Last January I discovered a new quilt shop here in Kansas City, KC Maker Studio, that was having on-line quilt classes during the pandemic. The series of classes available on Saturday mornings introduced the different types of pre-cut fabrics and patterns that could be used with them. For a nominal fee, I was provided with a new quilt pattern, directions for cutting and piecing the pre-cut fabric, and a forum for asking questions and working through issues.
The first month’s class focused on Layer Cakes, which are 10″ square cuts of fabric. We were provided with the Disappearing 4-Patch Pattern. Like any good quilter I just happened to have a layer cake packet in my stash that I had bought several years ago with no particular project in mind, I just loved the fabric. Unfortunately I do not remember the brand or the fabric line. I added solid black and white fabric to the layer cake selections and the quilt top went together quickly.
I have been working through Christa Watson’s 99 Machine Quilting Designs book and choose the Single Wavy Lines for a quilting pattern. I loved how easy and fast the quilting was.
For each of her designs, Christa provides a stitched sample, a stitching diagram along with a description and tips/tricks. This particular pattern uses a walking foot. I have not yet tried any of the free-motion designs.
In February, the class worked with Jelly Rolls, which are Moda fabrics 2 1/2″ by 42″ strips of a fabric collection. I purchased a Sophie Jelly Roll on-line from KC Maker Studio and when I received it I just fell in love with all the fabric. It is a delicious collection of vintage florals along with a few ginghams in greens, pinks, grey and even red.
The pattern we used is called Sweet Love by Villa Rosa Designs. Besides the Sophie jelly roll, I used some green dot fabric for the background from my stash. As I was piecing the fabric I knew I needed to select one of the fabrics from the collection to use as backing and binding for this quilt since I loved it so much. It took me a couple of weeks to piece the top and decide on the layout.
It was difficult to pick just one of the gorgeous fabrics in the collection for the backing but I eventually settled on Cobblestone which is a grey background with delicate pink florals.
One thing I learned is that pre-cuts of a new collection typically hit the stores first and then yardage follows some time later. It took six weeks for my order to arrive but when it did, I immediately started the process of quilting and binding. For the quilting design I again turned to Christa Watson’s 99 Machine Quilting Designs book and choose the Wavy Grid as a quilting pattern. It built on the Single Wavy line design I used for my last quilt.
The quilting went far more quickly than any I have done before. I am sure I will use this pattern over again!
What I loved about using pre-cuts is that the cutting process is faster and cutting is not my favorite step in the process of making a quilt. It also allows you to use pre-coordinated fabrics from a single collection. Pre-cuts also optimizes the amount of fabric that is used although my stash collection always likes leftovers!
The KCMakerStudio classes were a perfect introduction for me into pre-cuts and using patterns I may have not chosen for myself. I am pretty sure this Sophie quilt is my most favorite to date……at least until I make my next one!!