book review: little bits quilting bee by kathreen ricketson
November 9th, 2011
Kathreen Ricketson has come out with a phenomenal new quilting book called Little Bits Quilting Bee. All the quilts in the book are made out of charm squares, jelly rolls, layer cakes, and fat quarters. If you think I’m talking about delicious pastries you are not that far off. Although those are all names for packs of fabrics, sewers ooo and ahh over them like kids in a candy store. I know I have drooled over a jelly roll, but had no reason to buy such a delicacy.
The book is beautiful, the designs are young and graphic, and the directions are thorough. That is practically a given when you pair Kathreen + Chronicle books. But lets get to the fun bit: choosing fabrics. I picked a favorite quilt from each of the four categories in the book and then stood staring in front of the giant wall of fabric that is the internet.
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LAYER CAKE: pre-cut 10 in./25 cm squares that usually come in packs of 40
I think the sunny day mat is the perfect project to make for your best friend who is finally having a baby. I would love to do it mostly in navy and white (because she will of course know babies love looking at high contrast colors), then play around with some beautiful blue and white hand printed fabrics for the inner circle and all those prairie points!
- brushstrokes in teal
- blue jars fabric
- huts handprinted fabric
- organic cotton block printed fabric
- weave hand screenprinted fabric
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CHARM SQUARES: packs of pre-cut 5 in/12 cm squares
Cloud song is everyone’s favorite quilt from the book. Maybe because it’s gray and cold outside right now, but I think this quilt would be amazing with a blue/gray color scheme. Wouldn’t some liberty of london prints make a lovely sky? Look it there, they sell a charm square pack that is just perfect.
- blues for you fat quarter stack
- liberty of london muted palette charm squares
- kona shades of gray and charcoal scraps
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FAT QUARTERS: a quarter of a yard measuring about 18 x 22 in/46 x 56 cm
I love the Garnets and Gold quilt in the book mostly because I reminds me of my first quilt, but also because it’s so stinking cheery. Done in vintage floral sheets, you couldn’t help but be happy making it–and sleeping under it!
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JELLY ROLL: pre-cut 2 1/2 in/6cm strips of fabric cut selvage to selvage
I would love to tone down the rainbowness of this bold quilt with some muted, hand dyed fabric. Actually, while I was looking around the internet for fabrics I found it very difficult to find handmade fabrics made up into packs like this–jelly rolls were by far the hardest to find. If there are any screen printers or other fabric makers out there–here is your niche! Quilters are crazy for fabric. Cra. Zy. And I’m betting they would love make a quilt from your hand printed goodness.
As a little treat I have one book to giveaway! So leave something lovely in the comments and I’ll pick a winner tomorrow evening. Good luck! And follow along on the book tour to see more lovely quilts from Little Bits Quilting Bee.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED
Wednesday, November 9 – luvinthemommyhood & Elsie Marley
Thursday, November 10 – True Up
Friday, November 11 – House on Hill Road & CraftyPod
Monday, November 14 – Handmade by Alissa & Hello My Name Is Heather
Tuesday, November 15 – West Coast Crafty & Foxy Art Studio
Wednesday, November 16 – Patch Andi & The Last Piece
Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order & Duo Fiberworks
Friday, November 18 – Kristin La Flamme & Camp Follower Bags & Quilts
Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad
Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home
lovely quilts – that play mat is completely awesome!!
I’m with you: I love that Garnets and Gold pattern. Lovely! And I just happen to have hoarded an entire closet full of vintage sheets over the past year. As for new fabric, you picked out a gorgeous stack of blues there — those are my colors all the way (except for the jugs!). Thanks.
Wow. It looks like there is tons of inspiration in there! I have a couple jelly rolls that I’ve been hoarding for just the right project! :)
I love the idea of vintage sheets for the Garnets and Gold quilt. That is a beautiful pattern and this book looks like so much fun! I would love to start my quilting library with this book.
What a lovely book! I absolutely love that cloud song quilt!
Ooh that playmat pattern is the best!
Oh, dat Garnet and Gold quilt makes me very happy! I do love the hand dyed cotton jelly roll, AUTUMN too, though.
Looks like a fantastic book. I would love to enter the give-away.
Thank you!
It looks like a really fun book. Thanks for sharing!
I love your idea of doing those two quilts in a blue/white combo. There are endless possibilities with these quilts and precuts.
I’ve always wondered what to use those special cuts for to get the most out of them.
Well usually am not very impressed with pre-cut books, but this one looks like a must-have!! I especially love the one with the rain drops. It’s just lovely.
I really like that jelly roll quilt…thanks for the chance to win this book!
This book looks like it’s full of awesome projects. I’m loving the Sunny Day Mat! The quilts are the perfect eye candy. YumYum.
Thanks for the giveaway and a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
How beautiful is this book? I’m loving the great pictures. You can really see the projects and I like that. I’m new to quilting and would love to have this book. Thanks for a chance to win it.
missmoozie(at)gmail(dot)com
I come from a long line of quilters and am now getting the bug in my 30s. I am really drawn toward these modern patterns. Gorgeous!
These quilts are SO gorgeous! I love Cloud Song and the circle on on the front cover!
This book looks like terrific fun. I love your idea for the color palette for a clouds quilt, so peaceful and lovely. It would make a lovely gender-neutral baby quilt. Thanks for the idea!
Love these! Those quilts are absolutely gorgeous…love the rain one!
Sarah M
I’m LOVING the Layer Cake! I’ve been meaning to try my hand at quilting for awhile and would love the inspiration. Thanks for the opportunity!
I’m too loving the Garnet and Gold quilt. Have never tried to do a quilt, but this is really inspiering. Thanks for sharing!
What a fabulous book. I love every one of those quilts. So bright and cheerful. I will be following the blog tour to get some more peeks at the book.
I am new to the world of quilting, and love buying fabric, especially fat quarters and jelly rolls, even though I haven’t actually started a quilt…. which is why I need to win this book! :)
This book would give me a good reason to buy a jelly roll! I’ve never known quite what I would do with it.
I’ve never known what to do with the precut fabrics, but this book really makes me want to investigate! Beautiful designs.
I love vintage sheets and see them at thrift stores all the time… just never could think of what to do with them…. now I know! :-) Thanks so much for this wonderful giveaway!!! :-)