Quilts, Banned Books, and My Monsters
October brings shorter days, crisp air, and sewing rooms that take on a spookier edge. It’s also Banned Books Month—a reminder that daring ideas don’t stay quiet. (Curious what titles are being banned right now? The American Library Association keeps an updated list.)
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the perfect example. At 18, she wrote a story so unsettling schools tried to ban it. Two centuries later, her creation still won’t die—and I can’t wait to see Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming movie version.
Quilters get it: we take fragments and turn them into something lasting. Shelley did the same with ideas and words.
This month, channel that energy. Go bold with your blocks, reach for the unexpected, and let your quilts echo the same message as every banned book: creativity refuses to be silenced.
Monsters, Muses, and Quilt Blocks
Looking for Halloween quilting patterns that combine creativity and fun? Don’t forget my two seasonal stars—Frank and Wifey. They are the perfect pair.
These quilt patterns channel the monster’s energy—dramatic shapes, modern lines, and the same fearless experimentation that made Shelley’s story timeless. Frank is your classic quilted ghoul just holdin’ it all together, while Wifey brings the fierce energy of the Bride. When you create Frank and Wifey, you’re not just making a “Frankenstein quilt”—you’re joining a long tradition of makers who transform scraps into something powerful, personal, and just a little bit rebellious.
Not just spooky—Also Seasonal
Of course, October isn’t only about monsters, and maybe you’ve moved on from Halloween. That’s great! Fall is here in full color, and both my Punkin and Harvest patterns—a “commando appliqué” pumpkin and basket of apples—brings warmth to the season. (Check out the video to see “commando appliqué” in action.) It’s perfect for apple-picking memories, cozy kitchen tables, and that energy that always seems to spark new projects.
And if your mind is already skipping ahead to November, the Thankful pattern will help you create something that keeps gratitude at the center of your sewing. Think of it as a reminder that even as the days get darker, there is still light to be found. Both are beautiful Fall quilting patterns you’ll want to keep in rotation year after year.
To "wrap" it up
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was once a banned book, but it’s still alive today because creativity has a way of finding its audience—even when others try to silence it. Quilting can be the same. Every stitch is an act of persistence, a declaration that our voices and visions matter.
This October, let’s celebrate banned books, monsters, and makers everywhere. Grab your copy of Frank, Wifey, Punkin, Harvest, or Thankful, and create your own version of what it means to be curious, creative, and unapologetically yourself.