Next time you make a quilt for a child, consider making a game too!

P is for Play includes instructions for games pieces and a soft die.   A soft quilt to sleep under but first play a quiet, educational game all about the alphabet.  Just the right kind of slow-me-down, relaxing game . . . the next best thing to reading before bedtime.

Now little girls (and boys) can play a favorite sidewalk game indoors with the Hopscotch Mat. Chalk hopscotch was never this colorful! Roll up the mat and take the game anywhere.   Sew a few washers inside fabric pieces for “stones”.

Checker Game Twin Size quilt will lend a playful look to any bedroom.  Or spread it on the floor and play a really large size game of checkers, with room at each end of the playing board for the players to sit on the quilt.  Make checker pieces from leftover fabric and a coordinating pouch to hold them when play is over.

Just by its design this quilt is visually interesting, but when you “Think Inside The Box” and add novelty fabrics it gets even better.  Make pairs of blocks and you can play a matching game.  Or make each on different and a game of “I Spy With My Little Eye” is possible.

While you can’t really play the games on this quilt, Learn To Play is a fun looking quilt.  It would look great hanging on the wall in your family room, or the kids’ playroom.

Making quilts is already fun.  Make a game quilt and double your fun!

If you tend to like bright quilts, with lots of color and pizazz then you will love the patterns by Barbara Groves and Mary Jacobon (and, yes, they really are sisters). Quiet, muted quilts just are not part of their repertoire!   I think the quilts they design are a reflection of their personalities.  If you follow the Me And My Sister Designs blog then you know what I am talking about!

Even the binding on the Happy Dance Quilt is bright and colorful.  The pattern includes cutting instructions for using fat quarters, eighth yard cuts and layer cakes.  Measuring 78 1/2″ x 78 1/2″,  you will have a whole lot of Happy when you are finished!

What little girl wouldn’t consider this a Sweet Treat to have in her bedroom.  Cover a table, or toss over the end of the bed.  All the applique is layered and raw edge so, besides all the colorful cheerfulness, you get plenty of texture and dimension.

The first in a series, Easy as 1…2…3 has instructrions for 3 different quilts that are very fast and very easy.   One is just right for a jelly roll and the other two showcase a fun fabric in the middle and you can use charm squares to make the borders.

Tipsy Quilt Pattern is somewhat muted compared to the other quilts, but it’s still rather colorful.  The block centers are just right for fussy cutting a fun fabric.

Send Flowers is a very easy stripy quilt with layered raw edge appliqued flowers….. just for fun!

We’ll have to revisit Me and My Sisters Designs in the near future because we haven’t even touched on the bags and purses.  And they have a super cute pincushion set…. super cute!  And LOTS more quilt patterns!

Do you “like” us on Facebook?   If not, head over to our QuiltersWarehouse Facebook page and “like” us now.  

This month’s Facebook First Friday deal gives you 10% off anything in our rulers and tools department.   If you’ve been wanting a tool and just hadn’t gotten around to getting it, now’s the time. 

Choose from any of the Creative Grid Rulers.  

They have square up rulers in sizes from 4.5″ to 20.5″.     The smaller ones are handy for taking along to sewing retreats or sewing days with your guild….and invaluable for squaring Half Square Triangles.  The larger ones are great for those large log cabin blocks or Baltimore Album blocks.   The large ones are also helpful if you need to cut a long strip of very wide fabric….. use your long 6.5″ ruler for the cutting edge and add how ever many inches you need from the square up ruler, and line that up with the edge of your fabric.  With a 16.5″ square and a 6.5″ ruler, if your fabric is folded you can easily cut your fabric 40″ wide for backing.  You’ll find that it’s much more square than trying to cut evenly from the selvedges.

Their rectangle rulers range from 1″ x 6″ that’s just right for miniature quilts to 6.5″ x 24.5″ that you’ll use everyday.  And, of couse, there are several triangle and specialty rulers. 

All of Creative Grid rulers have Gripper Dots.
These are the secret to cutting fabric with ease and accuracy – opaque dots that run along the edges of the rulers are part of a patented design that works to prevent slipping and sliding as you’re cutting.

Have you tried any of Kaye Wood’s “View & Do” shapes?  They come in circles, hexagons, and 60 degree diamonds.

Elisa’s Backporch has several curved templates available.  If you’ve never done curved piecing, don’t be afraid – it’s not as hard as you think!  And you’ll get some really fun looks to your quilts.

You can also save on Dahlia (large, and not so large!) templates, Dresden plate templates, a tool to help with pin basting, and lots more!

So head over to our QuiltersWarehouse Facebook page for the Discount Code.  The offer is good all weekend… now through the end of the day Sunday (CST).

Who says you can’t make an interesting quilt with just squares and rectangles?  So many quilts use angle cuts to add motion and interest and design but as you can see from these examples, by using just squares and rectangles, you can make some pretty fantastic quilts.

The placement of the light and dark fabrics in the Thirty Something quilt makes it look like it is pulsating.   This pattern is perfect for stash reducing or maybe you have a fat quarter bundle that you’ve been wanting to use.

Double Takes I has one pattern in two sizes.  Use layer cake squares for the larger quilt and charm squares for the little quilt.

Scrap Therapy Square Deal Quilt will work to reduce your scraps but don’t overlook getting fabric specifically for this pattern.  This pattern would really shine with the right batiks.

Can’t get any easier than Easy As 10…11…12!  Three fast, fun, and easy quilts.  One is fat eighth friendly, one is layer cake friendly and one is jelly roll friendly. 

If you are looking for a bigger impact, and aren’t afraid of a lot of pieces, here are a couple patterns you might want to try.

Reminiscent of a Trip Around the World quilt, Day Trip uses squares from 2 1/2″ strips to give the look of diamonds.   Lots of pieces but it will go together quicker than you think.

Little Sister Quilt is patterned after an antique quilt.  Simple nine patch blocks are placed in diagonal rows by color.  In the sample shown here, Sandy Klop chose to use different fabrics within the unusual border to make the quilt look more like an antique.

That was just a sampling of the quilt patterns available that use straight line pieces.  Don’t be afraid to be square!

While we are all drawn to certain patterns, and have our favorite quilt designers,  quilt books can offer a little more…. or a lot more!   Most books have several patterns for quilts, with options for different sizes for each pattern.   The designer will usually offer tips and insights for easier construction or color combinations.  If you will find yourself with a little spare time but can’t get into your sewing room, perusing a quilt book is the next best thing.

Summertime by Black Mountain Quilts features mainly quick, easy to construct summery quilts.  Many large pieces give you an opportunity to show off your favorite fabrics. 

Karen Eckmeier of the Quilted Lizard will show you how to make Happy Villages with an easy method of glue basting and machine stitching with a layer of tulle.  No seams or points to worry about; your mind is free to let your imagination run wild and make it your village.

Have you caught the “Modern Quilt” craze?  Embellishment Potpourri has dozens of creative accents using thread, fabric and more – don’t you want to know what that ‘more’ is?!  This book will be sure to fuel your creative juices.

Take a stroll through Miss Mabel’s Garden and you will discover projects galore.  From placemats to bed quilts, and difficulty levels from beginner to advanced this is a book you will return to again and again. 

If you have an athlete in your life, Fan-Tastic Sport Quilts is a must-have book.  Personalize the projects offered by using colors from your favorite team.  Five sport themes and five different projects are offered with simple, speedy construction techniques.  You’ll be a fan favorite!

Browse through the selection of quilt books we have available and find the books that you just can’t live without!