Got scraps? NOW is the perfect time to get a few books that will help you put your scraps to work! Visit our scrappy-theme FLASH SALE page and save 30%! Act now, the sale is only valid Monday and Tuesday (6/14/21 – 6/15/21).
And as always, we’ll pay for shipping if you spend $40 or more (US only).
And remember visit the "Pat Sloan’s Holiday Celebrations" Book Tour + prize packs post and leave a comment for a chance to win one of the GRAND PRIZE PACKS! There are two ways to enter. Click here to get the scoop and see photos of the loaded prize packs. Don’t delay–we’re randomly selecting the winners on June 16, 2021!
Woo hoo! We’re kicking off the book tour for "Pat Sloan’s Holiday Celebrations." First, a little about the book: In Pat Sloan’s newest book, she takes you on a joyful journey through a year’s worth of celebrations. The book features 17 easy patchwork and fusible appliqué projects for Valentine’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Keep reading to learn about book giveaways and TWO GRAND PRIZE packages!
Get ready to stitch your way through the seasons with Pat and friends on a book tour for the next few weeks. Each participant on the book tour will be giving away a copy "Pat Sloan’s Holiday Celebrations" and sharing their version of a project from the book. Follow along on Pat’s book tour blog page. And we’re doubly excited to host the giveaway for two GRAND PRIZE packs! There are two ways to win….
Prize Pack 1:
Visit YouTube.com/martingale or ShopMartingale.com to watch a video of the projects featured in "Pat Sloan’s Holiday Celebrations." Describe your favorite project from the book in comment on this blog post for a chance to win this fabulous collection of quilty goodness!
Prize Pack 2:
Go to Instagram.com/martingaletpp and check out the video of the projects. Tag a friend and tell them how much you’d like to win the prize pack. We’ll choose from the posts and send the random winner all of the awesomeness included in Prize Pack 2, and we’ll send a print copy of "Pat Sloan’s Holiday Celebrations" to the friend you tagged!
**We’ll choose the winners of the prize packs on June 16th.
Alert. Alert! We’re hosting a flash sale on ShopMartingale.com–starting NOW! Rumor has it that you have some precut fabrics in your stash. (And if you don’t, you should visit your local quilt shop or favorite online retailer to supplement your supply!) So get ready to save 25% on books that will help you put your precut bundles, packs, and rolls to use!
Precuts are fan favorites because the handy sizes often reduce cutting time, the matched collections make for easy fabric selection, and the variety of prints offers a scrappy look. Here’s the scoop on this special sale:
The discount: 25% off! The dates: May 11-13, 2021. The flash sale page:https://www.shopmartingale.com/flash-sale The reason: We want to thank you for being loyal customers! The books: The following precut-based titles.
Fat Quarters: 18″ x 22″
Charm: 5″ squares and Mini Charm: 2-1/2″ squares
Jelly Rolls: 2-1/2″ strips
A Mix of Precut Sizes:
Visit our sale page and start saving now! FYI: we’ll pay the freight when you spend $40 or more (US only)!
Today, we’re excited to let author Susan Ache take over the blog and share the scoop on "Sampler Spree," sorting scraps, and an upcoming quilt-along! Heeeeere’s Susan:
I am a creature of habit, and it isn’t something new nor is it something I change from year to year. Back in the days when I worked at a quilt shop and the temptation was too great and the fabrics were right at my fingertips, I had to come up with a plan to get through some of the stacks of fabric that I was bringing home AND a system that worked for me.
That’s when I came up with my plan to just group everything by color, it didn’t matter the designer, the amount of fabric or the style of the fabric. Just group by color, stack by color, and small pieces went into separate bins sorted by color as my “scraps”. Since I take everything apart almost as soon as I get it in my sewing room (I hear some you gasping), Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, and Charm packs are put directly into my scrap bins. Any fat quarters or fat eighths are folded and put into my color wall. (See photo for Susan’s coveted color wall! Dreamy, huh?!)
Now many of you already know how fast scraps grow (am I right?) and that created a new challenge. That’s why I spend every single summer playing in my scraps, one color at a time. I have always given myself a week with one color and then I move on. Sometimes the blocks I create make it into quilts, sometimes they end up in my “orphan block” basket to be used at another time. But at the end of the summer, I do feel a sense of accomplishment to see that I have used (and played with!) what we usually think of as “leftovers.”
When Martingale asked me about creating a block book (Publisher’s note: Because we saw you creating so, so many gorgeous blocks on Instagram @yardgrl60), my first thought was “how can it look and feel different from other block books out there?” Blocks from scraps were my first thought and thankfully that thought never left my mind. I knew how many blocks I needed to make and I went about it the same exact way I plan my summer sewing.
What’s crazy is that the blocks in "Sampler Spree" are 6” blocks, and I didn’t even make a dent in my scraps. Oh well! I did set a goal not to repeat a fabric if I didn’t have to while I was making each block in each color category. I even went as far as using my backgrounds from scraps. I don’t feel guilty with repeats of those backgrounds, but I did keep track of how many times they were used to even them out across the entire quilt.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to crack open a new bundle of fabric (I do it all the time, sorting it by color right away of course). Many quilters enjoy playing with a new bundle for one quilt. If that’s your jam, go for it! For me, I enjoy challenging to myself to see what I can do with random leftovers and maybe you will also.
Join me in a Sampler Spree quilt-along this summer with the Moda Blockheads group. You can find all the details on the Sew Alongs page at ShopMartingale.com or the Moda Blockheads Facebook group page. And be sure to sign up for Moda’s Inspiration + Resources blog to learn more! The official start date for the quilt-along is June 9th.Order your copy of the book "Sampler Spree" here or pick one up at your local quilt shop. (Visit this page and scroll down to see a list of quilt shops that have copies of "Sampler Spree".) You’ll need the book to sew along. We’ll be working color by color and which block numbers we’re sewing are being shared one week at a time. Here’s my challenge to you, try and hit up your leftovers first to see how you feel. These 6” blocks don’t take much and don’t take long and if you really don’t like the feel that your quilt is giving you, then crack open a new bundle and start fresh.
This is your quilt, make it the way you love to see colors and make it your own. To enjoy the entire process of the quilt making, you’ve got to love the colors you’re playing with. So have fun in your own way!
We have some best-sellers-in-the-making to share in this blog post, folks! The running theme in both of the featured books today is scraps! Use the step-by-step instructions and full-size patterns in "Buttermilk Basin’s Pick of the Crop" to combine bits of wool and cotton in a bounty of fall-theme projects. And Kim Diehl shares thorough instructions for small, scrappy quilts, plus loads of sewing advice, heaps of decorating ideas, and her signature "Extra Snippet" tips in "Simple Whatnots II." Be sure to watch the videos included in this post (or click on the covers and watch the videos on each book listing on ShopMartingale.com) to see all of the projects included in each book. Both books are available at your local quilt shop or at ShopMartingale.com now!
Capture all there is to love about fall with Buttermilk Basin’s latest book of seasonal projects. Author Stacy West mixes wool and cotton fabrics, motifs, and colors beautifully–and with her guidance, you can too! Buttermilk Basin’s Pick of the Crop will have you savoring each and every project. Choose from framed pieces for a mantel display, dimensional fruits and veggies to fill a harvest bowl, wall hangings to set the stage for autumn vignettes, and more. You’ll even find a Halloween motif or two. All of the 18 designs are perfect for home decor pieces and as thoughtful gifts for your favorite fall fanatic.
Proving that the best things really do come in small packages, Kim Diehl shares 18 cute-as-can-be quilt designs in this delightful sequel to Simple Whatnots. Dig into your scrap bin, box, or basket, and get ready to have some quilting fun. And be sure to read Kim’s expert advice sprinkled throughout as Extra Snippet tips to help your sewing time be even more enjoyable.
Dozens of photos offer inspiration for displaying completed quilts on the wall, as table toppers, draped on a charming school desk or ladder–the options are plentiful! Layer these little showstoppers with your favorite antiques and collections to bring a bit of sparkle to even the smallest nooks in your home.
Thanks to all for watching the videos and posting your comments on last week’s blog. The winners are:
What types of projects are next on your to-make list? We’ve covered a lot of the bases in this trio of recently released books.
• Are you yearning to learn how you can re-create classic quilts? Check out "Time-Honored Traditions" by Annette Plog. She’ll show you how to curate your fabric stash so you can replicate reproduction quilts that shine.
• Do you want to expand your skill set and sew a bunch (100+!) blocks? Then "Sampler Spree" by Susan Ache (aka @yardgrl60 on Instagram) is the answer! The scrappy blocks finish at 6 inches square, and they’re easy to adapt to your favorite color palette or style.
• Interested in trying a new-to-you craft (or revisiting hand-embroidery techniques, if you’ve been on a break)? Well you need to add "Retro Stitchery" by Beverly McCullough to your library!
Scroll down, watch each of the videos, then leave a comment describing your favorite project from one of the three books. (We know–it’s a tough decision!) We’ll randomly choose three people and send them a copy of the book that contains their favorite project. We’ll pick the winners on Sunday 4/25 at midnight Central. Good luck!
PS: If you’re not one of the lucky winners, remember to visit ShopMartingale.com to add these books (and more!) to your cart. As always, we’re offering free shipping on orders $40+ (US only).
Love the look of reproduction quilts but wonder why some look as though they stepped right out of the nineteenth century while others don’t? Remaking vintage quilts is a cinch when you know the secrets! Follow Annette Plog’s lead as she teaches you to make scrappy reproductions that look just like the antique quilts that inspired them. With plenty of detailed photography and facts about fabric, Annette covers everything from authentic color combinations to building a fabric stash that includes all the perfect colors and prints, plus tips and tricks for making all of your quilts sparkle. With your curated fabric stash, you’ll be able to fast forward to cutting and stitching any project any time, including the 13 featured quilts.
Indulge your passion for color and fabric with a smorgasbord of blocks to use in a quilt that’s a visual feast. The fun begins with more than 100 beautiful quilt blocks that all finish at 6″ square, making them perfect for using scraps and for easy mixing and matching. Whether you prefer traditional or modern, you’ll find so much to love in the varied assortment of block designs. Susan Ache (you may know her as @yardgrl60 on Instagram) shares 50 expert tips throughout, plus step-by-step instructions for making half-square triangles, flying geese, stitch-and-flip corners, and more. Once your tantalizing blocks are stitched, arranging them in the stunning sampler quilt is sheer pleasure!
Spend an evening stitching any of the designs in this book and you’ll instantly remember what you’ve always loved about embroidery: it’s fun, you can see the design quickly take shape right before your eyes, and in the end you have a delightful piece to brighten your home or office. From beautiful florals to inspirational sayings to whimsical tacos (yes, tacos!), you’ll find more than a dozen designs to make you smile. Beverly McCullough of Flamingo Toes provides easy embroidery and finishing instructions so you can display pieces in hoops, on pillows or zip bags, and even on cork and clothing. Beverly’s inspiring designs and ideas will make it a pleasure to take each stitch.
Spring has sprung in some locales and we’re ready for all the sunshine and longer days ahead. For many of you, the start of a new season means you’re ready to fling open the windows and doors and GET ORGANIZED. Maybe that organization bug also reaches into your quilting life after spending so much time indoors. Author Sherri McConnell has the perfect planner to get you moving in the right direction.
Consider using the planner as your workbook to:
Organize your quilting space
~~learn how to find your favorite tools and notions with ease
Get your works-in-progress under control
~~Sherri’s system will help you conquer the start-but-don’t finish problem!
Make progress on long-term projects
~~Sherri shares how she keeps ongoing projects from being ignored for too long
Review your quilting library
~~record and refer to your list of “must-have” books in one place
April 2021 NEW release are coming in HOT! HOT! HOT!
If you’re a fan of Kim Diehl (and who isn’t?) and Stacy West of Buttermilk Basin, then April 2021 is going to be the best DOUBLE FEATURE you can imagine. Each of these terrific designers brings her very best to two new April 2021 books!
Author Kim Diehl offers a second helping of scrappy quilts in Simple Whatnots II. Inside you’ll find 18 cute-as-can-be small quilt patterns that sparkle with Kim’s signature style. Find more details here.
Author Stacy West has a feel for fall in Buttermilk Basin’s Pick of the Crop. You’ll have all the fall feels too. With a mix of wool and cotton, there are framed pieces, dimensional fruits and veggies (Pincushions? Bowl fillers?), pillows, and mini quilts. All will be favorites for any fall fanatics! Find more details here.
Are you searching for sewing inspiration, craving community engagement, or thinking about trying new-to-you techniques? Then you should definitely hop over to the new Sew Alongs page on ShopMartingale.com. You’ll find list of virtual sew alongs, blog hops, book tours, and more that coincide with many of our recently released and upcoming books!
Keep scrolling for a preview of some of the upcoming virtual events. Visit the Sew Alongs page to learn more about all the happenings and specifics.
And this is just a preview! Check out the Sew Alongs page to see all the fun our authors have planned for you. Then visit your local quilt shop or ShopMartingale.com so you can be ready to join in the fun!
They’re going, going, gone at the end of today at this special price. So, don’t wait! It will be FALL before we offer another sale this big. So think BIG!
Does your quilting library include these must-have books? Each was a bestseller! If you missed any of them, now’s the time to get your copy at a steal of a deal! Just $8 each. And don’t forget to browse through 95+ titles to find other favorites and can’t-live-without-it books!
left: Vanishing Circles from "Beyond the Battlefield" by Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene
right: 30-Block Faux on Point from "Splendid Sampler" by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson
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