Goose Down Quilt: A Spoon Full of Sugar

When I needed a project to lift my spirits, I pulled out the Goose Down quilt pattern and my Lella Boutique stash. In less than a week of easy sewing, I have a sweet quilt top for my guest room. As soon as I stitched and pressed the last border, I placed the “flimsy” on the daybed to snap a photo.

The bright light pouring through the window was distracting, so I walked over to pull the curtain shut. That’s when I saw a glorious sunset. Clearly, it was time to take a photo in the wild! I scooped up the quilt and ran outside to find my husband before the sunlight faded. Thankfully his hands were free and he had a willing heart to help me out.

Quilt on display with sunset

There was a cold northwest wind blowing, and I wasn’t wearing a jacket, so we didn’t linger.

Wind blowing a quilt
Cheery quilt outdoors

The beautiful sunset and cheerful quilt blocks boosted my spirits during these dreary days of November.

Colorful sunset and quilt

Constructing the Goose Down Quilt

Anna Dineen, the designer of the Goose Down pattern, noted that this quilt is perfect for chain piecing. And I was definitely in the mood for mindless sewing since I’m fighting off a head cold. I set up a little pressing station next to my sewing machine and fell into a pleasant rhythm of stitching and ironing.

All the pieces fit together so nicely since the blocks were oversized enough to allow for precision trimming.

triangle quilt pieces
fabric trimming

A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down

As I mentioned, I’m at loggerheads with a virus. Besides enduring four Covid-19 tests (all negative), I pursued the typical home remedies of vitamins, Airborne, and Vicks Vaporub. I also distracted myself while sewing by watching Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns, and Saving Mr. Banks. I even listened to the Mary Poppins audiobook. Needless to say, I had a lot of movie tunes frolicking through my subconscious. Julie Andrews singing, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!” seemed apropos for my condition.

As I was admiring the cheerful fabric under my needle, I realized that this quilt was my spoonful of sugar, helping me persevere through the discomfort of achy muscles and a sore throat. So I’m referring to this quilt hereafter as A Spoonful of Sugar.

I made A Spoonful of Sugar entirely from Lella Boutique fabric collections: Farmer’s Daughter, Nest, Lollipop Garden, and Little Tree. I even found backing and binding fabric (Lollipop Garden) on clearance to complete the quilt. I intend to quilt it in early 2022 and have it ready for my daughter’s visits next year.

I hope you’re staying healthy, hopeful, and grateful as we draw near to Thanksgiving in the United States.

Joyfully,

Tracie