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
That Sunny Days play mat is too adorable! I’m a big fan of pre-cut bundles, what better way to get all the prettiness from a fabric line you love, so thank you for the heads up on this book!
omg! so beautiful!
Beautiful quilts, always nice to see things you could make with all the lovely precuts you come across!
wow, what a great book. i really love the cloud song quilt.
Looks like a great book for a newer quilting generation! Can’t wait to see it in person!
I have really been wanting to do more quilting and this would give me the perfect opportunity to get started. Such great ideas! And I love the colors.
The nicest quilting book I’ve seen in a while.
Fat quarters are the only pre-cut from which I’ve made a quilt. I have some jellies and charms so this would be a great book to win and use. Garnet and Gold would be a perfect quilt for my sister whose college colors are garnet and gold. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book, and for the informative book review.
Very nice! I love the idea of using vintage sheets for the Garnets and Gold quilt, I have a stash that I’m really not sure what to do with, and now I’m looking at that quilt on the cover of the book in that light too…hmmm… Thanks for the ideas and the chance to win!
Gorgeous! Beautiful quilts, just the right style. Thanks for the chance to win!
I hope I win! This would be a great present for moi for Christmas!
WOW. I just love all I’m seeing about this book. The Garnets and Gold quilt is gorgeous. Such beautiful colors in that.
I really love the raindrops & clouds quilt – so cute!
I absolutely adore the rainbow quilt! Wow.
I’m always drawn to these nicely bundled bits of fabric, buy them and then wonder what to do with them other than to admire them. This would be a good start!
I love the mat.
Ann
Such lovely quilts! This would be such a great book for some holiday gifts! thanks!
I LOVE receiving your blog entries in my inbox! Thanks for the awesome review on this book. I am sort of new to sewing (it’s been about 3 months now) but I have always wanted to make a quilt. The Sunny Days Mat would be fun to make for my son. Your fabric selections are great — thanks for the suggestions and links to find them!
I have to say that I agree with you. Some delicious hand dyed fabric would be just divine in that quilt.
What a divine looking book! I would so love to win it and it might just be the thing to get me actually using my many vintage sheets and pillowcases instead of just admiring and fondling them! (also a great excuse to keep scouring my local markets for MORE!)
Thank u for the opportunity to win!
Look forward to seeing something u make from this book ‘Elsie Marley’ xxb
wow, thanks for the review-i can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
thanks for the chance.
oh my goodness, do I love that sunny day play mat! It’s adorable.
i love that sweet little play mat!
Ooh, all of those quilts are so lovely. Beautiful book.
oh my!! this book would inspire me to no end…