I’ve been having a great time recoloring all of the quilts from my book Machine Quilting with Style. I hope you’ve been getting inspired by all the possibilities. 🙂
This week, I’m sharing about Broken V. First, here’s the original – a simple modern design made from half-square triangles. I love how the solids really show off the machine quilting, but it would look just as fabulous in prints!
Broken V 60″ x 70″ by Christa Watson. Photography by Brent Kane for Martingale.
Broken V Re-imagined
First of all, I thought it would be fun to change out the background to a dark navy while still pairing it up with bold solids:
I design all of my quilts using Electric Quilt Software.
For the next re-coloring, I thought it would be fun to use Cozy Christmas prints from Lori Holt for a completely different look, perfect for the upcoming holidays:
Click here to purchase Cozy Christmas precut bundles by Lori Holt.
Celebration Giveaway
Each week along with sharing new versions of each quilt, I’m also hosting a giveaway. It’s like a 12 week-long birthday party, celebrating the joy that writing this book has brought into my life after just a year in print!
Last time Jean K. and Lillian K each won a four pack of my quilt patterns. This week I’m going to send one lucky winner a copy of The Quilter’s Planner, produced by my friend Stephanie Palmer of Late Night Quilter.
I was excited to have my Feathered Chevrons quilt included along with 13 other fabulous projects shown below.
And if that wasn’t exciting enough, Stephanie is also throwing in a fun bundle of Blueberry Park fabric for another lucky winner.
How to Enter
Just leave a comment below letting me know how you usually plan out your days. Do you use a paper planner? A digital tool? The back of your hand??? 🙂
I’ll pick 2 US winners next Friday when I reveal the next recolored quilt!
More Inspiration & Where to Buy
My book was published on my daughter’s birthday last year, so she got the first copy!
- Click here to see the rest of the quilts from the book, along with more optional colorways made by my friends!
- Click here to pick up a signed copy of Machine Quilting with Style.
Christa Quilts 
I’m a paper planner girl mostly, with a little help from Google calendar for recurring events. 🙂
I have a notebook that I jot down some thoughts and plans but I am really in need of some organization! The Quilter’s Planner looks great!
I use a paper planner, but I’m really bad about using it for much more than appointments – for planning my day I usually use a to-do list written on a stray piece of paper, and hope that I can keep track of it throughout the day. Obviously my system needs some improvement!!
Hi Christa! I am enjoying these remakes! Before I retired I kept a tight schedule, syncing between computer and smart phone daily. BUT I was doing very little of the quilting I love. Now I tend to just go with the flow, sewing more days than not, and enjoying myself immensely! I have opened a small Etsy shop recently though so I need to start planning my time better. Thanks for the giveaway! I have been drooling over Blueberry Park since it first came out! cotten.gloria@gmail.com
I, too, am retired. So, I no longer need to carefully plan out how to spend the hours of my days. But my husband can usually find me in my sewing cave at some point everyday. If only that room was a dedicated sewing room!! Then I could have some better organization!
I don’t plan, I try to get in at least an hour a day at my sewing machine. My day depends on how bad my pain is that day. One hour I can do, anything else is gravy!
I use a combo of paper and electronic for planning my day. It would be great to win a planner. I really appreciate your blogs. Thanks!
I plan my time on an Excel spreadsheet. I couldn’t find a day timer that would handle everything I wanted to keep track of, so I built a spreadsheet that shows me the next few weeks, with every appointment entered, every project on the go (with deadlines) and every bit of housework that needs preplanned for special events. This time of year it is focused on sewing Christmas presents now, and housework in a week or two.
I am a list maker, i love to make the list and find great satisfaction in crossing things off my list once i am done 🙂
I usually plan it in my head the night before. Sometimes there are notes on the back of my hand and sometimes I leave a big note for myself on the kitchen counter. It’s definitely not the most effeicient way to stay organized😂
I like to jot down some chores or goals in a notebook before bed each evening – I don’t always get it done, but my days go much better when I do a little preplanning. Thank you for your generosity and that of your quilting friends with these giveaways.
I don’t have a routine and really need to get into one. I think making a list would be a great way to start. I do use outlook for work and this is helpful.
I plan my day on paper, but it is 5 x 7 notebook paper. Would like to try a planner specific to the quilter. And, I love following your recolorings of your quilts.
I keep a few projects laying out and do the one I feel in the mood to do, gives me a choice, thanks
I usually keep it all up in my head–but sometimes things get lost up there! A planner would hopefully help!
I usually plan out my day in my head right before I go to bed. Not that I always stick with it, but mostly I do.
Plan out my day!!! Haha. I always start with a basic plan, but only by writing it down – in simple titles, no details. Without this outline nothing would get finished. And even with it, with a husband, 3 cats, a quilting business and other time commitments it is questionable, but at least it gives me a starting point for the next. Oh, did I mention, we are remodeling so I need to get back to painting trim. Love all you do Christa.
Since I have been retired, it seems my time is no longer my own. Someone is always wanting me to do something. I would love to be able to plan my day so I can get some organized quilting done.
I used a paper planner from In the Leafy Treetops last year. They are such a bargain, and have some great features, but I’m kinda dying to get my hands on the quilter’s planner!
I already have the planner! I do the “Artist’s Way” AM pages & sort of plan that way- write stuff down on a calendar- appts. And then just wing it. Very fun seeing all the colorways you are coming up with. Would love to win the fabric…
Hi, Christa! Love your color variations…very inspiring! I use Outlook calendar on my phone, desktop & tablet for scheduled events & appointments, then, like Beth MC, seat of my pants for the rest. I do, however, have to have a paper/pen list for groceries & other shopping lists – or I’ll forget why I went to the store in the first place! 🙂
I start with email and then try to make a list of my projects in order to figure which one to start with.
I like to set goals for the week using a journal format. Somedays seem full of interruptions while others are full of sewing and knitting.
I am retired-I keep a planner to remind me when my bills are due, and write appointments on my wall calendar. My projects I keep in 3-ring binders, with clear envelopes and pockets-each a different color. I work on what my mood dictates or if I have a deadline! Thank you, Susan
I love your book and refer to it continuously.. Thank you Christa!
I love your whonky dresdens by the way. You really took them to a new level!!
My planning is usually done in my head. Unless I end to eon time for appointment.
I like seeing the holiday prints and that background fabric feels like snow, I’m a sucker for all holiday fabrics! I plan my quilting projects and days with lists. I just keep a list in a Google sheet, then when I finish things I date them so it acts as a finished record of my makes! It is simplistic but keeps me organized.
I have a daytimer at work for booking clients, and I use my electronic calendar for personal appointments. I’ve been thinking about organizing myself with a planner, in order to pace my quilt projects better. For instance, every year, I tell myself that I’m going to start making quilty gifts for next Christmas beginning in January, but never actually start working on any until November… 😳
Depending on the busyness of my day, I usually keep a mental list or write a paper list. My backup is my phone calendar.
I write a blog post once a week listing what I plan to accomplish for the next 7 days. I also have a spread sheet of the quilts I’ve got in some process or another. I’m a list person. Things just get forgotten if I don’t have a list! The Quilter’s Planner sure looks like a pretty way to manage all the quilty works in progress! Congrats on having one of your quilts published within!
I’m retired too, and I never was very good at using paper planners or online calendars. I write lots of notes only old reply envelops saved from junk mail. Not very organized, but my time is pretty much my own now.
I use portals and methods of all sorts because, heavend help me, I am slowly losing my mind each year. I use my phone (with alerts!) post its on my bathroom mirror, on the calendar on the refrigerator and on my calendar in my sewing studio and I have notes stashed here and there. My husband keeps asking why i dont just get a planner like i used to have, i slapped fabric in it, notes coordinating with the fabric and in the back i wrote appointments. Why dont I do that?? I never remember to do it. I have Lupus, and I always blame jt on my lupus fog i get. And age. Lol.
I doesn’t matter what I use, if someone in the household sees that I have spare time, they find something for me to do!!
My iPad & phone have daily commitments but I write a weekly schedule on Sunday for a more detailed list of “to-do” items.
Always use a paper planner and daily lists! This book would be wonderful!
I use my calendar and reminders on my phone to plan out my day… not that it means I actually follow it!
I use my I pad for appointments. Being retired I quilt when I feel like it and not running after grandkids and husband.
I use a combination of Google calendar and my work Outlook calendar to keep track of my schedule and plans.
Normally only plan my day in my head. My day never goes how I plan. Would love the quilters planner.
I try to do what Helen and Scott Nearing did — the necessary work in the morning – the creative work in the afternoon — and that could be reversed according to energy levels. Some of us need to do our creative work in the a.m. when we are ready and raring to go And I know people who do their best work in the evening after everybody else is sound asleep. Ah, the peace and quiet.
We all have to find our own rhythm.
I usually only plan out my day in my head. It would be nice to have a planner to plan things farther along.
Every morning when I am swimming my laps, I plan the day, week, month of what I want to do. I usually get my day work accomplished but make changes to my short term /long term plans.
I need help planning. Post it notes just aren’t real effective. And with this we could look back, jot ideas in 1 place. And perhaps keep better time of how long we spend on projects. What a fun useful item for all us us!
I use a paper planner – and have done so forever. I much prefer this format and like being able to tuck in notes, lab slips and other reminders. Although before my retirement they were always trying to get me to keep my schedule online. Yuk! kathleendotlutzatcomcastdotnet
I just wing it. Quilt designs I use graf paper.
I plan out my days by writing in a book that I covered. I just put the date at the top of the page and write a list. I find that if after a few days something on the list is not done (and I’ve decided it needs to be done), I just use a yellow highlighter to remind me when I flip back through. If I’m planning a quilt I will set a page aside and make it with a labelled sticky. I love what I’ve seen about the planner so would love to try one out.
Hi, usually do refer to our paper calendar each morning to see what is happening taht I must not forget to do. For my quilting projects, I do mostly baby charity quilts and family gifts. Being retired from Nursing, I quilt when and what I want>love it! Thanks so much for your new Book+all your inspiration !
Google Calendar is my planning tool for scheduled events and the seat of my pants for the rest. LOL
I use a paper planner. I’d love to try the Quilter’s Planner!
Now that I am retired I go with the flow. I start my day with coffee and my bible. Depending on the day, the weather, my mood, or my schedule I do what I feel like doing. I guess have a schedule of sorts. 🙂