The Spools Pattern

The quilt pattern at the heart of this project is Spools by Camille Roskelley, available as a PDF pattern through the Thimble Blossoms online store. The design celebrates the humble wooden spool — a motif that resonates with anyone who loves the rhythm of stitching.

Backing Fabric & Selvage Details

After sharing progress on the Spools quilts, several readers asked about the backing fabric. Donna tracked down her leftover yardage and found the selvage still intact. She often cuts selvage strips with about a half-inch of the fabric print and passes them along to a guild member who creates remarkable things with them.

"I managed to find my left-over fabric and it still had the selvage. I often cut the selvage in a long strip with about a 1/2" of the fabric print."

Community & Conversation

This post sparked lively discussion in the comments, with fellow quilters sharing their own experiences with the Spools pattern and swapping tips on backing-fabric choices. Donna's blog has long been a place where stitching friends gather to encourage one another.

The Spools quilt pattern, with its cheerful nod to the humble wooden spool, draws quilters into a project that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Donna's latest finish shows how a simple motif can carry a whole design, especially when paired with fabrics that bring warmth and energy to the stitching. The process of selecting the right thread, piecing each block, and deciding on the border takes time and patience, but the result is a throw that feels personal and made with care. For those who follow along with her Sunday posts, this project is another reminder that quilting is as much about the journey as it is about the finished piece.

One of the nicest parts of sharing a quilt online is the conversation that follows, and the questions about backing fabric and selvage details show how much quilters care about the little things. Donna's careful attention to the back of the quilt, matching the print to the top and keeping track of leftover yardage, speaks to the thoughtful way she approaches every step of her work. Whether she is stitching by hand with perle cotton or sitting down to a long afternoon of machine quilting, the rhythm of the needle and thread stays at the center of the project. It is the kind of post that makes readers want to pull out their own fabric stash and start something new.