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 
They are all amazing! But my favorite is Window, thanks for the chance!!
I still love “Kites” the most! If I win the scraps I could do a scrappy Kites quilt!! It would be so colorful with your fabrics!!
My favorite is Starstruck but I want to make them all 🙂
Fantastic way to use scraps, I Really want to do that. Grid work, frequency, star struck, swak, oh I just like so many and I am so encouraged by all your quilting tips.
Wonderful of you to have a scrap giveaway, thank you so much. Can’t thank you enough for this blog hop, I have been so inspired and each day I want to make each quilt. When I get your book, I will make them. Your books are my go to and I credit you for how far I have come in my quilt making, so excited to learn more.
djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com
The quilt I most want to make is Twinkling Diamonds. I love your version with the dark background.
Love doing improve piecing.
Everytime I see your quilts done up on the blog hop I have a new favorite!! I think FREQUENCY is the first one I will make though.
It is hard to pick. I like the dots and dashes design the best. They are all good. Congratulations on the book
The black & white Star pattern ! 💖 And it would look fabelous in scraps!
Am loving this blog hop! Frequency is my favorite quilt! Love the endless color & fabric combinations! Thank you for all your hard work, Susan
I love the spools. Anything scrappy is my favorite!
While I do love all your patterns in the book I’m going to say my favorite is S.W.A.K. This will be the first one from the book I will make.
SPOOLS! and Starstruck right behind it. Congratulations on all your hard work resulting in this inspiring book!
Would love to do the Arrow quilt in your scraps! 🙂
I’m enjoying all of the quilts in your book because I feel like I can make any one of them. I am looking forward to starting with the Starstruck pattern. I have so many scraps that I can certainly make a quilt with them! Thank you Christa!
I simply cannot choose between “Starstruck” and “Gridwork”! I love them both and will probably be working on both simultaneously!
I have like 5 favorites! I love Grid Work, and Windows and Dot and Dash, etc. This is a great looking book, and I love how it takes you from start to finish! Thanks you!
It is so hard to choose a favorite. I love Arrows and Kites the best, but Spools is great too. They all are nice patterns. It has been fun to see the variations of one pattern each day, and also, the way in which they were quilted. I want to thank you for this blog hop. It takes a lot of time and trouble to put a hop together, and we DO appreciate the hard work involved.
I think Squiggles or Spools!!
Thank you.
Beautiful quilts…fabric…thread…fabulous book!
I ‘ll don’t have a favorite, love them all!! Waiting for the book to arrive is torture! LOL This blog hop has been SOOO fun! Thank you
That SHOULD say “I still don’t…” Not enough coffee yet 🙂
I love Gridwork and Kites. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I like Squiggles, but this is fun too.
Arrows – my life is chaotic so I’m drawn to linear, orderly patterns wherever I find them.
S.W.A.K. followed closely by Spools. Every quilt is fabulous and everyone’s interpretation has been great. That truly is a sign of a great design! I would love to have your scrap bundle, can’t wait for November.
I really like the kites. But also dots and dashes. Hard to chose as they are all alot of fun. Really liked the quilting ideas, and your blog frI ends made me understand that whatever I do is ok, even if it is one block. Thanks
STARSTRUCK is still my favorite! Do like SPOOLS too! thanks for sharing!!!
I like Dots and Dashes.
Frequency would be my first choice with Windows coming really close to being a first choice. Both look so nice and modern, great job!
I like arrows.. However, I am liking spools for the improv aspect of it… I LOVE my facets (my 1st machine quilted quilt) and want to work on improv more… LOVE the whole book!!!
I love Starstruck but I think Spools is my favorite. I would love to win a scrap bundle from your new fabric line.
Squiggles is my favorite from your new book, Christa! Boy, would I have fun playing with your scraps! So many pretties in there!
I love patterns that spark my imagination! I’m wondering what it would be like to make your own background fabric, too! I have lots of neutral scraps. I think I’ll wait to say which quilt in the book is my favorite until I see which one I make first!
All of your quilts are lovely. Choosing a favorite is tough SWAK is my choice.
I believe Spools has become my favorite. It can be so many things. Your tour has been fun to follow. It makes me feel like part of a quilt family. Thanks!
I like “Frequency” for using up my miscellaneous, abandoned jelly roll strips & this pattern would be ideal for your colorful scraps.
Spools is by far my favorite! Would love to win your scraps!
How do you choose a favorite?! Spools is wonderful. I think my favorite is Arrows. I am intrigued with it as it is so different than anything I have done before.
Christa, a scrap bag is a brilliant giveaway. I cannot wait for this line to hit. I am loving the modern quilts, though haven’t taken the plunge. Your fabric line will be used for my first mod quilt!
I think it would have to be Dot n’ Dash! But these colorful spools are so fun! Looking forward to the wrapup!
I actually love the EQ version, especially the border. 🙂 I do not have a favourite of the patterns as I can see all of them made in my mind. If I had to choose, Textile Time Travels pushed Spools to the forefront by using Halloween fabrics. Thanks for a great blog hop and the opportunity to win some of the new fabric.
Great comment 😉 Thank you KJ! Sew glad you liked my Scary, Spooky Spools.
Sandra
I like the arrow quilt. All the quilts look fun and colourful.
My favorite quilt was Squiggles. I loved the shapes and the fabric choices. I think your book provides a ton great ideas because I often find pre cuts a way of getting a full collection of fabric on on a budget.
I love this mini-quilt. I want to make about five of these for different friends.
Thats a tough call. I think I would have to pick twinkling diamonds just because its something I want to make RIGHT NOW. Lol. But I love them all so that was a trick question. How you decide to quilt them could make them all look so very different let alone the fabric you decide to use. They are all fun! Great job, and congrats on a job well done.
I have no favorite – learned that line as a mother…..I am teaching a young girl this winter who wants to learn to quilt and so many of these quilts are great for beginners – I think she could have a lot of fun with dots and dashes and learn to sew straight seams at the same time. I love the fact that fabrics can change up the look of each pattern – not an east thing to do sometimes. Oh, the scraps I would share –
I love all the quilts from your book but I think my favorite is S.W.A.K.
A wonderful blog tour, Christa! Of the quilts in the book, Gridwork is my favorite.
Starstruck is my favorite and the reason I bought the book! All but one is on my list (and I’m not revealing my least favorite)!!
Starstruck has been my favorite throughout the blog hop but these versions of Spools are close seconds.
What a great way to do scrappy quilts, my favorite for sure. Love the colors with spools and great background fabrics. Such a great book Christa.