The second quilt featured in my book Piece and Quilt with Precuts is called “Gridwork.”
Gridwork Photography courtesy of Martingale/That Patchwork Place and Brent Kane.
Piece It
Gridwork is made from one set of 5″ squares and one set of 10″ squares. In traditional quilting, blocks are usually laid out in a “grid” format. However, modern quilters like to break up the grid or present blocks in an alternate grid layout. In this case, you can see that this quilt is arranged in a 6×7 traditional grid layout (6 blocks across by 7 blocks down). But the blocks themselves are rotated in a haphazard fashion to obscure the grid and make it a bit more interesting.
We took this quilt on a recent camping trip to get some pretty shots of it in nature.
The secret is to piece the blocks in a few similar, but slightly different ways and then rotate them to trick the viewer into thinking there’s much more variation in the blocks. In my book, step by step instructions are given on how to create the different blocks. Plus, a full color layout is included with each quilt pattern so there’s no guesswork when it comes time to assemble the quilt!
Wavy Grid is one of my go-to machine quilting designs! I quilted this quilt in a light gray-blue thread from my Piece and Quilt collection with Aurifil.
Quilt It
The first four quilts in the book are quilted completely with a walking foot (or in my case, the BERNINA dual feed which performs the exact same function.) Each quilt build skills as you go, so you’ll be a machine quilting pro in no time! Plus, with my “divide and conquer” method, you can quilt a few lines to stabilize the quilt, then decide at any point how densely you want to quilt it, without locking yourself into an overwhelming task!
More Gridwork inspiration
Check out these alternate versions below. Head to each blogger’s site for more about their process, see their finishes, and enter their giveaways!
Sandy Maxfield – Sandy Star Designs
I’ve been hoarding my own bundles of Karen Lewis’ Blueberry Park line and I’m jealous at how easily Sandy from Sandy Star Designs was able to break into her precuts!! Here’s a hint – she actually cut the 10″ and 5″ prints from fat quarters, which is a great example of being able to use what you have on hand for successful results.
Don’t you think Sandy did a fantastic job combining the prints into a pleasing combination? The trick is to make sure there’s contrast in each block so none of them gets lost. You can do that by combing lights with darks, solids with prints or a myriad of other ways!
She did a fantastic job quilting wavy grid on her quilt. Don’t you just want to cuddle up with all that yummy texture? Be sure to pop over to Sandy’s blog to read more, and to enter her giveaway!
Joanne Harris – Quilts by Joanne
Joanne Harris from Quilts by Joanne really made this design look great with her fabulous yellow and gray color scheme. I once heard that the hallmark of a great quilt design is that it will look good in any fabric combination!
Don’t you just love that elephant print?? Now take a look at her blog to see how she decided to quilt it!
Teresa Mairal-Barreu – Sewn Up
Teresa aka Teresa Down Under chose to make a smaller smaller version of Gridwork and I just love it! This goes to show that you don’t always have to use up an entire precut bundle, or make your quilt the exact same size.
Head over to Teresa’s blog to see a video of this “flimsy” (aka unquilted top) flapping beautifully in the breeze. Seriously, it will inspire you to want to make one right away!
Today’s Gift – Win a Bundle of 5″ or 10″ Squares
My designer palette was originally created for Facets, from Machine Quilting with Style.
I’ve now used it to create several colorful quilts!
Today I’m going to give 2 lucky winners a fun prize! One person will win a layer cake of my Christa Watson designer palette and a second person will win a charm pack of the same fabric. Now the trick will be for both winners to find another layer cake or charm pack to go with them to make their own version of Gridwork! But isn’t a challenge fun?? (And in reality of course the winner can do whatever they’d like to with their fabrics!!)
To enter, leave me a comment letting me know what’s your favorite precut to work with. Me personally – I love fat quarters because I think they are the most versatile. But as a designer, I love coming up with creative ways to use these fun fabric bundles!
The giveaway is open to all (int’l winners just pay shipping) and I’ll choose a winner on Aug 31 which is the last day of the hop. Be sure and check in again tomorrow for the next quilt I’ll share along with more fabulous color options!
If you make your own version of Gridwork, or any of the quilts from my book, please share your progress in my Facebook Group, Quilt with Christa. I’d love to see!
Click here to see all of the stops on the blog hop tour – you’re sure to be inspired!
Update: Winners Selected and Comments Closed
Congrats to Dian. H. and Hedy H. who have been contacted via email.
Christa Quilts 
I like charm packs, they make for a fast and quick quilt!
I love fat quarters because I like to prewash. I’ve had some problems with charm packs being odd sizes which makes me want to trim to size, but perhaps your book has patterns that don’t require exact 5″ squares.
I love all precuts – I used fat quarters for years, then 2 1/2″ strips became my standard. I just used a layer cake for the first time and I think I’m now hooked on those. I have a couple of charm packs, but haven’t used them yet, but now I have inspiration. Thanks Christa!
I like and have worked with abll the precuts except jolly bars, but my favorite is fat quarters. Like you I like their versatility, especially with the scrappy quilts I favor. cotten.gloria@gmail.com
I love Fat Quarters as there’s enough fabric to see all of the pattern or design of the fabric.
I agree that fat quarters give you the most options for cutting. I play with cutting layouts in Electric Quilt to get the most out of them.
I like and have all of the precuts. I also tend to work with one type of precut for awhile and then on to another. Right now it’s jelly rolls.
I’m a layer cake girl myself. Thanks for the inspiration!
I love any precut that makes my project easier!
I use fat quarters the most! So easy to pull off the shelf and cut a chunk for the block you’re making! I love the pattern you’re featuring today – looks very fun to make! Thanks for the giveaway!
I love fat quarters and jelly rolls.
Gridwork is definitely a design I’d consider to be “my style”! The modern, less-common placement of the blocks is so much fun to admire! I usually opt for fat quarters, too, because of the options for cutting, but jelly rolls are great for quick slicing and dicing!
I love this color palette. I have lots of fat quarters that need to be made into some quilts.
I love to work with charm packs!
I live in world of Fat quarters, but lately have been trying out other precuts like the 5×10 jolly bar.
I love layer cakes, as I find them to be very versatile.
I love FQs. They allow me to have the variety that I want in my stash and are a very usable size for the scrap quilts that I like.
Fat Quarters
I like layer cakes the best-you can cut them into 5 in squares or 2 1/2 in strips, making them very useful when you see a pattern you like and want to get started!
Wait a minute – you are supposed to use them?? Okay seriously, probably layer cakes at the moment, FQ’s always.
Fat quarters allow for mor versatile cutting but I love the simplicity of charm packs
I like fat quarters too–but my favorite precut is–wait for it–yardage!
I’m torn between two favorite precuts – Fat Quarters and Layer Cakes!! But if I had to choose it would be Fat Quarters, as you said they’re just so versatile!! This is a great pattern, can’t wait to give it a try 🙂
I have only worked with jelly rolls because I usually buy more then a yard at a time so there will always be scraps to play with!
FQ’s and 5″ er’s for me, so versatile
I love, Love, LOVE fat quarters! .. and I tend to prewash my fabric prior to piecing, and, well, smaller size precuts just don’t prewash well..
I love fat quarter bundles too- I think it allows the most versatility. Loving the blog hop and seeing what others do with your designs. I’m working diligently to finish up projects so I can start on some new ones- so hard to wait!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I like 2 1/2″ charm packs.
I don’t know that I have a favorite, but I’ve actually used layer cakes and jelly rolls the most. I love my charm packs, but I spend more time petting them than actually making something with them. Guess I need to change that!
Fat quarters because I have more options when I finally decide what to make from the fabric.
I am addicted to fat quarters. Every quilt store folds them differently. It is magical to bring them home and open them up. For a patterned fabric you see the full design unlike the smaller precuts.
I also like fat quarters the best. It’s so easy to find one or two as souvenirs when I visit new stores. Make something with them? Yah, that may happen . . . one day. But I must say, this pattern inspires me to look for a charm and cake!
I’ve only worked with charm packs and jelly rolls. I find the jelly roll more confining for design possibilities, so I would say I prefer the charm packs. The blog is really fun and helpful to follow with your book by my side. I’m getting all sort of ideas.
I like charm packs mainly because I cut most of my scraps into 5 inch squares then I look for complementary commercial packs to go with them. This summer I have made 2 queen-sized tops using my scraps and the box is still overflowing!
Lately I have been having a lot of fun with layer cakes. The variety of fabrics in a layer cake is amazing while keeping to cost reasonable.
I also like fat quarter, there is enough of each fabric with which to do many things and the medium to bigger prints can be appreciated
Wonderful quilts!!
Christa, I love the versatility of this pattern of yours!!… Love how it can showcase some of those “too pretty to cut up” fabrics that I have!
I, too, like the usefulness of fat quarters!… (Talk about versatility!)
However, this past year I’ve enjoyed collecting fat 8ths from my favorite “local” fabric shop! (I have to travel 90 miles to get there, but I stop in when I visit my grandsons! Win-win!)
The fat 8ths add SO much variety to my scrappy quilts, and are a great size to work with! (And, fun to collect!)
Congratulations on a great book!
Pat T.
I use charm packs most. Jelly rolls are fun, too
I love all precuts!! Fat quarters are my go to though.
Right now, 10″ squares are my favourite.
The first precut that I ever got was a jelly roll! I really liked it that I didn’t have to cut all those strips! Now I’ve collected several and hope to make more quilts with them soon.
I love precuts. Charms, layercakes and jelly rolls. Love them all.
I love fat quarters and half yard bundles. Those are the only precut bundles I buy, though its usually just fat quarter bundles I am out to get. The Half yard bundles I mainly purchase if its just a great price, or if i have a project coming up that is going to need that extra fabric that i may may have. But I LOVE FAT QUARTERS. I love being able to pull fat quarters from my stash and mix them for my projects. Its just to easy. I like scrappy looking projects so that is especially nice. They are great for doing applique projects too, which i have become obsessed with. Just the right size! My local quilt shop lets you grab a free fat quarter for every fourty dollars you spend, needless to say, i leave with plenty of fat quarters every time i visit, lol.
I have to say that I sort of get into one kind of precut and stay there for awhile. Right now I’m using some charm squares and as I look back, they have been the basis for several of my quilts lately. I then get into my jelly rolls and stay there and then onto the fat quarters. I have to say I actually love precuts more than I love large chunks of fabric. I do have tons more FQ’s than anything else, so easy to buy and they are a good price usually.
Fat quarters are perfect! If I had more money, yards & half yards would be even better. Although there is something charming about Jelly Rolls.
Your quilt is just lovely-the quilting just perfect! I also like to work with fat quarters-the best bang for your buck, I think! Thank you for sharing!
Although fat quarters are my go to for piecing, I collect charm packs. One day I’ll figure out a project (or two or three) to use them in!
I have a huge stash of fat quarters. They are usable in so many ways.
My favorites are fat quarters. They are so versatile.
I love layer cakes. They are pretty versatile and a little more affordable than fat quarters. I can easily get s baby quilt top from s layer cake!
I like the charm packs. Recently got into EPP and the charms are a perfect size to fit around the paper templates.