5th Grade Quilt Revealed!

Here it is - a smaller version of the 5th Grade Quilt from the Precut Primer (affiliate link), my May Book of the Month choice.

My version features hand picked/hand cut 2 1/2" strips, and a very soft, buttery yellow background.

The initial 10 blocks were cut for chain piecing,

and assembled in around 3 hours. 

With the addition of big yellow background squares, I had a 44" x 44" quilt top in no time!

And the quilting - gorgeous! Using rulers and my freehand skills, the quilting design complements the geometric lines of the piecing beautifully.

A few more closeups.

I must admit I feel I didn't do the Precut Primer book (affiliate link) justice this month -

there are other 'grades' I'd like to be in. So look for this book to be featured again later in the year - when school will be back in session!!

Happy Quilting!

Precut Primer Quilt Update

With all of the quilts I'm making for blog hops, the Book of the Month quilt has been pushed aside. Well, no longer!

From the Precut Primer book (affiliate link), I've chosen to make a smaller, baby size version of the 5th Grade Quilt.

It's so cute how this book is organized, starting with a 1st Grade quilt, and working up to a 12th Grade quilt - graduation in a sense!

It's also fitting that the lower grade quilts are the easier ones with simple blocks, working to those in the upper grades with more detailed block structures. It's a fabulous way for a quilter to increase their skills - all in one book!

Now why did I choose 5th grade? Was it because of Mrs Sutton, who took me under her wing since falling behind at the one-room schoolhouse two years prior? Well, that's part of it. 

It's also because the quilt pattern looks fun and easily adaptable to a smaller size. So 5th Grade it is!

Now just because I don't have a jelly roll for this doesn't mean I can't strip my own fabric. Wanting to work with my hoarded stash of dots and stripes, I've put this collection together, along with a soft, buttery yellow background.

Not sure about that one pale blue stripe in the upper left corner - looks a bit boring compared to the others. I'll see how the others go, holding that one out till last.

See you later - I'm off to cut and sew!
Happy Quilting!

May 2018 Book of the Month

May has rolled around for a new Book of the Month selection. The honor goes to a book I've had on the desk for a couple months - the Precut Primer (affiliate link) from Me and My Sister Designs.

I will admit that my stash contains mostly fat quarters and charm squares in the way of precuts. Otherwise, it's yardage that occupies my space! But no one said I couldn't take that yardage and cut it up into precut sizes.

So, I'm curious: what precut do you favor, and why? Are you mad for fat quarters, jelly rolls, layer cakes, charm squares, or mini charms? Or are you like me, with a lot of yardage that can be cut up? I guess in the end, it's all fabric, but a precut sure makes for a fast project!


Happy Quilting!

Starting on the July Book of the Month

Well, it's better late than never! Yep, I'm finally getting a start on a July Book of the Month pattern, with this fetching fabric pull.

I must admit, I spent too many mornings on the internet last week, which really eats into sewing time. And here it is July 31 and I'm just now starting in on a pattern from Strip Savvy (affiliate link) by Kate Henderson. 

Strip Savvy

And me being me, I'm modifying the pattern to a baby quilt size, because there's always a need for those. So without further delay, I'm off to go cut and sew! See you tomorrow.

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July and August 2017 Book of the Month

It's the 1st of July, which means another choice for the Book of the Month feature! This one goes to Kate Henderson and her book, Strip Savvy (affiliate link).

For many months, I've contemplated cutting some of my stash into strips, to easily make quilts and make room for new fabric. That last part is probably the bigger reason - wink, wink! Seriously, we all love new fabric. But the older stuff needs to be used first. That's just the way I think.

Glancing through this book, there are numerous quilts that have caught my eye. So, I've gone ahead and made this my choice for both July and August. Plenty of time to work on at least one quilt!

It may be a week or two before I get a start as there a several projects to work on first: the patriotic project, the duck pinwheels, and a project for the Christmas in July blog hop. Busy, busy, busy!

Continue to have a great weekend - see you on Monday!

This post contains affiliate links. I only endorse items that I feel bring value to quilters, and may receive compensation for any purchase you make.

Book of the Month May 2016

Time for another Book of the Month selection! 

This month, I'm featuring 75 Fun Fat-Quarter Quilts, (affiliate link) containing 13 quilts with multiple variations. Totally fun due to all the options! It's going to be hard to choose, but I'm looking forward to getting started. Come join me!

April Book of the Month Update

Spring cleaning is underway, and the sewing room is no exception. Tired of my stash, and determined to use it up, I've been putting Perfect Quilts for Precut Fabrics, (affiliate link) to good use.

Two large quilts have already been completed, Roundabout,

and Nickel Bricks.

Now I've moved on to baby quilts, as hubby needs a few gifts. Digging through the stash and pulling out the nickel bin, I found enough fabric for this combo.

The resulting top is on the left.

A yard of fabric and 50 nickels gone! Ok, that's one for the girls, so had to make one for the boys. That's the middle one.  Another yard and 50 nickels gone!

The pattern, Aunt Bea,

was really easy to put together. Course, I made smaller borders because of fabric limitations. But that's okay.

And the last one in the photo, on the right,

is called Tiny Bits.

I skipped the square block borders, and just went for background fabric. Yet another easy pattern to put together.

Fabric is picked out for another top, 

just not sure which pattern I'll use. Gearing this one towards the girls. Guess I'll have to find something for the boys, just to keep it even.

So far, this book has been a big win. Lots of quilts to choose from for different fabric cuts, or cut your own. Win win! If you get a chance to acquire this book, I highly recommend it.

                                    
Have a great weekend quilting!

Book of the Month April 2016

Ok, I'm really going to try to be better about using my Book of the Month selection in my work this month. Last month was a lovely Next Steps in Machine Quilting (affiliate link), but none of the projects I worked on were suitable for the designs. So sad!

But this month, I'm starting fresh! I've got yardage and scraps to use up, so what better choice than Perfect Quilts for Precut Fabrics. (affiliate link)

Sixty four patterns for precuts should provide plenty of choices. Do I have precuts? Just that big box of nickels. But it doesn't mean I can't make my own precuts out of the yardage I have. Anything is possible!

Who else has precuts (or yardage!) to use up? Come join me!

Plain Jane Updates

Over the last two days I've finally gotten a chance to work on Plain Jane, a cute quilt from the book Smash Your Precut Stash. (affiliate link)

She's currently on the frame, and should be finished up soon. Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll get to work on the binding tonight! I only say that because life has been incredibly crazy lately - only getting tiny bits of time to quilt. Thirty minutes here, and 20 minutes there really dampens the creative flow!

Anyway, a bit about this quilt. When I first saw it,

the simplicity really struck me. Then on a trip to Joann's, I found this really pretty plaid, and a couple of coordinating Kona cottons.

And in my stash, I've had these pretty 2 1/2" squares set aside for something special. 

Perfect! Or so I thought. Turns out the pattern uses larger squares. Well, I didn't have bigger squares, and I didn't want a quilt that big. So I improvised. Making nine patches produced a size that was more of what I wanted. It also meant I couldn't faithfully follow the instructions. And being a bit lazy, I opted not to piece a bunch of strips for the upper half. A whole piece is a bit trickier, with some guesswork, but it worked.

The bottom half went together quickly.

Then life got in the way, and I couldn't finish it up until the next day. When I got to the side pieces, I wasn't happy with the plaid on the edge. I thought it made the little squares disappear.

Let's look at pink, 

then green.

I like pink the best - the green makes it look chopped up. Pink just makes a smoother flow to the design.

Adorable, isn't it? So don't be afraid to switch things up from a pattern. Do what works for you!

I'll post more about the quilting when it's all done. Until then, 
Happy Quilting!