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
I need a copy of this book. Great projects!
Beautiful colours, looks like a fabulous book
I love this concept and would love to make something from the book even though I have no shortage of fabric leftover from other projects that I probably should be using.
What’s not to like in this book? Everything I’ve seen so far is fabulous! Thank you for the chance to win one. If I don’t win, it is definitely going on my Christmas “wish list”.
My daughter has already requested this book for Christmas. Hmmmmm…think I had better order one for MYSELF, too!!! I have a charm pack I want to use. Can’t wait to be inspried by this book.
I am just now learning to make quilts. I would LOVE to have this book to base my first quilt on. I absolutely adore the colors and fabric of the 5th picture down on your website. In fact, I now have the fabric in my shopping cart on etsy- thanks so much for providing the link!
What a beautiful book! Thank you for the rundown on jelly rolls and all. I’m just getting into quilting and have been curious.
book looks like a good one . linda gerig
Yep, I’m a quilter and I drool over pre-cuts, but often I’m not totally sure what to do with them. What if you buy a charm pack and then discover there’s not enough of something??? This book looks like a great source of ideas and inspiration, and a great excuse to buy more fabric. Thanks for the chance to win!
The quilts you highlight from the book are all so darling! I have several projects in the works (holiday gifts) that are just looking for some sweet pattern inspiration like those.
I love the quilts. So fun! The book looks wonderful.
Love your fabric ideas for this very inspirational book. Living in the Pacific Northwest, greys and blues look perfect for the cloudy quilt. I got some grey, yellow and light turquoise palette fat quarters at Liberty of London when I was in London on a business trip recently. I think a grey sky quilt is in my future. Thanks for your inspiration.
I don’t have many quilting books and that one looks like a lovely one to add to my small collection
hey meg, i was thinking of offering jelly rolls with my new handprinted fabrics! but then i considered how long it would take me to cut them all into strips… and how all the strips would have to be pretty much *perfectly* 2.5″ wide to meet quilters’ standards… and how much i would have to charge for said perfectly cut jelly roll… and i got a bit too scared. but maybe someday i’ll get brave enough to try it : )
ooooh, ahhhhh and sighhhhh! Those are some of the loveliest modern quilting projects I’ve seen in yonks. And loving your dreamy fabric combos. I’m in, I’m in!
I would lurve a cipy of this book, I sure hope you’ll post to Oz if I win it!
Love them. I want to start quilting.
I love the way you went about this review, although I’m surprised you even got around to writing it with that book in your hands and the whole “staring in front of the giant wall of fabric that is the internet”! and yes, the cloud song quilt is my favourite!
I like the Garnets and Gold quilt – I am a newbie – but hopefully someday a quilt like this will come out of me :)
What a great book!
This book looks great!
IT IS SO STINKING CUTE! i just can’t stand it! the quilts are lovely, but i am really drawn to her wonderful color combos. i must add this book to my library :)
Looks like a great book. I enjoyed your perspective with the fabric selections you thought of. Thanks for the chance. Jane
The colors alone make me want this book! It looks so lovely.
This book looks amazing! I am definitely wanting to try the quilt done in Good Folks – I have a stack of Denyse Schmidt that is definitely up for the occassion! Simply gorgeous!
I am a Canadian but have some American cousins who live in Madison and did my Master’s degree in Baraboo. I have loved my visits there – I could use some frozen custard right now, yum!