Sarah Fredette

Hi #igquiltfest2025 I’m Sarah, and I smile very often and very loudly 😉 Some other things to know about me: 🪡 I’ve been sewing and quilting since I was 12… So more than 25 years 🦕 I adore novelty prints (extra points for dinosaurs and mice!) Every quilt can be an I-Spy quilt 😂 💡I have degree in Biomedical Electrical Engineering, and firmly believe in science and math. (And yes, I WILL help you with your quilt math 💛) 💙 Kindness is never the wrong choice. But it’s often a hard one… for some more than others. I’m looking forward to all the wonderful quilty things this month!! Thank you @amyscreativeside for organizing us all! 😘

Labeling my quilts because @amyfriend.studio said I really should 😘😘 Labels from @everemblem and they came really quickly!

I’ve consumed far too much media in the last 24 hours, and felt a lot of despair over what I see. This morning though, I was reminded that I am not powerless, I am a mother. And since this seems like a time for clarity and intention, here are the lessons I’m trying to teach my child. Some were taught to me by my own family, some from mentors and leaders, some learned the hard way. If any of these make you angry — please please please sit with that. Reflect on why. And if you sincerely believe me to be in the wrong, I’d love to discuss that with you. -Find ways to be kind -Actions speak louder than words, and damage cannot be easily repaired, so think before you act -Anger (alone) will not solve your problem -You never know what someone may be going through, so offer grace -You can learn something from every person you meet -It’s okay to make mistakes. That’s how we learn -Be accountable -Sometimes you just need a piece of cheese -The Library is always a good idea -Take care of those you can -Question Everything -Anyone demanding obedience, should definitely NOT be obeyed -Leaders take care of their people, and look out for their welfare This isn’t pithy, and would make a really hard to read bumper sticker. But I don’t like reductive statements. Humanity lies in the nuance. And we are human. 💛💛💛

I realized I hadn’t posted in a month - so here’s a smattering of what my days have looked like. The news is hard and heavy, and gets worse everyday. I don’t know the right words to say, if there even are any. Empathy is not a failing. Empathy is needed now more than ever. Every person deserves due process. Treat others as you would be treated. 💔

Three little birds… These are appreciation gifts for the lovely teachers that run our local preschool playgroups, along with a little card that says “Thank you for helping me spread my wings” Kiddo even helped choose the fabrics, and stuff them!

If you were following along in my stories, my little cross stitch ornament is done! 🥳 The pattern is a small section of the Noel Sampler pattern from Satsuma Street. I used waste cloth to stitch it onto some scraps of speckled. If you don’t know, waste cloth is a type of fabric for cross stitching where the threads are held together with water soluble glue, so when it gets wet, you can just pull the threads out from between the stitches and fabric. It’s like magic! I finished it into an ornament using (what I think of as) a standard needlepoint finishing technique. Cinch the stitched fabric around a template the size you want, with some batting, make a similar back, and then stitch them all together. Traditionally, you would use cording or something fancy for the edging, but I liked the look of the yarn. It was much fun, and so very satisfying - I have plans for many many more!!!

Eventually these will be a pillow, a few days late for Halloween. But the kiddo loves skeletons and “zombie Frank” all year long. 😍 It’s really nice to sew things for such a captive, supportive, and joyful audience.

I remember choosing the fabric for this quilt. I remember the quilt pattern (Bundle Buster from @quiltingjetgirl ) But I cannot remember when I actually sewed this together 🤷‍♀️ Therefore, I’m dating to this as early 2021, when I was sewing anything and everything for third trimester anxiety abatement. It’s pretty though. Maybe now that I remember it exists, I’ll finish it?

Making progress on these blocks, but it’s so nice outside, it’s hard to make myself stay at the sewing machine. So I’ll got back outside and deal with four trees worth of wood/branches we had cut down yesterday. 😂 It’s a great workout.

This is part of what my life looks like, behind the quilts. . Last year I left my corporate job, left engineering, to be a stay at home mom. Kiddo has flourished and thrived with more dedicated attention (and not spending 3 hours commuting every day). Our lives are calmer, steady. I’ve reclaimed a significant portion of our yard that had been lost to invasive weeds. House projects that had been delayed years are getting tackled. But I’ve also learned a lot - about myself and also the people I called friends and family. . Some days are hard. Some days are really really hard. But most days are amazingly wonderful. . Doing what’s best for you, and those closest to you, is always worth it. Even if no one else gets it or understands. And if the negative voices get really loud, crank up the music and have a dance party with a kid. 💛

Hi little fishy! Just keep swimming through the craziness of life 😘

A finished quilt top!!! 🥳 This one is made from some donated charity fabric from my local quilt group, and off to another charity that will quilt it and give it to someone who needs it. The fabric originally came with a pattern, but the fabric wouldn’t work with the pattern (wrong sizes), so I pivoted and made hour glasses. I did need to add a few bits from my stash to get it to the requested size, but I think it blended together well This was a great mid-summer “I don’t know what I want to make” project. No pressure, no expectations, just cut, sew, press. If you would also like to make a scrappy hourglass quilt, I found the chart from @cluckclucksew very helpful 💚 #scrappyquilts #charityquilts #hourglassblocks #justkeepsewing