The Back Porch Stitcher

So thankful to be able to have a space to create in that I can simultaneously build memories in with my babies 💖

Three kids under four keeps me busy, and quilting keeps me busy, and being able to bring both of these things together is the most precious of all. I’m so thankful to have this chaotic and beautiful season captured. Finding time to create is still happening, it’s just a bit slower these days 💖

📸 Laura Bowman Photography LLC

Why do I quilt? There are so many reasons it’s hard to count them 💖

It was the first hobby I tried that just immediately clicked with me and brought me so much joy. I immediately loved everything from start to finish about it: looking through patterns, finding the perfect fabric, the attention to detail needed to cut the fabric, the excitement of starting to piece the quilt together and seeing what it will really look like, the sense of accomplishment of quilting it, the quiet rhythm of hand binding, and the joy of taking that freshly wrinkled quilt out of the dryer.

Quilting is something that gives you such a practical and tangible outcome. We use our quilts for everything: from couch cuddles, road trips, picnics, special events, and everything in between. If there’s a chance a quilt may be needed, they are coming with us!

It brings joy and excitement on trips too; every trip Garrett and I take, we are always trying to find a quilt shop so I can get fabric and make a quilt that reminds me of our trip together. It’s so special to have quilts made with fabric purchased on all of our adventures.

It’s been a hobby that has traveled with me through all the stages of my life and has fit so seamlessly into every transition. From college, to newly married, to adding kids, quilting has found a way to be woven into my life in so many aspects. I’m so thankful now to be able to stay home with my babies and spend so much time continuing to quilt and sharing my love of this craft with my customers.

The short answer to why I quilt? I just couldn’t picture my life without it 💖

March is National Quilting Month and one of my favorite times of the year to share more about quilting 💖

I’m Hannah, the face behind The Back Porch Stitcher! My normal quilting content has taken a bit of a pause around here as we welcomed our little girl Eloise into the world almost three weeks ago. Between her, our one year old Graham, and our three year old Everett, my husband Garrett and I stay pretty busy!

But in between the chaos, and honestly usually with the chaos all around, I still find time to make quilts. There’s something calming and relaxing to quilting that seems to bring a quiet rhythm to our lives that sometimes feels much needed 💗 Eloise hasn’t made it out to the sewing shed yet, but Everett and Graham have always spent a lot of time out there with me, and I’m hoping Eloise will be just the same.

Eloise’s two quilts (in my second and third photos) were the first I had made for our family in quite a while, since I normally stay busy making customer quilts. Between memory quilts, tshirt quilts, baby quilts, longarming, and embroidery, I’m usually just squeezing in projects for myself here and there! But I love getting to share bits of life and projects and quilts (chaos and all!) with y’all!

Eloise Belle Hunt made her arrival on February 10 at 8:04 am weighing 8 lbs 3 oz 💗

We are so in love with our sweet baby girl and are all resting at home as we adjust to life as a family of 5!

Everett is already in love with his baby sister, and one of the first things he said when he saw her was “mama she’s so beautiful!” He loves to talk to her, watch her, and rub her head. Graham is more interested in the snack situation most of the time, but has given Eloise a few looks here and there! 😆

More quilts to come, but for right now we are soaking in all of the newborn baby cuddles! 💗

Another quilt for Eloise! 💗

I made an Ocean Waves quilt pattern for some of our best friends when they got married in 2018, and ever since then I have been wanting to make one for myself. I’ve been saving up Liberty of London fabric here and there for a quilt some time now and early this spring I decided it would be the perfect thing to use for my own Ocean Waves quilt. I wanted something besides white to use for the background, and this soft and cozy linen fabric was perfect. As soon as I had cut the fabric and started working on it, I found out we were having a little girl and decided this would be the perfect quilt for her. It’s such a big quilt too, that I know it will be one we use together a lot in the coming few years!

When I was trying to decide on a pantograph design for this quilt, I kept coming back to something floral. I was sending my friend the options I was looking at, trying to decide on a favorite, and she decided to look up the meaning of the different flowers I had in my options. When she sent me the meaning of tulips, one of the things it said was “grace under pressure” and I thought it would be such a special meaning to weave into this quilt for sweet Eloise 💗🌷

Slow Sunday stitching + 36 weeks pregnant views💗

On Saturday I got Eloise’s bow quilt top finished, loaded on the longarm, completely longarmed, and binding sewn to the front of the quilt. So Sunday called for a much needed rest day! I still managed to spend just a little while after church cuddled on the quilt with both boys while I worked on hand binding, but that is just relaxing to me 💗

Before two long, it’ll be three babies snuggling under this quilt with me and I just can’t wait 🥹💗

35 weeks pregnant and finally starting on Eloise’s bow quilt! Already halfway done with blocks 💗

My backing for this quilt and her ocean waves quilt comes in at the end of the week and the remaining background fabric for her gables quilt comes then as well!

Hoping next week is full of longarming and getting these quilts all finished up! If you can’t tell, when it comes to my own projects, I’m a wait till the last minute to get it done kind of person 😆 I always have so much more time in my head!! 🤪

And the last customer quilt before Eloise arrives is headed off to its new home! 💗 Swipe through to see the matching pillow we added that is the perfect touch!

These sweet bow quilts are just what little girl dreams are made of!! 🎀

So much love in each block of this memory quilt 💗

Special moments and special outfits highlighted, with bow blocks made from other outfits. Bows and butterflies hold special meaning for this family, so we found a way to incorporate both into this quilt. The sweetest butterfly backing (that I forgot to take a picture of), a butterfly pantograph, and then the special bow blocks.

Getting the chance to help create something so meaningful for families is one of the most special parts of what I do 💗🦋