Earlier this Fall, the talented ladies over at the Fat Quarter Shop published their first book, Simply Fat Quarters. They sent me a copy to review and will be giving away two copies to my readers too. See below on how to enter.
The patterns in this book are suitable for both beginners and experienced quilters. There are 10 patterns in total, one of which has appliqué (see Spa photo below). If you can make half square triangles, these patterns are for you. Each pattern includes cutting, piecing and layout images for four sizes (crib to king size).
It is a pattern book and, as such, does not include general how to quilt instructions. However, the detailed graphics for each piecing step are extremely well done. Definitely some of the best I’ve seen. The cutting instructions are labelled with letters that are then used throughout the piecing instructions. Additionally, there are drawings showing you exactly how to cut your fat quarter to make the best use of your fabric.
Let’s look at some of the patterns, my favourite is Poppy:
A collage of various quilts in the book:
This is Marbles, an excellent pattern to use for an I Spy quilt:
Another favourite of mine, this is Retreat:
And Zap which I think would be perfect for large focussed fabrics:
Hats off to the entire Fat Quarter Shop team, you’ve done a fantastic job on this book, and I highly recommend it. Purchase it here: Simply Fat Quarters.
Give-Away
I have two copies to give-away. To enter, simply leave me a comment below telling me which pattern you want to make first from those I featured above. The winners will be chosen randomly, next Friday, December 7th.
Winners:
Congratulations to the two winners. Please check your inboxes for an email from me.
I want to make Spa!
I love the Retreat pattern
I would love to make the poppy !
I would make the pattern Marbles and use your suggestion – make it an I Spy quilt. It would be so fun!
I love, love the quilt on the front cover!! Really would like to get this book! it looks great!!
Retreat looks like fun to me, as I use a lot of squares in my quilting. Most of my quilts go to charity and family.
I have been wanting to me a modern graphic quilt like Boulevard for my bed, so that’s where I’d start.
I think I would make the Marbles quilt, and as suggested I would make it I Spy.
I love working from fat quarters! I think I will make the Retreat quilt first!
Poppy or retreat would be my first sewing project if I should be one of the lucky to win!
‘Zap’ would be perfect for me to use up my larger sized prints. Having fun looking at all the goodies on your site.
My first choice would be the Poppy quilt.
Next, I would do the Thistle pattern in a range of cool greys, greens and lavenders!
Love these patterns! My very favs are Spa &Poppy! Can’t wait to give it a go!
What a great book! Too many choices but I really like Boulevard. I like the simplicity of this quilt.
Oooooh, I just love the Poppy quilt! I collect 30’s reproduction fat quarters and I can just see them in this quilt. I hope I win one of these books so that I can get started on my own Poppy quilt.
Pax
It would be hard to decide which to make first , Thistle or Spa, but I think I would start with Thistle. Or maybe work on both at the same time. Thanks for the giveaway offer.
I’m with you…Poppy is my favorite! Thanks sew much for this chance to win :-D
I really like the “Spa” pattern!
Zap and Poppy would be the first two I would start on, but gosh darn it, these ladies have done a fine job and they would surely all become quick and fast favourites for sure.
I would make the “Marbles” one first – for my grandson – and I would likely do it as an “I Spy” Quilt. Nice quilts!
I would make the “Poppy” quilt. What a simple but dramatic & beautiful quilt!
I would make the SPA pattern for my grandson who loves blue!
Since I am a beginner quilter, I would love to try making “Retreat”. I think I can handle the squares. I’m not quite ready for the others yet, but am hoping that with each new day and each new magazine and each new book, that I’ll be able to ‘master’ harder quilt patterns. My sewing teacher in junior high used to tell me to ‘try harder each time’!
I agree with you, Poppy is my favourite.
I couldn’t even decide which to make first!
I love fat quarters and jelly rolls and 3 pattern are on my quilty-bucket list:
Boulevard, because it’s striking,
Marbles, because I want to make an I spy quilt,
and Retreat, beause it is graphicly interesting.
I like the pattern Zap. It is a great pattern!
Poppy would be first on my list if I am lucky enough to win.
That book looks like a keeper to me! I’ve always loved fat quarters and will soon be looking for a new quilt project.
This book has so many great patterns. The first pattern on my list would be Heirloom.
I would make the zap quilt, I love finding patterns to use w/large prints and this would be just the perfect one for some fabric I currently have!
Having just returned from a quick trip visiting a friend in Florida, and now back to much colder Illinois, I would have to say that “Spa” is my favorite. The colors in the example remind me of the waves of water in the pool that I so much enjoyed.
The first one I’d tackle would be Thistle, and I’d do it in purples and greens (of course!) :) Thank you for the nice giveaway.
Ew! Ew! I’ve had my eye on that book! Love the quilt on the cover!
Hi I like the big hexagons
I like fat quarters too work with
thank you
pat
I would start by making SPA with a pale grey background and then use the dark Kona solids in purples and reds.
Truffles! Great stuff!
I would start with Spa and then follow with Poppy.
I love Poppy! I’ve been collecting fabrics in those colors. This quilt would be perfect!
Definitely the Retreat pattern…it would be great in batiks!
Poppy has my attention!
I,d love to do zap with Amy Butler fabrics.
I would make Spa! So simple, yet so graceful!
I would make the Poppy.
I think that I would make Poppy first. Love the there are directions on making the best cutting use of the fq.
I love the retreat pattern. the book looks great.
I really like the looks of this book. Scrappy quilts are my thing.
I’m thinking the Retreat pattern since I have a new g-granddaughter and another to be born in April, 2013. Can see using lots of pinks!
I like the pattern “retreat”! I have lots of fat quarter bundles waiting for a good book!
hulseybg at gmail dot com
Spa and Retreat are speaking to me. hmmm. Do we sense a theme here?!?
I would make Heirloom. I love the pattern.