Sewing with pre-cut fabric packs is all the rage. It allows for endless creativity and makes it a cinch to stitch up lovely quilts without breaking the bank. Little Bits Quilting Bee features 20 projects for small fabric scraps and bundles including jelly rolls, charm squares, layer cakes, and fat quarters. From king-sized quilts to wall hangings, and more, this beautifully illustrated book has something for sewers of every skill level. To top it all off, author Kathreen Ricketson founder of the hugely popular craft site WhipUp.net offers expert shortcuts and step-by-step instructions.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
The colourful photographs, vibrant fabrics, and charming vintage-modern styling give this book a warm and inviting feel. - Ellen Luckett Baker
Kathreen has produced a book full of original, interesting and diverse designs that don't look like pre-cuts at all. - Sarah Fielke
Beautifully written and charmingly hand illustrated. [Little bits quilting bee] begins with a look at the community aspect of quilting, from quilting bees and swaps to guilds and charity quilts. ... [The quilts] are fresh, fun, modern and inspiring. Put together but not too put together if you know what I mean. - Aneela Hoey
Along with being super informative, if I had to use one adjective for the book, it would be cozy. There's just something about the photography and the great hand drawn illustrations that make reading this book a comfy way to spend some time! - Alissa Haight Carlton
Kathreen has produced a book full of original, interesting and diverse designs that don't look like pre-cuts at all. - Sarah Fielke
Beautifully written and charmingly hand illustrated. [Little bits quilting bee] begins with a look at the community aspect of quilting, from quilting bees and swaps to guilds and charity quilts. ... [The quilts] are fresh, fun, modern and inspiring. Put together but not too put together if you know what I mean. - Aneela Hoey
Along with being super informative, if I had to use one adjective for the book, it would be cozy. There's just something about the photography and the great hand drawn illustrations that make reading this book a comfy way to spend some time! - Alissa Haight Carlton
From the Author
When I first began designing the quilts for the book, I drew upon my art and photography background to research ideas, mixing tradition and contemporary together - taking in colour, contrasts, shapes and patterns from different cultures and handmade traditions such as Japanese Shibori, Latvian embroidery, Indian architecture and Mid-century fabric design. I knew I wanted my personal style (vintage/modern and cosy) to shine through strongly - while at the same time creating young, vibrant and graphic designs - I hope I succeeded and I hope you enjoy the book!
Making 20 quilts in a short space of time is quite physically demanding - so I devised a method of sewing standing up which really saved my back. Mentally it was a challenge too - all that math! And yes I quilted all the quilts (with the exception of one) myself at home on a mid arm quilting machine.
Big lovely thank you to my husband Rob Shugg who is the genius behind the hand drawn illustrations, my two cheeky children who appear angelic in the book. And of course the fabulous photographer and stylist who made the quilts look so charming and cosy.
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More About the Author
Kathreen Ricketson is founder of WhipUp.net, the online handcraft hub, and Action-pack.com - a e-magazine for kids who want to do stuff. She has been featured on popular craft blogs such as Design*Sponge and Craftzine. She lives in Canberra, Australia, with her family.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By Sew Great
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ricketson's latest book has a touch of artistry in the designs that is most impressive. I particularly liked several designs that would suit young boys bedrooms, simple, bold, clever and colorful. All the quilts are produced using commercially available pre-cut pieces with templates supplied for the 4 quilts that require further cutting. These are packaged in a neat pocket inside the front cover. The book will please quilters who would love to make a great quilt but are not confident about detailed hand sewing. The illustrations are very clear and helpful especially if the entire quilt is not seen in the photograph. I was especially impressed by the author/designer's talent in piecing together colors and textures that made some of the quilts look 3 dimensional. Also love her warm inclusive style of prose and the lovely story about making community quilts. Great Christmas present!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By meela
Format:Hardcover
How can pre cuts be so versatile, so creative, so amazing! I always thought of pre cuts as a kind of kit or "quilt by numbers". This book sweeps that myth away with color combinations and patterns for today's quilter, while being respectful of the past. I love the way Kathreen frees us from the confines of "one pre cut pack:one quilt" To Kathreen pre cuts are the perfect way to build your stash with great little pattern and color combos that can be used in any design. Then she nails this concept down with breathtaking designs like the three dimensional "Dress Circle" using a combination of solids and patterned fabrics.
This book inspires us with quilt designs to suit all of our loved ones, even the boys, with "Squadron" and the stunning "Constructivist".
I love her friendly tone and well structured, clear instructions. The Photos are beautiful, (though I would like more) and the illustrations have a warmth only possible in hand drawn images.
If you get only one quilting book this year, make it this one, you'll love it!
This book inspires us with quilt designs to suit all of our loved ones, even the boys, with "Squadron" and the stunning "Constructivist".
I love her friendly tone and well structured, clear instructions. The Photos are beautiful, (though I would like more) and the illustrations have a warmth only possible in hand drawn images.
If you get only one quilting book this year, make it this one, you'll love it!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Beejay
Format:Hardcover
I bought this book because of the glowing reviews. After receiving it & reading the reviews again, it's obvious to me that no one has actually made one of these quilts yet. "Quilter's Bible" & great for beginners was mentioned. Yes, lots of info at the beginning of this book would be great for a beginner, but the quilts are much too difficult for that level. Circles, curved piecing, matching seams of angled pieces (which, by the way don't match), & applique just to name a few. My biggest complaint, however, are the so called templates. Templates are given for 10 quilts. Four are at 100%, two are at 50% and Four are at 75%. Please tell me what good a 75% template does me when it is already almost 8 1/2 x 11?
Great ideas, poor fabric (& color) choices - the hot air balloon is very cute & I will probably make it, but the color choices are so bad. This could have been an outstanding quilt, instead it's blah. The Lollypop Tree....another cute idea w/strange combinations. Why would you make the outside so muted & the center so vibrant? Illustrations for these quilts should be eliminated & pictures of the actual quilt should be shown, not just draped over something.
I hardly ever write reviews, but this book just irritated me.
Great ideas, poor fabric (& color) choices - the hot air balloon is very cute & I will probably make it, but the color choices are so bad. This could have been an outstanding quilt, instead it's blah. The Lollypop Tree....another cute idea w/strange combinations. Why would you make the outside so muted & the center so vibrant? Illustrations for these quilts should be eliminated & pictures of the actual quilt should be shown, not just draped over something.
I hardly ever write reviews, but this book just irritated me.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Little Bits quilting Bee
A simple book that would be good for a group of people to do projects. Plan to try one of them on my own.
Published 1 month ago by K. Summers
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quilting Bee
Super fun and imaginative. Fast and Easy. Loads of inspiration. A great book for those looking to use those precut packs.
Published 1 month ago by bookreview
5.0 out of 5 stars
great littole book
This is a fun book. I love to make little quilts so this is just what I enjoy reading. Lots of inspiration and good directions.
Published 2 months ago by Cheryl Proctor
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beginning Quilter
This is a great guide for a beginning quilter like me! It is very well organized and easy to navigate.
Published 4 months ago by Amanda Holloway
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely looking book, not for true beginner, fabric measurements are...
I am on the beginner end of the quilting spectrum but with 15 years of other sewing experience. I've made a handful of smaller sized quilts and wanted to start making larger ones. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Kathy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely a quilting bible...
I purchased the book on the advice of a well-established craft blog that I follow and I'm so glad I did. Read more
Published 14 months ago by aisling
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ineteresting
I do like this book and all the information it has to offer about the allure of quilting guilds, swaps etc. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Robot Mom Sews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bright, Cheery and Fun Book!
I was instantly in love with the book when I first received it.
It's bright, cheery and full of super fun and colorful projects! Read more
It's bright, cheery and full of super fun and colorful projects! Read more
Published 16 months ago by Pleasant Home
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bursting with color and fun!
The designs in this book are full of fun - colorful, bold, bright, and fresh. I could imagine the patterns done in other color combinations, but the book doesn't present... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jane Rosenthal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Quilting!!!
This little gem of a book caught my eye because of the unique designs of the quilts within its pages. Read more
Published 19 months ago by PattyLouise
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