Good news for those of you who wish to purchase Machine Quilting With Style on Amazon – it’s now back in stock on their site with plenty of additional copies on the way!
Square in a Square – The Background Story
The title of Square in a Square is my nod to tradition. Although I would consider this quilt very modern in design, the title comes from a very traditional block of the same name. I like the play on design – this quilt features several squares inside of bigger squares, all contained in one large, gigantic square.
Square in a Square 60″ x 60″ by Christa Watson. Photography by Brent Kane.
In addition to piecing a whole bunch of squares, I wanted to carry over the square theme into the machine quilting, too. The blocks are all quilted in a wonky square spiral, using a walking foot. I chose a variegated thread for the square spirals to give it a little extra punch of color.
Quilting Square Spirals is So. Much. Fun!!
The background is quilted using one of my favorite modern textures – boxes. In the book I remind my readers, that not all of the boxes are perfectly square. Crushed boxes happen in life and a few wonky ones on the quilt are okay.
Detail quilting on Square in a Square
A Bit More
Modern elements – asymmetrical alternate grid structure, oversized blocks, simple repetitive shapes, minimalism, bold colors, expansive negative space, modern geometric quilting.
Time to complete – 20 hours from start to finish.
Stacy’s Version – A Modern Halloween Quilt
Stacy Cooper from Farm Road Quilts is my original BQF (Best Quilting Friend). We met at a quilting retreat about 15 years ago and have been returning to the same event together year after year (Check out my recent Instagram feed @christaquilts for pictures from the event this weekend.) In fact, as a true friend, she let me “borrow” her quilt to cuddle up while sewing, when the retreat room got a bit chilly. (Another friend let me borrow her quilted sweatshirt jacket so I stayed nice and toasty while I sewed.)
Here’s a sneak peek of Stacy’s quilt in action!
Stacy created her version as a Halloween quilt. However, when you see it, at first glance, you wouldn’t even know it’s a holiday quilt! She threw in pops of turquoise along with gray, black and orange for a very sophisticated take on a whimsical idea.
Pop on over to Stacy’s blog to see her version, and be sure to enter her giveaway!
The Littlest Thistle (With a Big Heart)
Katy Cameron from the Littlest Thistle and I have yet to meet in person, although we are friends online. However, I hope we’ll get a chance to one day soon, because she’s from the UK which means I bet she’ll have a killer accent!! Not only is Katy a quilter and instructor, she’s also an amazing bag maker and is hosting a really cool event – the Sew Brit Bag Camp in rural England next year. Doesn’t that sound lovely?
Katy also has a big heart when she agreed to review my book on her blog. Head over there to see what she has to say and while you are there, check out her other projects. You just may be inspired!
But Wait, There’s More!
I’ve mentioned throughout the book how much I enjoy using Aurifil thread for both piecing and quilting, so I thought I’d throw in a bonus giveaway! One of you luck readers can win this collection of 10 spools of Angela Walter’s Drift colorway and try it out for yourself.
(Unless you’ve been quilting under a rock – I’m sure you know what an amazing machine quilter Angela is. Don’t be surprised if you hear more from both of us in the near future….)
To enter simply leave a comment on this post, letting me know which quilt has been your favorite so far. I’ll draw a random winner at the end of the day on September 26th – the last day of the hop! And yes, EVERYONE is eligible to win!
Click here for the complete blog hop schedule.
Click here purchase your autographed copy of Machine Quilting With Style.
Christa Quilts 
All of the quilts are absolutely beautiful, but my favorite is Pearl Gray. Thanks!
So far this one has been my favorite that has been shown so far, but I admit I peeked at the book and I had an absolute favorite, but it hasn’t been showcased yet. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway and a wonderful book.
I love blog hops for new books. I like seeing the different versions of each of the quilts, so fun!. I really like Pearl Grey. And a chance in a giveaway is always a sweet bonus. Thanks for the chance. dragonfly9716 at yahoo dot com
Loved making Square In a Square Christa! Lots of cutting but it went together so easily thanks to your clear instructions. Fun one to make!
And it’s a great favorite of everyone’s, too!
Love the Ripples quilt! But it was hard to choose! Thank you for the giveaway!
Love your blog!
I like “Little Man’s Fancy” the best- such an easy-to-make baby quilt!
So far colored crystals is my favorite, but I love the squares today.
HI, Candy Pop is my favorite! Thanks for the Hop and Giveaway!
My favourite quilt so far is Broken V. Beautiful!
It’s hard to choose one, your quilts are all fantastic. Perhaps Candy Pops just edges out the others so far. Love your quilting ideas and extra tips, too.
The hop has been great. Lots of beautiful quilts. My favourite so far is Broken V.
So far, Ripples has been my favorite! I love variations on log cabins.
Very hard to choose but I think it’s between candy pop & little man’s fancy! I’d love to win this thread!
I like the wonky box … good to be reminded that wonky works.
Modern Logs, of course. My first quilt. JCC.
Ripples is my favorite.
Angela is marvelous – what an inspiration! I’m really loving this Block in a Block quilt – the randomness of the color blocks is so neat. Your improv block quilting is my favorite and I’m looking forward to giving that a try. Thanks, Christa.
Broken v is my favourite so far
It’s been fun to see the different takes on your quilts on the hop. I especially like Linda/Flourishing Palms version of your Candy Pop. I’d love to add your book to our modern quilt guild library. Machine quilting is the one area we don’t have covered yet in our selections.
Square in a Square…and I’m so new to free motion quilting and w/my walking foot that I can do wonky anything and quilting square spirals I can try! Thanks for all the tips:)
Ripples is my next favorite.
It’s been tough narrowing the list done to just one favorite. So here’s the two tied for first place: Little Man Fancy (I’m making this for my niece’s baby boy due in November) and Broken V. Love how you’ve put your blog hop together and, of course, love all the quilts we’ve seen so far. Thanks! ktsquiltdreams (at)gmail (dot)com
having a hard time choosing – so far it is a toss between colored crystals and broken V – if one wished a two sided quilt, I would put these two together! I do make a lot of two sided quilts – I like to do one side with white background and the other in black or navy background – a day and night effect.
Pearl Gray is my favorite, so far! I also really like the Halloween version of Square in a Square. Thanks for the giveaway.
Love them all. Ripples on top og the list.
You know, all of your quilts have been super so pickings just one is tough. I’ve got it down to a tie between Little Man Fancy and Broken V. I’m thinking about Little Man for my niece’s first baby boy due in November. The way you’ve put this blog hop has been super – so much better than the usual. Thanks! ktsquiltdreams (at)gmail (dot)com
I love getting to “meet” new bloggers and I am having fun on this one as quilting things myself is my only option . Thank You!
I love how your wonky quilted boxes make your boxes look wonky. My fav so far.
I love the simplicity of Color Crystals! But wait! Broken V and Ripples are wonderful too! I’m enjoying this blog hop!
I love Candy Pop. It reminds me of Chinese lanterns strung up together. It is almost Mid Autumn Festival. This quilt is so appropriate for this festival. 🙂
Sandra@thebiasedge.wordpress.com
I love little man’s fancy. So cute and looks so doable!
Hi, enjoying the blog hop. Gives me something fun and colorful to start off my day. My favorite so far is Pearl Gray, but mostly I’m enjoying getting all the good ideas on machine quilting motifs. Amazon has finally shipped my book!
All of the quilts have been great but I was really drawn to Pearl Gray. Thanks!
I love Little Man’s Fancy.
My favourite is the Square in a Square. I can see it being made in fabrics from my stash.
Love your blog and would love to win Aurifil thread which I love
Candy Pop is my favorite, but I also love String of Pearls. You have shared so many great designs.
Hard to choose one that I really like over the other. But Crystals really has me all agog.
My favorite so far is Stacy’s version of your square in a square-her Modern Halloween Quilt! Of course, that may have something to do with Halloween being my favorite holiday too coupled with this modern quilt pattern. I just ordered your book from Amazon – thank you for notifying us that it is restocked there. I love FMQ on my sewing machines. Been using aurifil to piece and isacord to quilt but looking forward to trying aurifil to quilt when the book arrives. Love your blog!
So hard to choose! Maybe Pearl Gray??
Oh Christa, the SIS (Square In Square) quilt is awesome. I love the modern, beautiful colors, the offset-ness (I think I just made that up lol) and quilting… love it!!!
I hope to get a chance to meet YOU sometime. 🙂 I got to meet Angela at a guild meeting (horrible grammar) and she is … herself. Like you, she is effervescently delightful.
It’ a hard choice between the front or the back of your Color Crystals quilt….I love the bright colors on both pieces, and have to say I’m impressed with Ida’s version of the back!
I love the Square in a Square quilt. I love simplicity and the opportunity to do simple quilting and really make an elegant quilt. I am getting your book.
If I had to pick one, so far, ‘Pear Grey’ is my favorite! Really like this quilt and plan to make my own version of it.
I am really enjoying your take on Modern Quilts!
I’m enjoying this blog hop. I really like the colored crystals and pearl grey quilts.
Square in a Square is my favorite, because I think I can really do this quilting!
Thanks for the background story on all the quilts thus far.
I love Stacey’s Halloween quilt and the quilting pattern! Thanks!
Lovin’ the blog hop thus far! My favourites so far are the Ripples, Candy Pop and the Technicolor backing made by Ida.
I love the square in a square, and how you say sometimes there are crushed boxes in life and in the quilts.
Thank you for the chance to win this amazing thread collection.
jcraven1958@hotmail.com