Book Review: What A Novel Idea!

A lot of times I love a novelty line when it comes out but don’t have any idea what I would do with it.  I really enjoyed Pat Sloan’s What a Novel Idea because all 12 quilts used novelty patterns in a fun, creative way. 

Come in and purchase this book at Always in Stitches!

I made the quilt on the cover, “Let’s Go Camping” out of Moda’s The Berenstain Bears line.  I’d been eyeing it for a while but had no idea what to do with it.

This quilt was a nine patch with a few extras.  My favorite part was the middle triangle border and it was really quick to piece.

Middle border

 

It was a great way to showcase a lot of different pieces in this line.  I especially loved the block with the tree house! 

Also note some of the fabrics in this line (polka dots and the sports print I used for the backing)  could be used for a lot of different things.

There are a few other quilts in the book I’ll have to try with the next novelty line I fall in love with.  I really like “Sailing, Sailing” which has a chevron design to it and “A Pair of Winners.”

 

A few notes from one quilter to another:  I really loved this quilt as I was piecing it until I added the outer border.  I feel like the fabric I picked out was a little too busy and red compared to the rest of the quilt.  If I were doing it again I would either choose a different outer border or incorporate some red into the nine-patch blocks (maybe make the center block of each nine patch red.)  Also a plug for reading the instructions completely before starting: I'm not a trimmer and the instructions had you cut the squares for the triangles too big and then trim each block.  A lot of people do it this way, but I'm not that patient.  If you have the same vices I do cut your 3" blocks at 2 7/8" and you won't have to trim them. 

Happy sewing!

Tamara