Apr
Quilting … From Little Things
Posted by
Sarah Fielke’s first solo book, Quilting From Little Things, is something I’ve been stalking the mail box for ever since she started showing sneaky peeks on her blog a year ago. So when the mailman finally dropped it off, I have to say, I did a happy dance. Quilting From Little Things is an absolute joy from cover to cover. Every page oozes ‘Sarah-ness’ which is a difficult quality to define but if you can grab it, harness it and make it your own you’re onto a winner! Her flair for putting fabrics together and making even the more difficult techniques sound quite simple sets this book apart from most. Sarah’s style is bright, colourful and adventurous – these projects are quilts you will actually want to make.
The book’s premise is this – ten lessons in technique, two projects for each. One dolly size quilt, one large quilt. If you’re unsure of the technique demonstrated, practise with the dolly, then move on to the biggy. Work your way through the whole book and end up with a wall full of beautiful little quilts, and enough bed quilts to keep you cozy in the coldest winter.
From dolly quilt …
To full sized quilt …
How beautiful is that?!
As with Sarah’s previous books (she co-authored the Material Obsession books), the pages are clearly laid out, with a feast of diagrams and photos. Full-size templates are included on separate pull-out pattern sheets. Every quilt in the book has a rating of difficulty, from 1 to 4, according to how many different techniques are used and how difficult those techniques are. She talks you through many of the traditional techniques you will need to master in order to become a better quilter – from simple row by row construction through to inset piecing – and covers foundation piecing, appliqué, wedges and even feathered blocks.
If you are going to buy one book this year – make it this one. Whether you’re a beginner quilter or have been quilting since you were knee high to a grasshopper, Sarah’s book will teach you things you didn’t know, it will challenge you, it will help you define your own personal style and will become a well thumbed addition to your library.
Quilting From Little Things is out now in all good bookshops and quilt shops in Australia. It will be released in the UK (and Europe) on May 2nd, and folks in the US have to wait a little longer (the release date is August for you guys). However, The Book Depository in the UK has the book available for pre-order (with the UK release date of May 2nd) and with FREE worldwide delivery. (Thanks to Amy for that little snippet of info!) Click here for more information.
Murdoch books and Sarah have generously given us a copy of the book to give away to one of our readers! Leave a comment on this post telling us what technique frightens you the most. For me it’s inset seams. I love the look, I’m just too scared to try them. I think I know what my first project from this book should be! (The give away is open to all readers – no matter which country you happen to live in!)
Good luck, and happy sewing!
- Bookmark :
- Digg
- del.icio.us
- Stumbleupon
- Redit it
Retreat Sponsors
Website Sponsors
Looks like such a great book!
I think curves frighten me the most.
I think applique scares me the most…then circles…i think it all comes down to patience and having more time….i love sarah’s work and would love to own this book!
This looks like a great book! Applique scares me the most… I try reading tutorials online, but there are so many different approaches that it’s hard to know what to follow!
Curves still scare me the most. I’ve done a few, but never been completely happy=one will turn out great & the next, not so great!
I’m with you and it’s inset seams. The book looks wonderful!
Needle turn Applique scares me most as I have never done it sucessfully,
the dreaded inset seam!! i really want to make a lemoyne star quilt, but i’m not brave enough to try it yet! and zippers and linings. and curves. wow i’m sort of a chicken.
I would love to try her feathered star! I love Sarah’s work! Would love to own this book someday
I so want to win this book [sigh] it looks amazing!! I know it’s not a quilting thing, but I’m terrified of zips. There are so many cute patchwork pouches and bags out there, but the zipper just gives me the hebbie jebbies.
Right now I am terrified of piecing circles. I have a project I wanna do that could really use it, but I am too frightened to start…
#TotalChicken
And yay Sarah!!! Can’t wait for Houston!!!
Sarah’s book sounds really great. Mine would be inset seam too..! thanks for the chance
Definitely inset seams. I’ve tried them a few times but always get a little tuck or pucker in the inset corner.
I’m scared of curves. A drunken path quilt seems like a nightmare, although they are beautiful. I’d love to have a book explaining techniques. Thanks for having a giveaway!
Inset seams…UGH!
Angles other than 90 and 45 scare me. I’m afraid the block will be a little wonky if I don’t get the seams exactly right. Thanks for the giveaway. Kathie L in Allentown
Paper piecing still frightens me! The book looks lovely!
I’m a newbie
and haven’t tried FMQ yet – it scares me 
Free motion quilting definitely scares me! But i’ve NEVER done paper piecing either.
Inset seams. I just can not do them. Love the bird quilt.
I always have problems with inset seams, one side is good the other side usually puckers, so I press it into submission
Curves, and inset seams, they scare the living daylights out of me!! Must just jump in one of these days!! Thanks for the giveaway
Applique, gotta be applique that scares me. Then curves. I’d love to win this book.
Paper piecing and I’m going to be taking a class at my LQS – wish me luck!
Curves seams are my challenge right now. Will keep trying till I get it right. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful book.
Hmm…I don’t want to be scared by any technique. But I’d say things that challenge me are the idea of long arm quilting and a lone star quilt with lots of matching points. But I’m determined to do it all!
Free motion applique scares the beejeesus out of me, will take me years to give that a go! Hope I won, she’s my quilting idol!
it would definitely be a toss up between inset seams and paper piecing…
There’s not much hand applique going on at my house!
Y seams are scary! Don’t make me wait until August to figure them out.
Oh, I’m afraid of lots of things! I’ll start with paper piecing.
I want this book so much! *fingers crossed and hoping I win*
The technique that scares me most would actually have to be a tie between needle-turn applique and paper piecing. I have never tried either one, and I have no immediate plans to!
mrskoreski (at) gmail (dot) com
It sure is a delightful book! I think needle turn appliqué scares me… Got the blanket stitch down pat though! Lol
I would consider myself to still be a beginner quilter, so I am still afraid to try curved piecing!
I also have a craft book addiction, and I loved all the quilts in material obsession books, so I would love love love to own this one!
yeah – inset seams scare me too! And I’m not sure I’m patient enough for needle-turned applique…
I am really afraid of curves, circles. I hope soon to try them the get over the fear.
The technique I most fear is sewing round seams. I always look on both sides about every stitch, just to be shure I’m doing the right thing.
I’m very fond of all the colours Sarah uses in her books.
Yup, inset seams for sure. This book looks amazing. I love the doll quilt size to try out a technique and then be able to continue on and make a full size. That is so awesome!!
each the book review tantilisers the reader to ‘must have that book’, love to win.
Thanks for the opportunity…
Lyn
I would love to win this book, and maybe concur my fear of foundation piecing. I like regular shapes and the curves that are achievable with foundation piecing scare me. Hopefully Sarah’s new book “Quilting from little things” can help. Fingers crossed…
Free motion quilting! Just writing the words makes me nervous. I really want to be able to quilt my own quilts with fabulous swirls and loops and flowers but it comes out as wobbly scribbles. I’ll keep practising… This book looks amazing!! I love Sarah’s use of colour and her scrappy love.
Curves, even tho I know there are some great tutorials out there supposedly making them easy.
Free motion quilting! I mean, I put all that work into piecing the top, and now I’m going to let a novice quilter (ME) put her hand to it?
Most things scare me as I am new to quilting, but lots of small pieces that have to be joined just right scare me to death!
gee – there are probably quite a few techniques that I haven’t tried cause I’m a bit scared – I can’t seem to get the hang of applique and it took me ages before I bought a walking foot for my machine, the finishing part of the binding still gives me headaches…I could go on but you get the picture !! and I have to say I’m not sure what technique is used in the quilt shown in the second photo in this post – kind of looks a bit dresden like – but whatever it is I want to learn it – that quilt looks sublime – wow can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of Sarah’s book.
Anything with curves scares me! So far I haven’t been game to try piecing curves at all
Hmmm, I think paper piecing is a worry for me as I’ve not tried it yet…have some books but its putting it into practice!
Oooh that would be machine curved piecing as I have only done this technique by hand sewing a drunkards path block when I first started quilting….and that was tricky enough. Great book review, thank you.
Sadly I can name more than one technique that I avoid – needle turn appliqué and free motion quilting for starters! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Sarah’s book.
Inset seams are very scary and I would love to have the confidence to try paper piecing. This book looks fantastic. Would love to own it.
I think anything with a curved seam… although it’s not like I can sew that straight anyway so maybe I should just throw caution to the wind and try curves anyway!!
The book looks great – would love to win a copy!
The book looks wonderful – would love to win a copy!
What a gorgeous book – I so need a copy!! It’ll provide me with some much needed focus and inspiration…and of course – a new project! It doesn’t matter that I already have 27+ projects on the go…
I’m afraid of curved piecing! I’ve done inset seams with the help of a teacher and now I just avoid them even though I can do them.
Another beautiful book from Sarah!
I am a complete beginner so pretty much in a constant state of fright! Anything but a square makes me think EGADS how do I do this? I need this book, truly
Thanks for such a generous giveaway!
Circles and applications – I doubt I will ever get around to it :/
Maybe the book could help me get over my fear?
FMQ, particularly curvy, loopy FMQ…I can just about manage a spiky, straight line version (on a small scale) but I can’t even doodle curvy never mind quilt it!! The book looks fabulous, thanks for the chance to own it!
How can I describe it? What scares me is when many points come together–as in a pointy star. I’ve seen the diagrams about pressing and snipping and different ways to lessen the bulk, but I am pretty sure I’d wind up with a huge lump there, and be man-handling it through my sewing machine.
The more I see of this book, the more enchanted I am. Thank you so much for the chance to win!
My biggest fear is paper/foundation piecing. I’ve read books on it, seen videos, and I still don’t get it. I know it’s a dense thing in my brain and one someone takes me by the hand I’ll “get” it. But it really wracks my brain.
I guess I haven’t found the correct tutorial on it yet. I know when I do “get” it I’ll kick myself for something so simple. Oh well. Thanks for the chance to win this book!
I love seeing all the free style and wonky blocks everyone seems to be making but they scare me to death, having been one of those kids who had to colour inside the line I’m scared of doing it wrong.
Curves make me anxious but I love the look. Wedges would be the next thing. I have tried but it’s difficult to have them all line up well. Thanks for the giveaway.
I’d love a chance to pore over this book! Freemotion still terrifies me; I need to bite the bullet and DO it until my fear passes. I need to play with paper piecing too, still haven’t got the fabric-is-backwards thing down.
Curves are still my greatest fear.
Oooh, I think it’s the needle turn applique that scares me the most! Someday I want to try it out, though. The book just looks so inspiring, I’d really love to see it.
Oh my! I googled in-set seams. THAT is what those things are called. I would LOVE to learn how to do them! Right now…no clue!
Thanks for the opportunity!
I don’t know that anything scares me as much as finding the right project to make me want to try out something new and different. This is such a brilliant idea for a book to challenge quilters to try something new. I love the small and large approach!
I would agree that inset seams scare me the most, however the few times I have done them they have went well. Maybe I just need practice. Thanks for the give away.
I’m a newbie to quilting, and am not even sure what inset seams are! I do know that machine applique scares me, as does any kind of curved quilting.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Any pattern with a template sending me packing. I can never seem to get them traced and cut out accurately. I’m sure the answer is practice, practice, and more practice. Thanks for a chance to win this beautiful book!
Curved seams definitely frighten me, but I think I’d be willing to try them for that second quilt pictured. I can NOT stop looking at that! I need to get my hands on this book ASAP! Thanks for the opportunity!
I have only done straight seams so far, not even any triangles! So, I suppose my fear is curved piecing. *shudder*
Wow….that bird quilt would be sooo fun to make….I have a ton of scraps that would be so fun to use…especially in the tail feathers. And I get the feeling I would learn a lot making it!
Oh my – could that last quilt pictured look any more luscious! Her colour and fabric selections are always so rich. Have thoroughly enjoyed “Material Obsession” and love the idea of “practicing” on a dolly size quilt before attempting the “full-size”….. especially if it involves inset seams… something I haven’t attempted in quilting – in apparel sewing not so scary – why is it they are in quilting
Continue to love this blog and magazine!! Thank you!
I’m with you on the inset seams! This book looks absolutely amazing! I’d love to win a copy because I don’t want to wait until August to purchase one.
Great job, Sarah!
The dreaded Y seam!!! I have tried many times, and it just doesn’t work!! I’m beginning to think they are a myth!
It’s not exactly a “technique,” but I think at this point I am most intimidated by my serger
As a US reader, I would LOVE to get my hands on that book now! Thanks!
Thanks for such a wonderful glimpse into this book – wow, love her quilts and ideas. I’ve never attempted curves don’t know if I ever will.
This book is on my to buy list–I’ve loved all the quilts so far! The technique that intimidates me is probably hexagons, or little bitty pieces that don’t have a lot of room to fudge. I also hate sewing on big borders!
The book looks great! Probably my two greatest fears are free motion quilting and appliqué. Absolutely terrifying!!
Free motion quilting, I cant master it and i want it perfect! Thanks for the info of where I can get the book in the U.K
I’m new to quilting, and until now, I’m so afraid to do machine quilting. But I will try to do it on my next quilt …
Thanks for the review – I love the aesthetic of her projects – but it’s not really “me” – so I was really glad you explained how the book is structured – sounds like a really great way to learn a skill. I am afraid of applique – so that would probably be the first one to try.
Hand applique – like brussel sprouts, I know it’s good for me, but sometimes just can’t bear to swallow it.
Thanks for the chance to win this lovely book!
I’d have to say piecing anything but squares, rectangles, and triangles still scares me. But the projects are so inspiring I’m sure I’ll give it a shot!
I love Sarah’s quilts. Have been a fan since before the first Material Obsession book.
Yeah, Sarah.
These complicated stars still scare me… I think because I am not accurate enough. BUt one day I will definetely give it a try.
Dresden plate patterns and paper piecing is a daunting… I make excuses not to try it! This looks like a great book to get motivated.
for me it would be inset or y seams
Hmm, it’d be a toss up between inset seams and a mariner’s compass–they just seem so involved that I always back off thinking I’ll not finish it. Time to get tough, eh.
Arches. Love the designs you get with them… but they look a little intimidating. I love Sarah’s other books, I would love to get my hands on this one:)
That looks like an amazing book. LOVE the pics you have shared with us. Hmm what scares me the most? FINALLY being able to afford fabric I see online that I really want and the scariest part is CUTTING into my fabrics. LOL
Seriously, the thing I’ve seen that seems to give so many others problems is curves such as those in the Drunkards Path block. Because of that I’m even afraid to attempt them.
Definitely curved seams. Also any hand stitching and/or embroidery. With my arthritis, its a real beeotch! Would love to have this book to look at on days I’m too sore to work.
I think paper piecing frightens me the most. It just seems so tedious. And then there’s all that paper to tear off.
Same as most people. Inset seams and circles. There’s a quilt along going on somewhere that will help with the inset seams, I’m looking forward to that. With the circles I really want to learn how to piece them in, just on the matter of principle I like learning how. If I do it once and then applique from then on, I’ll be okay with that.
I’m willing to give everything a whirl once or twice–really nothing to be scared of if you don’t know what you are up against, right? And then once you’ve done it a time or two it’s already less intimidating. =)
err..inset seams don’t sound too appealing, I’m not sure what they are however. The curves are a bit nervy as well.
i’m afraid of free motion quilting. i’m not good at it, so i avoid it because i’m worried it will make my quilts look bad. must practice!
i’m hoping to win the book since i’m in Canada and it will be a very long time waiting for it to be released! fingers crossed!
Fab book!
What scares me most? Anything I haven’t tried yet – paper piecing, raw edge applique, turned edge applique, foundation piecing, curved piecing, itsy bitsy piecing that requires absolutely perfect seams…. But I’ll eventually give them a go.
This book is a festival of colors for our happyness.
Thank you Sarah !!!!
whatever it is you have to use to make all those little hexies that I love on other people’s blogs – I’ve been too intimidated to even figure out the technique!
Sarah’s book is amazing. As will be a while before it makes it to the USA, would love to win it here. I’m afraid of machine quilting. It worries me that after so much work doing the piecing and assembly, that I would mess the quilt up by doing machine quilting because of lack of skill. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the draw. I’ve been reading Sarah’s blog for a very long time.
I’m gonna cross my fingers and see if the RNG is kind to me here, but if not, I’m totally ordering and taking advantage of that free WW delivery from the UK! I cannot wait to see this book in person, from everything I’ve read so far it’s a must have. I’m with you on inset seams – also my piecing nemesis.
This books really looks informative! The projects are beautiful. Looks like the general consensus is the inset seams. Yep….that would be my biggest fear also with curves being the second fear for me. I would love a copy of this book!
My biggest fear is machine applique….I have done needleturn, so I don’t know what my problem is!!
Looks like a fun book…thanks for sharing.
curves and machine applique – two things I am determined to play with this year. It is just that I have not done much in this line and it is time to have a go.
I would love to learn how to do curves and also complicated curves scare me to. I would really love to have this book
Love the book . I love the look of paper pieced things but am scared it will be a disaster when I try it.
Cutting, quarter inch seams, quilting itself scares me so much I am afraid to try a second one!
Curves…………I don’t like curves…smile
I’m a bit scared of paper piecing. And piping. I haven’t tried either.
Trying something new always scares me. So that makes me scared of a lot of things… But I usually bite the bullet and go ahead anyway. Which is why I’m entering.
…inset seams…yep definitely inset seams!!!
Curves for one, and paper piecing. I just can’t wrap my head around it!
I can’t wait to see more of this book. I’m so intrigued. I wouldn’t say that I ever feel frightened by sewing! But I have avoided hand quilting out of a general lack of understanding of good vs. bad technique. Thank you for the sneak peak and giveaway!
Definitely needleturn applique, can’t get it looking as good as other techniques.
For me, it’s matching points! I try to avoid having to do this, if I can! Thanks for offering this awesome giveaway!!
It has to be the pointy bits in needleturn applique, no matter how much I read up on how to get them right, I can’t master them!!! My quilts are the ones with kind of rounded leaves…
Needle turn applique intimidates me. I’m not sure I could do a good job on this. I normally applique by machine.
Oh you have no idea how much I have been drooling over this book! The quilts look AMAZING!
I think I’m another inset seams coward!!
I’m still a newbie quilter and hope that Sarah’s book will help me out as well as inspire me – it’s definitely on my MUST have list! Thanks for the giveaway
I would have to say curves… This book looks fabulous
Needle turned appliqué has to be my biggest fear in the quilting world.
There are some advanced piecing techniques I haven’t tried yet, but I’m not afraid of those – I’ll deal with each in its turn. No, it’s free-motion quilting that scares the pants off of me!
I dread needle turn applique. I take classes and the instructors
just shake their heads…this book looks so cheerful. I love
her use of color. Thank you for the opportunity!
I think curves frighten me the most. And inset seams. I try to avoid them as much as possible, but perhaps I should embrace my fears and learn some new techniques.
Piecing with curved seams frightens me, especially full circles – there is nothing I like more than piecing with simple straight lines!
I’m afraid of hand applique. I don’t think I have the stamina for it, and I’m sure a hundred little people (children, not faeries) would bump my elbow and ruin the effect while I was trying to master it.
I am currently working on a needle turned applique lap quilt and have discovered many tips along the way which has made this project almost painless! Mind you, it’s only taking over 2 years to make it… but it’s for me so there isn’t a deadline!
I don’t think that I have the patience for paper-piecing.
I’m pretty intrepid, but designing from scratch intimidates me — I don’t know where to begin! I might change things up a bit after I start, but I need a pattern to get me going. I’d love to win this book, it has such interesting patterns!
Free motion quilting scares the wazoo out of me. After all that piecing, I’m afraid of ruining the tops. They sit unfinished in a pile till someday I become brave enough to tackle them!
definitely inset seams! and curves, though now that i have tried them they are much less frightening! thanks for the giveaway!
Inset seams for me…never even attempted.
Machine quilting large quilts on my domestic sewing machine is very intimidating for me….easier to send them out to a long armer professional.
Marcy
Hand applique is what frightens me most…I am all good with machine applique, but I am a little hesitant about doing it by hand. I think it is the accuracy factor that is intimidating. I have both Material Obsession books (love them) and would love to have this one too. Sarah has such a definitive and fresh style that is so inspiring
WIthout doubt it is handpiecing. Getting the stitches to be invisible AND strong enough scares the bejaysus out of me!
Hand Applique! I’ve never tried it because it looks too daunting. Thanks for the chance to win this awesome book.
I don’t know if this counts since it’s not quilting related, but zippers scare me! Thanks for the great giveaway.
Oh wow if I had read this last week I would have said inset seams too, but I have mastered them with 120 blocks I’m making Kaffe Fassetts handkerchief quilt and the end is sort of insight So I think hand piecing would have to be the thing that frightens me – don’t think I have the patience for it. Thanks for the chance to win.
Dang it! Another one I *have* to have!
This is beautiful. As far as scary — three dimensional sewing scares me.
And putting zippers in a bag.
Anything with any semblance of a curve! I am a beginner though, so maybe curves will come with time and practice.
I want this book so badly I can’t stand it. Please choose me! My most terrifying quilting technique is paper piecing. I have so much trouble giting my mind on the right path to knowing where to begin.
Curved piecing for sure!
Set in seams scare me as well. This book looks great. Thanks for the giveaway.
Machine sewing hexagons is frustrating. I have done hexagon hand sewing this past weekend. Thanks for a great giveaway.
Reverse applique really intimidates me. I haven’t tried it yet, because I’m scared I’ll screw it up …
I’m willing to try just about any technique, but I dislike those pesky inset seams.
I’m a bit of a newbie; did paper piecing when I was a little girl (but never actually did anything with it), and recently tried diamond quilting on the inside of a baby changing mat for a friend, but I’ve never yet made a quilt, so many of the techniques scare me! Quilting along straight lines was okay; free motion quilting is very scary. And the applique methods…
I am a new quilter – so I have only done the basics, but I love it!
I really want to do some applique – and hand do my bindings.
This looks awesome. I want to learn inset seams, too!
quilting with curves scares me the most. I can do straight seams NO PROBLEM but haven’t been brave enough to try and curved ones
A good Aussie girl with a great Aussie book. So glad this book is being showcased to the rest of the world.
I am very new to quilting so anything that doesn’t involve simple straight lines scares me!
hmmmm, good question, but I think it’s inset seams and machine quilting a big quilt
the book is amazing, but I think that’s normal for Sarah
Wow! This book look amazing and I’d love to win a copy.
I think curved pieceing seems very difficult. I’ve done it and it has turned out I just don’t feel comfortable with it.
I have looked at all the amazing articles on many blogs concerning this gorgeous new book and all I can say is that I dearly want a copy of this book for my own. Such inspiration! All the color and design ideas! Crossing my fingers . . .
Curves are the worst and I need to learn applique techniques! thanks for the great giveaway!
I’ll try anything, but as a fairly new quilter there are techniques I haven’t tried yet. I haven’t tried inset seams. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Sarah’s book. It looks great!
Right now – hand quilting. I am going to learn though! And then proper applique.