Day 11 of my 12 Days of Giveaways! I fell in love with Kathy Brown's Strip Smart Quilt II book, and asked my friends at Martingale about giving some away and of course they said YES, I love my friends publisher friends!
Kathy was on my radio show April 23, 2012, so if you missed that one CLICK HERE and listen to her talk about her quilts.
Let me tell you about this book. Kathy wrote her book using a speciality ruler. She also gives directions for using regular rulers. To be honest, I'm not one that has a lot of speciality rulers. And some look darn confusing.. and I truly wonder if they are useful. I trust Kathy. If she likes it, I know there is a reason.
I have the Book, My fabric, A beautiful neutral shade of Aurifil thread..
Let's begin shall we?
As I looked through Kathy's book this quilt stopped me... what is it about this quilt? I think it's the colors and how it's put together.. than I read the story and I was SOLD! This is the block I'll try!
Kathy tells us that this quilt is called 'The Mall' because her sweet husband will go shopping with her and her daughter and end up sitting in the middle of the mall waiting for them. I LOVE that.. good man she has!
I also love this quilt because it can use a jelly roll. I am in LOVE with Jelly rolls...
Now it is time for the scary part.. trying the ruler... let's go sew!
I took sets of 2.5" wide strips from my Bobbin's and Bits Fabric line and sewed them together and ironed them open.
Got out the ruler, read all of Kathy's directions in her book and took a deep breath
The first tip is to be sure you line up on the SOLID line.. not the dashed one. There are a lot of lines at the bottom so be sure you know which one to use.
The first cut was easy..
Then came the second cut into the odd ball circle. Was my rotary cutter going to do the job? Would it fit? The suspense was heavy here in my studio... let's see...
It did!! I was so excited I jiggled the camera!!!
Ta DA! Using the ruler you have three units at once.
Then I had to do the setting triangles for this design. I love Kathy's quilt with the tone on tone navy dot, I decided I'd see how this Moda basic black and white polka dot will look with my Bobbins and Bits.
I am OFFICIALLY a HUGE FAN of this ruler.. HUGE... I want to make a zillion quilts now...
What do you think? You know it's going to be a GREAT quilt when your heart skips a beat then starts to race..
And you CAN NOT get to the sewing machine fast enough!
The shipping Department arrived in my studio just as I got ready to sew this. I asked him if he would take a photo of me under the machine.
He said 'Ohhhhh.... kayyyyyyyy' in the oddest way.
Didn't he KNOW I meant I was going to put my fabric under the machine foot and SEW????
INSERT EYE ROLL (I was NOT going to lay under my machine... this is what happens when you talk to engineers... they are so logical and LITERAL.. and can NOT read your mind.. what's with that?)
And my block!! I can't tell you how excited I am about this.
Dare I start making a full quilt.. like NOW?? Kathy's directions are awesome, her stories for each quilt are wonderful and it's so much fun to make these blocks!
Starting a new project is my favorite thing in the world!
The wonderful people at Martingale have given me SETS of ALL of Kathy's
books to giveaway!
I have 2 sets of books, and 2 sets of digital books you could win
Do you Use specialty rulers? If so,what is your favorite?
comments close 12/30/14 at 8pm eastern
Winners have been emailed, they are
Susie Rose - Yes, I use specialty rulers. Asking me which one is my favorite is like asking which child you like better. Each ruler is perfect for the task at hand. My most used ruler is the Omnigrid 6.5" square ruler. I've already replaced it once and need to replace the one I'm currently using. I've worn the markings off. That's how much I've used it.
Angela Brady - I like the Easy Angle ruler for perfect half square triangles.
Deb - I'd love to have this ruler and books. I have the specialty sidekick ruler only. Your blocks are so nice Pat, the colours are brilliant. I should get out more.....
and Jeneta - I haven't actually used a specialty ruler to date! I enjoyed reading through your experience trying Kathy's block.
You can Buy the items at these links!
Moda Bobbins and Bits Prints Jelly Roll,
Creative Grids 90 Degree Double Strip Quilting Ruler
Strip-Smart Quilts II: Make 16 Triangle Quilts with One Easy Technique
Take 5 Fat Quarters: 15 Easy Quilt Patterns
post continues below ad
