I Spy Blog Hop

Today is my day on the I Spy Blog Hop. When Kimie and Missy of On Williams Street, asked for designers to participate in a blog hop to promote their new book, I didn’t hesitate. Most of my patterns are foundation paper piecing, and I love this technique, as it allows me to create intricate designs with fabrics and reproduce practically any form. Their book is set up with 100 foundation paper pieced block patterns, and they have done a really great job.

Read until the end where you will find a gift that they are offering for a limited time!

When I signed up for the blog hop, I was worried about getting a copy of the book, they gifted us as participants, in enough time. I live in Spain, and they are from USA, and I needed to sew some of the blocks to show all of you. But luckily, they told me there is also an e-copy of the book. Great! I think in this connected world, getting patterns online allows all of us to enjoy patterns quickly and from anywhere. So, whether you are more of physical pattern person, or prefer online versions, there is an option for you.

I want to introduce you some of the features of this great book that will make you love it too.

The blocks have a modern style that will allow you to create a modern looking quilt, or create any accessory for the house, kids or pets!
Every block is 4″ square and if you join all the blocks, you will be able to make a quilt that measures approximately 51” square.
The blocks make reference to different themes: Around the
House, Playtime, Getting Ready, Dress Up, Animals, Sandcastles, Let’s Celebrate, In the Garden, On the Move, On Vacation and Let’s Eat. So, you have a large variety to choose from, or make items by season. Do you need a pattern to make mug rugs for Christmas? Or a fabric storage basket for your kids? Here, you have so many great choices.
Each block is labeled with a difficulty between 1 and 3. Start with the level 1 blocks, then move up to the levels 2 and 3.
It includes a tutorial abut FPP technique, that makes this book a very good tool for those who want to start with foundation paper piecing.
In the book, each block has a dedicated page, where you can see the level of difficulty, the page in the templates file, the fabrics they used, a line drawing of the block with the sections and an identification key for colour placement.
The templates aren’t in the book, but for both formats (hard copy and e-book), you get a login and a password to access the templates. So you can print the pages as you need them.

Now is time to show you what we made with these blocks. Yes, we! As I told you in my last blog post, I have just partnered with Sarah, from Acorn Corner Quilts, and we have created Seacorner Pattern Workshop. We have created a new business to help all of you (quilters or pattern designers), to have your dream patterns. So, we decided that Sarah would sew some of the blocks, as she always has great ideas. And what great projects she has made! We hope they inspire you!

The first project was a camping themed pillow. She picked five blocks: the Roasted Marshmallow, the Campfire, the Tent, the Flashlight and the Star. They all are perfect for a camping pillow. This one will be a gift for her dad who loves to go camping.

To sew them, Sarah used Carolyn Friedlander fabrics. In the book the blooks are shown in solid fabrics, so we thought it would be great to show you how they could look in printed fabrics too. They are displyed in squares and Sarah used a 16” pillow form. And for the quilting, she used mostly echo quilting and some accent quilting.

And the second project is a bandana for her adorable Cara, her soon to be 12 year old rescue dog! When she proposed me to that she sew this for her dog, I fell in love with this idea. It shows us the range of possibilites with this book. To sew the bandana she pieced the block into a 12” square, added a triangle of batting (fusible interfacing is an option too), then added some quilting.

You can find the book on the On Williams Street Etsy shop, and to celebrate the launch, they are offering a 10% off coupon by using the code ISPYBLOGHOP from November 30 to December 16.

Get you I Spy book