A Fairytale Quilt with Thimbelina and The Sewing Fairies

October 30, 2025

If you’ve ever wished you could peek into a tiny world where fairies sew, stitch, and sprinkle kindness through every thread, Thimbelina and The Sewing Fairies by Jennifer Long brings that world to life.

This super charming collection is filled with polka dots, tiny thimbles, cheerful checks, and whimsical sewing-themed motifs that feel straight out of a storybook. I used the free Charming One Quilt pattern by Sharon Holland Designs as the foundation for my quilt, but made a few changes to make it my own by adjusting the overall size to 63 inches square, using a symmetrical planned layout, and featuring 17 of my favorite prints from the Thimbelina collection and coordinating Riley Blake Designs basics.

It’s the kind of project that feels playful and nostalgic all at once, like a love letter to the joy of making.

Meet the Fabric: Thimbelina and The Sewing Fairies

Designed by Jennifer Long at Sew A Story, this collection celebrates the spirit of creativity, kindness, and imagination. Each print captures tiny, enchanted moments, from Sewing Fairies to Stitching Frogs, the prints look like they could have been painted with fairy wings.

The colorway include apricot, tomato red (nectar), coral, teal, misty blue, honey, and milky white (cloud), all tones that have a vintage feel to them. It’s a fabric line that invites both children and adults to dream, create, and believe in the magic that happens when we make something with our hands.

A Quilt Pattern That’s as Charming as Its Name

The Charming One Quilt pattern by Sharon Holland Designs is a beautiful starting point for anyone who loves working with charm squares, scraps, or yardage. Its clean, balanced design lets each print shine while keeping the sewing process approachable, quick, and fun.

For this version, I selected a curated selection of prints from Thimbelina’s world of vintage colors that are timeless and playful along with a handful of basics from Riley Blake Designs. Rather than placing the squares randomly, I planned a symmetrical layout so each color story would echo across the quilt top like a mirrored fairy garden.

Quilting, Thread, and Finishing Touches

To add even more whimsy, I quilted my top with the Pin Cushion Thread Pantograph by Sew Shabby Quilting, a sweet nod to the sewing theme woven throughout the entire collection.

Details:

Piecing Thread: Aurifil 50 weight in 2311 (Muslin)
Quilting Thread: Aurifil 40/3 weight in 2410 (Pale Pink)
Machine: Juki J-350 QVP for longarming
Pantograph: Pin Cushion Thread by Sew Shabby Quilting
Batting: Hobbs Tuscany 80 cotton/20 wool

For the finishing touch, I added a flange binding using a few of the prints from the quilt top for a subtle frame of color and texture. If you’d like to try this technique, you can find a step-by-step tutorial on my website.

How To Make a Flange Binding For a Quilt: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

The backing is a coordinating Riley Blake Designs basic called Riley Teal Bee Cross Stitch, that ties the whole quilt together – soft, storybook sweetness on both sides.

Quilt Label

I love drawing and stitching a quilt label with my name and date and then stitching it to the back of the quilt. I haven’t quite finished the attaching step but I thought you might like to see it!

My favorite supplies for embroidered quilt labels include, Aurifil thread and a size 24 chenille needle. The thread weights and colors used for this label include floss – 2437 (Light Peony), 2130 (Medium Butter), 2890 (Very Dark Grass Green) and 12 weight 5006 (Light Turquiose).

Let’s Get Quilting!

Creating with Thimbelina and The Sewing Fairies felt like being part of a fairytale stitching circle, each print another little character with her own story to tell. The Charming One pattern provided just the right mix of structure and playfulness, letting these whimsical fabrics shine.

If you’re looking for a cheerful, beginner-friendly quilt that captures the magic of handmade, this pairing is one I’d absolutely recommend.

I hope this project provides a little inspiration to create your own quilt. For more sewing inspiration check out my other tutorials and quilt and bag patterns.

🧵 Happy quilting!
xo, Tamara @RemiVailStudio