
Joy comes in the morning! I’m not a gardener, but if I were, I can imagine lingering outside with that morning cup of coffee (quite a stretch of the imagination since I don’t drink coffee). I can imagine enjoying the morning dew on the flowers with the dancing of the dawn’s rays on the leaves of those potted plants on the porch.
Okay…true confession… since I have a tendency to even kill silk plants, I am simply going to enjoy the fresh start to a new day! Let’s welcome it together shall we? Cheers! It’s a day to choose joy!

Hello! I’m Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, and today it is my opportunity to inspire you with yet another row for this year’s It’s A Garden Party Row Along hosted by Seams to be Sew. This is Week Two and we are just getting this party rowing along (grin). Thank you for joining me!
I’m a simple sort of gal, especially when it comes to quilting. Don’t get me wrong, I love complex quilt designs, more along the traditional piecing method of rotary cutting fabric with rulers, then sewing the shapes together vs the art of applique or even paper piecing. Give me the right set of tools and I can whip up just about any geometric shape you can toss at me. I do love that our shared passion of quilting offers so many construction methods. Blessed are you who can embrace more than one method! Yep, endless opportunities to be creative!

When asked to be a part of this year’s row along, I wanted something leaning towards the simple side; perhaps provide a row that will complement all the other beautiful designs you will be collecting and making over the course of the next few weeks. How exciting, I might add, this journey down the garden path….
The Quilt Rambler’s Row

Introducing Joy Comes In The Morning ©
What’s simpler than half square triangles and squares! Okay, maybe with a little specialty unit thrown in for good measure. All easy to construct with my free PDF downloadable instructions and layout designed in EQ8!

Speaking of Electric Quilt 8! Wow! As one of our sponsors they are offering a 20% discount off any of their products (except their EQ Academy) during our row along.
If you are an avid user like I am, this might be your opportunity to purchase one of their EQ8 Add-ons like the fabric EQ Stash or Boutique Blocks. New users (and seasoned users) will enjoy the companion EQ8 Books, and by golly, if you don’t have the program — well now is most certainly the time to dive right in and get it. As a pattern designer I lean heavily on creating with EQ8, especially when I want to audition a new line of fabrics in one of my current pattern designs for a fresh look (or maybe in holiday colors!) Yep EQ8 is my go-to program.
Click on the button below to go to their website, enter the coupon code GARDENPARTY20 and you are ready to go shopping!
Link to Joy Comes In The Morning©

I truly enjoyed designing Joy Comes In The Morning © but have to admit, I didn’t piece it. As a pattern designer for a major fabric company I generally have multiple seasons of “secret sewing” for upcoming new releases…being “in season” I asked my friend Dianne Burnett to piece this for me/you. She enjoyed making it sew much that she was very eager for me to hurry up and write the pattern so she could make one for herself.
Here ya go Dianne, and all you rowers out there…. click on the button below for the link to the Joy Comes In The Morning© pattern. No purchase necessary, but the PDF host will ask for your email to provide the free download.
The links below will lead you to today’s fellow rowers…for a complete schedule visit my earlier blog post…
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Daughters of Dorinda
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Just Let Me Quilt
Lovingly Lissa
The Quilt Rambler (you are here!)
But WAIT! There’s More!

There are giveaways each day and on each blog.

Northcott is sponsoring a fat quarter bundle giveaway for my blog today, if you are one of the names chosen, Northcott will send you a bundle similar to one of these pictured, valued at $15. Winners are responsible for shipping costs. Please refer to our host, Seams to Be Sew, for the official rules concerning giveaways and sweepstakes as well as the full schedule of events. By the way, thank you Marian for hosting this special event!


I do hope you will enjoy adding my row to your layout plans for this year’s It’s A Garden Party quilt!
I am eager to follow the hashtag #itsagardenpartyrowalong to see YOUR creations! Also use hashtag #joyinthemorningquiltrow so I can see your fabric choices! Be sure and share across social media – that’s half the fun!

While you are here, I invite you to look around my website (pardon our dust -sigh – I’m currently in the middle of reconstructing my site, adding an online shopping experience for my patterns and Studio 180 Design tools). If you like what you see, and I hope you do, consider signing up for my blog/newsletter and check out The Quilt Rambler across social media. Let’s Talk Quilts!
How these squares and triangles can come together is a great row. Thanks for sharing
Thanks Heleen, I hope my little row will find it’s way into your quilt – eager to see your fabric choices. Thanks for taking time to comment.
Wonderful row! I love how simple shapes can form something so beautiful.
I’m discovering that simple things can bring so much joy, if we take time to consider such. Thanks for visiting the blog today Elizabeth – I enjoyed visiting yours – glad we could walk this garden path together today,
I agree Joy does come in the morning… and then… I get out of bed and the cold sets in…. but breakfast will get ready and more joy!! Coffee… even more joy!! and if there are flowers in my day, the best kind of joy!! Your row pattern is full of fun and frolics Karen. Such a great pattern and it looks so easy to make. Thank you for joining another row along,it’s such a pleasure to have you in any event.
The pleasure is all mine, thank you for the tremendous behind the scenes hours you out into hosting an event like this!
Lovely row! Love that butterfly quilting motif – beautiful! My favorite quilt block is the churn dash!?
I love a good churn dash! My grandmother enjoyed teaching me the names of different traditional blocks. One of my early quilts was full of churn dash blocks. After I made it I turned around and taught it at my local quilt shop. Thanks for that walk down memory lane! Enjoy your day and I hope enjoy this row!
Good morning, Karen! Thank you so much for the free pattern for the runner. It sure turned out beautiful and it really lets all of those gorgeous fabrics shine. I sure do agree that Joy does come in the morning! I hope you are staying safe from all the hurricanes. Take care and enjoy that granddaughter! ~smile~ Roseanne
Good morning Roseanne! Yes, so far we’ve dodged hurricanes this season – thanks for checking on me ? I’m glad you like my design – knowing you, being a smoking needle, I bet you could have this little runner pieced and quilted by noon ? enjoy your little ones too – see ya around cyberspace ?
I love your row! I think star blocks are my favorite although I love applique and designing applique blocks of all kinds as well. Thank you for sharing!
Linda- I think star blocks are my favorite too – I’m currently hooked on the 6 pointed star, made with 60 degree triangles. My grandmother used these in my baby quilt – quite the antique now actually ?? glad you like the row!
I love half square triangles in blocks. I am still working on keeping my points straight!
Yep, otherwise it’s pointless ? seriously, the more you do the better you become. Check out the Tucker Trimmer tool – it has helped me by oversizing the block just a tad then trimming to the correct size – makes the points come together easier. Contact me if you would like more info or tips.
Love your row, Karen!! Yes, joy really does come in the morning until, as Marian said, you get up and pain hits your knees! But then, there is joy in know that you can still walk around despite that! It’s hard to choose a favorite block, but most anything with stars, HSTs and even log cabins! I really love them all. Oh, and I am really being drawn to the Storm at Sea block!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent with the rowers this year! Your website looks great. It’s a lot of work keeping one up. I have a feeling the next few days are not going to be so great with the hurricane headed for us. It will be a tropical storm by the time it reaches central AL. The current track puts the center below us, unless that shifts through the day. So hopefully just rain for us and gusty winds, but nothing bad. LA (lower Alabama!) will be harder hit than us. Thanks again for the row, Karen!
Hey Brenda – praying for you and those in the path of Hurricane Sally and those other storms out there. Having “been there done that” it hurts my heart to see the devastation done by these storms. Another simple reminder that we must choose joy – circumstances have a way of robbing that at times. Perhaps that’s why we quilt – helps to calm those “storm at sea” moments. Ya’know I can recommend a couple of really good tools that would help you with that quilt block that is calling your name ? thanks for stopping by today. ?
Joy does come in the morning, just wish this smoke would go away! Maybe tomorrow morning 😉 Thanks for joining us this year.
Fun to be a part of this wonderful event. Hope the smoke and fires ? go away soon and very soon!
Good Morning. Thank you for the pattern it is beautiful
Elizabeth, Silverdale, WA
Howdy ? Elizabeth from WA – glad you like the pattern
Love ‘choose joy’! Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for commenting- a Rambler likes an audience – adds to my joy
That is a really pretty row. Thank you.
I don’t have a favourite block but seem to be doing a lot of applique these days.
I love the look of appliqué! I’ve only dabbled a bit but totally appreciate the designs and talent. Glad you liked the row – thanks
It’s a great row! Thank you so much for sharing. It looks wonderful as a runner, too.
I’m thinking a little spring quilt to hang on the back of my front door – thanks for taking time to comment
What a lovely row you’ve given us. Thank you so much. Aren’t HSTs SO versatile! My favorite block…per the Rafflecopter entry—is 54-40 or Fight set on point. The block looks completely different when set on point.
I totally agree – I love setting blocks on point – a few of my published designs have that element. And indeed – there are jillions of ways to work your magic with HST! Thanks for stopping by and entering the giveaway
What a cute row! Thank you! My favorite row is anything with stars and/or applique.
Now that sounds like a winning combination!
Thank you for sharing this! More and more I am enjoying making smaller projects–things I will actually finish. 🙂 My favorite blocks seem to be log cabins; when I packed my car to evacuate in the recent wild fires, the two quilts I packed were log cabin quilts.
Delightful row, thank you. This looks like fun to make! My fav. Quilt blOck bounced between log cabin and churn dash.
Seems a lot of folks agree with you on these two blocks. Isn’t quilting fun! Glad you liked my row ☺️
I’ve been doing a lot of table runners and placemats lately – like you, it’s nice to have things finished. I can’t imagine evacuation for fires, I just know about hurricanes and they give a lot more notice. I hope you and your family are able to avoid those fires. Prayers for you Beth.
Sweet row! Thanks for sharing. My favorite quilt block pattern is the log cabin…so versatile!
I think the log cabin is one of THE best blocks, especially if you like scrappy – what a way to use up leftovers! Thanks for visiting today!
What a great garden quilt. Thank you so much for the pattern and thanks, to Marian for organizing this annual even. Thank you for the wonderful prizes from the sponsors. My favorite block is flying geese…preferably paper pieced.
Rochelle – I think I have earned a masters degree in flying geese – especially since I started making them using Deb Tucker’s technique – if you are interested I have a short video tutorial on The Quilt Rambler YouTube channel on how to make them without the paper ? and yes, I echo your thanks to Marian – lots of behind the scenes work goes into this fabulous event! Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts!
Love your block. I don’t have a special block. I guess my favorite is the one I am working on at the time, and I like variety. I do enjoy foundation/paper piecing because of the kind of blocks that you can make.
I’ve always said that quilting is an endless opportunity to be creative and to continue to learn! So many blocks to choose from and so many different methods! Like you, my favorite is the one I am immersed in at the time. Such joy to be able to work with fabrics wouldn’t you agree?
Such a lovely colourful row, and a great use for HSTs. Early morning is the best tome for taking photos of the wonderful flowers that inspire us. Thank you.
Indeed – nothing like the dawn of a new day knowing your story hasn’t been written yet! I only have that one hibiscus plant and I take each bloom seriously as a gift from God. Just makes me smile!
Simplicity is such a great thing and this row proves it! Thank you.
Aw, I appreciate you saying that Doreen. I hope you enjoy making it.
Such a pretty row! Thank you! My husband gave me EQ for my birthday last year and it’s so wonderful! I’m still learning to use it but I’m enjoying what I can do.
Good for you to have EQ8 – there’s so much to learn. I can recommend their books – I have the designing quilt books and a few others. There’s a great support group on FB too. Hope you can use the coupon. Glad you enjoyed the row!
Love your row! Thank you!
And thank you for taking time to comment- this is why we do it, for the enjoyment of others
Love your simple geometric shapes put together row, makes a design impact! Must admit I love most quilt blocks, tough to choose one favorite, but log cabin & bears claw are at the top. Thanks for sharing your inspiration & creativity with all of us! Thanks also to the great sponsors.
Thank you Dixie – I loved geometry as a child, guess I’m all grown up and still playing with blocks ?
I love early mornings also and thanks to the lockdown I get to enjoy them more. Generally I’m at the office before 6:00 already. Thank you for your beautiful row pattern
Bet you got to see a few more sunrises this year too. I hope you have been able to work from home and sneak in a little more sewing to replace that commute time. I know quilting has been my escape from focusing on a pandemic. Colorful fabrics to play with help with the joy factor don’t you think?
Good afternoon =} I really like Jacob’s Ladder block, but I get into whatever block at the moment haha! I love your row especially the yellow in the middle goes perfectly. Thank you so much!
Thanks Diana – I took love a good Jacob’s Ladder – that’s a great block to play around with color also. I’m glad you liked the yellow, your comment made me smile ?
Thank you for your block. My favorite block is any star block, paper pieced and traditional piecing.
Brenda – stars ⭐️ are so fun. In fact, several of my quilts have stars, either my design or patterns from others. My baby quilt was a 6 pointed star design. Maybe that why I’m drawn to them too ?
I like the feathered star block the most.
Wowser – now that’s a star block! I have one made about 20 years ago that never found its way into a quilt. ? maybe it’s time to go star running in my orphan block bin. Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment
Beautiful, I love your fabric choices.
I love your row. It would make a great table runner. Thank you for the pattern.
Thank you – it would be a nice runner – just add another block/section if it needs to be longer!
I love th Log Cabin quilt block and love to make them wonky…. it’s a perfect way to use up scraps.
Indeed, log cabin blocks are a great scrap buster! I’ve also made one with cutting up men’s plaid shirts. Talk about a comfort quilt!
Hi Karen. Glad to hear you are not in the line of fire for Sally to pay you a visit. Your runner, Joy Comes in the Morning sure brought a smile to my face with the bright cheery fabrics. My favourite go to block is the Churn Dash, but my favourite quilt I ever made was a Lonestar….so many diamonds ? Glad you are part of Marian’s RAL. I always enjoy your vibrant quilts!
Thank you Carol for the kind remarks and for thinking about us during hurricane season. I missed last year’s RAL and am truly enjoying “being back”
I love your block – thanks so much! My favorite blocks are star blocks
I’m pleased that you like it. I like star blocks also ⭐️ we quilters just have so much in common don’t we ?♀️
My all time favorite quilt block is the Log Cabin in all its variations. I like the name of the quilt.
I struggled with the name – that’s always the hardest part of designing. But my motto this year, actually Jan 1, was/is “choose joy” – I made a colorful little quilt that I see every morning before I even get out of bed that reminds me each day I indeed have a choice.
Thank you for for this pattern.
My pleasure, thank you for taking time to leave a comment
I love your pattern. Thank-you for sharing
That’s what quilting is all about – sharing the joy!
This pattern is so simple yet looks difficult. It is amazing how you came up with the pattern by re-arranging HST and squares. Thank you for such a lovely pattern.
I’m all about making the difficult simple ? I love teaching and breaking down the elements to show how simple they really are and encouraging others to give it a try. Hope you will incorporate my design into your quilt!
Thank you for the sweet pattern. I love the name.
I don’t have a favorite quilt block pattern, but I’ll pick log cabin for now.
I agree it’s hard to pick a favorite – as someone said earlier, it’s the one we are currently working on! I’m glad you liked the pattern, and the name ☺️
I have always loved any type of star blocks, but I will try any block once . Thanks so much for your lovely design. Its bright and cheery and just what we all need 🙂
Thank you for the kind words of affirmation- we do need bright and cheery as well as the reminder to find joy in the simple things !
Thank you so much for the pretty row.
Enjoy!
Adore your row! Irish Chains are one of my fav blocks – also the Disappearing Nine Patch.
Great choices for fav blocks! Glad you like my row
I will definitely add this row to my quilt. The colors are gorgeous and the design is classy, yet looks so simple to make. Thank you.
Oh I can’t wait to see it! And yes, it’s simple (Appreciate the “classy” compliment) ☺️
Thank you for this beautiful design.
You’re welcome! Thanks for taking time to comment
I love the bright colours. So many amazing blocks to learn about but a favorite is log cabin.
My “first” quilt made with a rotary cutter (around 1990) was a log cabin! As soon as I made one I taught a class at my church. It’s truly a classic block with endless possibilities. Bright colored log cabin would be nice – I love bright colors!
I love Granny Square blocks. Just made another quilt. Do stay safe. Your blocks are wonderful
I’m not familiar with that block – my first thought was the crocheted design. Just googled it and wow, it’s similar. Looks like a fun block to make, I can see why it is a favorite. Thanks for sharing that with me!
What a pretty flower row! Thank you for sharing. I don’t really have a favorite block, but I do love to piece.
I’m like you, I like a lot of blocks and I just want to keep piecing! Enjoy the row along, thanks for checking out my row! Happy piecing
That’s a really nice quilt row for a garden! Thank you.
“ everything’s coming up ? “ Pleased that you like it
I’m still chuckling about killing silk flowers. Your tulips look fantastic and the quilting looks so nice, especially the butterfly. The first quilt I fell in love with was a Grandmother’s Flower Garden. That still remains a favorite of mine.
Glad I made you laugh- I try to be entertaining ☺️ the butterfly is “my signature” on my personal quilts (and when quilting for hire by special request ?) I have inherited a couple of Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilts. One is just a top hand-pieced by my great-grandmother on my dad’s side, and one that is hand-quilted by my great aunt on my mother’s side. They are treasures
This is such a beautifully arranged block…love it! Thanks for sharing!
Glad you found it visually appealing. Hope you chose to make it a part of your row along quilt!
A great row. Thanks for sharing.
I’m glad you are rowing along
I do have a garden and I do like coffee, but I also have a tendency to forget to water (or overwater) my indoor-plants; (those out of doors have to fend for themselves – and this year, to my surprise, I found my apple tree filled with fruit.
Geometric shapes, cutting and sewing, preferably in straight lines suit me best.
And this pattern – the tulipy shapes – it is simply … GREAT Thank you
I really like quilt block patterns that have a Celtic flair to them.
I bet those make for some pretty quilt designs
I love this block. It’s reminiscent of the Carpenter’s Wheel which is one of my favorite blocks. Its so bright and cheery. Thank you so much for the work and time creating this to share with us. I can’t wait to make it.
Thank you for recognizing the time involved- it’s actually something I enjoy but it does take more time that one realizes. I hope you will share photos with me! Enjoy
Sew much fun! Thank you!
You are welcome – enjoy piecing it!
I’m glad you enjoy the design – hop you will add it to your quilt for the row along!
This is a beautiful row! thanks! My favorite block is a log cabin. There are so many ways to lay out your quilt with this block.
Indeed, the log cabin has endless layout possibilities, probably why it’s a favorite. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoy the row!
Your quilt is beautiful. Thank you. I like the versatility of the half square triangle.
Endless possibles with HST that’s for sure. Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment!
What a beautiful row, thanks for the pattern! I have so many favorite quilt blocks, but one I really enjoy is the classic Ohio Star
Ohio Star is indeed a classic – lots of wonderful possibilities! Glad you like the pattern! Enjoy the rest of the row along!
Right now..my favorite block is the Churn Dash..lol Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too 🙂 Also..thank you so much for sharing the pattern of your Row..it’s beautiful!!
Glad you like it – best wishes on the giveaway – can’t wait to see who wins
Thank you Karen for a fun pattern. Can’t wait to make it.
Can’t wait to see your fabric choices!
My favorite block is the friendship star. Love your row too!
Friendship block is a good one – I remember making a quilt for a friend once with that block. Enjoy the row along! Thanks for stopping by on your journey through the garden party ?
A bright and cheery addition to the garden. You do have that special way with color! Thanks!
Thank you for saying so – I love color!
Love this block for the row along! Favorite block? hmm, I am pretty new to quilting, but I am quite smitten with the pinwheel block!
Good choice – lots of possibilities with the pinwheel. Hope you will enjoy this addition to your quilt!
My favorite blocks are flowers! Love your pattern!!
Well with flower ? blocks as you favorite this is a great row along – enjoy the pattern!
I am so happy to have your pattern. That table runner is just what I need as a contribution to our guild’s fund raising efforts. Love it.
Oh I am so pleased. Please share a photo
With me later and details!
I love your quilt, and its title!
Thank you !
The colors of your are so bright and pretty!
Thank you – I’m glad you found the little quilt enjoyable
What a high energy post, and a beautiful block. I love how you’ve used simple units to put together something special. Thanks for the pattern.