Today, The Long Thread is the first stop on the Little Bits Quilting Bee blog tour! Hurray! Fellow Chronicle author, blogger, digital kids’ craft magazine producer and mother Kathreen Ricketson has produced what I think is her best book yet. Little Bits Quilting Bee: 20 Quilts Using Charm Squares, Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes and Fat Quarters features 20 handmade modern quilts using pre-cut fabric bundles for the busy quilter. I love this idea. Sure, I know some of you die-hard quilters find using pre-cuts akin to cheating, but why waste all that time cutting with so many fabulous pre-cuts available? You can’t argue with simplicity. With this book, Kathreen gives you many creative ideas to make these pre-cuts into your own unique creations.
The projects are grouped by pre-cut size and ranked by level of difficulty. I think there’s something in this book for both new and experienced quilters. She includes the basics with cutting tips, basting instructions and binding methods. The colorful photographs, vibrant fabrics, and charming vintage-modern styling give this book a warm and inviting feel.
I didn’t have time to make a full quilt from the book yet, but I did make this pillow using the pattern for the Garnets and Gold quilt in the book. It took four blocks and came together quickly. I used solids for my pillow below, but Kathreen’s quilt in the book uses all kinds of beautiful jewel-toned patterns for a rich look.
And a giveaway! I’ll send a copy of the book to someone in the U.S. or Canada. Please leave a comment below by midnight eastern Thursday for a chance to win. I’ll choose the winner at random and make the announcement on Friday. Thanks!
And be sure to check out Kathreen’s blog Whip Up, where she has reviewed a copy of my book, 1, 2, 3 Sew!
Here’s the full blog tour schedule if you’d like to follow along:
Monday, November 7 – The Long Thread
Tuesday, November 8 – Craft Nectar & Comfort Stitching
Wednesday, November 9 – luvinthemommyhood & Elsie Marley
Thursday, November 10 – True Up
Friday, November 11 – House on Hill Road & CraftyPod
Monday, November 14 – Handmade by Alissa & Hello My Name Is Heather
Tuesday, November 15 – West Coast Crafty & Foxy Art Studio
Wednesday, November 16 – Patch Andi & The Last Piece
Thursday, November 17 – In Color Order & Duo Fiberworks
Friday, November 18 – Kristin La Flamme & Camp Follower Bags & Quilts
Monday, November 21 – Quilt Dad
Tuesday, November 22 – Pat Sloan & Pleasant Home
I have been eying this book on Amazon! Would love to win a copy.
This book looks wonderful. Thanks for the giveaway.
Cute book!
This might improve my quilting by about 200%! Love your site.
Evelin
i’m a sewing beginner and would love to get my hands on this book for inspiration and project ideas! looks wonderful!
This looks like a fun book! I love that rainbow quilt.
Looks like a lovely book.
looks like there are some fun projects in there!
This book looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
I would love to win this book! I’ve had my eye on it, its definitely on my christmas list!
I love the quilts pictured and have put the book on my wishlist at Amazon. Thanks for the heads up about it.
Wow I’d love to win this book — it’s be an early xmas present for sure! =)
Great looking book! I love finding great patterns for precuts-I have so little time to sew as it is, anything that gets me to the sewing part faster is a great shortcut.
This looks like a really great book!
Me!! Me, Please!! I want to win!
;-P
LOVE that pillow!!!
What a great idea! Thanks for the chance to win!
Oh, I’d love to make some quilts from this book! THANKS for the chance!
ourbusylittlebunch(at)hotmail(dot)com
Looks like a wonderful book! Love that pillow!
The book looks lovely! More projects to add to my “To Do” list!
I would absolutely love to win this book. Have been on a quilting craze for a few years now and I’m always looking for new things to add.
I’ve been thinking about diving into my first quilting project. This book looks like just the inspiration I need!
I love your book and this looks great, too. I like taking advantage of precuts.
This book looks like it has a bunch of cute projects. I’d love to give them a try!
Looks like a great book!
I love the pillow; looks like a wild mod butterfly! ( I would love to see what else is in the book!) (hint hint)
this looks like such a great book!
Thanks for a chance to win this book…looks fun!
This is gorgeous!!! I wish I’d seen this before I bought enough to make 4 twin size quilts for kids room! Hmmm, well I guess they’ll just have to be seasonal because these really want to made too!
Oooh, I love the colors in the pillow you made! This book looks great! Thanks so much for the giveaway.
Sounds like my kind of quilting book! I’m a novice quilter so I’d love to see her ideas for time-saving quilts.
oooh – that looks like a good one! i just bought a walking foot today, so i’m ready to tackle my first quilt… thanks for the chance!
so close to starting my first quilt…would love a little more inspiration and direction. Thanks for the chance to win.
oh fun! this looks like a great book! your pillow is so pretty.
Looks like a great book! Something my mother, sister and I can all work on!!
Her projects look vibrant. Thank you for introducing me to her work.
This book looks really good, I love your pillow!
I’m trying to build a library of sewing books – slowly – so this would be great!
I would love to add this book to my collection. Love the rainbow quilt! Thanks for the chance.
Oh I am excited by this book! I have to enter because it just looks so great. I love Kathreen’s work and can’t wait to see what else is in store.
That pillow is gorgeous! An excellent use of colour, for sure!
This book looks fabulous – I would love to win a copy! Thanks!
What a beautiful book… I’d love to learn more about this art as I begin putting together quilts for my kids!
Love what I see in the pictures! I’m sure the book is amazing!
Oh my, what a lovely book!
I would love to win this book! Thanks!
Thanks for a chance to own this book…for free no less!
Wow, what a lovely book, thanks for hosting this giveaway! I have a funny feeling that if I don’t win I may try to sweet-talk my hubby into buying it for me, I know I’d be making some quilts from it!
This book is new to me. Thanks for sharing and the chance to win a copy.
I’m all for pre-cut! I’d love to win!