Spoolful of Charm: A Sweet Stitch for the New Year -

Hello friends! This is Jennifer Long from Sew A Story. If you’re looking for a cheerful project to start your new year, the Spoolful of Charm quilt is a beautiful way to dive in. This pattern uses traditional piecing methods and is designed to highlight your favorite prints in a thoughtful, organized layout.

Whether you’re sewing it for a child’s room, a nursery wall, or your own creative space, this quilt adds a handmade touch that feels both playful and calming.

A Quilt Full of Spools and Storytelling

The Spoolful of Charm quilt finishes at 57 ½” × 59 ½” and is built from blocks that resemble oversized wooden spools. Each spool holds a “thread” made from 10″ squares, framed with neutral piecing and finished with ends in soft Confetti Cotton.

At the center of each spool is a fussy-cut square from the Thimbelina Storybook Panel, turning each block into a window into a storybook world. From fairies to florals, the variety of center images lets you create a quilt that tells a visual tale, block by block.

Tips for Piecing with Panels

Panel quilts can feel tricky at first, but this pattern is designed to make it approachable. Here are a few tips to help you succeed:

Use a ruler with a clearly marked 6″ square to help you center your panel cuts consistently.
Starch your panel before cutting to help with clean edges and accuracy.
Take your time with layout. Arranging the panel images before sewing helps you balance color and shape across the quilt.

The pattern also uses the stitch and flip method to create angled spool ends. This gives the blocks a finished look without complex piecing.

Made with the Thimbelina Collection

This quilt features fabrics from the Thimbelina and the Sewing Fairies fabric collection for Riley Blake Designs. The playful florals, dotted backgrounds, and soft textures pair beautifully with the panel illustrations and thread-inspired blocks.

You’ll need:

(1) Thimbelina Storybook Panel
10″ squares of Garden, Dotty, and Sewing Fairies prints
1 ½ yards background fabric (CLOUD Dotty)
7/8 yard for binding and inner border
3/4 yard outer border
1/2 yard solid for spool ends
Backing and batting to finish

This project is beginner-friendly and includes diagrams and a full assembly layout to guide you.

Whether you’re creating a quilt for a special child or decorating a creative nook in your home, the Spoolful of Charm quilt is a joy to sew and display. It’s a great way to ease into the new year with color, texture, and heart.

I can’t wait to see what you create.
Yours in crafting together,
Jennifer Long
Sew A Story