Are you ready to quilt along?
Say hi to the February 2014 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting! Turn to page 55 for a scrappy quilt called “Tone it Down” designed by Lissa Alexander of Moda fabrics. If you’re a subscriber you should have the February issue in your mailbox by now. If you don’t subscribe, you can pick one up at your local retailer on December 3rd. Just look at this scrappy beauty! Don’t you love it?
Join me and 8 other bloggers, as we make this beautiful quilt over the next few months. Think of the fun as you watch all the different variations unfold. Better yet, you can make it right along with us! You’ll find tips galore throughout the weeks, and isn’t it more fun to sew with a large group? Here’s a link to all the participating bloggers:
Amy Ellis of Amy’s Creative Side
Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms
Jennifer Keltner of American Patchwork & Quilting
Kimberly Jolly of Fat Quarter Shop
Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings
Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life
So let’s get started!
Choosing fabric
Choosing fabric for a quilt can be challenging, but it’s also a really fun part of making a quilt. If you don’t know where to start try this: Start on the Moda website! I did! The first thing I did when I got to the home page was to click on the catalog link at the bottom of the page. You can browse through the most recent catalogs to see all the new fabrics coming your way! Page after page of new fabrics! Flip through these for inspiration and color ideas. If you find a fabric you love, click on the “downloads” link at the bottom of page, right next to “catalogs”. You’ll be able to download the fabric skus and save them to your computer for use in a design program such as Electric Quilt. Moda makes all of this available to you for free!
Click on the “download” link at the bottom of the page and find the fabric line you’d like to download.
Now it’s time for you to think about the fabric you want to use. Will you pull from your stash, or are you dreaming of one of the new Moda fabric lines? After looking through the catalogs, I fell in love with Plum Sweet by Blackbird Designs. I’m starting with a fat quarter bundle and adding to it as needed. (If you think you’ll like to make your quilt like mine, you can ask to be notified by the Fat Quarter Shop when they have Plum Sweet in stock.)
It’s the fabric that inspires me. I’m drawn to it like a moth to a light, and when I see some I like, I usually love the entire line. I love to work with fat quarter bundles. When you start with a single fabric line you know the fabrics have been designed to work together, and most bundles include light, medium, and dark fabrics. Plum Sweet is such a beautiful fabric line and it’s a treat for me to be able to play around with Lissa’s design. I’ll show you where I started next week and give you some tips on auditioning fabrics.
For this week, your job is to find the February, 2014 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting and choose some fabric that you think you’d like to use.
Hugs,
Anne
13 Comments
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Mary
Anne:
This sounds like a wonderful adventure for me! I don’t want to be a copy cat but I love Plume Sweet also. I have two 30’s quilt so this will be a nice change.
Thanks so much.
Mary
gloria g.
Yes. This is a beautiful quilt. I too plan to make this one. But it is driving me crazy that I can’t get the magazine yet……I love a irish chain quilt…….
gloria g. Hemingway, SC
Pauline
I’ll be picking up the magazine next week. I’ve been thinking about 2 fabric lines…Sunnyside by Kate Spain or Midwinter Reds by Minick and Simpson. I’ll check the fabric requirements and then decide. I’m looking forward to a fun quilt-along. Don’t forget to spoil Lily. Enjoy your time with family…making memories. xop
Jane Holbrook
A new blog to follow! And a new challenge. I have made lots of different quilt styles, but not a variation on an irish chain. I have some scrumptious Moda fabric from my aunt, who is a Moda rep. Can’t wait to get the magazine and start creating! Thanks, and happy sewing.
Charlene in SC
Looking forward to following along as a ‘hope to one day’ quilter!
Diane R.
I have been eagerly watching for my February edition of the magazine — as of today, not here yet. I am definitely going to make this quilt — what a fun project for the new year! Thanks, Anne — once again you inspire me!
Carol Walde
Excited!
Letty
How can I resist. If Mimi’sDarlins is in, I’m in! Plus – that’s a lovely quilt!
Linda
Love your fabric choice! Looking forward to seeing how you place the fabrics.
mimi'sdarlins
Wow, you’ve thought of everything to make this an easy QAL to join! I don’t have my Feb issue yet, but I’m sure I’ll get it soon. I’m dreaming about Moda’s Van du Jour line (3 Sisters), but will start sorting through my stash first. I love the fabrics you’ve chosen and can hardly wait to watch all the different quilts take shape. This quilt is so beautiful!
Miss Jean
I better run down to the mail box!!!!
modalissa
Anne,
I cant wait to see what you create! Thanks for quilting-along!