It is so fun to celebrate new book releases with my friends. I got to know Cheryl way back in 2014 when I was a new blogger. She's been so generous in the quilting and quilt blogging communities. If you haven't read her quilt pattern writing blog series, it is top notch! I digress... I'm here today to share my stop on the Just Two Charm Pack Quilts book tour! Welcome.
I chose the String Lights quilt from the book and made a small section of it, large enough to be a NICU quilt. I started with my Quantum charm pack by Giucy Giuce. I love the spectrum of color in the fabrics. Then I set out to find a solid to use as my background. (Why use a neutral when I can add another color?) I wanted to work from stash and chose many contenders that I didn't end up having enough of... and eventually I landed on Kona Pickle for my background. Some of the other options I considered:
My quarter square triangles went together quickly. After I put my columns together it was nice how fast it was to sew all the vertical seams without concern for matching up any seams.
The design of Just Two Charm Pack Quilts is that you start with two charm packs and just need to add two additional fabrics, one feature and one background. This leads to cohesive, scrappy designs. I enjoy that Cheryl features two versions for each off the 16 throw-sized quilts in the book (and I really love the quilts with dark backgrounds).
GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED: Congratulations Lisa England! Cheryl is offering one person from my blog a digital version of Just Two Charm Pack Quilts. To be eligible for the giveaway, make sure you are signed up for my newsletter. When you leave a comment on this post, be sure to use the same email address that you have signed up for my newsletter with. You can leave any message in your comment, perhaps tell me about what charm packs you would like to make into a quilt. The giveaway is open through August 7 (Pacific time). A winner will be chosen August 8 and notified via email.
Tomorrow is the last day of the book tour. Be sure to check out Cheryl's daily posts from this week and last week featuring each pattern from the book and links to the other book hop participants.
Karla Miley
I love the energy conveyed through the design and color choice.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Karla. I’m really happy with the Kona Pickle for the background.
Sheryl Harvey
Just beautiful, background choice is spot on!!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Sheryl.
Barb N
Ooohhh, I got carried away one year and bought all sorts of charm packs. Now they are just waiting for me to create! This book would be perfect! I do like your version of the String Lights quilt. It will make a nice surprise for some family.
sarah
Post authorI think lots of quilters get carried away with charm packs. :-) Thanks for visiting, Barb.
Vir Rojas
Beautiful colors and energy!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Vir!
Ellyn Zinsmeister
This is a great quilt and your pickle background is spot on!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Ellyn! The stash decided. :-)
Shauna Moulton
There’s so many great colors in the charm pack you used. “Pickle” was a wonderful choice for the background!
Shauna Moulton
sarah
Post authorThank you, Shauna! I really love Pickle. Explains why I had so much of it in my stash. I assume it was purchased for a specific purpose and I’ll need to buy more. :-)
Eileen Maher
You picked great colors!!
The book has many interesting designs!
sarah
Post authorThanks, Eileen!
Gudrun
WoW! That kona pickles pops! Love that color scheme and I'm looking forward sewing my own version of it!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Gudrun!
Kathy E.
So pretty! This design reminds me of freshly sharpened pencils...I guess it's the ol' retired teacher in me. The size is just perfect for a little one in NICU, Sarah, and will be loved for years to come. I have a boxful of charm packs waiting to be used for the perfect projects. Several of Cheryl's designs in this book are amazing!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kathy.
Pamela Reim
Who doesn't have fun charm packs. I have several of the Thatched collection which I think would look great against any number of backgrounds.
sarah
Post authorIt’s so hard to decide on a background fabric. So many great options! Thanks for visiting, Pamela.
Rita
I love your choice of colors in String of Lights!
I have a couple of charm packs of French General fabric. Maybe they'd look good in the Snapdragon Cove pattern. What do you think?
sarah
Post authorThat sounds like a great plan! Thanks for visiting, Rita.
Gail
Love your colors. I like quilts that pop off the background.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Gail. Bright colors with high contrast is my jam!
Kathi Downey
Great use of color.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kathi.
Donna
Love your pickle background. I have several charms packs just because I loved all the fabrics. Thankfully Cheryl has another book to help me with gorgeous quilts.
sarah
Post authorThey’re like potato chips. You can’t have just one. :-) Thanks for visiting, Donna.
Sheryl
Just beautiful, background choice is spot on!!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Sheryl.
Kathleen McCormick
Love this quilt and love the green background. I do have Tula Pink fat quarter bundle that I am anxious to use!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kathleen.
Wendy D.
I love the colors you used. I might need to try that brights with a bright green combo. Thanks for the inspiration.
sarah
Post authorThanks, Wendy. Let me know how it works out for you.
Cheryl Brickey
This version is fantastic! Thank you so much for your support and for being a part of the hop!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Cheryl!
Christi
I have a drawer full of charm packs so you have starterd me thinking. Great quilts.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Christi. I think they are easy to buy, and a challenge to put to use.
Kate
It's always fun to see how different color palettes work in the same quilt pattern. I love the bold choices in your background and blocks. It's also nice to see someone else just ended up with a quilt flimsy. I was sweating getting mine that far!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Kate. It’ll be a finished quilt someday. :-)
Susan Eiseman Levitin
I love how much stronger the design feels with the vivid background color. I, too, am a color-lover -- the bolder, the better.
This book looks great!
sarah
Post authorWhy use a neutral when I can add another color? Thanks for visiting, Susan.
Michelle Cain
As usual, a beautiful palette, one that would not have originated in my quilty brain. Thanks for the color inspiration!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Michelle!
Jinger D Snapp-Laplace
Wow, great color selection!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Jinger.
Anita
Love the vibrant colors and shapes in this quilt!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Anita.
Lisa England
I have lots of charm packs that I could use, plus I love cutting my own charms from my stash. A book full of ideas for using them is something many of us could use!
sarah
Post authorSince I don’t have a lot of charm packs (I can only think of one other) I thought about cutting charms from yardage. That’s another great option. Thanks for visiting, Lisa.
Marie Eddins
I really like your quilt and its fun colors. I just finished a quilt with a green background too. Fun to use color other than neutrals as a background. Yes, this book would be helpful as I have several charm packs also who need help in becoming a cool quilt!! Thanks for the chance!
sarah
Post authorLots of cool quilts to choose from! And there are so many beautiful greens... suitable for a variety of styles. Thanks for visiting, Marie.
Gillian
Great colour tones in your choice of fabrics. The book is full of lovely ideas; I would definitely use Eden by Gabrielle Neil (Riley Blake) for one of these quilts.
sarah
Post authorThanks for visiting, Gillian.
Sandy Gregg
I love what you've done with the charm packs, and you choice for the background is perfect. It looks like this books has lots of ideas for simple quilts and since I make about 50 small charity quilts a year, I could really use it.
sarah
Post authorThank you, Sandy. It would be a great resource for those!
Mary Ringer
I really like this String Lights pattern, and Kona Pickle was the perfect background fabric. I could easily see me making this pattern.
sarah
Post authorIt makes me think of the beads that hung in doorways... in the 70s? Thanks for visiting, Mary!
Cindy Pilkington
I just love version of this pattern! So pretty and colorful! I just happen to have Kona Pickle in my stash and some colorful charm packs as well. I would love to win the pattern! ;-)
sarah
Post authorThank you, Cindy.
Joan Hannes
I’m drawn to the simplicity of these quilts!
sarah
Post authorMe too! It's nice when a project comes together quickly. Thanks for visiting, Joan.
Marie
Sometimes simple and graphic is really just what is needed!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Marie.
Jayne P
I never know what to do with charm packs. This would be a really useful book
sarah
Post authorThanks for visiting, Jayne.
Joan Anderson
I make quite a few “preemie” quilts-would love the book.
sarah
Post authorThanks for visiting, Joan.
Barb
I have a number (?) of Charm Packs just waiting for inspiration--I like how your brights "Pop" off your background color!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Barb.
Peggy Driscoll
Love to see new ideas for precuts! Love your quilt Sara, very fresh & fun colors!
sarah
Post authorThank you, Peggy.