Chickadees & Berries

If you've heard Silver Bells and Jingle Bells one too many times recently, Jackie Robinson's Chickadees & Berries line is for you. This soft and soothing collection whispers "winter," rather than shouting "Christmas." That means you can make a project with it and keep it out from late November through February. Such a breath of fresh air in the season of santas! Today we're showing Jackie's collection, as well as a quilt she made using it that was featured in American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. We asked Jackie to tell us about her latest line and her quilt. Tomorrow we'll be back with two additional projects featuring these sweet chickadees. 

Why chickadees?

It’s my dearest friend’s favorite thing—her license plate even says chickadee (with fewer letters). She married a rancher and lives 6 hours away from me, and we have trouble getting together sometimes. But she’s extremely fun, and I thought it would be fun to do chickadees.

Is this a holiday line?

It’s planned to not be just Christmas, but seasonal—more winter themed. You can use projects made from these fabrics all winter long.

What makes the palette unique?

What makes it different is the blue. It’s my favorite blue—a robin’s egg blue. It’s very soft and complementary—like a soft, light sky—and it goes well with the more traditional green and red. I sure do like it.

Tell us about the panel.

I didn’t want it to be a typical panel. I drew up the various shapes and wanted to fill them with a variety of motifs. I think it’s very useable. I used the panel in the block of the month quilt I designed (available on my website). It features the panel pieces chopped up (like in this quilt). There are just so many different ways to use the panel.

What’s your favorite fabric in the collection?

Of course I like all the blues, but I think it has to be the panel because of the bird in flight—it’s just fabulous. And the blue background makes me happy.

Anything else to share?
We are expanding the Chickadee collection for next year with My Little Chickadee! The add-on collection will include a split stripe, cut-able chickadees, a scroll and pinecones, and some more Christmas-y color options. Get a sneak peek here.

Here is the free quilt pattern, Chickadee Stars, using Jackie's collection:

Click here to find the Chickadee Stars free pattern on our website.

Jackie also designed Bird's Eye View using Chickadees & Berries, which was featured in the December 2015 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. 

As seen In American Patchwork & Quilting, Dec 2015 
Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.
©2015 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved. 

The panel pieces really stand out on the checked background.

I think the blue has such a sweet little country feel to it. I don’t do country much, but the checkerboard look was such a sweet, fun thing to do. It just translates into the quilt nicely.

How did the quilt come together?

I framed all the panel pieces and designed the quilt on a 1.5” grid, so the pieces fit together easily without a lot of math. It was part of my original thinking on the panel, to have pieces that worked together size-wise.

What do you like best about the quilt?

Besides all the blue, of course?! I do like the blue and white checked background. It really seems to be striking a chord with people.

Click here to see the entire Chickadees & Berries collection.
Click here to find the kit for Bird's-Eye View.
Click here to find American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.