Fabric Friday – Michael Miller Modern Basics

September 4, 2015September 2, 2015Leave a comment

The good news today is that I’m going to share some pretty pictures of mouthwatering precuts from Michael Miller. That bad news is, these are a limited run. Back when Jason and I decided to focus on selling precuts, patterns, and thread, we knew that meant we wouldn’t be able to carry all fabric brands. So we met with all of our vendors to let them know we were eager to carry whatever precuts they had to offer.

Recently, Michael Miller produced a fabulous line of Modern Basics precuts, but then decided they weren’t going to stay in the precut business. I hope they change their mind in the future, but for now, consider these as hard to find and gobble them up while you can:

Modern Basics – Bloom includes 45 graphic prints in juicy shades of pink, purple, and orange. Precut bundles come in fat quarters, charm packs, strip rolls, and 10″ squares.

Modern Basics – Ocean, in cool shades of blues and greens, is available in 45 piece fat quarter bundles and 10″ precut squares. Aren’t they refreshing?

Modern basics – Neutral also comes in a 45 pack in your choice of fat quarters, charm packs, strip rolls, and 10″ squares. You gotta have plenty of neutrals in your stash!

Modern Basics – crayon box is just as colorful as the name implies! These graphic bundles are available as charm packs, precut strips, and 10″ squares.

Click here for more details on all Michael Miller Modern Basics.

Fabric Friday – A Little Cotton and Steel Love

August 21, 2015August 20, 20153 Comments

I’ve mentioned before that I carry Cotton and Steel bundles in my precut store. Today I’d like to give them some love and also let you know that I also decided to get the double gauze bundle, too. Now, I’m not a garment sewer so I’m not really sure what to do with double gauze, but it looked so pretty, I couldn’t resist!

Double gauze – 15 half yard cuts – what would you make?

Other luscious bundles include Kim Kight’s Cookie Book (my favorite):

And Mesa by Alexia Abegg – I just can’t resist graphic, southwest designs!

Now here’s the best news, several of the older bundles that haven’t sold out are now on sale! Be sure to scoop them up before they are gone.

Click here for all Cotton and Steel precut bundles and happy shopping!

Fabric Friday – Lecien Precuts (and a new link to share)

August 14, 2015August 11, 20157 Comments

Today I’m sharing a new-to-me brand that we just started carrying in our precut store. But before we get to that, I wanted to announce that my brilliant husband Jason has purchased the domain name The Precut Store. It will remain under the Christa Quilts brand, but instead of having to get there from my blog, or trying to remember how to find it on Amazon, you can just google The Precut Store or Precut Store, or bookmark this link in your browser: http://theprecutstore.com/

Cool, huh? He and our oldest son are also currently working on a behind the scenes project to create a storefront shell which will make it easier to browse and search for our precuts on Amazon. I don’t have a date yet on when that will be finished, but I’ll keep you all in the loop when it occurs.

And now, check out these gorgeous new precuts from Lecien:

Lecien precut strips are called Sushi Rolls – isn’t that cute? This is Child Smile, a retro 30’s group.

I love their modern basics in charm squares and strips. This is the cool colorway.

You can’t go wrong with Quilter’s Basics – in 2 colorways.

Or try a pack of shabby chic charms which they call “Origami Squares.”

Have you heard of this brand before? If so what do you think?

Click here to view all Lecien precuts.

New Work in Progress – Feathered Chevrons

July 29, 2015July 25, 201510 Comments

I’m super excited to start working with my Kona Cotton designer palette from Robert Kaufman. I’m revisiting my Charming Chevrons design in a new way, something that has been on my to-do list for awhile.

Christa Watson designer palette plus Kona solids in Coal

I’m going to turn the precuts above into the quilt below and I can’t wait to get started! I’m using 4 charm packs of my designer palette along with 4 charm packs of Kona Coal to make a nice throw-sized quilt measuring 64″ x 80″.

Feathered Chevrons Layout from my Charming Chevrons Pattern.

I just love how the bright citrus colors pop against the dark grey background – don’t you? My designer palette will be available this October in quilt shops everywhere. 🙂

Introducing My Very Own Kona Designer Palette

July 24, 2015July 24, 201529 Comments

I have exciting news to share today! I’ve been working with Robert Kaufman to curate my very own Kona Cotton designer palette in my favorite shades of red, orange, yellow and green.

Christa Watson Designer Palette – Kona Solid Precuts Coming Soon!

I chose these fabrics for the Facets quilt from my book Machine Quilting With Style. You can see a sneak peek of the quilt in the photo above.

I never thought I would see my name on precuts – such a dream come true!!

My precut palette will include 5″ charm squares, 10″ ten squares, 2 1/2″ wide roll ups and a 28 piece fat quarter bundle. They will be available for purchase in quilt shops everywhere this fall, including my precut store.

Probably one of the best things about having my own precut bundle is being able to explore the possibilities. I already have two additional quilts I will be making, and I will share my progress with you – so stay tuned!

Fabric Friday – The Patriotic Edition

July 3, 2015July 2, 20152 Comments

With all of the Independence Day celebrations this weekend, I thought it would be fun to showcase precuts in patriotic colors of red, white and blue!

Here’s a lovely grouping from Sandy Gervais called Red, White and Free. Don’t you just love the clever title? At last check I only had a couple of the fat quarter bundles left which includes one of each of the prints, plus the oversized panels (which would make a great quickie quilt!) I also have it in layer cakes and jelly rolls.

Red, White and Free bundle by Sandy Gervais for Moda

Fabri-Quilt’s version of Jelly Rolls are called Snack Packs. Isn’t that cute? Enjoy a high fiber-zero calorie “treat” when you try out this lovely color bundle below, aptly titled “Flags Forever.” I love the fact that the colors together are patriotic yet the individual fabric designs are very universal.

Flags Forever – Bella Casa Snack Pack from Fabri-Quilt.

Red is a great color any time of year, and Moda knows that! I love that they have put together several Bella Solids that are duplicates of the same solid color fabric. The gorgeous red below is 9900-16. Naturally the solids are also available in white and blue.

Bella solids in red from Moda

What are your holiday plans?

I’ll be sewing like crazy all weekend! Oh yeah, and shooting off some fireworks, too!

Fabric Friday (New Kona Solids) and a Thank You

June 19, 2015June 13, 20157 Comments

Before I dive into some new fabrics, I want to give you all a big thanks and a huge hug for supporting our online shop. I’ve been running it now for almost 12 years and Jason’s been with me full-time for the last 8 years. Our switch to selling only precuts and thread (and now my own patterns) was an exciting but scary change. However, our niche focus has given me much more time to design, write, and teach, which I love doing. So big smooches to all of you!

New arrivals – Kona Solids

Robert Kaufman has recently organized all 303 of their Kona Cotton Solids into a plethora of new color ways and we have them all (at least… I think we do!) The color assortments are available as charm squares (42 – 5″ squares), ten squares (42 – 10″ squares), and roll ups (40 – 2 1/2″ strips). There are at least 2 dozen different groupings, not to mention the single color-precuts! Check out a few of them below:

Cherry wood

Gray Area

Lush Lagoon

Mustard Seed

Powder Room

Yucca Tree

These are a few of my favorite colors – what are yours?

Click here to view all Kona Solid Charm Squares

Click here to view all Kona Solid Ten Squares

Click here to view all Kona Solid Roll Ups

Fabric Friday – Free Spirit Style

May 15, 2015May 9, 20159 Comments

Here are some new fabrics I have been crushing on!

Franklin by Denyse Schmidt is available in full-size design rolls, 10 squares, and coming soon – fat quarter bundles! I love how the precut collections include an assortment of solids to go with the prints. Personally, I hope Free Spirit continues with the full size precuts, rather than the smaller bundles. 🙂

Franklin by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit

Folk Song by Anna Maria Horner is a colorful array of cheerful florals mixed with a few bright geometrics. It’s a nod to her earlier collection Good Folks from several years ago.

Folk Song by Anna Maria Horner

Clementine, Heather Bailey’s newest line mixes well with her other collection and features the same fresh mix of pink, aqua, and orange. I especially love the butterfly prints!

Clementine by Heather Bailey

Finally, you can’t go wrong with anything from Tula Pink! Moonshine is still available (until it sells out). Her designs and unique color palettes are so popular, it’s hard to keep them in stock!

Moonshine by Tula Pink

I hope these delicious looking bundles can tide you over until I return from Quilt Market with a full report on the latest and greatest coming you way!

Do you have a favorite fabric brand? If so, which one?

Fabric Friday – Riley Blake’s New Penny Rose Brand

April 17, 2015April 12, 20154 Comments

Have you seen Riley Blake’s newest brand of fabrics? It’s called Penny Rose and features reproduction fabrics like 30’s and traditional Civil War prints. For Penny Rose, what’s old is new again!

Here are some of the latest Penny Rose collections, now available in our precut store:

Paper Dolls by Sibling Arts Studio

Aesop’s Fable by Erin Turner

Milk, Sugar, and Flower by Elea Lutz

Aren’t these so sweet? What do you think of the new brand?

Fabric Friday – Sharing the Moda Love

April 3, 2015April 3, 20157 Comments

I try to balance my Fabric Fridays by sharing new arrivals from all of the different manufacturers we carry in our precut store. Sometimes I can’t help but go a little overboard with a certain company from time to time. Moda is definitely the top dog when it comes to precut offerings. They are our top-selling brand, I think because they have done such a fantastic job offering so many choices and getting the word out about their fabulous designers. So without further ado, I will share a little Moda precut love today:

Poems from Pebbles by fabulous designer (and new friend) Malka Dubrawsky

I’ve been a fan of Malka’s amazing geometrics even before I met her in person at quilt market last fall. We immediately hit it off and then were able to reconnect at QuiltCon earlier this year. Her style is so great and I’m actually working on a scrappy quilt now, incorporating some of her bright cheerful precuts. I just love them!

Malka Dubrawsky in her colorful booth at QuiltCon 2015.

Speaking of geometrics, I can’t get enough of Quattro! It comes in all the standard precuts we carry: charm packs, layer cakes, jelly rolls and fat quarter bundles. Isn’t it just heavenly?

Quattro – in 2 sizes by Studio M for Moda.

Another modern line I’m dyring to try out is Mixologie, also by Studio M. In addition to regular cotton, it also comes in a linen fat quarter bundle, shown below. I still have yet to try linen, but I just love the texture!!

Mixologie in linen – don’t you just love it?

Finally, take a look at Moxi. It’s the perfect springtime combination of reds, pinks, yellows, teals and greens! MMM that puts me in the mood for yummy Easter candy…..

Moxi by Studio M.