Saturday, November 19, 2011

Little Bits Quilting Bee Book Review

 Good Morning! How are you doing today? I hope you are good. I have another treat for you today! Would you like to have the chance to win a free copy of Little Bits Quilting Bee by Kathreen Ricketson? I bet you would! The only thing better than quilt book is a free quilt book, right? Well, read through my little review and then answer a question in my comment section and you may be the lucky person.

So, Kathreen's book is about how to make 20 Quilts using Charm Squares, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Fat Quarters. She has a bunch of other books available as well. Actually she is quite the media superstar with her blog Whipup. Each visit to that blog fills my mind with inspiration so I had very high hopes for this book.

 These items are also called "precuts". Well, I have quite a collection of precuts. I used to buy them when we were stationed in the Australian Outback and there was not a good quilting shop anywhere near by. So, when I would order these charm packs from online fabric stores it was like getting an entire quilt shop delivered right to my APO. It was a lot of pleasure for $8. I don't make quilts with them very often regrettably. They normally just lurk about my studio feeling sorry for themselves. Well, when Kathreen told me about her book I was quite excited. You may not know this about me, but I am a quilt book junkie. If you ever loose me in a book store, odds are I have wondered over to the quilt book section and am sitting on the floor surrounded with books.

 Chronicle Books pretty much always produces a superior book. They feel nice and the pictures are normally wonderful. Kathreen has a folder at the front with patterns and templates inside. A folder is great for keeping things organized. There are several templates that will need to be enlarged with a printer.

 The first part of Little Bits quilting bee is full of great community quilt projects that you can get involved with or be inspired to start your own. Everyone needs a quilt, you won't have to look far to find someone special to give one too. You can read about me on page 15. Me and my Bush Fire Quilt Project back from 2009. That was awesome. Many of you contributed to make that such a smashing success, and I thank you again! I signed my page for myself. I can sign your page too if you like. Just kidding, but I will if you want me to.

 The next part of the book is what tools you will need and the basics to quilting. It is quite informative and I like the little sketches.

 So, my favorite section of the book was the section on quilts to make with Layer Cakes. Layer Cakes are my favorite Precut and the quilts I have made in the past with precuts tend to involve Layer Cakes. I am just going to go ahead and tell you about the one thing I found irritating about this book. It was only one thing, but pretty big in my opinion. Several of the most interesting quilts do not have full pictures of the finished quilt (or any picture at all - the 65 roses Charity quilt on page 16 only has a black and white sketch). That drives me crazy. I love a causal shot of a quilt in use, but if I am actually going to use the pattern and make the quilt I want to see the whole thing first. Most of humanity are visual. I am a lazy reader, and sometimes I just want to look at pictures and figure out how to make the project on my own (dumb, I know).

 This is a quilt I would love to make. I could see it being used by everyone in my household. I love the simplicity of the design and it would be a fabulous beginner or just really quick quilt.

 I made a quilt top like this one yesterday. My friend came over to sew and and while she worked on her project I stitched this up in about 3 hours (the pictures are below).

 While I did follow the instructions on how to make the blocks, I did lay out my quilt differently. So there is really good inspiration in Little Bits Quilting Bee. Kathreen is a good writer, so she does not have to include many step by step pictures. And for me that is fine. You can refer back to her "how to" chapter for individual techniques.

 I liked that Kathreen had several applique patterns in the book. I really like applique, and I am so happy to see it becoming more popular with the Modern quilt movement.

This was another quilt I wanted to see more of, but it was just a tease. Maybe she has done that intentionally so we will not rest until we have made our own so we can see the whole shot. What do you think? Brilliant trick maybe.



 Her how to quilt section was great too. I do similar exercises before I quilt or teach a quilting class. We scribble out designs to get the feel for free motion quilting. It works great before sitting down in front of the sewing machine.

 So, here is my version of Prismatic (page 103). I made all the Half Square triangles, but I just arranged them differently. There is so much you can do with HST. And with such large blocks this quilt basically made itself.  I did not use the pinks in the collection because I didn't want to. I used a grey KonaModa (United Notions) last weekend and he said so.

Oh, the Layer cake I used to make this quilt is City Weekend by Oliver+S. I have been saving it for something special and as soon as I finish this blog post I will be loading it up onto my Long arm to quilt. I know just what I am going to do with it!

Overall this is a super book and it is sure to inspire you to slice into your charm packs, jelly rolls, layer cakes and Fat quarters rather than just having them sit around. If you don't win the book on this blog or another you should certainly go seek a copy for yourself.

OK...So you want this book and you live in the US, right?  It will be a great addition to your quilting library. Tell me below what was you very favorite charm pack or jelly roll and what you did with it. It is fine if you did nothing with it and just have in in  your sewing room. That totally counts! I will choose the winner on my Birthday Nov 23!

Tomorrow fabulous John of Quilt Dad will be reviewing it so you have lots of chances to win.

55 comments:

abi said...

so far, my favorite jelly roll quilt that i've made was this one for my dad using Moda Hamptons. I also have a Tula Pink Neptune layer cake that I've been saving for something special. I could use this book!

amanda said...

This looks AWESOME! I love that you REALLY reviewed it! I've only made one jelly roll quilt, it was a simple coin quilt with Neptune that I like! I only own one jelly roll but I have scads of charm packs, I like them for mini quilt & small projects. AND! I LOVE that applique is becoming popular too, it's one of my favorite things ever. Ok this comment is turning into a novel!!! haha! <3

Margaret said...

I have only used a charm pack once, and it was the Robert Kaufmann solids challenge. I would love to do more with charm packs and jelly rolls, and this book would be a big step in that direction.

Mom on the Move! said...

I too have a plethoria of precuts in my stash due to living five years in an APO! My favorite is one lonely charm pack of Neptune I bought years ago... before I knew you need several charm packs to make a decent sized quilt. By that time you could not find any more Neptune. Sigh. I will figure out what to do with it someday.

Mary Anne said...

My favorite quilt made from pre-cuts used a jelly roll of Pure (by Sweetwater). My KC MQG friend Alex (Teaginny Designs) had a pattern on Moda Bake Shop "Pure Baby Boy" and I just love it! I plan to make a girl version with a jelly roll of Sunkissed (Sweetwater...again!).

I like the scrappy look you can get with pre-cuts...without having too much fabric left over!

One last thing...I agree with Amanda - great book review!

Gwen said...

I have 3 charm packs of Late Bloomers by Sandy Gervais (Moda) and I love them SO much-- saving them until I choose the perfect project to use them on! :-) Maybe this book have that project? :) Thanks for the giveaway!

Allison C said...

I haven't used any pre-cuts yet, but I am looking forward to it! This book looks like great inspiration and I really love your zig zag quilt. I put the book on my wish list in case I don't win it.

Aliceart said...

I made my own jelly roll out of summer and ocean color batiks that I made into a rectangle and squares quilt top for my family room. Regrettably, it still needs to be quilting, but it's high on the list!

Lee said...

I have a little apples layer cake I want to use but have not yet.. This book looks wonderful! thanks for the reveiw and giveaway.

Brenis said...

LOL I tend to hoard my precuts, and just fawn over them, instead of putting them to good use! Silly, huh? My favorite? Probably was momo's wonderland. I did just make a quilt with a charm pack tho! I would love to be entered for this book! And LOVE your review - good n honest, thank you! :D

Brenis said...

LOL I tend to hoard my precuts, and just fawn over them instead of using them! Silly huh? My favorite was probably momo's wonderland charms, now long gone. And i DID just finish a quilt with a charm pack! Woot!
Thank you for the chance to win this great book, and for your great review!! I love honest reviews with lots of pictures! LOL! :D

Jo said...

As of today my fav pre cut is my Terrain and no I haven't used it I just kind of look at it still

Kristin L said...

Sorry, my name should have been removed from the list. I will not be posting a review on the tour.

Marilyn said...

Tia, I love the mental picture of you sitting on the floor surrounded by quilting books--I've done that myself and it's just the best, isn't it?! I saw this book at B&N a couple of weekends ago and cozied up with it for a while--couldn't let myself buy another quilting book though...I needed someone like you there to convince me that I needed it, lol!
I bought a jelly roll of KF blues once--used it for a doll quilt, a project bag and hexies. But I currently have a charm pack of Terrain that's just been sitting on my table for months--go figure!!

Karen said...

I think I need this book. I completely adore the charm pack Grand Finale and want like 10 more...I used my beloved pack for a disappearing 9 patch tablerunner...my neighbor has it right now. I should break in and get it back :)

Tamie said...

I want this book, I live in the US and it would be a great addition to my library. I have a charm pack of Bliss that is waiting to be put into a quilt- when I decide which one. This book could help.... Thanks for participating in the hop.

kathreen said...

Thank you for such an honest review of the book - and for contributing your story!

In regards to the photos - I too wish there were more pictures in the book - unfortunately this was completely out of my control - page space, budgets, photographers time and costs etc - all contributed to some of the quilts not getting as much air play as I would have liked - but I hope that you like what you do see.

warmly
Kathreen

SewLindaAnn said...

My favorite Layer Cake is Authentic, and I have not cut into it. I take it out from time to time and flip through all the fabrics because it's my favorite all time line. One day, I'll make something for me when I'm ready!

Raddness said...

Well I only have one jelly roll and some moda candy bars that I have yet to do anything with! I the candy bars will be something for my mom. The jelly roll is the very first precut I ever bought and it came with a pattern for a nice quilt. The fabrics are christmassy so I better get on it!

Thank you!

Jenny said...

i have 3 Summer In The City charm packs. i love the look of simple charm square quilts, so that is what i have in mind...im on the hunt for a few more pieces of this fabric though, since i dont think 3 charm packs is enough for a decent sized quilt!

Heather said...

My favorite is Summerhouse by Moda. I have a layer cake, jelly roll and charm pack as well as yardage and want to make a "Candied Hexagons" quilt but for now it is just sitting there!

JustPam said...

I have used charm packs for some of my quilts and then added more fabric from my stash. I used them for totes too, that were beautiful. I don't remember the names of them.

Paige said...

I have a layer cake of brightly colored batiks from Keepsake Quilting. I prewash all my fabric, so a layer cake is as small as I go.

MiChal said...

I made a rag quilt for my grandson out of the Animal Alphabet charm squares by Moda. Very cute.

The Army of Four said...

Thanks for the opportunity - looks like a very inspirational book!
I did my own version of a "Dancing Stars" quilt using a Half Moon Jelly Roll from Moda: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44272015@N00/5805317705/ . My husband dubbed it "Wind Farm". :) Love how it came out - now to put the other pre-cuts in my collection to use!
KZK

JuliePickles said...

I don't usually order charm packs and jelly rolls but I have on occasion and my favorite project was a quilt I made with a Fresh Flowers jelly roll. I followed the Postage Stamp Quilt Along at P.S. I Quilt and made a rainbow layout using that jelly roll. The result was so bright and cheerful and happy!

Unknown said...

Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas was my favorite charm pack. The little elves ice skating stole my heart. I have a stacked coins quilt that I made myself last Christmas.

I'm hoarding a layer cake... Contemplating just sewing the squares together so that I can love on it this year... Or I may save it for just the right pattern (which I haven't found just yet). Who knows?

Thanks for the chance to win. Looks like a most fabulous book!

Anonymous said...

I bought the jelly roll Adoring by Sandy Gervais (moda) because it had holly on the outside print and I loved it for a Christmas quilt that has not yet been made.
Beth

Nancy D. said...

I think the thing I like the most is making bags with charm bags. This book looks like lots of fun! Thanks for the review.

Unknown said...

I haven't used or bought any precuts yet but you have inspired me to get some. They are so cute all stacked up and cut! Thanks for the chance and have a wonderful birthday!!

Stephanie Ellis

brenda said...

what great ideas!

epban said...

Really enjoyed your review! I have a layer cake and jelly roll of Urban Chicks 1974 I am still "hoarding". Maybe this book would give me some inspiration to use them. Happy Birthday!

Marcia W. said...

I have a jelly roll of Late Bloomer by Sandy Gervais just waiting for a cool quilt design to surface and tempt me to use it - would be my first jelly quilt. Thanks for the chance. Happy B'Day.

Jenniffier said...

love jelly rolls and charm packs... shhh i have 2 Neptune charm packs hidding in my sewing room.

Jeannette said...

My favorite jellyroll is hello betty retro but i just aquired it so i haven't had a chance to use it yet. I really adore this book and hope i win! Thanks!

Rafael's Mum said...

Hi Tia, I'd love to win this, I really like the red cross quilt. If I do win, I'll pay you the postage (if that's ok). hugs and happy birthday for you!!

Laurel09 said...

I am a new quilter - I have made two quilts, but they each took me about a year to make! But I'm getting more hooked these days and am quilting more quickly and more productively. All of that is a long way to say that I just bought my first jelly roll - a pack of moda fabric in bright colors that I normally would not be attracted to. To be honest, I don't remember the name of it. I am thinking about making a quilt for a 3 year old little girl in my life with it, but haven't figured out just what design I can tackle with this precut. So... this book would be awsome!

Deb said...

My favorite is a Mary Englebrite charm pack that my daughter gave me....not sure of the name but it was Christmasy. i made a table runner that turned out great.

Rosemary said...

Although I will buy fabrics from the same line, I usually buy yards and not little pieces. When they are small like a charm pack 5 x 5 or even a jelly roll size, I am always afraid to cut into them in case I should be saving them for something better. Weird, I know.

I live in VA.

Jen said...

my favorite jelly roll is Arcadia by Senae. I still have it in my sewing drawers. i have yet to find a pattern that is a MUST for it. Maybe this book will help!!

babiesdoc said...

I should be embarrassed to say how many charm packs I have "lurking" in my sewing room

My favorite this week is a green tea balipop. I am going to make one of those bags with cotton cord, someday.

Poppyprint said...

First of all Tia, Happy Birthday!!!! I like your honest review. I will second your feelings that it drives me crazy not to have a full frontal view of the completed quilts. I absolutely can't stand that in magazines, books and even on blogs. I want to see the whole enchilada, and I want to know the quilt dimensions right below that picture.

My fav pre-cut was a Hunky Dory by MoMo jelly roll that I used for the FQly quilt-a-long Katy did last year.

Jennifer D said...

I've been a lurker for awhile and thought I'd say hello. :) I have used mostly pre-cut fabrics so far. I made a quilt for a friend of mine using a layer cake of Howard Marcus line of "Hope". I used the "Piece of cake" folded star tut on the Moda Bake Shop.
Thanks for the chance to win this awesome book!

Pat V. said...

My favorite layer cake (so far) was Berry Delicious from Moda. I used it for the blogger's Blockapalooza quilt along. Of course, there wasn't enough fabric to do it all, I had to scrounge up some extra, but I just love how my blocks came out!

Sherri I said...

Well, unfortunately? my favorite charm pack has been cutting my own from scraps I already have. I am currently working on a windmill quilt with them.

Happy early Birthday!

tba247(at)hotmail(dot)com

Becky (My Fabric Obsession) said...

My favorite jelly roll was my Central Park roll and I used it to make a postage stamp quilt. It's still one of my all time fav quilts!

Sallie said...

Moda's Colorplay! is my all-time favorite. I still haven't cut into it. Thanks for the giveaway! Happy Birthday!

ritainalaska said...

i'm just getting acquainted with precuts! i just made a jellyroll 1600 race quilt top from a bali pop [strawberry fields] roll and appliqued a couple of big white flowers and a flower bud and two big leaves on the lower left quarter of the top. i would live to win this copy of 'little bits quilting bee
thanx for the opportunity to do so!

NurseBrandy said...

I've made a few "1600 race" quilts using Bali-Pop strip sets. I love those! But there are TONS of jelly rolls that I'd love to have. I've currently loving on Arcadia by Senae & Sandy Gervais' Adoring - among others!

Lori Kay said...

my favorite pre-cut is the big stack of French General fat quarters that I got a few months ago. I haven't even taken the ribbon off yet - it's beautiful just as it is. Thanks for the giveaway - the book looks great.

Lori Kay said...

Hi Tia- my favorite pre-cut is my stack of French General fat quarters. It's beautiful as is - haven't untied the ribbon yet! Happy birthday - and thanks for the giveaway.

Pamela S said...

Happy Birthday Tia!! Thanks for the great review and giveaway ~ My fave precuts were Tula Pink's Nest line which I used in her double snowball quilt Moda pattern.

Jeanne Gwin said...

Happy Birthday, I hope it is wonderful and you got to do whatever you wanted to do. My favorite jelly roll/charmpack/layercake, etc... are all of them lurking in my sewing studio. I just can't pick a favorite but it might possibly be "Flurry" right now. thanks for the chance to win.

Shawna said...

This looks like a great book. I'm new to sewing so I don't have a big stash yet. I do have a charm pack of Ruby I'm going to make a table runner out of. Thanks for a chance to win. Happy Birthday!!

missmoozie(at)gmail(dot)com

Jodi - usairdoll said...

Ohhh hoping I can still make it. hehe. I'm loving the hop and finding out more about this great book. I have a Christmas jellyroll that I've been holding onto for like two years. I'm waiting for that special pattern.

Have a great Birthday!! Happy Holidays as well.

Thank you for the giveaway and a chance to win.

usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com

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