? I’d also like to include the season “Easter is in two days. Can you please just let me pin up this hem?” and my personal favorite: “ Mom, I’m pregnant and we’re getting married so I need a wedding dress, a coming home from the hospital outfit, and a christening gown.”
Anyhoo… as previously mentioned we all know it is my favorite season. ❤️🤍💙
Also having to stop myself from running into the sewing room and starting that quilt right now, it has always been one of my favorites of yours.
I have always loved this pattern. So I just purchased it. 🙂 I’m in the “things are finally organized so it’s time to start sewing again” season.
The twelve seasons of New York made me smile. I don’t know how I would name quilt seasons but I hear the knitting needles calling to me reliably every September. I like all the variations of your pattern 🙂
I remember reading about the micro seasons concept. I like how you’ve tied it into quilting seasons. For me I’m always one season off. Making seasonal quilts when the season is already upon me and thus the quilt isn’t finished in time to actually use during the correct season. I tell myself to start a season ahead but somehow that never happens. I’ve also never had a red white ad blue season but I do love all your red white and blue quilts.
I really appreciate how the Japanese culture seems to take a larger philosophical and sometimes whimsical view on life. Micro seasons indeed! I think we should all lean in to the places we find joy, and joy in the red/white/blue quilting micro season can even be appreciated if it is not my season. I’m currently enjoying a rainbow season, whether it remains micro remains to be seen (but it’s a slow moving project, so maybe not??)!
Haha this reminded me of the 12 seasons of Texas, I’m sure you’ve seen it – winter, fool’s spring, second winter, spring of deception, third winter, the pollening, actual spring, summer, hell’s front porch, false fall, second summer, and actual fall – lol and it’s true!
I enjoy your posts because they are intelligent, and they make me laugh and think. I clicked on the link to Quilt Finish: Aerial Beacon and read it with great interest but surprisingly burst into tears at the last sentence. How that paragraph about your Mom resonated with me!