Snack Packs in Action!

We all love a quilt made with precuts, right? Some of the work is done for you, and you can get into the meat of the project that much faster. The Around the Rail Fence quilt by Lisa Swenson Ruble is a perfect example. The quilt, featured in the January-February 2016 issue of Fons & Porter's Quilting Quickly, uses a Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz snack pack for quick and easy piecing. 

"Around the Rail Fence" by Lisa Swenson Ruble; quilted by Diane Oakes
Featured in Fons & Porter's Quilting Quickly January-February 2016 issue

Q. What attracted you to Ro Gregg's Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz fabrics?

Lisa: I loved the richness of the colors. Each style of print (gemstones, jewels, and quartz) has so much depth and texture, all created by the bold colors. From far away, the prints look like more typical tonals, but when you see them up close, there's so much detail.

Q. Why did you choose to pair them with a white solid?

Lisa: These prints are truly saturated, and the white helps to create a little resting space for your eye. I think it helps the colors to pop ever more. I also think it gives the quilt a more modern feel.

Q. Tell us about your rail fence design variation.

Lisa: The rail fence is a fantastic block--so easy to make, especially with precut strips and strip piecing. Knowing that I wanted to use a white solid to break up the color, I played around with designs that used rail fence blocks with some space. I liked the idea of pieced and solid "borders" growing out from the center section. 

Q. What did you like about using a snack pack?

Lisa: Being able to dive right into the sewing! Cutting so many 2-1/2" wide strips is not my idea of fun. Using precut strips from the snack pack allowed me to skip ahead. I think I pieced this quilt in an afternoon, thanks in large part to the ready-to-go strips.

Q. How was Around the Rail Fence quilted?

Lisa: My friend and fellow guild member Diane Oakes quilted it for me. I knew I wanted something geometric and modern in the white borders, so that was easy. We talked for a while about a motif to use in the pieced sections and finally decided on a more organic design that blended rather than stood out. I love what she did and really like the juxtaposition of the two different motifs. 

Find Ro Gregg's Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz here.

Find out more about Lisa and her work here. 

Find Quilting Quickly here. (There's also a free video tutorial to make this quilt!)

Tour our booth - part 1

Recently we introduced new fabric lines to quilt shop owners at Fall Quilt Market in Houston, Texas. Today and tomorrow, we'll take you on a tour of our booth--there's so much to see!

First, an overall look:

Left side

Right side

Today we'll be sharing the quilts and fabric lines on the left side of the booth. Stop back tomorrow to see those on the right side!

We're very excited about Shannon Brinkley's first collection, Dryad. Here's the "Dryad" free quilt pattern we'll be offering with Shannon's line, made using a Snack Pack. 

A close-up of the quilting, as well as a few of the fabrics

A fat quarter bundle of Dryad sitting next to Shannon's book, Scrappy Bits Applique

"Marblehead Gems" by Pine Tree Country Quilts. Download this free quilt pattern for Ro Gregg's Marblehead Gemstones Jewels & Quartz here.

"Outside the Box 108" by Jessica J.E. Smith featuring Ro Gregg's Marblehead Gemstones Jewels & Quartz. Find the pattern here. 

"Classique" pieced by Sheila Reinke using Bonnie Hunter's "Bricks and Stepping Stones" pattern, featuring our huge basics collection, Classique

At Quilt Market, we also launched a brand new line of solids, called Painter's Palette Solids. You won't believe the quality, and the color selection is amazing (as you can see below!). The quilt is "Color Wheel" by Barb Eikmeier and Maria Pate.

"Batik Quilt" by Maria Pate, featuring our range of batiks:

And just for fun, a few coordinating table runners...

"Tulle and Petals" by Pine Tree Country Quilts 

Thanks for touring the first half of our Quilt Market booth. We'll be sharing more details about the new fabric collections in the coming weeks.

Getting in the Halloween Spirit: Orange & Black Prints

With Halloween around the corner, it's time to grab some orange and black prints and do a little sewing! Door banners, trick or treat bags, a table runner, or even a quilt...with the right fabrics, you can have so much holiday fun!

Here are some of our favorite orange and black prints:

Top row: Truck Stop, Nite Owls by Judy Hansen; Middle row: Sea Turtles, Changing Seasons by Ro Gregg; Bottom row: Bear Hugs, Marblehead Global Brights

Top row: Nite Owls, Marblehead Gemstones Jewels & Quartz by Ro Gregg; Middle row: Marblehead by Ro Gregg, Graphix 3; Bottom row: Marimba, Sea Turtles

Ask for them at your local quilt shop!

Tute-Happy Summer: Stair Stepper Runner

We're completing our Tute-Happy Summer series today with a tutorial for a jewel-toned Stair Stepper Runner by Connie from from Freemotion by the River. Connie used the bold prints from the Ro Gregg's Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz collection. Enjoy the tutorial and then find the details at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a bundle of Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz prints to play with!

Hi, I'm Connie from Freemotion by the River and I have another easy table runner tutorial to share with you.

I used the fat quarter bundle of Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz by Ro Gregg for Fabri-Quilt.

The size of this table runner is 14" x 27".

I picked six fabrics from the fat quarter bundle and also used muslin for the neutral squares.

• From each of the 6 fabrics cut 2 - 2'' strips by the longest side of the fat quarter (22 inches) then sub-cut into 2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangles. You will need 45.
• Cut the muslin into  3 1/2'' strips the width of the fabric, then sub-cut to 18 - 3 1/2'' x 3 1/2'' squares. You will need 18.
• Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Join pieces together as shown below.

Cutting the fabrics

Follow the diagrams below to make your block.

• Sew one 2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangle to a 3 1/2'' square
• Sew two 2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangles together on the 2'' side
• Sew two 2'' x 3 1/2'' rectangles to a 3 1/2' square on the 3 1/2'' sides

Sew the sections together.

Make 9 of the blocks.

Arrange the 9 blocks into 3 rows. I rotated the center blocks 180 degrees.

Finish sewing the rows together, add you backing and batting and quilt as desired.

For the binding I just cut 2 1/2'' strips of the fabrics and pieced them together.

I had to take a photo of the table runner outside next to our wood carved eagle.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and stop by my website for more tutorials and patterns.

Thanks Connie!
Head over to Connie's blog to find out how you can win a bundle of Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz.

Check out each week of our Summer of Tutes!
Week 1: Sunglasses case featuring Graphix 3
Week 2: The overnight bag featuring Who's Who

Week 3: Tablet case featuring Jungle Party 

Week 4: Patriotic pennants featuring Tone on Tone 

Week 5: Melon mini featuring Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz

Week 6: Zig zag lunchbag featuring Graphix 3

Week 7: Placemats featuring Marblehead Pleasing Pastels

Week 8: Table topper featuring Marblehead Pleasing Pastels

Week 9: Elegant clutch featuring Jungle Party 
Week 10: Modern table topper featuring Prairie Cloth Solids

Week 11: Striped table runner featuring Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz

Week 12: Nautical mini featuring Prairie Cloth Solids

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Announcing our Nautical Mini Prairie Cloth Solids bundle winner!

Jasmine

Congratulations! We've sent you an email.

Tute-Happy Summer: Striped Table Runner

We're continuing our Tute-Happy Summer series today with a tutorial for a striking table topper by Connie from from Freemotion by the River. Connie used the bold prints from the Ro Gregg's Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz collection. Enjoy the tutorial and then find the details at the bottom of this post for a chance to win a bundle of Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz prints to play with!

Hi, I'm Connie from Freemotion by the River and I have another fun table runner pattern to share with you.

I used the fat quarter bundle of Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz by Ro Gregg for Fabri-Quilt.

The size of this table runner is 11" x 44".

I picked six fabrics from the fat quarter bundle and also used muslin for the neutral strips.

• Cut each of the 6 fabrics into 4 - 1 1/2 inch strips by the longest side of the fat quarter (22 inches).
• Cut the muslin into 10 - 1 inch strips the width of the fabric, then sub-cut to 20-22 inches for a total of 20 strips.
• Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance. Join pieces together.

It is a good idea to sew the first two strips together and then switch directions for the next strip. Change back and forth when adding each strip. This will keep your piece from bowing.

Make 4 sections. Press after adding each strip. Your section should measure 8 1/2" tall.

Square up each section and cut  2 - 8 1/2" x 8 1/2" squares. You will have a total of 8.

Cut each square in half diagonally. 

Cut each block exactly the same way.

Take 4 pieces and lay them out as shown below.

Piece the sections together. 

Make 4 blocks.

Add a 1" muslin sashing between the blocks.

Add backing and batting and quilt as desired. I cut some additional 2 1/2" strips from the leftover fat quarters to use for my binding.

My daughter was here last weekend and claimed this table runner. She just redid her bedroom in these colors and this will work perfectly on her bedroom dresser. She would like 2 small mats for her end tables. I think I have just enough leftovers to make them.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and stop by my blog for more tutorials and patterns. 


Thanks Connie!
Head over to Connie's blog to find out how you can win a bundle of Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz. This giveaway is now closed, but be sure to check out our other tutorials, as we'll be sharing a tutorial and hosting a giveaway each week!

Check out each week of our Summer of Tutes!
Week 1: Sunglasses case  featuring Graphix 3
Week 2: The overnight bag featuring Who's Who

Week 3: Tablet case featuring Jungle Party 

Week 4: Patriotic pennants featuring Tone on Tone 

Week 5: Melon mini featuring Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz

Week 6: Zig zag lunchbag featuring Graphix 3

Week 7: Placemats featuring Marblehead Pleasing Pastels

Week 8: Table topper featuring Marblehead Pleasing Pastels

Week 9: Elegant Clutch featuring Jungle Party 
Week 10: Modern Table Topper featuring Prairie Cloth Solids

Week 12: Nautical mini featuring Prairie Cloth Solids

Week 13: Stair Stepper Runner featuring Gemstones, Jewels and Quartz

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Announcing our Modern Table Topper Prairie Cloth Solids bundle winner:

Kathy

Congratulations! We've sent you a email.

5 Fave Free Patterns!

We're starting off the week right, sharing 5 of our favorite free patterns! 

Which one do you like best?

1. "Garden Squares" by Pine Tree Country Quilts

featuring the Vera Cruz snack pack

Click here to download the "Garden Squares" pdf.

2. "Vintage Stars" by Barbara J. Eikmeier

featuring the Vintage Shirting and Dress Prints collection

Click here to download the "Vintage Stars" pdf.

3. "Monkey Wrenches" by Airborne Heirlooms

featuring the Shadows Snack Pack

Click here to download the "Monkey Wrenches" pdf.

4. "Autumn Splendor" by Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis

featuring the Autumn in the Forest Snack Pack

Click here to download the "Autumn Splendor" pdf.

 5. "Marblehead Gems" by Pine Tree Country Quilts

featuring Ro Gregg's Marblehead Gemstones, Jewels & Quartz

Click here to download the "Marblehead Gems" pdf.

Find more of our free patterns here and here.