I love learning about new things. I love to see what others try. So starting today, I am going to make Tuesdays by “Try it on Tuesdays” Day. I’ll show you something new that I tried. Sometimes it will be something I tried and hated…sometimes it will be something I tried and loved. It might be new recipe, a new quilting technique, a new store I shopped at…anything that’s new or different. Some days I’ll have something to give away to you…like today. Martingale and Company, makers of the the great “That Patchwork Place” quilt books, gifted me with a new quilt book to review. Today’s quilt book is “Strip-Smart Quilts” by Kathy Brown.
The book has 16 different quilts in it. I do want to warn you she does recommend that you purchase a special ruler to make the quilts in the book.
After reading through the directions, I think these designs could be made using similar techniques and a Companion Angle ruler (I know lots of you Bonnie Hunter fans have that style of ruler!) The quilts that Kathy came up with using this technique are all fun….Here’s my absolute favorite with a spool block. My daughter Kayla made a similar quilt some time ago and I have always wanted a quilt in that design for myself.
The cover quilt was another one I really liked. Doesn’t the quilt just scream “sit on me and have a picnic”? I love the colors.
I love the warm brown colors of this quilt “Brownies a la Mode”. Most of the quilts start out from either 2 1/2″ or 1 1 /2″ strips so if you have a jelly roll or honey bun lying around, the book show a great technique to use it up.
Most of the quilts are lap sized…
All is all it looks like a fun book, that would work great in most anyone’s quilt book library.
All of the quilts are what I consider perfect for gift giving. They would please most anyone’s tastes….remember there are 11 more quilts in the book I didn’t even show you. If you want to learn more about Kathy’s quilts and techniques, there is a youtube video that explains more.
I hope you had as much fun as I did “trying” out this new quilt book. If you’d like a chance to win the book, leave a comment here telling something you’d like to try….after all it’s “Try it on Tuesday”.!– start InLinkz script –>
Those quilt patterns look really fun. I’m just finishing cutting fabric so I can try Bonnie Hunter’s Leader and Enders. Soon I also plan to start posting to my blog, then I can try linking in. :)
I want to try FMQ feathers !
I’d like to try that Companion Angle ruler and the cover quilt in that book.
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I’d like to try skydiving. Yeah right! How about a hexagon project. I think that is probably more my speed!
Thanks so much for the book review. I don’t want to win the book because I already bought it! It is really nice to know that you agree it is a great book. I also like the spool quilt. I LOVE reading your blog, Jo. You always write about such interesting things.
Sharyn
I’d like to try making a wholecloth baby quilt with TONS of quilting on my long-arm. But, til I get around to it, I’d like to try playing with some of the quilts in Kathy Brown’s book……! And today I tried “linking in” and think I may have been successful…..love reading your posts for all the interesting places you take us.
I received that ruler from a friend and haven’t used it yet! So for me, I’d like to give that ruler a whirl…and if I had that book for pattern that would be even more awesome!
I would like to try my ruler. I have the 60 degree ruler of the version you showed in this post. I only know of one thing to make with it but I would like to know of other options for it.
I am going to try piecing a string quilt this weekend at a mini quilt retreat. I’ve been wanting to try this for a long time and I’m finally going to do it!
I want to try a dresden block, but I have to wait until March for a class! LOL
I love the cover quilt with some antique-y looking material. As for what I want to try, I’d love to try some of the applique quilts that I’ve seen recently.
So many things on my list that I want to try. One near to your heart – I want to do a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. So, this year is my year of quilting, cleaning out UFO’s so that when the next mystery comes out I *will* be ready. Lovely book review, nice to hear I can use a ruler that I already own.
A girl can always try a new ruler, right? I think this book would be just the ticket for trying something new -and I was told this weekend there must be a cure for my “tiny” pieces in blocks. I think this book may be the ticket for cleaning out some stash – and that would be new too:)
I’d like to try FMQ feathers, and my sewing sisters wish I would try paper piecing, so I can teach them how to do it!!
Today I am trying a new crockpot potato soup receipe. Quilting-wise, I want to make Larisa Key’s “In a Pickle”. Thanks for the chance to win!
I want to try this strip project. A friend has made several and they’re all pretty terrific. I certainly have plenty of strips!
I want to try and make my borders more interesting – usually I just put on one or two straight borders – a bit boring – so I am challenging myself to do some pieced borders to add a bit of zing
No blog here. I would love to try a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. I have all the steps to Orca Bay but I was busy making another quilt when it came out, then Christmas kept me busy.
Would love to try a Bonnie Hunnter mystery quilt have two saved to try, just need to get with it.
I have a beautiful jelly roll my daughter gave me. I’d love to have this book and make a quilt with that jelly roll.
Last year I tried paper piecing. I’m still working on a hexagon quilt with flowers on black background. So for this year I want to try to star aplique. Mayby I’ll try a bag for my granny.
I tried a Stack-n-whack wall hanging once! I hate it. It turned out with a bubble in the center. Then I took a class that made a “Modified” stack-n-whack, this one, I loved and have made several more. No pictures, though.
I have a Companion Angle ruler and a jelly roll just waiting on this book. Don’t you love Martingale? I hope they sent you Spotlight on Neutrals. I tried the scrappy nine patch on the cover… all 160 of them!
I would like to try a Star in the Corner Log Cabin Quilt! This book looks like it has a lot of fun ideas in it too!
I am a reader not a blogger. I look for and read your blog every day. I have never bought a jelly roll so would love to win this book to give it a try. Thanks for a great blog and lots of ideas.
I love that Penny Candy pattern! My stash of reproduction fabrics might do the trick!
I want to try paper piecing and FMQ feathers. I have a honey bun I need to use, too. Thanks for sharing.
I tried a new block pattern for me called Kissing Hearts this weekend. I’d never done anything that decorative before. I tested this block tutorial for a lady who was so helpful on how to fix it when it didn’t come out right the first time. LOL
This week I am turning binding on a quilt with zig zag edges, and I am sticking my toe in the water to try to start blogging again.
I don’t have a blog but I have just purchased the Fons & Porter hexagon ruler for making a braid quilt. It took more then one ‘try’ to figure out the hex ruler & what lines to follow but now that I figured it out the braid strips will go fast.
Would luuurve that book! The cover quilt has always appealed. And now I see the quilt in your last picture – would love to make that too. Have cut out the pieces for an apple core and will be doing that soon, a la Sue Daley – where you applique the pieces to each other, rather than whipstitch. Fascinating. I love any new construction method. Anyone else tried Sue’s method? Check it out on her blog – http://suedaleydesigns.typepad.com/my_weblog/
I love the spool quilt from Strip Smart Quilts. I love scrap quilts. Are you aware of how many people you inspire with your creative ideas? Read your blog every day. Keep up the good work.
I’ve never done any machine quilting…I’m a hand quilter. I love the patterns in this book…they look very teen-friendly, so I think my daughters and I would love creating them!
I’m keen to try screenprinting and at last I’ve found a workshop!!
I would love to win a copy of that book. I already bought the ruler but haven’t made anything with it, lol . thanks for the chance to win
Something new I tried was using black in a quilt. I had never done it before, and almost skipped Bonnie Hunter’s Orca Bay because of all the black. Now I have a nice stash of black strips and a beautiful soon-to-be completed quilt! I want to try a tessalating quilt pattern for my next adventure.
i would love to try skydiving…seriously…it scares the bajeezers out of me but i would love to try. i love that quilt on the front of the book.
One of these days I’d like to try one of Bonnie Hunter’s mystery quilts. Had too much going on recently but to make one at the same time as everyone else would be fun!
I’d love to try a cathedral window quilt, but I have yet to work up the nerve!
I have a new Iphone. I can work some of the features, but not all. I requested a “Dummies” book from the library. I plan to do a chapter every other day so I can use the features:) Great book review! I’d love to try some of these new patterns.
Right mow I am trying a new pork chop recipe that uses my homemade canned applesauce. I’ll let you know if we like it or not. Thanks for the chance to win a great looking book.
I have never done applique, so maybe one day I will try it :-)
What I want to do is use up all of the strips I have cut (ala Bonnie) to uncover more treasures in my stash!!! I spent most of the month of January cleaning up scraps and found a few kits that I thought had been lost, including a couple of jelly rolls. I need to look for this book. Thanks for giving me some more ideas, Jo.
Clever idea Jo. I enjoyed Try it on Tuesday! Perhaps I’ll link in the next time I give something new a go. Sandi
Thanks for the chance to enter your giveaway. Today tried something new with my grandniece, though unfinished. I’m coaching her to make a card with fabric hearts on it. She became frustrated so next time hope she can glue the hearts to the card. She did well on tracing the hearts with a fabric pin. I’ve never made a card like this so was new for both of us.
I have not made an entire quilt from a jelly roll – and have one that would be fun to use on some of these quilts from the book. This would be a first for me too. Thanks for the chance.
The “Brownies a la Mode” Quilt catches my eye. But wait…. Are those Mitered corners around the center block? I need a little practice on those first. Must admit I keep shying away from mitered corners. Thanks anyway for letting me enter your give-away.
I’d like to try my hand at machine quilting, but just don’t have the guts! I also would like to try doing a zip line ride, but am afraid I’ll lose my lunch! :P
Wow – she’s got some great looking quilts in that book and I think it’s awesome that she includes links to YouTube so you can watch videos too! I’d like to try to learn some more embroidery stitches – I’ve seen some beautiful work done lately….
I would like to try hand quilting this year. The quilt book looks like fun. Thanks for the chance at your giveaway.
Had to try Jenny Doan’s technique for the Jacob’s Ladder pattern. It was easy, fun, and came together very quickly.
I want to try the pork roast and bean recipe you posted. The quilt similar to the one your daughter made looks pretty great also.
I would love that book…I already have the tool!
I would like to try Wedding Ring and a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt. Both of these were always on the beds at my grandmother’s house, and I just loved to run my hands over them and feel the stitches, look for fabric that my mom had made my dresses from, and wonder at how she did them by hand.
I would love to try to keep my house clean and organized but always end up failing miserably! Quilting is much more fun!
I want to try FMQ but I still scared of it!
Julie L.’s link to making flying geese with no waste! That sounds like something new to try! I tried the quick and easy way to make HST’s and it worked like a charm!!
I’ve seen this book on a blog tour and loved every quilt they showed. I think I would have to make a few quilts out of the book as it would be too hard to decide on just one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Try to read your blog daily, love your give-aways. Think I’ve seen that ruler at shops and wondered what it was for, now I see. Think I will work on some double diamond table mats (today) for a friends cancer benefit coming up the beginning of next month. Stay warm and happy quilting today. Robert.
Thank you for the give away. I haven’t tried making a quilt like the ones in the book, but would love to try it.
I’ve been wanting to try a quilt like this! Would love this book!
I read your blog every day and love what y0u do. Absolutely adore the penny candy quilt. May have to make that one next, am in the middle of a red and black bento box quilt as a wedding gift for one of my daughters “besties”. Would love to win the book.
I would love to make a spool quilt and hopefully get my 2 1/2″ drawer to shut. Not sure how many more strips I need to take out of there to get it to shut! Thanks for offering another giveaway.
Thanks to Bonnie Hunter I’ve become a “stripper” and this book looks like it would be perfect. Count me in. What would I like to try? Digital scrapbooking!! With all the cute elements and everything. Too bad quilting takes up so much of my time. LOL
I just love scrappy quilts! I have never “tried” a mystery quilt! I have been watching all the fun happening on Bonnie Hunter’s yahoo group with Orca Bay. This year, I’m in FOR SURE!! Now, I’m “trying” to get those UFOs cleared out! LOL
HAVE LOOKED AT THIS BOOK+REALLY LIKE IT+WOULD LOVE TO WIN IT! THANKS FOR SHARING!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Brownies a la Mode. That sounds like something I’d like to eat while making the quilt! ;)
Hmmm I would like to try and use the crock pot more and seeing you use it has given me more ideas. I would like to do some sort of quilt the uses the strips, jelly rolls or some of the ideas like that that are faster in making quilts. Right now I am still working on the crumb blocks and that is about all I have done.
Thanks for the giveaways!
I recently tried the Lapel Stick after reading about it on your blog. Love it!!! So many uses…thanks for introducing it to me!
My link shows something new I tried – making a celtic letter using fusible binding. I really like the outcome. I would love to win this book – it looks like a valuable addition to my library. Thanks for the opportunity.
I’d like to try a cathedral windows quilt!
The book looks great and ideas to work with. If I do not win the book I know the local quilt shop will be selling quilt a few after our quilt meeting thee other night. What a great time we all had and loved the quilts. Joyce