New Patterns and Kits: Pieced Primrose, Geese in the Garden, Blooming Wallflowers, LatticeWork

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Just a quick note to say that the print versions of my 4 new patterns have now arrived from the printer – whoo hoo! Although they were made to feature my new Abstract Garden fabric line, they are versatile to use any fabrics you like! You can pull similar colors, or mix it up for your own unique take! I’m also offering kits for each, while supplies last.

Abstract Garden Quilt Patterns

To give you a quick overview of the quality and layout of the print versions, I made this short one-minute (silent) YouTube video of me thumbing through the pages. They are printed on high quality semi-gloss paper with a firm cover so they’ll hold up while you use them! Click the image below to watch.

And now, to end this post with some colorful “eye candy” here are images of the finished quilts themselves. Coming up soon, I’ll be blogging more about the making of each quilt with some bonus tutorials and tips. And don’t forget, I’ll be hosting a quilt along to make Blooming Wallflowers in January, so be on the lookout for the QAL schedule, coming soon!

Pieced Primrose Quilts

Click here to purchase this pattern.
Click here to purchase the kit.

Pieced Primrose Quilts Made from Abstract Garden

Geese in the Garden Quilts

Click here to purchase this pattern.
Click here to purchase the kit.

Geese in the Garden with Abstract Garden fabric

Blooming Wallflowers Quilt

Click here to purchase this pattern.
Click here to purchase the kit.

Blooming Wallflowers quilt

LatticeWork Quilt

Click here to purchase this pattern.
Click here to purchase the kit.

LatticeWork Quilt Made from Abstract Garden

Things to Make from Fandangle – Containers from By Annie

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I’m back with more fun things you can make from Fandangle, my current line that’s in stores now. Of course these fun containers would look great in any fabrics, but I’m thrilled that my friends from By Annie chose to showcase them with some of my favorite prints!

Clam Up

Clam Up Made from FandangleClick here to get the Clam Up Pattern from By Annie

Aren’t these bags the cutest!! I love how Annie chose to use the cool colorway of Fandangle in different combinations for this set. Howe fun would it be to wrap a small trinket or gift in the smallest bag and then stack them all together by size. It’s as much fun as playing with Matroyska dolls, but for quilters!!

Contain Yourself

By Annie Containers with Fandangle

Click here to get the Contain Yourself pattern from By Annie

These are absolutely the best containers!! My favorite is the big one made from Baubles and Bits in teal, and the smaller ones are perfect for organizing quilting and sewing notions. It’s on my bucket list to make these for all the nooks and crannies in my sewing room to keep the mess under control!

Take a Stand

Fandangle Fabric

Click here to purchase the Take a Stand pattern from By Annie

This functional tote is perfect for organizing your sewing notions on the go. I love how Annie paired up the warm Fandangle prints in red and orange with a touch of gray. It always makes me giddy to see how others combine with my fabrics!!

Running with Scissors

Fandangle Fabric

Fandangle Fabric

Click here to purchase the Running with Scissors pattern from By Annie

Although I usually just stick to just making flat “2-D” quilts, my mom loves sewing these functional “3-D” items like containers and totes. I think I’ve just added a few more for her to make!!

Click here to purchase yardage of my prints to make some of your own!!

Things to Make from Fandangle – Heather Black’s Beads and Baubles

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Right now I’m currently doing a bunch of “secret sewing” – things I can’t share with you until several months in the future. But instead of going radio silent for awhile, I thought I would fill the time with previous projects that my friends and I have made to keep you inspired.

Beads and Baubles by Heather Black

Get the PDF Pattern for Beads and Baubles by Heather Black

For starters, I’d like to share with you Beads and Baubles – a quilt that my talented friend Heather Black (from Quiltachusetts) made to showcase Fandangle Fat Quarters. I love how she paired the prints with some soft tone on tone Color Weave prints to create a fun stripe in the background.

She named her quilt after the focus print from my collection, called “Baubles and Bits.” (I think these prints together would make a fun, modern Christmas quilt!)

Fandangle Fabric, Baubles and Bits print

Click here to get yardage of Baubles and Bits in Teal or Red

To further tie in the theme, she quilted it with an allover design that’s similar to the “Beaded Curtain” print from the line. I think it’s the perfect motif for this amazing quilt!

Machine Quilting by Heather Black

Click here to grab a fat quarter bundle of Fandangle.

Heather created this design with some simple curved piecing and I love how the oval shapes look like beads. She has released this pattern as a PDF version in her Etsy shop and I’d love to see what it looks like in different fabrics, too!

Beads and Baubles by Heather Black

Click here to get the PDF Pattern for Beads and Baubles by Heather Black

Heather is so talented and I love her modern design sense! She’s made quilts from my fabric before (click here to see her amazing Pearl Pendants quilt) and she’s got several more designs in the works using my current and upcoming lines, too. I can’t wait for you to see them!

And now I have a question for you – have you ever tried curved piecing? If so – how did it go? Leave me a comment as I’d love to know. I’ve only done it sparingly but I love the look!

Abstract Garden Precuts Are Here!!

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I’m so excited – it’s like early Christmas around here! My shipment of Abstract Garden precuts have just arrived, and the yardage should be here soon, whoo hoo! Take a quick peek below:

While I encourage all of you to ask for my fabrics at your local quilt shop, I understand that not everyone has access to a great shop close by. So I always order extras that I’m happy to share while supplies last. Here’s what I’ve got:

Abstract Garden 20 Fat Quarters

Click here to purchase Abstract Garden Fat Quarters

Abstract Garden Fat Quarters by Christa Watson for Benartex

This is the second time I’ve featured 20 prints in a line. It’s the perfect amount I think because it won’t break the bank, and it’s enough to make a substantial sized quilt. I do love a good rainbow and I’m excited to see how everyone will mix and match the different prints!

Abstract Garden by Christa Watson for Benartex
Click here to get Abstract Garden bundles in FQ, 1/2 Yard, or Full Yards

Pair these with a contrasting background (like the greys from Fandangle) and you can’t go wrong! If you need more than a FQ, you can also get these in 1/2 yard or full yard cuts.

Abstract Garden Strip-Pies: 40 – 2 1/2″ x 42″ Strips

Click here to purchase Abstract Garden Strip-pies

You can either pronounce them stripp-ees (rhymes with hippies), or strip Pies (mmm… pie!!). But however you do it, I love the look of them and how they are packaged. They are separated into warm and cool for you by the manufacturer, which just makes me smile!!

Otherwise known as “jelly rolls, pinwheels, roll-ups” etc, these are much easier to ship since they will fit easily into a flat rate envelope. And the best part is, they don’t fuzz up as much!!

Abstract Garden 10×10’s – 42 Squares

Click here to purchase Abstract Garden 10×10’s

Abstract Garden Layer Cake

These are probably my least used precut, but they are great to cut up when you want to make a really scrappy quilt! I like using them when I want a lot of 5″ squares of the same fabric, since it’s a bit cheaper to crosscut each square in half twice, rather than buying 4 charm packs. They are also fun to slice up when making a pattern like my Improv Squares, and I love whipping up a fun pieced back by sewing all 42 squares together, set 6 x 7.

If you work a lot with 10″ squares (also known as Layer Cakes), please leave me a comment and let me know how you use them. I’d love to know!

Abstract Garden Charm Packs: 42 – 5″ Squares

Click here to purchase Abstract Garden Charm Packs

Abstract Garden Charm Packs

Charm packs are the most popular precut because it’s a great way to sample the entire line of fabric at the lowest price. You can quickly whip up a baby quilt from just one pack, or combine packs together for a larger quilt. Because the charm packs include a total of 42 squares, you get 2 of each print in the collection, plus 3 of the main “Raised Beds” print.

I hope you love these pretties as much as I do! Click here to grab your favorites!

Sign up for My Next Quilt Along in January: Blooming Wallflowers

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Can I say how much I enjoy doing quilt alongs with you all? It keeps me motivated to design and make new things, and nothing thrills me more than seeing all the variety of quilts that are being made, even when we all start with the same basic pattern. So I’m excited to announce the next quilt along which will start January 4th!

Blooming Wallflowers quilt

We will be making my Blooming Wallflowers quilt from start to finish over 12 weeks. Each Friday starting in Janaury, I’ll share a new blog post with inspiration pictures, bonus tips and plenty of cheerleading to keep you motivated. I’ve built in a couple of breaks to the quilt along, so it should be a nice and relaxing pace, and easy to follow along!

Blooming Wallflowers quilt

Get the Pattern

The quilt along itself is free, all you need to purchase is a copy of the pattern:
Click here to purchase the PDF version of Blooming Wallflowers
Click here to purchase the print version of Blooming Wallflowers

Optional Kit

Of course, you can use whichever fabrics you like, but I’ve put together an optional fabric kit which includes all the fabric to make the quilt top and binding as shown above: Fat Eights of 12 different Blooming Roses prints, 1 1/4 yards of light blue Tracks for the accent, and 4 yards of Modern Marks Herringbone Navy for background and binding.

Click here to purchase the Blooming Wallflowers kit – Throw Size

Blooming Wallflowers made with Abstract Garden and Modern Marks

Sign up to Follow Along (Free)

It’s completely free to follow along and you will gain tips and tricks for better quilt making, even if you don’t want to actually make the quilt!

Click here to sign up and be notified each time a new quilt along step has been released.

Blooming Wallflowers Quilt Along

I’ll post the complete supply list and schedule on January 4th and will then give everyone a couple of weeks to gather their materials and supplies before we dive into cutting on January 18th. We will wrap up by the end of March and I’ll encourage everyone to post their progress in my ChristaQuilts Facebook group. After all, doing things with friends is a large part of the fun!

So who wants to join me?? Leave a comment if you plan to follow along, either making the quilt – or virtually in your head!!

Black Friday-Cyber Monday: Preorder Abstract Garden Fabric on Sale!

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I just got the best news ever! My Abstract Garden line is shipping a little early and should be here soon! To celebrate, for this weekend only, you can use the code BLACKFRIDAY to get 10% off your preorder of any of the yardage. As soon as it arrives on my doorstep I’ll cut it and get it out the door to you, while supplies last.

Abstract Garden Fabric

Click here and use code BLACKFRIDAY to get 10% off any fabric order by the yard.

Here’s the fine print:

  • I’m offering it in 2 yard increments only, but will be happy to cut continuous yardage for you.
  • I’m happy to ship international – any shipping overages will be credited back to your account.
  • Sale price applies to yardage only, but I’m happy to combine shipping for other items purchased in the same transaction.
  • Coupon also applies to remaining yardage of my other lines: Modern Marks and Fandangle.
  • I don’t have an exact shipping date but it will most likely be in early December.

Abstract Garden by Christa Watson for Benartex Contempo

Click here to preorder Abstract Garden – use code BLACKFRIDAY to save 10%

New Quilt Pattern – LatticeWork

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Happy Turkey Day!! I’m so thankful to you, dear blog reader for your support you’ve given me over the years. I started this blog on Thanksgiving Day back in 2010 and little did I know that it would lead to what I’m doing today – a full time career in the quilting industry.

LatticeWork Quilt Made from Abstract Garden

LatticeWork Quilt – Throw Size

On this day of thanks, I’m so happy to be sharing more fun and inspiring projects with you! Take a look at LatticeWork, the 4th and final quilt pattern I’ve released to go along with my Abstract Garden fabric line (which starts shipping to stores in December).

Abstract Garden Quilt Patterns

If you missed the previous 3 quilts I shared this week, click the links below to check them out:
Click here for Pieced Primrose (Monday blog post)
Click here for Geese in the Garden (Tuesday blog post)
Click here for Blooming Wallflowers (Wednesday blog post)

LatticeWork Pattern Details

LatticeWork comes in 3 sizes and is made from Charm Packs (5″) or 10″ squares. You can also make it from a bundle of fat quarters with coordinating light and dark fabric. For the Throw Size, I’ve used 4 charm packs of Abstract Garden, but it would look fabulous in Modern Marks charms or Fandangle charms, too. Or you could mix and match them for even more variety!

Lattice Work Quilt Pattern
Click image above to enlarge.
Click here to purchase the PDF pattern.
Click here to purchase the print pattern.

As with all of my patterns, I’ve included machine quilting suggestions so you can get ‘er done!! For LatticeWork, I quilted one of my favorite walking-foot designs: an allover wavy grid that requires absolutely NO marking of the quilt!

You basically divide and conquer the quilt into a grid: quilt lines in the center of each lattice strip in both directions. Then fill in with more and more lines until you are happy with the line spacing.

Latticework quilting detail

Wavy Grid quilting detail – it’s so easy to do!

If you look closely at the orange “Trellis” print above (the one near the purple, blue and orange spirals) you will see that it roughly mimics the irregular plaid design of the quilting. I love it when I can incorporate my fave quilting motifs into my fabrics!

I chose a tone-on-tone black for the lattice and paired up the bright colorful prints with the light gray Confetti Crosshatch print from my Fandangle collection. The best news is that I just got in more yardage of both of the Fandangle Grays so click here to grab some before it sells out out again!

LatticeWork Detail

I love bold, bright color – don’t you?

LatticeWork Quilt Stats

  • Size: 74″ x 82″ (Throw)
  • Completed: October, 2018
  • Machine used: BERNINA 770QE
  • Fabric used: Abstract Garden and Fandangle by Christa Watson
    with Colorweave from Benartex Contempo Studio
  • Batting used: Hobbs Tuscany Cotton/Wool
  • Thread used: Aurifil 50 weight cotton Variegated collection by Christa Watson
  • Quilting Motifs: irregular wavy plaid, walking foot (dual feed) quilting

Quick Links

If you missed any of the previous releases

LatticeWork Quilt

New Quilt Pattern – Blooming Wallflowers

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Are you enjoying seeing all of the new quilts I made from my Abstract Garden collection? I sure had fun making them! Today I’m excited to introduce you to Blooming Wallflowers, an optical illusion type quilt that looks much more complicated than it actually is.

Blooming Wallflowers quilt

Blooming Wallflowers – Throw Size

I paired up the colorful prints from Abstract Garden along with the Navy Herringbone print from Modern Marks, which is still available! I love brightly colored quilts with a rainbow of fabrics and it’s been fun to experiment and use “neutrals” other than black white or gray for this quilt.

Blooming Wallflowers detail

I love the movement in the Navy Herringbone print. I’ve designed all of my fabrics to work with each other so that you can mix and match between the collections.

The Blooming Wallflowers quilt pattern comes with instructions in 3 sizes and the cool thing about this design is that it stays the same for each size. The individual triangles are cut larger or smaller depending on which size you make.

Blooming Wallflowers Pattern CoverClick image above to enlarge.

I recommend using specialty rulers to cut the triangles, but I’ve also included full size templates so that you can get started making this quilt with the tools and supplies you have on hand!

I also include machine quilting suggestions in all of my patterns so that you can actually have success finishing them! Nothing disappoints me more than to see “quilt as desired” at the end of a quilt pattern.

Blooming Wallflowers quilt detail

Quilting detail – all of my patterns include machine quilting suggestions.

Quilt Along Coming in January

It’s important for me to make all of my own quilts not only to pattern test my designs, but to also go through the entire process so I can better understand any trouble spots that you may run into as you make the quilts. After all, my main goal in designing patterns and fabric and teaching my machine quilting methods is to help you make beautiful quilts and have a fun, stress-free time doing it!

So I’m excited to announce that I’ll be hosting a quilt along in January to make this quilt! Be sure to grab a copy of the pattern and stay tuned for details – I can’t wait!!

Blooming Wallflowers made with Abstract Garden and Modern Marks

Blooming Wallflowers Quilt Stats

  • Size: 59″ x 76″ (Throw)
  • Completed: October, 2018
  • Machine used: BERNINA 770QE
  • Fabric used: Abstract Garden and Modern Marks
    by Christa Watson for Benartex Contempo Studio
  • Batting used: Hobbs Tuscany Cotton/Wool
  • Thread used: Aurifil 50 weight cotton from Pieced and Quilt Collections:
    Colors and Neutrals by Christa Watson
  • Quilting Motifs: straight-line chevrons in the colorful blocks, pebbles in the accent blocks, free-motion chevrons in the background

Quick Links

New Quilt Pattern – Geese in the Garden Available Now

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It’s day 2 of my new pattern releases! (Click here for yesterday’s post about Pieced Primrose).
Today I’m excited to share my Geese in the Garden quilts with you! I had the most fun naming my patterns so that they would tie into the Abstract Garden theme of my latest fabric line.

Geese in the Garden quilt pattern featuring Abstract Garden

Baby Size Geese in the Garden – Cool Coloway

I made this design in two colorways – warm and cool. The best thing about this quilt is that it only calls for 5 fabrics! So you can pick and choose and play around with different arrangements of the diamonds to create some really fun color gradations.

And the secret to this quilt is that the diamonds aren’t “true” diamonds meaning they are easier to piece than traditional diamonds, AND they will work with HST’s (half-square triangles), QST’s (quarter square triangles) and Flying Geese units, whereas traditional diamonds won’t, because of the funky math involved.

Geese in the Garden from warm colors of Abstract Garden

Baby Size Geese in the Garden Cool – Warm Colorway

In the instructions, I very thoroughly explain how to cut and piece the diamonds with lots of clear illustrations for you to follow. The best part is there’s no specialty ruler required! All you need is a regular ruler that has a 45 degree angle and you are all set.

Wavy Line quitlign on Geese in the Garen

I quilted wavy lines on the warm version.

Of course I include machine quilting suggestions, too. For these quilts I quilted irregular wavy lines on the warm colorway and straight lines on the cool colorway. Both are done with a walking foot/dual feed – easy peasy!!

Straight Line quilting

I quilted irregularly spaced straight lines on the cool version.

I used more of my new variegated threads from Aurifil – pink for the warm and blue for the cool for the quilting. They added a nice touch to the quilt while not overpowering the pieced design.

The pattern comes in 3 sizes: Baby, Lap, Throw and the cool thing is that the design doesn’t change between the three sizes. You make the same number of units, but each one gets bigger depending on the size. So this quilt goes together super quick and is the perfect quilt to make when you need a gift in a hurry!

Geese in the Garden quilt pattern

Click image above to enlarge.

Geese in the Garden Quilt Stats

  • Size: 32″ x 40″ (Baby)
  • Completed: October, 2018
  • Machine used: BERNINA 770QE
  • Fabric used: Abstract Garden by Christa Watson for Benartex Contempo Studio
  • Batting used: Hobbs Tuscany Cotton/Wool
  • Thread used: Aurifil 50 weight cotton from The Variegated Collection by Christa Watson
  • Quilting Motifs: straight lines (cool), wavy lines (warm)

Quick Links

Geese in the Garden with Abstract Garden fabric

 

Finished Quilt and Pattern – Pieced Primrose Available Now!

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This week, I’m excited to release 4 new quilt patterns to go along with my upcoming fabric line Abstract Garden – which starts shipping to quilt shops next month. The PDF versions are all available now for instant download in my Craftsy shop, and print versions will be ready to ship by the end of the month.

Pieced Primrose Warm Colorway

Pieced Primrose in Warm – Wall Size (Actual Quilt)

Today I’d like to introduce you to Pieced Primrose, a paper foundation pieced pattern with tons of movement. I made two versions of the quilt, in both warm and cool colorways, but the possibilities with this pattern are really endless!

Pieced Primrose in the Cool Colorway

Pieced Primrose in Cool – Wall Size (Actual Quilt)

I’ve included instructions for two sizes in the pattern. I made the wall sizes shown above for my booth at quilt market.

Below are digital images of what the quilt would look like in the larger throw size:

Pieced Primrose quilt made from Abstract garden

Pieced Primrose in Warm – Throw Size (Digital Image)

I always think it’s amazing how much the digital versions of my designs look like the actual finished quilts. It’s because I design them in EQ8 using the exact fabrics I plan to use.

Pieced Primrose EQ design in cool

Pieced Primrose in Cool – Throw Size (Digital Image)

In the pattern, I’ve included full sized paper foundation templates which are super easy to print as many copies as you need for any size you wish. I’ll be sharing a tutorial later in the week for my favorite paper foundation method, so be on the lookout for that.

I’ve also included machine quilting suggestions for both quilts. Because I’ve used busy prints for both of the quilts, I recommend a simple all over free motion design. It’s a fun way to practice a motif that you’ve been wanting to try, and by the time you are finished quilting, you’ll be an expert at that design!

quilting detailsClick image above to enlarge for detail.

I love to include designs in my fabrics that are based on some of my favorite quilting motifs so it was fun to quilt round spirals on the warm colorway, to go along with the “blooming roses” spiral print. It’s hard to see the quilting detail, but you can click the images above and below to get a better look.

Quilting detail on PIeced Primrose coolClick image above to enlarge for detail.

I quilted allover square spirals on the cool colorway. For both versions, I used variegated Aurifil 50 weight threads to match, from my new thread collection releasing soon (more about that later when it gets here).

Pieced Primrose Quilt Stats

  • Size: 35″ x 35″ (Wall), 68″ x 84″ (Throw)
  • Completed: October, 2018
  • Machine used: BERNINA 770QE
  • Fabric used: Abstract Garden by Christa Watson for Benartex Contempo Studio
  • Batting used: Hobbs Tuscany Cotton/Wool
  • Thread used: Aurifil 50 weight cotton from The Variegated Collection by Christa Watson
  • Quilting Motifs: free motion designs – square and round spirals

Pieced Primrose Pattern Cover

Click the image above to enlarge.

Quick Links

Pieced Primrose Quilts Made from Abstract Garden