Book Review – Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts

By Pam & Nicky Lintott

WWW.RUCRAFT.CO.UK

D & C ISBN-13:978-0-7153-3208-5
ISBN-10:0-7153-3208-2

17 diverse quilting projects show you how to get the most from the latest irresistible pre-cut fabric bundles (that’s what it says on the back of the book!)

imag1204I was skeptical; I haven’t purchased many charm packs or jelly rolls (well I have purchased them, I just haven’t used them yet as I’m not really sure what to do with them!) I was pleasantly surprised at how many things I liked in this book.

As I was flicking through the book, I was thinking I’d do a little write up about what I observed in the book…… Then I found the “Hexagon Hip Hop”. Everyone has been getting into hexagons lately and I myself have attempted my first hexagon – it took forever and I wasn’t sure I could put that amount of time into something again. Then I saw the technique was not true hexagons but give the appearance of hexagons. Excellent, a shortcut to hexagons. I had to try it.

So, off I went on my merry way, I was so excited I cut out too much. No problem, I’m a “modern quilter”, I can make this work…..

I put the first row out, it was looking good. Then the 2nd row. I was blown away by the technique and how fast it was coming together. My husband took one look at it and said I’ve done it wrong. “Pffft “ I said, “what do you know, I’m the quilting goddess around here”. Obviously not….. I had to reverse sew. Great, my 2nd row and already I was unpicking. I can’t just look at pictures and do it – I actually have to read what to do. I’ll know for next time. So, please learn from my mistakes, they are not meant to line up!

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Wrong way – don’t do this!

Photo 2:

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The right way – do this!

Once I got into the groove of laying it out, the penny dropped – finally. I love my husband to bits, he saved me hours of unpicking! I didn’t do the borders as I cut out extra, so I decided just to bind it and call it a day. It took me about 5 hours to make – I whipped that Hexagon Hip Hop up!

Photo 3: Haxagon Hip Hop

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My other favourite in the book is “Twisting the Night Away”, probably because of the Kaffe fabric! This book has some great ideas on how to use a jelly roll and charm packs. Maybe now I’ll have a go with my jelly rolls!

 

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Jodie Millar