If you are looking for a jump start of fabric, Pat and I worked with the Fat Quarter Shop to curate 2 different color bundles of 20 Fat Quarters each. We wanted you to be able to work with the colors and try some blocks, then you can add to this.
Variety really is the spice of life for the Splendid Sampler project. Most people have at least 35 to 40 different fabrics (sometimes way more). Then add a basic to be used to tie the colors together. Some people use the basic for the ‘background’ of each block or as an accent color that is in many blocks.
- BUY the BUNDLES
- Want a FQ Bundle? START HERE, so many wonderful fabrics to choose from.
Be sure you have joined our Online group where there are over 27,000 quilters from around the world sharing their tips, projects, blocks and becoming fast friends.
Some even have in-person groups at their favorite quilt shops and guilds.
Order your copy here. Amazon US, Book Depository, Fat Quarter Shop
- NEW HERE? Sign up for notices, and Join our Facebook group!
- Read all the Project details HERE
- Click here for Previous blocks to sew from your book
*****************************************************************************
- Designer: Joan Ford
- Techniques : Patchwork
- Let’s make ‘The Early Bird’ design by Joan Ford on Page 116 of your book.
To accommodate this book’s space limitations, authors Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson adapted the construction of this block to use paper piecing. We encourage you to try Joan Ford’s instructions following the traditional piecing method!
Please go to Hummingbird-Highway.com/TheEarlyBird to get the traditional piecing version of the pattern, where Joan also has a bonus for you.
Joan’s tells us – Absolutely nothing about our beloved quilting hobby should make any quilter feel guilty or overwhelmed! So, when your scrap stash seems like it’s taking over your sewing studio, and your UnFinished Objects start invading your storage spaces as if they’ve arrived from another world, well, that’s when I say it’s time to ‘cut the scraps’ and get sewing!
When you first enter Joan’s website you are greeted with the opening paragraph, “You’ve flown onto the Hummingbird Highway – your source for exceptional scrap quilt patterns, projects, and ideas for today’s quilter . . . where traditional quilting meets up-to-date techniques”. Joan certainly loves making scrap quilts and has developed some unique techniques and products to make creating small pieced quilts a breeze. Author of three books, Joan share her scraptherapy in ‘Cut the Scraps and Scraps plus one’ and in ‘When bad things happen to good quilters’ shows you how to turn unfinished projects into beautiful quilts.
Plus her newest book ‘The Versatile ninePatch’ is a must have for your library.
Buy other great quilting books by Joan Ford
- We encourage you to try Joan Ford’s traditionally pieced pattern for The Early Bird (and get a bonus pattern too!) CLICK HERE
- Visit Joan’s website
- Buy Joan’s books, including her awesome NinePatch book!
- Order your copy here. Amazon US, Book Depository, Fat Quarter Shop
- NEW HERE? Sign up for notices, and Join our Classroom!
- Read all the Project details HERE
- Click here for Previous blocks
- If you are new to paper piecing, see our tutorial page for tips
- See FAQ if you have pdf/printer issues
This project is
- Run and Hosted by Jane Davidson and Pat Sloan.
- Sign up for Pat’s Newsletter HERE with great tips each week
- Sign up for Jane’s posts HERE
We would love to see all your blocks so add your links down below with the blue button. The Tutorial on how to load a photo