I recently got the chance to review a copy of the book Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop for Quilters (Lark Crafts). The book is written by four members of the Fat Quarterly e-zine team, Katy Jones, Brioni Greenberg, Tacha Bruecher and John Q. Adams, and includes patterns for 60 quilt blocks and 12 complete projects ranging from quilts to home decor.
What makes this book unique is that quilt blocks and projects are broken down by shape, starting at the very basic squares and rectangles blocks and progressing through circles, triangles, stars, polygons and diamonds. Once you’ve conquered basic patchwork and the more beginner-friendly “shapes,” you can use those skills to build up to more advanced blocks which use techniques like applique and paper piecing.
One of my favorite blocks in the book is the clever “Star Pinwheel,” which uses fusible web to adhere sliced stars to half-square triangles for a really dynamic block with positive and negative space. Even if you don’t quilt, this would be a great accent to clothing for kids or adults.
The “Dream Garden Diamonds Quilt” uses bold piecing and modern fabric choices, for a clean and fresh look! Overall, I think this book would be a welcome addition to any quilter’s library, because the blocks range from beginner to advanced. Some of the paper-pieced patterns are really unique and 60 blocks can be mixed and matched for a sampler quilt or repeated over multiple rows and columns for a DIY patchwork quilt.
My Project
I decided to make a “Bowties & Blooms” quilt blocks from the book in the colors yellow, aqua and gray, which I’m collecting for a modern sampler quilt. The block finishes as 12.5″ square, and stitches up pretty quickly! You can make this block with the free pattern excerpted with permission from Lark Crafts.
Free block patterns from the book:
Bowties + Blooms (pictured)
Pentagon Flower Block + template
Giveaway!
Would you like to win a copy of this book? Lark Crafts will send a copy to one lucky Craft Buds reader. Enter to win by completing the Rafflecopter widget below.
105 comments
I’d love to do some more curves.
Looks like a great book. Love the color choices in your block.
What I’m loving about the books coming out lately are the infinite variety of patterns. Even the pictures of the block are fresh, crisp and inspiring.
Sorry, left off my technique in my reply. I would like to be able to work with triangles better.
Circles…I’d like to learn the technique of quilting circles.
Deborah
[email protected] gmail .com
I haven’t tackled curves yet & would love to master them.
Would love to get more experience and tips sewing curves and circles! great giveaway!
I love to try sewing curves or circles.
Curves and paper piecing. Haven’t done much of either.
sewing curves is the one thing I really want to learn how to do properly as I avoid any pattern that has them
I think I would like to learn how to make those sliced stars. Now those look intimidating.Curves make me a little nervous.
thanks for a chance to win the book. It looks awesome.
I am getting ready to try to learn to do curves well… I have it in my head to make a Retro Flowers Quilt as a gift for my friend, for her upcoming baby shower.
I worry about sewing points, so triangles, diamonds etc. But I do sew these. I avoid curves at all costs. I will applique curves but not sew them.
I am new to the quilting world and would love to try all the blocks from beginner to advanced!
I have wanted to try the hexi blocks. I am not much for hand work but I did see a quilt made with hexis that was all done by machine. I would like to try that. I am not very good at the smaller triangles. I need to practice more before I make a whole quilt.
Curves and Y seams are areas I have avoided but would like to learn.
I would love to learn to piece blocks with diamond shapes. Love the look but afraid to try them.
I think the one thing I could admit being afraid of would be the Y-seam. I’m not really afraid necessarily, but I see so many people saying how hard those are to do that I just haven’t attempted them myself. I know I’ll try them myself and not listen to others but I will admit it’s been pushed it back from being anywhere near the top of my list of things to do for now.
I would love to learn to work with polygons. I have this book on my Amazon wish list. It would be great to win. 🙂 Thank you for the chance!
Would love to win this fabulous book. I would like to learn the dresden shape. No im not scared off by triangles. Curves, I have not tried yet, i keep avoiding them.
I would love to learn more about curves and circles. Round is scary, LOL!
I would love to win this book and hope might have paper piecing in it as I would really like to learn more about it.
I’d like to learn more about quilting curves / circles. Thanks for the nice giveaway!
I would love to learn more about the curves and Circles also. I quit quilting when I had my stroke.
I am ready to get back in to some of the simple designs too. thank you
I would love to learn to sew circles a little better- they do scare me! lol! Thanks for the chance to win!
Probably curves; I’ve never tried them although I’ve seen beautiful quilts utilizing them. Thanks for chance to win!
sounds like a book I need in my library. I can use help across the board. Thanks for the chance
Sounds like a fantastic book and I KNOW I could learn a lot from it! Would love to win! Susan
I would love to win this book! The Star Pinwheel block looks amazing.
While I’ve done some curves, they always make me a little nervous. I’d love to learn more!
yes, curves are what is scary to me. Thanks for the chance!
i am not a pro at curved seams, i would really like master it. or at least be better. and applique. it’s quite intimidating.
Just learning to quilt so can’t say which is hardest…I want to do them all and I don’t even know what “all” is yet…this book would be great!
Curves! There are so many beautiful modern quilts that incorporate circles and curves but I’m scared to try them AND I hate pinning! Thank you for a lovely giveaway.
paper piecing scares me to death. I have done triangles, curved and everything in between, but I just get scared when I see the words paper piecing.
I am just beginning so it is all new to me, but yes curves scare me and so do triangles and those little hexagons!
HELLO! HAVEN’T DONE MUCH WITH CURVES-SO NEED TO LEARN AND START A PROJECT! THANK YOU FOR A SWEET GIVEAWAY!
I’m a newbie so just about everything I need to learn! Thanks for the giveaway.
I have quilted in over 7 years, now that my son is older I would like to get back into it. It looks like this book has amazing projects.
I really need to learn how to sew curves for quilting! I do garment sewing so it shouldn’t really be that different, but the idea of piecing a curved block scares the bejeezus outta me! 🙂
I have been tackling many of my feared techniques (EPP, FMQ, etc…), but curves still scare me into submission!
Great book!! So much colour and fab photos and great blocks!! Would love to win!
This looks like a fabulous book – I just want to try them all – make a modern sampler quilt! I think curves are my biggest challenge right now…so if I had to pick, that would be it. Love the crisp and bright photos too!
Curves! I *can* do them, but they really stress me– I’d love to be better at sewing them! 🙂
i would love to learn anything with stars….i love stars
So many things scare. But I have to say hexagons and curves are the main contenders.
I’d like to get more skillful with circles.
I think hexi’s scare me the most. They just look so complicated. Triangles also look challenging. Thanks for the chance.
I’d love to learn how to do circles. I really like the way they look but have been too intimidated to try them
I’ve learned one or two techniques on triangles but I really need more experience on them.
I’m brand new to quilting (working on my first quilt right now), so just about any shape beyond the basic square kinda terrifies me. I’m pretty fascinated by pinwheel patterns using triangles, though. I’m sure it won’t take me long to kick of my training wheels.
Curves scare me the most
Y seams and curves scare me the most!
I have never done more than staight lines with piecing. I need to branch out!
I would love to tackle curves. I have done some sewing with Cathedral windows, but it would lots of fun to make some drunkards path blocks. Thanks for the chance!
I would like to learn more about piecing triangles and hexagons – both scare me.
I would love to learn how to sew curves and Y seams.
Those stars! Those curves! What a fabulous learning tool! Good luck everyone.
Learning to sew curves confidently would be what I’d like to learn.
I want to learn spray starch applique –
I need help sewing triangles….
Triangles kill me!!
Curves are the scariest thing for me! I have a hard time keeping the puckers away… and I’m not talking about my mouth!! Be especially blessed, Kathy
I adore Fat Quarterly. I am so stoked they are now published in book form. I am totally afraid of curves and applique. Maybe one day I’ll work up the courage.
It’s pretty much all still a mystery to me since I’m a beginning quilter. I’m just trying to get my corners square – forget about triangles or circles at this point.
Curves are pretty scary to me. It’s hard to get them just right!
I’d have to say curves!
I don’t have a problem with curves but I’m scared of y-seams or inset seams. Just anything that looks really complicated!
I agree with everyone else. Curves scare me to death! I’ve learned to deal with imperfection.
Triangles are really challenging for me.
Rafflecopter isn’t taking my entry. Triangles are really challenging for me.
Someday I’d like to tackle curves, diamonds and hexies! Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
I would like to learn more about circles and Y seams.
Thaks for the chance to win!
i would simply love to learn how to piece a block together i would use this book till i got it
Having just gained some confidence on curves, I’m gathering courage to try some diamonds.
I would love to get my hands on this book. It sounds amazing. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I want to learn diamonds.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
The pentagon blocks always look intimidating. I’d choose that one to learn first. Face your fears!!
This looks like a great book and I love the star pinwheel block! I have yet to attempt stars and would love to learn, and curves are definitely on my “to try” list as well!
It looks awesome and I’d love to make some of those great patterns!
Curves scar me the most. I still haven’t tried them yet but I also haven’t found one I like either. Maybe someday…
I love it! It gets me motivated to try new quilt patterns!
I’d love to win this. I haven’t really ventured outside of squares and rectangles, so this would be a great learning opportunity for me.
i really like circles and use them for lots of things in my quilting, but am not real good working them. this book just might help me out! thanx for the opportunity to win a copy.
Curves and diamonds are a bit intimidating for me.
Curves–this book looks AWESOME! I think I’ll have to buy it if I don’t win it!
Paper piecing is my new big challenge.
The star pinwheel block is spectacular. I haven’t done much with curves, but really do like the looks of curves, must do a quilt with them thanks
Curves! I still haven’t gotten up the courage to attend curves. Thanks for the reminder to put those up on my list.
Curves and circles, absolutely! I’m addicted to paper piecing right now though, and I never thought I would be (so laborious), so I guess there’s a time for everything!
I think I know the yellow. Is that from the vintage sheet fq swap we did?
This book is right up my alley. I’m so so so in love with collecting fat quarters!
Love the star pinwheel!
Oh it has to be curves, I can cope with triangles and squares but curves – eek!
Those Y sewing blocks always get the best of me. I would like to become better at those.
Looks like an amazing book that I could learn lots from. Triangles and I have a love-hate relationship so any secrets with those would be great. There are lots of shapes I have not sewn before, like a diamond and that poly-thing. hehe.
Thank you and Lark Crafts for a super giveaway and a chance to win.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
I would say curves – I would love to do a circle quilt and get better at those curves! thanks for the review and giveaway.
I’m still a fairly new quilter, so I haven’t done alot of different techniques yet. And curves scare me. I look at all those awesome quilts with curves and think, maybe someday… Thanks for a chance to win! 🙂
I’ve only just started quilting so haven’t used many shapes or designs yet. So far I’ve made a cushion using the go baby rag die, I’ve started making a grandmothers flower garden quilt for my bed and I’m about to make a quilt for my friends soon to be born baby.
This looks like a nice book and your blogs full of inspiration too.
Curves…they spook me. I’ve always dreamed of doing a Dresden plate quilt but I wonder if I’ll ever take the plunge and try it.
I’m afraid to do curves. i think i need to master straight lines first.
I’m new to quilting so this would be so amazing to have. I love the look of triangle’s so thats what I would love to plunge into!
I’ve never done curves before but I’d love to learn. Thanks for the giveaway.
love this book. working on set in seams making a lemoyne star. WOuld love to have this book
I absolutely love the discovery of the book, & what it offers, & the web site. WOW what a wonder. Where have I been, glad I tumbled in .