Monday, January 12, 2009

Fat Bundles

Do you buy fat quarter bundles? I must admit I have, but I don't know why, as when I get them home I never know what to do with them.




I have spent hours this afternoon looking through my patterns, books and the Internet looking for patterns that use fat quarters. I know there are a million out there, but most of them require augmenting the FQs with fabric from your stash which then just complicates the whole process - at least for me it does. I've also come to the conclusion that the bundles I have don't include light, medium and dark fabric values which are necessary for any of the quilts I like. They also don't include enough tone on tone. Those florals suck me in every time!

I have a cute story regarding the tied bundle above. A couple of years ago Leo went to Florida on a fishing trip and I knew he was going to be very near Rainbow's End Quilt store. I told him he couldn't be so close to the largest quilt store in Florida without bringing me something back.


Well, I was sitting at work one day and got a call from a sales assistant at Rainbow's End. She explained that my husband was in the store and he didn't have a clue what to buy me - even although I had told him what I liked (brights, pastels, almost anything Moda) and didn't like (30s, Civil War fabrics, reproductions). She asked me what my preferences were and he brought me home that Moda Sandy Gervais bundle called Think Spring. I really like it but I want to make something special with it and inspiration hasn't hit me over the head yet.

The last quilt I made from a fat quarter bundle is the UGLIEST quilt I have ever made. It was one of those quilts that I didn't like right from the beginning, but I kept thinking it would get better once more blocks were added. Well, it didn't and I should have known if I didn't like one block I wasn't going to like 20. The individual fabrics are nice, but all together it looks like a dogs breakfast. It's still waiting to be quilted. Maybe I'll get it finished and give it to someone I really don't like. I could donate it, but I don't like giving away anything I don't like myself. Weird, I know, but that's just the way I am.



7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those are some really pretty fq's! How about something like this? http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/free_patterns.php

Scroll down to Pink Bliss, and Ginger Bliss. They both use fq's. I wish I could find an Amy Butler fq bundle somewhere!

Three Birds Inspired said...

Our taste in fabric is so similar! The fat quarter bundle is very pretty. Makes me feel all springy!!

Jeri said...

Irene, those are such pretty fabrics. You can always pair them with a white or cream tone-on-tone. And, that last quilt does not look like the dog's breakfast to me - I think its really pretty.

Mary Johnson said...

My Mom or Aunt would love that quilt. I tend to like fat quarter bundles that don't package the same fabric line together. It starts to look way too coordinated for me.

I love fat quarters too so I either toss in lots of stuff from my stash or buy ones that aren't from the same line of fabrics. Mom's just the opposite - she likes the ones that are very coordinated although she struggles sometimes with the results too because I think they tend to be very blendy quilts without a lot of contrast. So maybe just focus more on value and pull in more darks and lights.

Anonymous said...

I'm kinda clueless when it comes to making something with FQ bundles (so I don't buy them). I have seen a Turning Twenty with a Twist recently that looks good and Might work for those fabrics.

Jocey said...

I like the soft blended quilts so I don't think it looks like the dogs breakfast at all! And if you find a good sell off - let me know!

quiltmom anna said...

HI Irene,
Your quilt is lovely - it has a very soft look about it...
Fat quarters are fun - check out a company called Connecting threads.com and go to their books- I am sure they have a number of books for Fat quarters - I know in their close out section they had a book called Fat quarter frenzy ( I think) and others called Hooked on Fats- Perhaps you will find the things that you are looking for in them. You can check on some of the patterns in them by viewing the images. The prices are reasonable and the shipping not too bad either.
I have bought things from them before and been very pleased with it.

Your daughter looks gorgeous in your wedding gown. I can see why you are such a proud mama.
Regards,
Anna