Sure thing! I start by sketching a quick block diagram, like a tiny chessboard of squares, and jotting what pattern or story each block tells. Then I lay out the color palette on a small board—so I see how the tones will play against each other. I usually draw a rough placement on paper, marking where the bold blocks go and where the softer ones should fade, like setting the pieces before the game. After that, I gather all the fabric swatches and check that the sizes line up with the quilt’s final dimensions, so nothing trips up when I hit the sewing machine. It’s all about seeing the whole board before I even thread the needle.

That’s the trick—tiny swatches are my sanity check before the whole quilt shows up. I always lay a little patch out, stitch a bit, and see how the colors play on real fabric. If something feels off, I tweak the palette or the block layout right away. Keeps the final piece from feeling like a surprise move at the endgame.