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 
My favorite precut is fat quarters, because they wash easier then the smaller pieces. If I did not have to prewash all my fabrics(medical issues) If I did not have to prewash it would be a tie between 10” squares, charm packs & jelly rolls. Love them all.
I love layer cakes! To me they are versatile because they can be left as is, cut all different ways or used as four charm packs!
I generally but the layer cakes. I love FQs but I seem to have more leftovers that are harder to use because they are smaller. But I use precuts a lot. Thanks.
My favorite is also FQs. As a designer it work best with my style since I need a lot of different fabrics.
I like fat quarters for more detailed quilts but if I need a quick finish I go with charms. Thanks for the giveaway. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com
I like jelly rolls!
I like fat quarters too. So many options with the larger piece of fabric.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Precuts are quick to use, I have never tried 10 ” layer cakes, they would be nice. I have charm squares. Hey I could use them for this pattern.
djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com
I seem to have a lot of charm packs in my stash, but lately have been working more with 10″ squares. If I could afford the FQ bundles, those would be my choice. Heck, if I could I would buy bolts.
I have 2 favorites!! I love charm packs because they are affordable!! But, alas, they just aren’t as versatile as a fat quarter!
I always seem to pick up fat quarters but also like getting charm packs and mini charms, too.
I agree with you, fat quarters are my favorite pre cut and for the same reason.
I like to use fat quarters because I can make different size cuts. Just made my first quilt with layer cakes and found they weren’t all cut exactly 10″. After measuring and marking, the quilt was fast and easy.
I love working with jelly rolls. They were the first precuts I bought. They are really versatile.
What a great idea! I have a layer cake of Botanics that would look great used this way! Thanks for showing us your quilt and for a chance to win too!
It’s a tie between jelly rolls and charm packs.
That is lovely!
I consider myself a relatively new quilter so I haven’t had a ton of experience buying fabrics, particularly pre-cuts. I’m a fan of fat quarters because I can use as little or as much of the cut as I want to. Also, I like to make my own “matches” rather than buy a pack of coordinating fabrics.
The jelly rolls are my favorite…..perhaps I think of them as sweet…aka the name and I do love sweets….most important though is how versatile they are….
Interesting quilt. I happen to love 10″ squares, and FQ bundles, because more is better, lol
I like all precuts, but the jelly rolls are so versatile and fun.
I would say I use fat quarters ore than other Precuts. I’m eagerly awaiting my copy of the new book to arrive.
I must admit to do love working with jellyrolls. Piecing goes fast!!
I like charm packs. They’re not as big of a cash outlay and I like scrappy quilts.
I buy three or four fat quarters every time I’m in the store. But I’d love to find a jelly roll in a colorway I like. There are five quilt stores near me and none carries more than a half dozen jelly rolls. They must not be a big seller around here.
I like the precuts but have A LOT of fat quarters to use. FQ give me more options.
I’m with you on this one – fat quarters are my favorite because of their versatility. They can be cut into 5″ units or 10″ units – or both! – whatever size you need. By far, most of my stash is in fat quarters or larger.
Jelly rolls and charm squares are my go to’s
Hi Christa. So far my favorite precut is a fat quarter. More available in my area and my local shop will cut one from any bolt in the shop. Love the smell of fabric!
First I like this pattern a lot. Jelly rolls are my favorite but sometimes you need the FQ’s.
My favorite is also fat quarters due to the versatility.
However, my next favorite is 5 inch charm squares. I love seeing what I can do with them! Lots of fun with a limited cash investment.
I love your blog!!! It is so inspiring. I normally work with yardage, but am coming to enjoy 10 inch squares and 5 inch squares.
I like the fat quarters best. They are large enough to make a small project like a zip bag and also good for creating larger scrappy quilts.
I like fat 8ths. There’s enough fabric to get some good cuts but not too much that you get tired of the fabric. 😊
I love layer cakes! It’s so quick and easy to make a quilt and they always look beautiful! Thank you for your inspiration.
I buy a lot of fat quarters but I’ve had the best luck with strip rolls
I seem to be buying more fat eighth packs lately; I’m an Alison Glass fanatic and plan to use my fat eighth collections to make some quilts from your new book — love the book and the autograph!
My favorites are fat quarters and 5″ squares. I also really love working with 10″ white cotton squares for thread sketches.
I definitely prefer fat quarters because I’m not locked into a size grid with them, especially with larger prints. sjvonfumetti at yahoo dot com
I tend to go for FQ’s, they’re more prewash friendly! 🙂 Love everyone’s version of this design!
I love fat quarters and charm packs. I love the size of a fat quarter and charm packs give me the variety I need.
I use charm squares and jelly rolls a lot, but I think layer cakes are my favorite!
My favorite so far is 5 inch charms, but I am starting to like the larger cake squares also.
My favorite precut is fat quarters they seem to be the most versatile. I tend to save them and just buy more thinking I will find the perfect project. The Gridwork pattern is a keeper and I will be making it soon.
Wow! All of my favorite colors in one bundle, love it! I find that Fat Eight bundles are perfect for the smaller applique quilts that I make. I get a piece of each fabric in the colorway and it doesn’t cost too much.
I agree that fat quarters are the most versatile of precuts but I love the variety I can get with charm packs or layer cakes. Thank you for all the inspiration.
I like fat quarters. More options.
I like charm squares because there is a lot less cutting and waste. thanks!
I love fat quarters for quilting projects!
i like layer cakes as they give me more options – keep whole or in 2 cuts, I’ve got a charm pack!