Where We Are Published: Azure Skies

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Have you gotten your latest issue of American Patchwork and Quilting?  The cover looks like this…


It is the December 2020 issue.

We happen to have a quilt in the magazine.  This one….

This quilt has such humble beginnings….

Do you remember the story?

It was nap time at childcare back in February of this year and I got to thinking about what things I have lined up that I need quilts for.  I looked at the UFOs that blog reader Roxanna had sent and I pulled these half square triangles thinking that I would just count them and see what would be needed for them.

I only had about 20 minutes before the kids were waking and didn’t want to be making a mess.  Making a plan with these would make perfect use of my time.  I counted.  Hmm.  There are a lot…over 250.  I started calculating how big of a quilt that would make.  Then as I was looking at the blocks, I realized all the fabrics were Kaffe fabrics.  Hmm.  Yes, I could make this into a nice donation quilt.  At first, I thought I would make a single sized quilt.  I thought I would just lay out the triangles and sew them together and straight and in a row…just boring.  I thought, “oh the prints will just have to shine”.  Then I started playing with the blocks and laid them out like this….
Hmm.  Yes.  This was better.  I notice that the fabrics were mostly blues, greens, and purples.  I liked it.

So I laid out a few more half-square triangles….


YES…I love this!!  I went with this design.  I decided to make it bigger so I pulled some of the Kaffe fabric you all have been sending me.

But that would have to wait.  The childcare kids were awake so it was back to work for me.  I left the blocks that were sewn on the kitchen island and then over the next couple days I trimmed all the blocks.


I was able to find a matching white background fabric, pulled the Kaffe fabrics I had and I cut out 140ish more blocks over the next day at nap time.

Then I started sewing them into blocks.


I checked my stash and I had a Kaffe fabric that I think will be perfect for the border.  I didn’t have a piece of matching fabric for an inner border.  I ended up getting a box in the mail from a blog reader.  Inside was, you guessed it, solids and two the matched really well  (THANKS BETH!!!)


At the time, I thought I would use this as a donation quilt for a benefit.  I went to load it on the frame…Rosie was just a pup then.


I had it this far and stopped.  This was a nice quilt…maybe I should submit this to a magazine.


So I went downstairs, out to the porch, and hung the quilt.  I snapped a couple of pictures, submitted it and within 15 minutes I got a reply back from American Patchwork and quilting saying, “How soon can you have the quilt here?”


Then I called Carla from Longarm Quilting Inspirations.  I thought this quilt would be best with some nice detailed quilting and Carla was the girl to do it.

Here you can’t see the great work Carla did….


But happily, I took some pictures before the quilt got sent out…Check this out!!

Carla outdid herself.  I told Carla with that awesome work, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you might want her to machine quilt your quilt!!


I personally would never have thought to put circles in a square-based/triangle-based quilt…but my, it looks good.


You can see I ended up going with the greenish inner border fabric.


The outer border fabric is a favorite of mine.  I used it in another color on a different quilt.  Carla mimicked the curves in the border with her machine quilting.  Such a great idea!!


I got the fabric from Quilted Twins…which leads me to more about this quilt.

American Patchwork and Quilting asked if we had someone who was going to cut kits for this quilt.  Well, that got me thinking about Quilted Twins.  So I contacted them and asked if they were interested.  They were but they needed to scramble to get the fabric.

Happily, they did and happily, they are offering a kit.  I know right now it’s hard to get out and “collect” fabric so this is perfect!  HERE is the link so you can order a kit.  Here is what is included.  Can you believe they are offering the kit for $125??  The quilt is 93 1/2″ x 93 1/2″, so that’s an awesome deal on fabric!!

Included is – a total of 7 yards of Kaffe Fassett fabric including:

  • 4.5 yards of a variety of blue/green/purple Kaffe Fassett fabrics by Free Spirit in half yard cuts
  • 2.5 yards of a single Kaffe Fassett fabric for the border and binding
  • 4.5 yards of solid white, LQS quality fabric
  • 3/4 yard of mint green for the inner border, LQS quality fabric

The fabric included is enough to make the quilt. It does not provide the backing fabric.

WOW…what a back story on the quilt.  Here is a list of everyone involved.

Roxanna-sent me original blocks
Me
Kelli-helped on design and moral support
Beth-sent inner border fabric
Jody-accepted quilt for publication
Carla-machine quilting
Staff at APQ-doing the magic to get it in the magazine
Rachel and Becky from Quilted Twins-putting kits together

and then it comes to YOU-making your own quilt!!!

I want to do a huge shout out to Roxanna.  I have had the best time with all of the goodies you sent my way.

THANKS a million to everyone involved in making this quilt come to you via American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine. ©2020 Meredith Corporation. All rights reserved.

 

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32 thoughts on “Where We Are Published: Azure Skies”

  4. Kate

    Love this beautiful quilt!! How fun to be able to use so many of the donated supplies. Congratulations on another published quilt.

    Reply
  9. Cindy F

    Gorgeous quilt! I love those colors! So cool that there were many hands involved in getting this quilt together.

    Reply
  12. Sheila

    Wow! What a beautiful quilt, Jo. Love the colors and the quilting just makes it shine. The round quilt designs soften all the sharp looking edges of the pattern. Congratulations on getting it published!

    Reply
  14. Janine Baker

    Beautiful as always! Congratulations for finding the perfect “Team” in making that beautiful quilt. Kudos to you for bringing it all together for everyone to enjoy. I do not have my magazine yet, but expect it any day. I got Quiltmaker yesterday, and they usually come only a day or two apart. Hugs to all,

    Reply
  15. Judith Fairchild

    What a wonderful use of fabrics, colors, piecing and quilting!!!!!. Magnificent all the way!!!!
    Carla gets my vote for quilting such lovely and different patters that all play together in the quilt.
    Congratulations on getting it published.

    Reply
  21. Sue Davey

    I fell in love with the quilt in the magazine but was disappointed there wasn’t a kit available. Read your blog this morning and ordered the kit after all. Can’t wait to get it

    Reply
  22. Lisa B

    I saw your quilt on Instagram. I love your quilt design and colors! I will get the magazine in my post office box in 3-4 weeks. Yes, I live in the US.

    Reply
  24. Kim J LeMere

    What a beautiful quilt and I love the top quilting from Carla, she gave it the wow factor. I really enjoy Quilted Twins site, there fabrics and rotary blades are super. I need to order the kit and hope my magazine arrives soon. Congratulations Jo

    Reply

  25. Pingback: Ask Jo: This and That | Jo's Country Junction

  26. Nancy A

    My magazine just arrived, and I love that quilt! I also have a FQ bundle of Kaffe fabric that I bought at the quilt museum in Lincoln, Nebraska a year ago when we drove from Alabama to California a year ago that would be perfect in this design. Thanks for the pattern.

    Reply
  27. Lisa

    I made this quilt in Kaffe Fassett red fabrics. I really like how it came out. Thank you for your beautiful pattern to highlight these fabrics.

    Reply
  28. Rebecca Brewster

    I bought the kit, but now can’t get the pattern. I know this is 2021, but I am just getting to making it. How do I get a pattern if they are out of the magazine?

    Reply

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