Thursday, February 14, 2013

Precut Patchwork Party is full of fun, modern projects!


Thank you to FreeSpirit Fabrics for asking me to be a guest blogger. I am so excited to tell you about my newest book for Creative Publishing International – Precut Patchwork Party. As the tag line says on the cover of the book, it’s full of “modern projects to sew and craft with fabric strips, squares and fat quarters”.

I have been a huge fan of FreeSpirit precut fabric bundles for a long time . I often pick them up with absolutely no idea of how I will use them. The colors and patterns just look so pretty all together in a bundle.

There are lots of patterns and ideas available for using precuts charm squares, strips and fat quarters to make quilts. But I wanted to design a collection of projects for this book that were everything but quilts. So Precut Patchwork Party will show you how to make a variety of home dec projects, as well as wearables, accessories and gift items. I’ve included lots of basic sewing information, tips of working with precut fabrics and several of my favorite sewing techniques like fabric rick-rack and rosettes that can be made from folded precut strips.
Here is one of my favorite projects from the book:

Tisket Tasket Fabric Basket (Insert photo of baskets.)

Fabric strips from Kathy Davis’ Blossoming collection are used to make these woven fabric baskets. Make a few to organize your spools of thread and notions in your sewing room or use one to hold a casserole dish (and sew a coordinating lined napkin with a couple of fat quarters).

The beauty of working with bundles of precut fabrics is that they are coordinated by color or theme or designer collection and all the fabrics work well with each. Mix and match as you like. You really can’t go wrong. And sewing with precuts is really easy - lots of straight sewing. All the projects in my book utilize the standard sizes of precuts so you can get started right away with very little time spent cutting fabric (not everyone’s favorite part of any sewing project).



Elaine Schmidt

The projects in this book are perfect for a new sewist as well as someone who has been sewing for awhile. They all are constructed with very basic sewing techniques. Anyone who makes quilts and wants to do something new with their stash of precuts will find inspiration. So next time you can’t resist buying those beautiful bundles at the quilt store, know that there is a lot you can make with them, other than your beautiful quilts.

Editor's Note: Tell us why you love to sew with precuts and we will select on random commentator to win a copy of Elaine's book along with a set of precut bundles so you can get creative the minute you win. Winner will be drawn on Monday, February 18.  

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61 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

I am fascinated with those pretty baskets! Pre-cuts are a 'go-to' with a few staple patterns for a quickly needed quilt - time savers as well as you get to taste all the fabrics of a line.

Erin Quinn said...

I love precuts because the hardest part - making sure my cutting is true - is done for me :-) i hate when I've fdone my cutting and realise that I've cut things an inch to short or have done a wonky line.
E

Judy1522 said...

I love sewing with precuts as I don't have to worry about coordinating the fabrics as I know everything will look good together. I also like the fact that they make the project faster to make.

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

I love precuts - they make making this so much faster, since you spend hardly any time cutting! I would love to make some not-quilty patchwork things for our house!

Pippa Parsons said...

I love precuts because you get the whole fabric range in itty bitty squares, I like making wall hangings and I've just made a bag with a charm pack :)

Melissa said...

I love sewing with precuts because cutting is my least favorite part of the process! I also love that you can get a little bit of every fabric without going broke :)

Jeanie said...

I love precuts! Obviously, I love not having to cut the fabric, but I also love that I can have the whole fabric collection in one bundle. Love them!

Bernie said...

Sewing with precuts saves time and I am able to get a substantial variety of fabrics for my quilting projects without aggravating my LQS staff by asking them to cut small amounts of a whole line of fabrics.

ledamewood said...

I love precuts because of the accuracy of the cuts - no slipping of rulers, no being off just a hair - precision.

Dana Gaffney said...

Pre-cuts save so much time and I agree FQ bundles are the best, enough fabric to make something wonderful and all matching fabrics. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Precuts avoid some of the tedium of cutting and you get results fast!

KatheG said...

I love precuts because they take the guess work out of what goes with what for me and then is already cut so I won't have slip-ps on my cutting. Thanks.

Kathryn said...

I love that those precuts can sit there quietly on my shelf, and then just come to my rescue when I need a quick project.

SuzyMcQ said...

Cutting into fabric and getting absolutely straight and square cuts is still a bit intimidating to me, so buying precuts are a great way for me to just jump right in which makes the entire process FUN!

trillium said...

I love to sew with precuts because I don't have to wash them before sewing and I get a coordinated look without effort.

Cindy said...

Precuts are great! The hard part of cutting is already done for you, and the fabrics all coordinate. Thanks for the givewaway.

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Pre-cuts are so fun because I get some of each fabric in the line. They are easy to put together to make the many beautiful patterns availble using pre-cuts.

Mary Kay said...

I am just beginning to work with some precuts - this book would be great - love the little baskets and napkins!

Mary Kay said...

I am just beginning to work with precuts - would love the book! the basket and napkin are too cute

JaneRH said...

Having a little bit of this and that in my fabric collection, I've grown to love precuts. They give you new colors and designs to add to my less-than-up-to-date fabric. Though sometimes I love a line so much I design a project around the precut. Great way to buy just a bit of fabric!

JoyceLM said...

I love precuts because at least half my cutting time has already been done for me. Plus I can get the scrappy look I love quickly & easily. Thanks.

rkplumber@yahoo.com said...

I have not been quilting for a long time so I would love to try working with precuts! love the little baskets!

Margaret said...

I love precuts because it makes it faster to make a quilt with the strips already cut and they are straight. I love the colors so coordinated

Maisy said...

I LOVE precuts! All the tedious work of measuring and cutting has been done for you and you can get right to the fun part of sewing! I also love that everything is color/pattern coordinated. It really makes sewing and quilting and creating more fun!

Cecilia said...

I love the precuts because they cut the time it takes me to select fabrics as well as the cutting. They are great for quick and easy projects and they always look great because the colors are so coordinated. I love those baskets! Thanks for a chance to win a copy of the book.

Rosa said...

Those little baskets are super cute.Precuts save time and the best is that you don´t need to coordinate,all match very well.

Sharon S, central Oregon said...

What a wonderful preview, baskets, and book. I would love some precuts and the book to try something new. Thanks for the opportunity.

D B Lipsky said...

I really haven't used precuts that much because I always cut my fabric to size. Using pre-cuts would make my life a lot easier and these projects are great.

oncetwicethreetimesme said...

what a delightful project! and i can imagine that the rest are just as wonderful. this would be great to have and the baskets would so much fun for my girls :)

oncetwicethreetimesme said...

this looks like so much fun - my girls would love these and i would love to see the rest of the book!

tisha @ quiltytherapy said...

I love precuts since they take the prep work out of projects. I can usually open them and get started pretty quickly.

tisha @ quiltytherapy said...

I love the simplicity of precuts. I can start with a charm pack and have a project going pretty quickly without too much prep work.

Joyce said...

I usually can't wait to start a new project and to save time on the cutting part makes it even better. And matching colors is always right!

Meredith said...

I love to sew with precuts because they are already cut and because you can get a great variety of prints without spending a ton of money!!

Gunilla said...

I love that precuts include every print from one collection! I also use them when I want just a little fabric, from a line I really like, to make something small and beautiful!

dadkad said...

Love them

Savannagal said...

I would really love to try precuts. I'm very left brain and have a difficult time pulling things together. It would be a great help to have all the fabrics matched up for me ahead of time. Thanks much.

Jean L said...

I LOVE the baskets and how easy with the precuts! Especially when you live an hour away from a fabric store!

Mary Jo said...

Can't wait to tackle those super cute baskets for my sewing room!! Love! What other goodies are in your book?

Mary Jo said...

Can't wait to make those super cute baskets for my sewing room! Love..love..love! What other fun projects are in the book?

Samantha said...

Awesome giveaway! I can't wait to do my first precut jelly roll race.

Four dogs and one quilter said...

Love using precuts in my projects. I am able to get the whole line for a reasonable cost and can quickly get to work because they are, well, pre-cut.

Christina said...

I love using precuts when I'm making quilts as gifts--it comes together so quickly! christina112358 at gmail dot com

Judith said...

Right now I'm dealing with both space and time constraints. Pre-cuts are the answer. I don't need a huge cutting area, so I can cut what is needed in the available space. And since I only spend a fraction of the time cutting, I can spend most of my time sewing. I really appreciate that.

Joan said...

I would like to see these projects especially to woven baskets that can be used for hot foods and be made to fit special dishes.

Paula Lemos said...

I love to sew with precuts because my cutting is not as perfect as it should be and because of that cutting is the part I enjoy less. Thanks for the chance!
ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

Sarah_L_N said...

I like precuts, because it is one less thing for me to do wrong! The number of times I have cut something too short or too narrow because I'm not concentrating enough, well, lets just say you'd think I'd learn to pay more attention! Often I like everything in a fabric collection too, so I can have a little bit of everything with precuts :)

Tamie said...

I love having a bit of each piece of a line. This book looks like fun.

Ginger said...

Sewing with precuts puts you ahead. The cutting is (mostly) done for you.

quiltzyx said...

This looks like a fun book! Pre-cuts just save so much time - they're brilliant!

Estie said...

Precuts are handy, ready to be used, save time and fabrics are coordinated beautifully.

Janelle said...

I like to get the variety that pre-cuts offer for a project!

Gill said...

I love precuts! so easy to use and you get a sample of each fabric

ikk said...

I'm new to quilting and choosing right colours is difficult so the pre-cuts save me a lot of work and worry. And also they are always perfectly cut.

sue said...

Less cutting, can use all the fabric in collection and not go broke and they are fun!!!!

Joy B. said...

Like you said in the post, cutting is my least favorite part of sewing. Plus, I'm terrible at coordinating fabric, so the bundles make that so much easier!

Angelia L. said...

I love sewing with precuts because as a new quilter most of the hard work is done for me.... accurate cuts, colors coordinated, and straight seams. I also like that you get to see a whole collection of beautiful fabric. The projects in this book would be great for those single precut packs that aren't enough to make a whole quilt with. Thank you!

Lorine said...

I love per cuts for numerous reasons. No standing in line to have fabric cut, wonderful bits of fun..... Elaine your book gives me more reasons to buy fabric precursor. Thanks

Jo said...

I like precuts as they all work together and you get a bit of a whole range rather than having to decide on just a few!

Jo said...

I love pre-cuts because they coordinate and I don't have to try and select just a few from the range!

Jo said...

I love pre-cuts because you they all work together and I don't have to try and select just a few from the range.