Welcome to week 1 of a new blog series called Piece and Quilt Hop Along. I am once again joining my friends HollyAnne and Vicki to quilt along in Christa Watson’s new book Piece and Quilt with Precuts.
Christa has done it again designing fast, easy, and beautiful quilts with precut fabrics (did I say fast?!). And instead of the standard “Quilt as desired” line at the end of the pattern–of course Christa walks you through how to quilt it as well. She includes 18 quilting designs, both walking foot as well as free motion motifs, so you are free to mix and match to your heart’s desire.
Vicki, HollyAnne and I are each going to do our own thing with this hop–so make sure you check out each of the posts for the different perspectives. I am going to quilt my way through two (count ’em, two!) quilts over the next five weeks, as well as practice some different quilting motifs that Christa provides along the way. I learned so much and gained so much confidence quilting my way through Christa’s other book the Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting. I’m really looking forward to continuing to polish my machine quilting skills, and learn some new motifs.
Squiggles Quilt
For my first quilt, I chose Squiggles. Here is Christa’s version:
I love the simplicity yet striking graphic quality of this quilt design. And boy, am I a sucker for a charm pack quilt! I chose the new Creekside line from Moda for my version–I absolutely fell in love with this line while making this quilt. The simplicity of the design means lots of chain piecing, which is my happy place. Though I used charm packs for the main fabrics, I did cut the background fabrics and finally got around to using my June Tailor Shape Cut ruler and OH MY! It makes cutting strips so fast and easy!
I don’t think I’ve mentioned it, but I ended up buying a Juki TL-2200qvp mini sewing machine (review to come soon!) to give myself a better domestic machine quilting experience. And it turns out that I love it for piecing as well as quilting. I’ve put my Babylock away for awhile as I get to know this machine, and so far I am loving it! There is so much room to sew. And I love the simplicity of this straight stitch machine. No bells or whistles, but that suits me just fine.
Squiggles was quick, simple piecing and sewing rows together. Easy peasy and so much fun! Don’t you just love this fabric line?
Quilting Practice
Christa quilts this particular quilt with an organic curves motif–which I have been dying to use on an actual quilt, so I did a bit of practice to get ready for it. It is a simple walking foot design that is so fun to do–you can really get into the zen of it. I love the quality of stitches that I get with my new Juki–something I was struggling with on my last machine.
I also wanted to practice some free motion designs, so first up was a jagged stipple design.
I didn’t think I would like to quilt this design–but it was fun, easy, and I ended up loving the way it looks! I actually think it is easier than a standard meander design.
Next up was a design that I avoided for ten weeks during the Machine Quilting Blog Hop: Ribbon Candy. This design intimidates me so much! I have spent literally hours doodling this design in meetings to try to get the muscle memory down for it. I think I want to use it on an upcoming quilt, so I want to practice it every week.
I have to say that it looks better in the pictures than it does in real life (is there a lesson there?). But I will continue to work on it. I actually find that getting it started is the hardest part, then you sort of get into the rhythm of it . I find it challenging to fill the entire vertical space with it, so that is another aspect to work on.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of Piece and Quilt with Precuts, pick your favorite quilt and sew along with us for the next five weeks! Use the hastag #pieceandquilthopalong on Instagram to share your work. We’d love to see it!