Sandi Blackwell is such a lovely woman. I could not attend Quilt Market this past year so Sandi brought Market to me :) She sent me her newest book and several patterns to review and give away on my blog. Can I get a loud Woooo Hooooo for Sandi!!! She just ROCKS!!!
From the moment I watched Sandi demonstrate how she sews squares together and then turns them into complicated quilt patterns I was blown away. She uses science to make beautiful quilt pattern designs.
I have to be honest and tell you that I would not be willing to cut my fabric on a diagonal and sew the bias edges back together again. I have enough trouble keeping everything square and I don't want headaches. I'm sure that is why I was so tickled to see Sandi's method.
The diagram on the back of
Simply Sensational Square-Agonals Quilts is an excellent visual description of how Sandi manages to turn a bunch of squares into a beautiful on-point quilt. First you sew all the squares together and then you cut them on a diagonal and re-sew those pieces together. Yes, you do have bias edges and I did say I don't like bias edges. Sandi demonstrates how she keeps those edges stable by using her tape. It isn't required to use it, but for folks like me...I'd use it.
As I said, you don't have to use the additional Guide Tapes but they are helpful if you are like me and gets things mixed up and wonky. Sandi also provides templates in her book for the Arrow's that you can print and use as well.
I assure you that with the visual guides and very well written instructions you can make a beautiful quilt like Strawberry Fields without having to cut all those small bias edges.
I just love the Strawberry Fields pattern. It is bright, cheerful and can be made with a huge variety of fun fabrics. There isn't a pattern in this book that I don't like which is a real compliment coming from me. Typically there are only a few quilts in a book that I am drawn to and I'm drawn to every one of Sandi's quilts. Just look at the cover of the book....isn't that just a stunning quilt?
Did I mention a giveaway? I sure did :)
I will be giving away an autographed copy of
Simply Sensational Square-Agonals Quilts this Friday to one very lucky person AND 4 other very lucky people will be given one of Sandi's patterns.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sandi has
Free Pattern Downloads, you don't want to miss those!!!
Jack Blackwell wrote an article that was published in Quiltposium Magazine that you may enjoy reading.
Smiles,
Kelly
