July Featured Maker and Pattern: Hello, Geese! by Leila Gardunia

Say hello to July with our latest designer and pattern reveal — Hello, Geese! from Leila Gardunia!

For the month of July, Leila will be donating 100% of the proceeds from the Hello, Geese! pattern to Disabled American Veterans (DAV). For this month’s interview, we chatted with Leila about her collaboration with Modern Service Quilts. Read on!

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your quilting journey?

Twenty years ago, my friend convinced me to participate in a block-of-the-month program at our local quilt shop. I thought it would be lame and only went because I wanted to hang out with my friends, but after the first month, I was hooked! Nine years later, we got high-speed Internet, I discovered quilting blogs, and my part-time hobby turned into an obsession. Now I blog and write tutorials, books, and patterns. I love making scrap quilts and designing scrappy foundation-paper-pieced patterns.

Why did you want to collaborate with Modern Service Quilts?

I love that the MSQ designers donate the money from their quilt-pattern sales to charities that support veterans because, while quilts are a beautiful sign of support and love, a quilt can't solve all the challenges veterans face. I appreciate the two-pronged approach that MSQ takes.

Do you have your own personal connection to the military, service members, or the tradition of making honor quilts?

My brother has served in the Navy for the past 20 years, mostly in Japan. I’ve wanted to make him a quilt for a long time, but he said not to send him one because his Japanese apartment is too small. However, he can't get away from a sister-made quilt that easily! I already have ideas for a retirement quilt made with foundation-paper-pieced ships.

This month, we’re highlighting your Hello, Geese! quilt pattern. Why do you think this particular design lends itself well to becoming a modern honor quilt?

I think the simplicity of the Hello, Geese! quilt is its best feature. Plus the flying geese can be a subtle nod to airplanes, making it a great choice for those serving in the Air Force. It comes together quickly and is perfect if you’re working under time constraints. It also has instructions for using fat quarters as well as scraps, so it is super flexible.

Do you have any other patterns you think could work well as honor quilts?

I think my free Scrappy Sunshine quilt pattern could also be used to make a wonderful honor quilt. It is cute, fast, and scrap- and beginner-friendly — perfect if you’re working with donated fabric or with a group. You can download the pattern here. (MSQ note: Leila even put together a cute mockup in red and blue — how fun is this?)

Do you have any tips for making a quilt pattern appropriate for an honor quilt?

There are tons of quilt patterns that can be used to make honor quilts, but if you know who you will be presenting the quilt to, I would take time to really think about the service member's style and aesthetic before picking out a pattern and fabric. Do they love history and decorate their home in a vintage Americana style? Then traditional blocks made in reproduction blues, reds, and creams might be perfect for them. If they love all things mid-century modern, a modern quilt with a curved mid-century vibe would be appropriate. When possible, make your quilt an even more meaningful gift by taking the tastes and interests of the recipient into account.

You’ve chosen to support Disabled American Veterans (DAV) with your Hello, Geese! pattern sales this month. What led you to choose that particular charity?

I will be donating 100% of the Hello, Geese! pattern sales to Disabled American Veterans. Service members often sacrifice their physical and mental health when they serve, and we need to provide continued long-term support to them after their service is over. DAV does a great job of that, and I am happy to support their mission.

We are so glad Leila’s sharing this wonderful pattern with our makers! Head to Leila’s shop to purchase your own copy of the Hello, Geese! pattern this month. And don’t forget to share your work by tagging Modern Service Quilts (@modernservicequilts, #modernservicequilts) and Leila on social media (@leila.gardunia, #leilagarduniapatterns, and #hellogeesequilt). We can’t wait to see the beautiful quilts you all make.

If you need information on donating your finished quilt to a veteran, check out this page.

We’ll be back mid-month with more information on the sample quilt we made using Leila’s pattern. Until then, be sure to follow us on Instagram for lots more photos and information and sign up for our email newsletter below.

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MSQ’s Hello, Geese! Quilt

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MSQ’s Abridged Quilt