Can you believe it? Today I’m sharing the last quilt from my book, Piece and Quilt with Precuts. Be sure and stick around for tomorrow’s blog hop wrap-up as I announce an epic giveaway (hint – it’s a QUILT!!!) and something fun to look forward to in the future!
Meet Spools, which is possibly my favorite quilt in the book. (I know – just like children you can’t really have a favorite, right???)
Spools Photography courtesy of Martingale/That Patchwork Place and Brent Kane
Piece It
My favorite thing about this quilt is that it expands on a concept that I introduced in my first book. (Remember Facets from Machine Quilting with Style? Similar piecing concept, totally different design!!)
Spools uses many leftovers from other quilts in the book as well as scraps from my scrap bin. It was so fun to combine any sized pieces to create my own “made” fabric, and then cut them up into recognizable shapes – a process I call “structured improv.”
Original EQ7 design concept for Spools. I made each spool a different color instead.
When I originally designed this quilt I had thought of mixing up a bunch of different scraps to make each of the spool blocks along with a scrappy border. The image above was my original EQ7 design for the quilt. But as I was getting ready to make the quilt I had a last minute stroke of inspiration to make them color blocked instead. And instead of a scrappy border, I made a scrappy binding around the edges that matches the color of the spool blocks!
I much prefer the quilt I ended up making, where each spool is a different color of “thread” – don’t you?? Now after making this quilt, I feel like any scrap can work its way into a future improv-pieced quilt!
Quilt It
I used a combination of two quilting designs. In each of the spool blocks I quilted wavy textured lines using a matching Aurifil thread. Then in the background I combined another fun free-motion technique I teach called “free-motion improv.”
You basically combine several of your favorite free-motion motifs and mash them all up together in the same quilt, changing designs every 2-3 motifs. It’s a fun way to quilt that adds tons of interest and texture to the design.
Machine quilting details on Spools.
One of the reasons I quilt my quilts so densely is to hide my mistakes. After all, when you quilt one line of imperfect stitches it really stands out like a sore thumb. However, if you surround it with more imperfect quilting, all you notice is the beautiful texture rather than the individual stitches!
More Arrows inspiration
Check out the bloggers below for their takes on Spools, and be on the lookout for giveaways! I hope you’ve enjoyed traveling to all of the stops on the hop for more ideas on how to make any of the quilts in my book!
Sandra Starley: Textile Time Travels
Who says you have to make rainbow colored blocks? Sandra decided to make mini-sized Halloween themed spools, complete with spooky background prints. Now this makes me want to make one for all the holidays! I mean, how cool would it look in reds and greens for Christmas, or red, white and blue for a patriotic quilt? This opens up a world of ideas for you to explore!!
Be sure and keep an eye on Sandra’s blog in the future to see how she quilts it!
Jen Shaffer: Patterns by Jen
I love how Jen made her quilt similar to the original, but she totally changed up the quilting. She used a combination of “modern zig-zags” in the sashing which I introduce earlier in the book. Plus she combined it with “triangle texture”, a motif I teach in my first book.
Visit Jen’s blog to see some really great process pics showing how she approached the improv piecing. I’m proud of her for going outside her comfort zone! While there, you’ll even see the coordinating pillow she made with another machine quilting design from the book!
Today’s Gift: Win Scraps of My new fabric
Since we’ve been talking about how to use up your scraps, I thought it would be fun to offer a unique giveaway today. Many of you know I’ve been sharing sneak peeks of my new fabric line, Modern Marks, which releases this November from Benartex. Well, I’ve been working behind the scenes, making a bunch of quilts from the new fabric to show it off a bit later. That means that I’ve accumulated a ton of scraps, so I’ve decided to give them away to one of you!
This bundle of scraps could be yours! It’s Modern Marks by Christa Watson for Benartex.
This means that one lucky winner will be the first (other than me) to get their hands on my fabric, before anyone can even buy it!!! Now that you know what you can do with scraps, the sky’s the limit when it comes to using them.
To enter, leave me a comment letting me know which quilt from the book is your favorite. If you haven’t had a chance to see them all, click here for the blog hop schedule, with links to each of the quilts. I’ll choose a winner’s name at random on Monday morning and notify them via email. I’m happy to ship your box of scraps anywhere, with the understanding that an international winner will pay shipping (less the cost of shipping it to the US).
And finally, if you’ve enjoyed the blog hop, be sure to pick up a signed copy of my book. It’s been a joy to write, and even more satisfying to share all of the quilts with you. Be sure and stop by tomorrow to see what’s coming up next!
Update: Winner Selected and Comments Closed
Congrats to Brandy F. who has been contacted via email.
Christa Quilts 
I think Squiggles is my favorite!
Spools is it on a stick!
I’m leaning towards Starstruck as my favorite but Arrows comes a close second. I’ve been following you for a couple of years and love everything you do. And I’d love to add to my stash.
Love many…but Squiggles is my Favorite!! Would looove to win your scraps!! Beautiful fabrics!! Thank you for the chance! 🙂
Twinkling Diamonds, I think. Looks like a great book. Thanks for the fun blog hop!
squiggles is my favorite!
Love Squiggles! Ok all of them but that’s my fav.
Star struck is my favorite. And thank you for BabyGeese
I love spools. Thanks so much for your quilt ideas.
If I have to pick just one, Squiggles is it. This, by the way, has been the MOST fun blog hop!
Dot and Dash. Thanks.
Starstruck, SWAT, the quilting on windows and love, love, love Spools!
Love Starstruck!
I have several favorites, hmmmm. Ok Squiggles!
Gridwork has been my favorite through the hop, but now that I’ve seen Spools it may be number one. Love the pile of scraps, what a thrill it would be to win that!
I am still in love with Starstruck, but the spools have always been second. Maybe I need to win and do some improve piecing.
Right now I am crushing on squiggles! Especially in this new fabric line ( I reversed the order I read the last two entries in).
So many that I would like to try. Have to pick stars as favorite.
Difficult to really chose 1 quilt to be a favorite 😉 I guess I am going to choose Spools though because I just adore the one made with the Halloween fabrics!
I like them all, but kinda partial to stars… so Starstruck it is!!
My favorite is Squiggles although I do love the Spool quilt also.
I love Arrows! Great quilts, Christa!
I would love to do the Spools quilt with that bright scrappy look!
Love the spools quilt. I like rainbow quilts where shades of the different color families are used.
Spools is my favourite….love the colour blocking and the variety of neutrals in the background.
Love the spool quilt
Fun quilts Fun quilting, thanks for sharing.
Spools is my favorite! Love all of the different fabrics.
So far it has to be Spools, I love that you use up all those bit and pieces that are left over. Lovely quilts throughout the book again though, Christa.
Squiggles is my favorite but others keep me wavering. Guess I’ll just have to make them all!!
It’s hard to choose just one!
Not sure which is my favorite…love them all. Like the scrappiness of spools, also arrows…
I favor the Spools quilt. It’s hard to pick just one favorite.
I love starstruck and your new fabric.
I like them all, but spools is growing on me
I like dot and dash
Squiggles is a favorite from your book for lots of reasons. The movement, color and quilting.
Squiggles is my favorite.
I love the Spools quilt too!
I love the spools quilt.
I have several favorites but I think possibly Arrows was my most favorite! I am lucky enough to have a signed copy of your book and can’t wait to make a quilt from it 🙂
love the color I the quilt I a beginner quilt.
I love your scrappy spools!! They speak to me!! Thanks for sharing!!
So many beautiful quilts. My favorite is Starstruck.
I think that gridwork would have to be my favourite although I do have a soft spot for dot and dash!
I love Arrows and I would love all your scraps! 😀
I’m having trouble picking just one favorite but I’ve always loved star quilts so I’m going with Starstruck
S.W.A.K is my favorite
Love those spools. They would look spectacular with the scraps!
Lots of great quilt inspiration in your book and from the blog hop participants. I still find the Starstruck quilt made by Sherri Noel to be my favorite. I really enjoyed this blog hop.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I am really into scraps lately and Spool totally caught my eye since I can easily use scraps from each color. For that reason I’ll have to say that Spools is my favorite.