Spring Fever or Cabin Fever?

It's that time of year again when the wintertime blahs start getting to even the happiest of hearts.  We start longing for the little pops of spring foliage outside our windows.  Some like to call it cabin fever but I prefer Spring Fever just because it sounds a little more positive.   Quilters have their own special way of dealing with winter and the lack of color outside.  Some of my happiest quilt designs have been made during the anticipation of springs arrival.  

When I saw this free pattern "Cabin Fever" designed by Jedi Craft Girl and Gigi's Thimble I knew it was the perfect project to make during my Spring Fever blahs.  It was quick and simple to make due to the easy to follow pattern instructions.  Do you ever feel like some things were just meant to be?  Well that's how I felt with this pattern.  You see the week before finding this pattern series I found the cutest little fat quarter bundle at Walmart.   It was a must have with five of the most darling fat quarters.  These prints are not my usual impulse buy, but it just felt like the right thing to do at the time (as does all fabric purchases haha).

Once at home in my studio with the adorable little bundle the urge came over me to use them right away.   Everyday they would be laid out on the cutting table while standing back doing ever famous quilt stare.  You know, when a quilters eyes glaze over while staring at fabric or quilt blocks for what seems to be hours.  No phone, doorbell, or screaming child can break through this freakish event.  We are in the zone.  I'm pretty sure this happens due to some type of chemical they put in the fabric, possibly pheromones.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it, because there's no way I'm that obsessed with fabric, right?

After breaking free from the chemically induced trance(my bladder has special trance breaking powers) the decision was made....The pattern needed a pattern to show off some of the larger prints.  And then like magic it happened.  The forces that be pulled me to my phone and Instagram.   SHAZZAM!  Amanda and Amber posted the perfect pattern!

The "Cabin Fever" pattern looked perfect for my bundle of (2) pinks (2) green and (1) blue fat quarter.  It was fate!  For the first time in my quilty life a impulsive fabric purchase can be justified.  Yes I really did NEED these! (Well that's what I'll tell Mr. Podunk) 

 Fate also allowed me to find the perfect pink backing hiding in my stash, purchased many years ago at Joann's.  Every square inch of  the pink fabric was used to make the backing.  And there wasn't enough scrap from the fat quarters to make a binding.   So again I tapped into the powers that be and they came to my rescue.  The green polka dot binding fabric was another pull from the stash.  A purchase made last year from my dear friend Beverly.  She sells on ebay.  If you need something she doesn't have in her shop just send her message she might be able to find it hiding in her stock.  When it all comes together so easily with no sneaky trips to the fabric shop for a purchase that would eat into my fabric budget...It's magical!  Anyway that's how my "Spring Fever" version of their "Cabin Fever" pattern came to be.   Wonder what kind of glorious magic will happen during quilting process?!   Maybe another quilt trance will be needed, only the power of time will tell.

The best thing about this whole experience is the pattern was free.  We quilters spend so much money on fabric and quilting tools that when something free comes along it's hard to pass up.  I really can't say enough good things about my experience so far with these two gals and their free patterns.  And I'm looking forward to their free patterns over the next few months.  You can find this pattern "Cabin Fever" by clicking here and scrolling down on her blog.

February's pattern is also a must make cutie. Remember all these free quilt patterns use (5) fat quarters.  Of course you'll need some yardage for the background fabric, backing and binding.  The February "Chains of Love" free pattern can be found here.  And don't forget to follow their blogs so you don't miss out on the new patterns over the next few months.  

Now let me say I'm in no way affiliated with these gals.  Just very happy with the quality of the free patterns that take a lot of effort to test and write.

~ Lea Anne ~