Make Modern Issue 73

Make Modern is your ultimate guide to quilting joy, written by quilters who understand the magic of fabric and thread.

Make Modern Issue 73 is the final chapter of a 12-year adventure … and what a way to go out! Filled with ten beautiful quilt projects for every skill level, a heartfelt farewell from the whole MM team, and the regular columns you’ve come to love, this is a celebration of everything that has made Make Modern so special over the years.

MEET Tiffany Bynum, former engineer turned quilt pattern designer behind Straight Stitching in Ohio, and Nikki van Elden, South African-born, Perth-based tech editor, pattern designer, and newly minted fabric designer behind Cotton Craft Designs.

MAKE ten beautiful quilt projects to close out the MM archives in style – a stunning FPP Christmas tree quilt, a festive scrappy wreath quilt, a rainbow confetti star quilt, a crisp, modern sunshine quilt, a scrappy pillow made from a charm pack, a red and green Christmas pinwheel quilt, a colourful gifted quilt that celebrates presents with little bows, a scrappy quilt in blue and purple, a darling yo-yo and hexie cushion, and a clever little glasses case that will make the perfect handmade gift.

MOTIVATE yourself one last time with Sarah Ashford’s reflections on the journey, Eva Saunders’ secrets to a great quilting finish, Maggie Reno’s honest lessons from building a quilting business, and HollyAnne Knight’s final column – the perfect send-off from a Rockstar. Twelve years. 73 issues. 788 patterns. Yours with love from Make Modern.

📌 Inside this issue you’ll find… 

• 10 Must-Make Quilt Projects – Christmas trees, festive wreaths, confetti stars, pinwheels, a sunshine quilt, pillows and cushions, present blocks, and a sweet little glasses case. The perfect final collection.
• Quilty Wellbeing – A Time for Reflection – Sarah Ashford gathers her favourite pieces of advice from years of writing for Make Modern – a beautiful, generous farewell from one of our most beloved contributors.
• Meet the Maker – Tiffany Bynum – A former engineer who taught herself to quilt in 2022 and hasn’t stopped since, Tiffany shares her journey from that first wonky patchwork quilt to building a bold, bright pattern business called Straight Stitching.
• Art Inspired Quilting – The Well-Kept Secret to a Great Finish – Eva Saunders shares the testing process she uses before quilting any project.
• Farewell from Make Modern – It’s a Wrap! – The team look back on 12 extraordinary years: their favourite covers, most loved projects, proudest moments, and what they will carry with them from this remarkable journey. Contributors and readers share their memories too.
• Meet the Maker – Nikki van Elden – Technical editor, pattern designer, and new fabric designer behind Cotton Craft Designs talks Art Deco inspiration, the joy of EPP at the end of a long day, and building a career from a passion for all things quilty.
• Lessons from My Quilting Business Mistakes – Maggie Reno of Snug & Stitch shares the real, honest lessons she has learned from years of building a creative business – from reading the industry before you dive in, to remembering why you started.
• Quilt Like a Rockstar – Confident Machine Binding – In her final column after 8½ years, HollyAnne Knight shares her tips for fast, beautiful machine binding – and a farewell message that is every bit as warm and encouraging as the thousands of words she has written for us.

Pattern List:

• Cover: Brass Monkeys Quilt by Julia Bennett (@apieceoflovequilting)
• Dot to Dot Quilt by Beth Helfter (@evapaigequilts)
• Confetti Stars Quilt by Tiffany Bynum (@StraightStitchingQuilts)
• Summer Skies Quilt by Corinne Sovey (@corinne.sovey)
• Prism Pillow by Lisa Swenson Ruble (@quiltyzest)
• Pinwheel Crossing Quilt by Tamsyn Armstrong (@bravelittlebuckaroo)
• Gifted Quilt by Kathryn LeBlanc (@dragonflysquiltingdesignstudio)
• Tiles Quilt by Elaine Jackson (@woven_ladybug)
• Poppiepatch Cushion by Nic Vaughan (@craftapalooza)
• Sway Glasses Case by Evann Lepro (@evann.creates)

Article List:

• Quilty Wellbeing – A time for reflection by Sarah Ashford (@sarahashfordstudio)
• Meet the Maker – Tiffany Bynum (@StraightStitchingQuilts)
• Art Inspired Quilting – The well-kept secret to a great finish by Eva Saunders (@gingerlyquiltco)
• Farewell from the Team – It’s a Wrap!
• Meet the Maker – Nikki van Elden (@cottoncraftdesigns)
• Quite Quilty – Lessons from my quilting business mistakes by Maggie Reno
• Quilt Like a Rockstar – Confident machine binding by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory)

Make Modern Magazine is your ultimate quilting companion – ready to guide you from planning to piecing, whenever and wherever creativity strikes. 💖 Grab your copy now and let’s create something beautiful together – or treat yourself to the All-Access Pass and download all 73 issues of Make Modern before we say goodbye in 2027.

If this is your first issue of Make Modern, welcome – we’re so glad you’re here. Dive in and discover the creativity, innovation, and joy that quilting brings. Make Modern is a digital modern quilt magazine available worldwide. Each magazine is over 100 pages, packed with modern quilt patterns suitable for beginner quilters to advanced, and articles guaranteed to make you smile, inspire you to stretch your skills, and spark your creativity. Independently published by a team of quilters, it’s delivered as a PDF to read on your computer, tablet, or phone – easy to take fabric shopping or print if you prefer paper. See answers to frequently asked questions, and our refund and returns policy here.

🌍 A Note to Our Quilty Friends in Canada, the UK, Europe & Beyond! 🇨🇦🇬🇧🇪🇺

We’d love to offer sales in every currency, but as a small (but mighty!) team, that’s a bit beyond our quilting hoop. Instead, we ask you to select Aussie dollars (AUD) at checkout – this usually works out best for your conversion rate, and your bank will do the magic of switching it to CAD, GBP, EUR, or whatever lovely currency you use. Thanks for understanding, and happy stitching from Down Under! 🇦🇺✨