Sunnyside Drive: A Row-by-Row Quilt Pattern Inspired by the Phoenix Shop Hop

Sunnyside Drive: A Row-by-Row Quilt Pattern Inspired by the Phoenix Shop Hop

A pattern created in partnership with Phoenix-area quilt shops for the 2024 Shop Hop!

Some quilt patterns begin with a sketchbook. Others begin with a stack of fabric you just have to use. But this quilt started with community.

You can pick up your Sunnyside Drive Quilt Pattern here.

Sunnyside Drive is more than just a quilt pattern—it's a celebration of local shops, creative collaboration, and the joy of discovering something beautiful just around the corner. I had the honor of partnering with several Phoenix-area quilt shops for the 2024 Shop Hop to bring this pattern to life, and let me tell you: it’s one of my most unique designs.

A Quilt That Travels With You

When I first began dreaming up Sunnyside Drive, I wanted the name to reflect the spirit of the event—a road trip of sorts through Phoenix’s quilting scene. This wasn’t just about sewing; it was about wandering, exploring, and showing up to support the creatives behind each local quilt shop. Whether you visited one shop or made it to all nine, the pattern was designed to make every stop along the way feel like a part of something bigger.

What Inspired the Sunnyside Drive Quilt?

The idea for a row-by-row quilt came from my local quilt shop owner (who has always been a huge supporter of Nollie Bean—thank you!!). She reached out with a simple ask: could I mock up a pattern that would represent each participating quit shop as a distinct row? 

Designing Sunnyside Drive meant working within a very specific framework—each row needed to be a different design but exactly the same width. That meant a little creative math (okay, a lot), many cups of coffee, and plenty of back-and-forth to get it just right. But the end result? Nine rows that flow together seamlessly, while still letting each shop’s personality shine through.

What Makes Sunnyside Drive Special?

It's a Row-by-Row Quilt Pattern Designed for Creativity

This quilt is unlike anything else in my pattern shop. Because of its row-by-row construction, it’s incredibly flexible. Want to make the full quilt? Go for it!  Just want to use one or two rows for a wall hanging or table runner? Totally doable. Want to grab a single block and turn it into a pillow? Yes, please!

Skills You’ll Practice (And Why That’s Great!)

The techniques in the pattern vary from beginner-friendly to intermediate. You’ll find:

• Half-square triangles
• Flying geese
• Even a row with gentle curves (a great intro if you’ve never tried them before!)
  

Sunnyside Drive is a great “sampler” style quilt for anyone who wants to stretch their skills or just try something new.

Fabric & Fun

Because each shop made its own version of the quilt, no two samples look the same—which I absolutely love. Some shops used coordinated collections while others leaned into mix-and-match charm. There’s no “right” way to approach Sunnyside Drive. In fact, that’s what makes it such a fun creative playground. You get to infuse it with your own personality, mood, and color preferences.

Pro tip: Before you start, spend a little time thinking through your fabrics. Maybe you want each row to have its own palette. Or maybe you want the whole thing to feel cohesive with a single background color. However you approach it, my best advice is to chunk it out—take it row by row, and give yourself permission to enjoy the process.

Shop Hopping in Real Life

During the Shop Hop, each participating shop handed out their row’s instructions. You had to visit all of them to collect the full pattern—and I did just that! I hopped in the car with my step-mom and cousin, and we made a day of it (a long day of it - next year we’ll be making two days of it. LOL!). 

Highlights from the Phoenix Shop Hop

There was fabric shopping, food, and a surprise (my cousin had no idea I designed the pattern!), and so many sweet conversations with shop owners and fellow quilters.

I tried to fly under the radar, but if a shop recognized me, they’d kindly introduce me to others. It was such a warm, supportive vibe—the kind that makes you remember why you fell in love with quilting in the first place.

Sunnyside Vibes Only

If I had to sum up the Sunnyside Drive quilt in one word, it would be joy. This project stretched me creatively and mathematically.  It reminded me of how connected our quilting community really is, and how inspiring it can be to create something together.

I hope this pattern brings you as much joy as it brought me to design it.

So whether you make the whole quilt or just a few rows, make it yours. Play. Experiment. Try something new. And remember: quilting is supposed to be fun.

Grab Your Copy of Sunnyside Drive

You can now purchase the full Sunnyside Drive pattern in my shop or visit your favorite Phoenix-area quilt shop to see if they have a printed version available.

Are you local or visting Phoenix?  Check out my Quilter’s Guide to Phoenix for a full list of the participating quilt shops.

And if you make a Sunnyside Drive Quilt, please share it with me! Tag me on Instagram or reply to one of my newsletters—I genuinely love seeing what you create.

Here’s to more sunshine, more sewing, and more quilts that tell a story. ☀️

Watch the companion video on YouTube!