May Featured Maker and Pattern: Commonwealth Star by Lindlee Smith of Plains and Pine
Are you ready for an absolute stunner of a quilt pattern for May? We’re so pleased to reveal this month’s collaborator is Lindlee Smith of Plains and Pine!
Lindlee’s featured quilt pattern, our May pattern of the month, is Commonwealth Star (paper pattern or PDF pattern). For the month of May, Lindlee will be donating 100% of the proceeds from the pattern to Warriors and Quiet Waters. Read on for this month’s chat with Lindlee about her collaboration with Modern Service Quilts!
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your quilting journey?
My mom has quilted for as long as I can remember, so I grew up in a house full of quilts. She helped me make my first quilt when I was in college, then my parents gave me my first sewing machine as a birthday present soon after. I've been sewing ever since. I started designing quilt patterns in 2020, and the thing that brings me the most joy is to see my designs brought to life in ways I never imagined. When I'm not sewing or designing new patterns, I'm spending time with my two young kids, husband, and dog. I love to be outside in the garden and go for walks and hikes in the mountains.
Why did you want to collaborate with Modern Service Quilts?
I am grateful I am able to collaborate with a worthy cause like Modern Service Quilts to help support the people who have served our country. I don't think veterans are always supported like they should be, so I'm glad I can help give back in a small way.
Do you have your own personal connection to the military, service members, or the tradition of making honor quilts?
No, but I am so grateful to those who have served and am thankful I can partner with Modern Service Quilts and their mission.
This month, we’re highlighting your Commonwealth Star quilt pattern. Why do you think this particular design lends itself well to becoming a modern honor quilt?
This quilt pattern felt like a patriotic design to me from the start, so I think it's the perfect pattern to become a modern honor quilt. The stripes within the star have a patriotic feel to me. The quilt pattern has several color options, so it can be made in many different ways — whether the traditional red, white, and blue; a more modern two-color version; or a scrappy version with several colors.
Do you have any other patterns you think could work well as honor quilts?
I think the Homestead Star quilt pattern or the Patchwork Lone Star quilt pattern would both make beautiful honor quilts. [Note from MSQ: Lindlee is the queen of amazing modern star quilt patterns, so her catalogue offers so many opportunities beyond these two. Check out all of her pdf patterns and paper patterns.]
Do you have any tips for making a quilt pattern appropriate for an honor quilt?
Keep it simple and classic by using solids. Large prints do not work well with the Commonwealth Star quilt pattern because of the size of the strips.
You’ve chosen to support Warriors and Quiet Waters with your Commonwealth Star pattern sales this month. What led you to choose that particular charity?
I love the mission of Warriors and Quiet Waters, which “guides post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones to thrive and find peace, meaning, and purpose through fly fishing and other inspirational activities in nature.” WQW is local to where I live in Bozeman, Montana, and I believe their work and support of veterans is important and meaningful.
Lindlee, we’re so glad to have you on the MSQ team this month! Head to Lindlee’s shop to purchase your own copy of the Commonwealth Star pattern (paper pattern or PDF pattern) by May 31, and share your wonderful work by tagging Modern Service Quilts (@modernservicequilts, #modernservicequilts) and Lindlee on social media (@plainsandpine, #commonwealthstarquilt). 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 Lindlee’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.
