by Leah Day
“Yes,” Ms. Bunny replied solemnly. “I will do my best.”
Mally pulled her hands apart and in a flash of light the crown split into two pieces. In one hand she held the crown and in the other dangled a woven necklace of silver, gold, and red threads, the perfect size and shape for Ms. Bunny to wear.
“Please show my best friend the same love and loyalty you show to me,” Mally said, kneeling down to clasp the necklace around her neck.
Suddenly Hoop bounded to the middle of the steps and let out a shocking roar, “All hail Mally the Maker, Queen of Quilst! All hail Mistress Bunny, the Queen’s Regent!”
The crowd replied with a storm of clapping, stomping, and squawking. The collective roar was deafening. Mally sat back on her heels and bowed her head to her friend. The ground trembled as every animal in Quilst followed suit. Mally glanced to the side and saw that even Patch had risen from his nap and pressed his nose to the ground.
“Oh my,” Ms. Bunny said in a shaky voice. “Come on now everyone, that’s quite enough of that.” A chuckle rippled through the crowd and Mally laughed along with them as they all rose to their feet.
“Looks like you’re in for a lot of bowing and groveling from here on out, rabbit.” Patch said, patting Ms. Bunny on the back with a paw bigger than her whole body. “Careful you don’t get a fat head. It won’t fit between your cute ears.”
“She’ll never have a head as fat as yours, Patchy Poo.” Sunshine swooped down and wrapped her wings around Ms. Bunny in a warm hug. “She’d have to grow like a million, billion times bigger to even get close to the size of your head.”
“As long as I have you both around to keep me in check, I think we’ll be just fine.” Ms. Bunny laughed, then she asked, “Queen Mally, do you have anything you want us to do while you’re away?”
“I have only one request,” Mally said, gripping the bookbag straps as she rose to her feet. “This message came from Creo, who I believe is the Great Maker of all the worlds. She asks that we make Quilst as beautiful as we can. Can you help me with that?”
“Only if you can bring us more thread!” Hoop shouted.
“And more fabric!” Thimble added and the crowd erupted in laughter and more shouts for different sewing supplies followed.
“I promise to return as soon as I can, and I’ll bring you as much fabric and thread as I can manage. Please help yourself to everything in the Great Tree and work together to make Quilst as pretty as it can be.”
With that Mally turned and faced the Open Door. Colors still swirled wildly together within the door frame and the wind picked up speed as she stepped closer. She looked back one last time at Ms. Bunny, surrounded by Patch and Sunshine and all the animals of Quilst.
“I’ll be right back,” she whispered, then turned and stepped through the Open Door.
Acknowledgements
The experience of writing Mally the Maker has been such an adventure from start to finish and I have many people to thank for helping me create this novel.
My husband, Josh, was instrumental in this book becoming a reality. From long talks about how things come alive in Quilst to ways to fix the time issue, Josh was my writing buddy, mentor, and occasional taskmaster. He patiently edited the text three times and is still trying to teach me how to properly use commas. The reason you’re holding this book is entirely thanks to his help and encouragement.
I’m very thankful for my son, James, who was the very first kid reader of this book. Even though it was “about a girl” he enjoyed it and that made me very hopeful kids would enjoy it as well as experienced quilters.
Thank you Dad for inspiring me to make Menda smell like rancid lavender. I never smell that scent without thinking of you!
A shout out to my early readers: Leah, Laura, Janet, Jan, Marsha, Stephanie, Dianna, Rhonda, Riley, Nicolle, Elizabeth, Jen, Jenedel, Stephanie, and Marsha. I really appreciate all your kind feedback, typo catches, and suggestions to make the book better for all ages.
Thank you to all the listeners of my Hello My Quilting Friends podcast and your enthusiastic support and interest in the book. It’s impossible to quit when so many quilters are excited to see the finished book!
I’m extremely grateful to my writing buddy Kati and our weekly writing check-ins which helped keep me motivated when things got tough.
A big hug from across the pond to Joanna Penn, the wonderful host of The Creative Penn podcast. I’d been carrying around this idea of Mally and a magical quilt world for years, but it was listening to this podcast that encouraged me to try fiction and to develop a habit of writing every morning.
All the blocks mentioned in this book are traditional quilt blocks and can be found in Jinny Beyer’s The Quilter’s Album of Patchwork Patterns. This amazing resource stayed by my side throughout the writing process and is a continual source of inspiration. Who knew traditional pieced shapes could have the power to turn back time?
I’m also immensely grateful for my parents who didn’t buy a new television after ours broke when I was around seven years old. I know I wouldn’t have learned how to sew, crochet, or knit at such a young age if I’d had anything better to do.
Let’s go quilt!
Leah Day
How to Piece a Four Patch Quilt Block
Would you like to make quilt blocks and hand stitch like Mally? Follow the instructions below to make your own Four Patch Quilt Blocks like Mally and Audrey from the book. Remember what Patch said - it will probably take you one thousand stitches for it to feel comfortable.
- Materials -
4 – 5-inch squares of 100% cotton fabric
Cotton thread
Package of needles - #9 sharps recommended
Pencil, ruler, scissors, and pins
- Instructions -
Arrange the four pieces of fabric to create a checkerboard pattern. Fold the upper left square over the right so the fabrics are right sides together. Mark a straight line ¼-inch from the edge of the fabric with a pencil.
Cut off a length of thread as long as your arm, then thread the needle. Hold the thread tails together and make a loop, then pass the ends of the thread through the loop to make an overhead knot on the end.
Starting on the left edge if you’re left handed or the right edge if you’re right handed, insert the needle on the marked line. Make sure the two squares of fabric stay perfectly aligned along all the edges.
Slide the needle through the fabrics to the back, then back up to the front to form a stitch. Pull the needle through slowly so your thread doesn’t tangle.
If it does tangle, gently pick it out or clip the knot and start again.
Aim to keep your stitches consistent (the same size) and on the marked line. As you make more stitches and the needle becomes more comfortable to hold, your stitches will naturally become smaller.
When you reach the end of the marked line, take a backstitch. Insert your needle backwards into the stitch before, then slide it through and bring it back out the end. This reinforces the seam and stops it from coming apart. Tie another overhand knot and clip your thread.
Repeat stitching the two remaining squares together the same way.
Spread the pieced squares on your table so the right side faces down. Press the seams from the top two squares to the left and press the seams from the bottom two squares to the right. Now arrange the pieces right sides together again, and place a pin in the middle to line up the center seam.
Mark another line ¼-inch from the top edge of the patchwork. Stitch along this line carefully. It will feel different because the piece is much bigger in your hand. Don’t give up!
Make another backstitch in the center of the block where the seams come together to help reinforce that spot. Make one last backstitch on the end of the seam. Tie a knot and press this seam to the left.
Your Four Patch Quilt Block is now complete! It sho
uld measure 9 ½ inches square. Isn’t patchwork magical?
I bet you can’t make just one Four Patch quilt block. I hope you’ll teach your friends how to make magical quilt blocks too.
Find a free video tutorial on how to hand piece a four patch block with Leah Day at: MallytheMaker.com/FourPatch
Did Mally manage to turn back time and fix everything at home?
Find out in the next book in the Mally the Maker series, coming soon in 2019! Learn more about Mally and find fun projects to make from this book at:
MallytheMaker.com
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About the Author
Leah Day is an award winning quiltmaker, online teacher, and author. She is the creator of the Free Motion Quilting Project (FreeMotionProject.com), a blog where she has shared new quilting tutorials every week since 2009.
Leah Day's mission is to empower and encourage quilters of all skill levels to piece and quilt their own quilts. Her helpful quilting videos and classes have been viewed over twelve million times by quilters from around the world.
Leah is the author of Explore Walking Foot Quilting, a beginner quilting guide and 365 Free Motion Quilting Designs, the largest collection of machine quilting designs ever published.
The inspiration for Mally the Maker came from her experience growing up sewing and crafting and spending time every weekend with her grandma. Ms. Bunny was a real doll Leah was given when she was four years old, but she was unfortunately lost on a camping trip.
Leah's primary craft is quilting, but she also enjoys knitting, crochet, weaving, and wood turning. She lives in North Carolina with her family, a flock of chickens, two crazy cats, and one lazy dog. You can learn more about Leah and find all her video tutorials at LeahDay.com.
Read more at Leah Day’s site.
