Fast Track Quilt Ideas + Quilt Along

 Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a quick reminder that the Fast Track quilt along starts on Monday!

I've been having fun this week mocking up the Fast Track quilt pattern in a bunch of different fabrics and thought you'd like to see some of them!

   Want to join in? Sign up for the Fast Track quilt along here!

First of all, here's a peek at what I'll be sewing with for the quilt along: 

This is a bundle of Ombre Fairy Dust (by Vanessa Christensen for Moda Fabrics)* and I've been debating on whether to use the black print or the white one for the contrasting print. I mocked up both versions - which one do you like better? 

**This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) when purchases are made through links found in this post. Thank you!

At first I really loved the white, but the black is so striking!  

(The black print is Ombre Fairy Dust Metallic Soft Black and the white print is Ombre Fairy Dust Metallic Off White ). 

This version of Fast Track (above) is made with Gingham Gardens (Riley Blake Designs). This is such a pretty fabric line!

For all of you solid fabric fans, this is made with Kona Cotton Solids (colors: Butterscotch, Creamsicle, Eggplant, Everglade, Foxglove, Ice Peach, Mustard, Plum, Sage, Salmon, Seafoam, Shell, Lt. Parfait, Sienna, and Coal)

How about a faded beachy version? I love this scrappy look! These are all different light blues and light reds from a variety of Riley Blake fabric lines, paired with a solid white. I love this one - and really want to make one this Summer.

How about a bolder red, white, & blue version? This patriotic Fast Track is mocked up with American Gathering (by Primitive Gatherings for Moda Fabrics)

Here's another scrappy version, with low volume prints and a fun Riley Blake polka dot for the contrasting rectangles. 

This final one is a version that I plan on making, and I even already have the bundle and background fabric ready to go. This quilt uses a line called Golden Hour (Ruby Star Society) and Moda Bella 97. 

It's so fun to see how the look of the quilt changes with different fabrics!  Which one is your favorite? 

And here's one more that I've finished but haven't yet shared here on my blog:

This one was made with a fun bundle that I put together with Maker Valley. The bundles have sold out, but Holly always has a fabulous and unique selection of custom bundles for sale on her site.

I can't wait for the quilt along to get started! The first newsletter will go out on Monday so be sure you're signed up so you don't miss a thing. If you're still needing a copy of Fast Track, grab one here (sale ends on Monday!). 

Fast Track QAL Weekly schedule:

Week 1: Fabric selection & cutting fabric

Week 2: Block construction

Week 3: Finish blocks & quilt top assembly

Week 4: Quilting & binding your Fast Track quilt

French Market Tote Bag Tutorial + Dots and Posies Fabric

 Sometimes it's fun to switch things up! I've been doing a lot of quilts lately but last week I spent an afternoon making a new tote bag for myself with some lovely new fabrics.

I first designed this French Market Tote bag back in 2017 (and shared the tutorial here).

I've always loved choosing a fun liner print for my tote bags but usually the liner is never really even seen! So I designed this bag specifically so that the bag liner could be seen...and appreciated.

And seriously - that large polka dot print deserves the attention!

This latest version of the bag is made with a new fabric line from Poppie Cotton called Dots and Posies.

The fabric line has over 20 different prints but I chose just a few of my favorites for these projects. I do love that large floral!  The line also has a fun cheater print (the one on the top left) that looks like english paper pieced hexagons. It's so darling!

For the interfacing on this bag I used Pellon 809. It's my favorite interfacing for bags and zipper pouches because it gives structure without making the bag all puffy.

The finished French Market Tote measures 11"(H) x 14"(W) x 3"(D)

To make one bag you'll need:

1/3 yard main bag print

3/4 yard bag liner and handles

18" x 45" piece of interfacing

I also made a small coordinating zipper pouch using one of my favorite tutorials (by Jedi Craft Girl - find it here). 

I used to be so intimidated by zipper pouches - well...anything with a zipper really.  But Amanda's tutorial is easy to follow and makes a great size of pouch: 5.5" tall, 8.5" wide (at the widest point).

I used the same Pellon 809 interfacing for the pouch that I used in the tote bag. And I just HAD to use a fun liner print! 

Dots and Posies fabrics will be in stores soon, and if your local shop doesn't carry it, check etsy!

Hope you have a great week, and that you're able to sneak in some sewing time! Don't forget...the Fast Track quilt along starts on February 1. You can sign up here!

Coral and Gray Scrappy Quilt + Season to Taste Book

 There's been some scrappy sewing around here lately.  After all of the reds and greens of the holiday season I sure was ready for a new color palette!

After auditioning some different color combos (green + yellow, navy + pink) I pulled these two stacks from my stash and they just clicked!

Fast Track Quilt Along + Pattern Sale

Hey everyone!  Want to sew along with me in February? Starting February 1st I'll be hosting the Fast Track Quilt Along!

The quilt along will run for four weeks:

February 1 - February 28

and all of the information will be sent out directly to participants in a weekly email - including tips, inspiration, and helpful video tutorials. I can't wait to get started. 

Want to join in? Click here for the sign up page.  It's free to join - no subscription fee or membership required.  All you'll need is a copy of the pattern and the supplies and fabric to make whatever size of Fast Track you wish.

Weekly schedule:

Week 1: Fabric selection & cutting fabric

Week 2: Block construction

Week 3: Finish blocks & quilt top assembly

Week 4: Quilting & binding your Fast Track quilt

Details and other info will be conveniently delivered to your inbox each Monday morning so be sure you're signed up so you don't miss a thing!

Sign up here

Fast Track is quick to piece and fun to make. It's also a versatile pattern! You can use:

• Jelly roll strips
• Layer cake squares
• Fat quarters
• 1/4 yard cuts 
• or even scraps!

Along the way we'll all be sharing our progress on Instagram

#FastTrackQAL

#FastTrackquilt

Not on Instagram? No problem! It's not mandatory - it's just a fun way for us to see everyone's creations and cheer each other on!

I'll have more details to share as we get closer to February 1st - in the meantime be sure your signed up for the QAL and start thinking about what size you'd like to make!

You can grab a copy of the pattern here - on sale for $8 until the start of the QAL (February 1, 2021)

Fast Track quilt pattern

 I'm so excited to be able to share my newest quilt pattern, Fast Track! It's a quick and easy quilt pattern that uses pre-cuts and includes four sizes of quilts.

Find Fast Track patterns in my shop here, or on ETSY here

So far I've made three different versions of Fast Track and I've pretty much loved them all. I shared the first one a few weeks ago, and I have a red and gray Christmas version that I'll share next week. And I'm dying to make one with only solid fabrics - I'm just trying to narrow down which colors to use.  Any suggestions?

Super quick to piece

We all love how fast strip piecing is, and I designed this pattern to be a unique take on a quick and easy strip quilt. With Fast Track there is minimal cutting and very few seams in each block.  And with no points to match up, and no borders to add you'll be done with this quilt in no time.

Fast Track Quilt in Pure Delight Fabrics

 Hey friends! Today I get to introduce to you to a couple of new fun things.  

I've been sewing away over the past few weeks working on a new pattern and I'm super excited about it. I've made three different versions so far and I can't wait to share them all with you!

You'll have to wait just a bit longer though - just until after Thanksgiving when the patterns arrive from the printer. So consider this a little sneak peek.

This is Fast Track - a precut friendly, quick-to-piece pattern that you're going to love!

For this version of Fast Track I used some brand new fabrics - and as you can see, these prints brought a big ol' stack of sunshine to my sewing room. The colors and prints are so cheerful and bright.

Venture Out quilt in Backyard Blooms

This latest project falls into the "just for me & just for fun" category....so of course it ended up on the bottom of my list of priorities and took me awhile to make. Isn't that how it goes? :)

Back in July this new line from Allison Harris (Windham Fabrics) was released and I fell in love. The colors are very "me", I loved all of the different florals, and the chicken print was too good to pass up.

The line is called Backyard Blooms and you can still find some of the prints in quilt shops, or on Etsy - but I wouldn't wait - it won't last too much longer.

I wanted to leave the prints in bigger pieces so I could really appreciate them and I knew this Venture Out pattern would be perfect.

The pattern for Venture Out is in my book, Fresh Fat Quarter Quilts. Grab one here on Amazon*, or ask your local quilt shop to order some from their distributors. You can also find autographed copies here in my shop.

**This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) when purchases are made through links found in this post. Thank you!

The original Venture Out pattern calls for 14 fat quarters, but for this version I used only 9 FQ and made the quilt slightly smaller by removing one row and two columns. 

This pattern is one of the easier ones to adjust in size and I really like how this smaller throw size turned out (53" x 67"). You could also adjust it to make a larger Venture Out by adding rows and columns - just remember that you can get 5 blocks from each FQ and do the math from there.

Here's the version of Venture Out that's in my book. I used a variety of prints (not from a single line) in light, bright colors. 

I love seeing how a quilt changes just by changing up the fabrics - and I still have it in my head to make a version of Venture Out that's a little more moody - maybe with some deep navy, teal, plum, and gray prints!

For the quilting on this one I used a longarm design / panto called Rolling Hills. I discovered it in one of my favorite Etsy shops, 627 Handworks. She has some other fun quilting designs as well as some really cool foundation pieced block patterns.

Quilt Details:

53" x 67"

Pattern: Venture Out - from the book, Fresh Fat Quarter Quilts**

Fabric: Backyard Blooms by Allison Harris for Windham Fabrics

Quilting: Rolling Hills (edge to edge computerized longarm design)

Pieced on a Juki TL-2010Q using Aurifil Thread (50 wt color: 2021)

**If you're a quilt shop, Fresh Fat Quarter Quilts books are available wholesale through Checker, Brewer, United Notions, and Martingale.