What does a beer and a quilt have to do with each other? Now, in the middle of summer, this could be an idyllic scene, but that is not what I am talking about. Today, my quilting bee used the beer as the inspiration for the Sewatorium Sisters Challenge for the Rising Star Quilt Guild show, held Nov. 16-17 in Arlington MA.
The Challenge
I remember some of the discussions around this challenge. One was to do our stripper names…and a quilt inspired by that. We laughed alot, but we weren’t convinced it was a great inspiration for a quilt. Someone else had run into this idea – a quilt inspired by a beer name/label.
I chose this beer as the inspiration. It was brewed in Maine by the Black Bear Brewery. I had plenty of blueberry fabric, so I knew I could do it!
I was thinking of the beer paws merged into a fun block. I remembered that the Kaleidescope Collection Two* had blocks like this, so I went looking through my Electric Quilt* blocks. The above pictured one would be perfect! The block is called “K2 Traditional Twists 2 Star Corners” from the add on Kaleidoscope Collection Two. I didn’t need to add anything just make it.
I didn’t have a lot of the one blueberry fabric, so I thought this would be a good chance to use the variety of blueberry fabric I had left. Just to be sure it would work, I mocked it up in my fabrics and was ready to go!
Making the Quilt
It was not too bad to make, once I did the first few sections. Here are the first four sections on my design wall.
And then the next four.
And finally, all the pieces together, waiting to be quilted.
I quilted it on my Bernina 570, outlining each segment and then outlining bear paws. That was all it really needed. I think it will make a fun summer table topper, as I made the block finish at 20″.
The Other Quilts
Here is the group of our quilts, all together at the show. I thought it would be fun for you to see each one.
This is Chris’ quilt, “A Beer for Norm” inspired by the beer Gnomengang. She had some great fabric to add to her quilt.
“Cherry Fizz” was Barb’s quilt inspired by Brickyard Beer, Fruited Sour. Love the perfect fabric she found to make the beer can!
Fiddlehead IPA was the inspiration and the title for for Helen Pride’s quilt.
Missy was inspired by Jack’s Abby “Banner City” lager….perfect for a Boston Celtics fan!
The final quilt was Gwen’s “Witches Brew” from Beer Baroness Brewing Company. I was thinking this brewery was in Salem MA, but no it is from New Zealand!
Virtual Christmas Cookie Exchange Blog Hop
This fun blog hop begins tomorrow. My piece is done and I have a treat for you….a free pattern to make your own quick tablerunner, but you have to wait for my day!
DECEMBER 1s
Just Let Me Quilt
Hill Valley Quilter
Karrin’s Crazy World
Lynn’s Blog
Quilted Delights
Quilt Schmilt
Selina Quilts
DECEMBER 2nd
A Quiltery
Ms P Designs USA
Bumbleberry Stitches
Texas Quilt Gal
Beaquilter
Quilted Snail
DECEMBER 3rd
Just Because Quilts
Just Sew Quilter
Kathleen McMusing
Songbird Designs
Quilting Between The Rails
Words & Stitches
DECEMBER 4TH
MooseStashQuilting
Scrapdash
Sew Many Yarns
Happy Cottage Quilter
Days Filled With Joy
That Fabric Feeling
Coming Up on My Blog
Boat Pillows
Plaidish
Starry Seas Blog Hop (1/13)
SAHRR 2026
Linking Up
Fabric Stash
Ok, its only 1 yard but it still is down for the month!!
Prior YTD Fabric Used =55 yards
Prior YTD Fabric Bought = 51 yards
Current Month Fabric Used = 3 yards
Current Month Fabric Bought = 0 yards
Net Fabric = -7
Great choice for your inspiration and clearly you had the perfect fabric to pull off your design idea. Thanks for sharing all of the quilts with us, too!
Such a fun challenge. I love you representation of the bear! Great work!
What a clever adaptation of the theme! It is so pretty, nicely done!
What a creative idea for your group! Fun to see them all, but I especially like your quilt. Blueberries are a favorite fruit, and I love Bear’s Paw blocks. Well done!
Wow — you guys found some great beer to inspire you. Thanks for showing all of them.
LOVE your beer quilt with the blueberries!! Perfect for the challenge!! And thank you for highlighting the other ‘beer’ minis as well!
What a fun and unique bouncing off point for a quilt design! I like yours the best, no surprise, as I love the bear paw block (first one I made in my LQS draw) and blue and blueberries!
Thats a good idea … all others would think ladies and sparkling water/ champain bottles, but wow beer! Bears paw and blueberries, would love to taste and your work is excellent. Love to see all other ideas as well. Thanks for sharing. Great you have this group and social contacts! Hope you are well and you had a good and pieceful Thanksgiving
I love this, Kathleen! Bears and blueberries…that fits! LOL Thanks for sharing with us at Monday Musings.