fabric pull for ocean waves quilt by wooden spoon quilts

Did you see Jolene’s (Blue Elephant Stitches) recent blog post Quilting Through a Book? Jolene posted that she is planning to make all the quilts from Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley, then she invited her readers to join her by either making all the quilts from Camille’s book or any other book of their choice. No hesitation, I’m in! Can you guess which book I’m choosing? Here’s a hint, my latest finished quilt top was the official start of my quest… And this book is my most favourite quilt book ever. I’ve already raved about it here, here and here. Not to mention in my last post!

No real surprise, I’ve chosen Denyse Schmidt Modern Quilts Traditional Inspiration. I’ve made the Irish Chain quilt already so not counting that and the Wagon Wheel quilt top from last week, I have eighteen quilts to go. Not all of the quilts are quilts that I would normally choose to make, and frankly some of them scare me but I’m excited about the challenge and looking forward to pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Jolene is thinking that she will complete the project in a year, I’m guessing I will take a lot longer than that.

6. Four finished blocks :)

Would you like to join in too? With Jolene’s blessing, I’ve created a new group, Quilt the Book, over on Flickr and started using the hashtag #quiltthebook on Instagram. This will be a no stress, no deadline kind of challenge. Also, there are no rules so feel free to define your own if you wish. My only real plan is to make quilts that I love, so that may mean I change the block size, quilt size or make my own twist on the pattern. I’d love if you feel inspired to join the support group. Which book would you choose?

Not to put you off joining in, but I’ve just started my third quilt from the book! It’s my month to assign blocks in the Sew Sisters Bee (we’re here on Flickr), a Bee made up of the lovely women in my doGoodStitches Care Circle group. I’ve chosen the Ocean Waves block. I didn’t realise until I started reading the instructions, just how small the blocks in the book are! Those HSTs are only 1½” finished. I didn’t think I’d be very popular with my bee if I assigned a block that contained 48 1½” HSTs so I’ve increased the block size, the HSTs in my blocks finish at 3″ (and there’re only twelve per block). Instead of a crib sized quilt, my quilt will be twin bed sized which suits me just fine. I can’t wait to see what combinations my bee mates come up with.

16 thoughts to “Quilt The Book

  • dutchcomfort

    Such a fun idea! I immediately ordered Denyse Schmidt‘s book as I trust your opinion and I don’t have any quiltbook now that holds only fabulous quilts. It will probably take me about 10 years to make them all but I’m still cherishing my first DS book! Love your blue fabrics!

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  • Lisa

    Great idea and I love these blues too!

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  • agnes

    That is quite an endeavor but I know you'll execute it superbly! I love that book and your style and am looking forward to seeing your progress!

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  • Carla

    It will be amazing! Have a great weekend

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  • gnomeangel

    Oh be still my crazy heart… look at all those perfect little triangles. So so lovely. Can't wait to see you work your way through the book! <3

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  • Julie

    I love this book too – currently re-reading it from the library again. I may have too succumb and buy it. A great idea – are you allowed to buy new fabrics, or are you just going to use what is in your stash?

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  • Megan

    What a project! I love too many things and all at the same time to focus on one book, but I will enjoy watching other people do this 🙂

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  • Camilla

    What a great plan! Already my mind is whirring with what book I'd choose! But I CAN'T do this! I'm doing badly enough on my FaL goals without adding any more distraction ATM! But I look forward to seeing what you do and I'm not ruling out joining in with this challenge at a (much) later date!

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  • A Quilter's Notes

    You've made fabulous fabric choices for the ocean waves quilt — do you mind listing the fabric names that you've shown in your photos? And are they FQ's or half yard cuts? I Love Denyse Schmidts book too — some of my favorite quilts ever are in that book. Thank you!!

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  • Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore

    Just checked, and my library has that book so I might need to make a trip to town this afternoon to see what all the excitement is about!

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  • Leonie

    oooo great idea and fantastic motivation. looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds 🙂

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  • Vera

    That is great idea. Have fun and enjoy! 🙂

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  • Rachel

    Thank you! I can't email you directly as you're set up as a no-reply blogger so I hope you see this. The fabrics in the blue pile are from these collections (top to bottom)… Hello, Bear (Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery), Natural History (Lizzy House), Doe (Carolyn Friedlander), Cotton and Steel Basics (x2), Natural History (Lizzy House), Doe (Carolyn Friedlander), Hello, Bear and The Land That Never Was (Lisa Congdon). The low volume fabrics are a mix of Carolyn Friedlander, Hello,Bear, Cotton and Steel. In the blocks I've made I've also used a Teagan White print from Acorn Trail and a Spoonflower print called Math Class Doodles by Happy Sew Lucky. These fabrics are both in the top left block. Most of my fabrics are fat quarters. Hope this helps 🙂

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  • A Quilter's Notes

    Thanks Rachel! I just set my blog up and will change the no reply thing — still trying to figure it all out….

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  • DeborahGun

    what a wonderful idea, and I just know you are going to totally nail this 🙂

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  • leanne

    oh my – what a fabulous idea – I have a load of books that I would love to make quilts from !!

    Reply

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