About Dawn

Dawn

Welcome! I’m Dawn White: quiltmaker and teacher, sewing enthusiast, Scrabble nut, and the face behind First Light Designs.

I live in Portland, Oregon with my husband Charlie and our calico cat Princess Cordelia (Coco for short).

I hope you’ll visit often to see what I’m working on and dreaming about.

Click here to email me with questions about my patterns and projects.

 

26 Responses to About Dawn

  1. Anne says:

    Dawn your quilts are breathtaking! I am not sure which one I like best, but the back of your “Town” quilt is absolut special!! so is the back of “Rambling Rose”!
    What a super web site! Thank you!
    Anne

  2. barbie says:

    everything looks really good. my favorite is rambling rose. congratulations!
    your site is very professional. good job!

  3. Nancy Goldman says:

    Welcome to the blog world, Dawn! As usual your sewn objects are beautifully done….congrats!

  4. Billie says:

    Dawn….You are truly awesome!! Your designs are beautiful. I sure do miss our sewing times.

  5. Shirley Weissenfluh says:

    I don’t quilt, but you are a fantastic stepdaughter and have a great knowledge of the quilting world!!! I do enjoy reading your blog!! Hugs, Shirl

  6. Martha S says:

    HI Dawn,
    Just found your blog and its wonderful!!! Hooray for you!!! Makes me think about wanting to do one – soon!! I’ll be starting an Etsy store selling vintage collectables and vintage textile items, so I’ll keep you posted once its LIVE 🙂
    Hope all is well – miss visiting with you and Vickie. Best wishes and BIG hugs,
    Martha

  7. Nubs says:

    From your twin sister, who is the happy beneficiary of many of your wonderful designs, you must know – YOU ARE THE BEST!

  8. Cecile Mitchell says:

    Your designs are gorgeous. You are so talented.

  9. lyn tackabury says:

    i am looking for a quilt pattern of a quilt that was at the biggest outdoor quilt show in the world it is blue and white with a lot of curving flying geese with a great big medallion star in the middle of the quilt

    • Dawn says:

      Lyn, the pattern you are looking for is “Glacier Star” by Judy Niemeyer. Pam Nichols of Powell Butte, Oregon made a version that was displayed at the 2013 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. If you click on this link, https://firstlightdesigns.com/?p=3712, it will take you to my blog post where Pam’s beautiful quilt is pictured. If you google “glacier star judy niemeyer,” you will see several examples of her design and also see links to quilt shops that carry her patterns.

      • Eddie says:

        Wow I just saw this. My mother wrote this years ago. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2017. She was amazing, and loved to quilt. We all miss her .

  10. Jackie Davis says:

    Do you have a pattern for the “Billie Bag”

    Thank you

    Jackie Davis{ U.K]

    • Dawn says:

      Hi, Jackie. No, there is no pattern for the Billie Bag. The designer of the tote, Billie Mahorney, never wanted to write a pattern. After teaching her design for the first time, I can understand! It would take many pages and lots of illustrations and photos to accurately convey the steps involved. I’m sorry to disappoint you. Best wishes. — Dawn (firstlightdesigns.com)

  11. Gail Bury says:

    Hi Dawn
    I saw your Reach for the Stars pattern on Pinterest and am very taken with it. How do I go about ordering a pattern? It’s quite beautiful – as is all of your work!

    Thanks!

    • Dawn says:

      Thanks for your kind words, Gail! Directions for Reach for the Stars appeared in seven consecutive issues of Quilters Newsletter Magazine, starting with the Oct/Nov 2013 issue and ending with the Oct/Nov 2014 issue. The magazine is no longer being published. I’ve been suggesting to others who have written that they might contact their local quilt guilds to see if any members have complete sets of QN magazine they are willing to loan or sell. One quilter I know was able to find the issues at her local library and copied the pages she needed (about 50 pages total from seven issues). Good luck!!

  12. Sue Bergstrom says:

    My goodness!!! You have been so busy and productive since I last saw you!! All your designs are wonderful and so well described! I am thrilled to be back in the area and to reconnect!! I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. Now I know who to call when I need quilting or sewing advice. Well done, Dawn!

  13. Liz Bourque says:

    Dawn, I saw a wonderful quilt exhibit in Jerusalem a few weeks ago. I will forward photos to you when I have time to catch up.

  14. Pat Ogle says:

    I completed Billy‘s bag some years ago and now I’m looking for the pattern that she had for Timberline which is strip pieced tree Quilt and wondering if there’s anyway to reach her to be able to purchase that pattern if you have any way to help me out on that I’d appreciate it Pat Ogle TLC closing Sherwood Oregon 6/20/19 [email protected] TLC Quilting Service

  15. Chalamet says:

    Dawn !
    I am a forever fan of your work ! First time ever on your blog and all your work is simply impressive . Your sister is right You Are the Best but it sounds better in French
    Tu es la meilleure !!!
    Eric Chalamet

  16. Dear Husband says:

    Watching the creativity as an occupant of the Portland White House is a treasured experience.

  17. Peggy Moran says:

    I’m desperate to connect with the pattern referenced in “Toile Story”. I see it was based on Alex Anderson’s pattern “Checkerboard Square” but have been unable to find a link that will get me to the actual pattern. Can you help?

  18. Michelle says:

    I’m glad I found your site. I was looking for ideas for some beautiful Toile fabric and happened across your Toile Story ( I love the play on words). And then I traversed your more recent designs and found some kitchen decor that mirrored what I was envisioning for some fruit prints I want to put into a table runner. I like the way you think and I’m so thrilled to be further inspired by you! Thank you for sharing the creativity!

    Michelle “Chelle’s Stitchin'”

  19. Debbie Klinedinst says:

    Dawn, I just found the single fold binding tutorial. It is great! The pictures showed exactly what you need to see to execute each step! My binding turned out perfectly! Thank you. I am excited to try some of your other tutorials as well.

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