Once a month, we will try to showcase a quilt from one of our MPS members. Whether we’ve been quilting for decades or are just beginning our quilting journey, we are a talented bunch; and we inspire each other regularly with the many wonderful quilts that are created. So it seems fitting that we showcase a quilt in hopes it will inspire others. (You can click on any of the images to see a larger view.)
Steampunk Fairytale
March 8, 2025 was a day to remember for the Metropolitan Patchwork Society. That’s when we held our bi-annual quilt show, and wow—what a lineup of talent! But one quilt truly stole the spotlight: “Steampunk Fairytale” by our very own Lisa P. Not only did it win Best of Show, but it also snagged top honors in the Best of Traditional Quilts category. And once you see it, you’ll understand why.
Let’s start with the vibe—this quilt is pure drama in the best possible way. Designed in the Steampunk genre (we’ll get to that in a minute), the quilt pulls you into a world where Victorian romance meets industrial grit. Think gears, goggles, corsets, and clockwork magic. If you’ve never heard the term before, Steampunk is a whimsical mash-up of 19th-century style and futuristic invention, usually imagined as if steam power never went out of fashion. It’s what you’d get if Sherlock Holmes and Jules Verne designed fabric lines together.
Lisa used a stunning pattern from Quiltworx.com, the company run by quilting rockstar Judy Niemeyer. The pattern itself was designed by Judy and Bradley Niemeyer, with fabric choices inspired by none other than Tim Holtz—the king of distressed, vintage style. If you’ve ever drooled over fabric that looks like it could have come from a well-loved leather-bound book or an old map tucked in a pirate’s trunk, that’s Tim Holtz for you.
Lisa was all in on Tim’s colorway for this project. She went on a bit of a treasure hunt to find as much of his fabric as she could. One of her favorite finds? The background fabric from Tim’s Worn Croc line. It’s got this textured look that gives the quilt a rich, rugged edge—like it’s been through an epic adventure.
Construction-wise, Lisa tackled this beauty using the foundation paper-piecing method (aka quilting’s version of “paint by numbers,” as she likes to say). While that may sound intimidating to some, Lisa insists it wasn’t too difficult—just time-consuming in the best, most meditative way. She started the quilt in spring of 2024 and had it finished by summer. You may even remember catching a glimpse of it in progress at our 2024 Spring quilting retreat!
She quilted the whole thing herself on her long-arm machine with an overall design that adds just the right finishing touch. The finished piece measures a majestic 99” x 99”, and it now lives on the bed in her travel trailer. So yes, she literally dreams under this masterpiece. How fabulous is that?
We’re absolutely thrilled to feature Steampunk Fairytale in this month’s Quilt Showcase. Lisa, your creativity, craftsmanship, and adventurous fabric choices have wowed us all. Bravo!
Want to learn more? Click on the buttons below to visit the websites of Quiltworx and Tim Holtz.
Stay inspired, quilters! And let us know what you think of this Steampunk Fairytale in the comments below.
Quiltworx.comTim Holtz Website
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The pictures don’t do the quilt justice! Lisa did a beautiful job selecting colors and sewed it with wonderful skill.
I have loved this quilt since I first saw you working on it at the retreat. It looks great on your bed, too!
Dianne McD.
Amazing, marilyn h
Lisa, your quilt is absolutely stunning – it glows as if it’s backlit ! It makes me think of the Lord of the Rings movies. Most definitely worth the time spent putting those colors together.
Stacey F.