Fabrics + Giveaways for the Penny Sampler
What is choosing fabrics? For me it is the moment when a quilt transforms from concept to concrete. The idea comes alive in colors and patterns that pull me in and onward. Once a stack of charming fabrics has been married to a quilt design, I’m tethered to the project as well. I can’t abandon that stack of intention, so full of possibilities.
Prints
With my first two Penny Sampler quilts, I chose fabrics based on imagery I had collected on Pinterest. The photos were exciting and rich. They dared me to match their loveliness.
This time I opted to work more instinctively. What are the colors of The Netherlands to me? Even though this is a populated country, our city is full of nature and not at all like big, American cities. We find it peaceful and beautiful.
And so I collected fabrics that speak of the skies (white, cream, gray), the ever-present waters (blue, navy, sea foam green) and the summer wildflowers and winter grass (green). The fabric pull was looking a little somber, so I added sprinkles of orange (the national color), pink and goldenrod to represent all of the positivity we’ve experienced here.
Luckily, I found some very fitting motifs - birds flying, raindrops falling, tiles that remind me of their famous pottery and flowers fit for Dutch fields. There is even a map-style fabric that I plan to use as a feature print. The nation was built on sea trade, after all.
As you choose fabrics for your Penny Sampler, maybe you’ll also use story to guide you. Images or concepts provide an anchor that makes fabric choice an absolute pleasure.
at Fenceline Fabrics
Are you drawn to my fabrics? I thought some might like a bit of a jump start, so I collaborated with Fenceline Fabrics to create this custom Penny Sampler bundle in a watery color way. All 16 fat quarter cuts are by Cotton + Steel. The prints have motifs that are soooo perfect for this quilt. Quantities are limited!
Solids
For the Penny Sampler quilt, negative space is a must. The quilt has a quirky, modern layout that can become chaotic if every part is saturated with pattern. Use solids or near solids to provide visual space.
After choosing a varied color scheme with print fabrics, I narrowed my focus a bit in the solid-selection phase. The warm colors (yellow, orange, pink) will be used only as accents. My main solids will be cool, slightly cloudy shades of blue and green.
Take some time to think about which fabric you’ll use as the background for Hanging Diamonds (left quilt border). This fabric takes up a lot of space, so naturally makes an impact.
You might like to lay out fabrics, roughly like the quilt, in order to audition choices. Here I am considering Firefly Whisper dots for the Hanging Diamonds background, Freespirit Solids in Sand for the Penny Patchwork sashing background, and various other Freespirit Solids for some key blocks.
Since this time, I did indeed use the Freespirit Cadet for my Windmill block background and Freespirit Julep with my Compass block.
For me, it is much more effective to make these decisions holistically, with several fabrics and blocks in mind, rather than one at a time, block by block. I find that choosing key fabrics for a few blocks at a time helps my color choices stay balanced. I will likely make a mock layout of the quilt like this each time I choose fabrics, at the beginning of each month, in order to see visually what I have done and where I can fill things in, color-wise.
Stay tuned for details on how you can save 15% on your solids fabric purchase!
Giveaways
for Penny Sampler Pattern Club Members
Have you joined us yet? This week only, the annual membership is on sale for 65€. Yesterday members received the January delivery, which includes a complete Paper Piecing handbook (with two videos!), a framework for customizing the sampler quilt and three paper piecing patterns. The Compass block is among them! When you join, you’ll receive the Prelude and January materials right away.
If you’ve joined, I have some giveaways for you!
No. 1 - The Quilter’s Field Guide to Color (signed!)
Save this “I’m In” image to your device and them post it on Instagram with #PennySamplerPatternClub. I’d also love to see a swipe image of your fabric pull or quilt color sheet, but that’s totally optional. Post the “I’m In” button to your Instagram feed now through January 31 to be in the running to win a signed copy of my book. Open to a winner anywhere in the world.
No. 2 - 3 yards of Solids in your Choice of Colors
This is actually two giveaways for two continents. If you’re like me, you need to do some shopping for your Penny Sampler solids. Or, maybe you’ll win them! I partnered with Gotham Quilts in the United States and with Purple Stitches in the United Kingdom to create a double solids giveaway (and discount!). Here’s how to enter:
Follow the store closest to you. If you’re located in the US or Canada, follow @GothamQuilts. If you’re located in Europe follow @ThePurpleStitches. Sorry, this giveaway is not open to those living on other continents.
Between now and January 31st, every time you share an image to Instagram with our pattern club hashtag (#PennySamplerPatternClub) that image enters you to win. More images = more chances of winning. Share your fabric pull, your quilt color sheet, your first block, etc. Let’s get this party started! I can’t wait to see what you’re making.
In February I will select random winners, one for each store. You will have the chance to choose your favorite solids from each store (minimum cut is 1/2 yard or 1/2 metre). Good luck!
Savings for All
If you’re not joining the Penny Sampler Pattern Club, I’m thinking you might be feeling a little left out. Sorry! The good news is that this next one is for everyone.
Do you need to order solids now? Jump at this opportunity to save 15% off your order. Again, Purple Stitches and Gotham Quilts have your back!
at Purple Stitches
Order 5 metres of solid fabrics, including Essex and Kona, to automatically receive 15% off. This offer applies to solids only. You can choose any size increment you desire, including fat quarters! No discount code required.
at Gotham Quilts
Order 5 yards of solid fabrics, any at all, and save 15% off your entire order. You can order other fabrics as well! Use discount code “PennySampler2020” to save.
Offers good through January 31, 2020.
Updated February 3rd: Congrats to the three winners! @Rinepien receives a signed copy of my book. @stamatia_ntonopoulou is our Purple Stitches winner and @MapleTreeHandmade is our Gotham Quilts winner. I’m in touch with all three via Instagram messaging. Yay!
