Hi friends!
I thought today I would share a little bit about my new book Patchwork Braids with C&T Publishing and what to expect in Chapter 1!!
The book came out this month and I shared a bit in this post already.
The Book
The book has 5 project chapters, each one covering a different braid technique. The very first chapter called Getting Started covers the basics of making braids.
In Chapter 1, I share techniques for cutting and sewing a basic braid, how to press and how color can impact the look of your braid.
I love how just changing the placement of color in a braid can change the look. You can go scrappy, organize the colors or pair them up!
Even in greyscale, you can see what happens from pairing up the colors.
The Other Chapters
In the other chapters, I cover a specific braid technique. In the Chapter 2, we use the basic braid to make a placemat, the cover quilt and as a decorative element in a small pouch.
One of the things that I really wanted to do with the book, is share how easy it is to make your braid look different, from varying the size of the strips, to using super skinny strips, to making braids out of pieces strips and more. There is a chapter for each of those techniques.
I wanted you to be able to learn the basics, make some fun projects of different sizes and shapes and hopefully, encourage you to continue to explore different ways you can add a braid to a project!
Braids can add a lot of dimension and interest to a quilt or can be a decorative element on a bag, a pillowcase or even added to a quilted garment.
This coat I made using the Tamarack Jacket pattern from grainlinestudios.com.
I love the braids on the back of the jacket. And I added some strips of the green color that border the braids and help them to stand out. I wanted to add skinny braids around the cuffs on the sleeves but … still a cool jacket!
Naming the Projects
Each of the quilts and other projects were named after flowers. For example, the small pouch was named after the flower Plumeria.
The color schemes in the projects reflect the flower they are named after.
You may wonder, which came first, the name or the color scheme in the project?
Usually the color scheme for the project came first and then I found a flower that reflected that flower. I want to the book to feel like a garden of quilt projects. Bright, happy and with quilts and projects that made you smile.
Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing more images from the book, some tips and a free pattern over on the C&T Pub blog.
In the meantime, you can see more and read about the chapters right now over on the C&T Pub blog post here!
happy quilting!
Kate
p.s. Have you grabbed your copy yet? I have a few bundles left that include the book and some goodies! Click here to order.
p.p.s Quilter’s Color Mixer! I am teaching Jan 31st at the Creative Spark Color Mixer online event. It should be a great time. There is an amazing lineup of quilt experts ready to share with all of you! And if you can’t attend live, you can watch the recordings as long as you signed up.
Click here or on the image below to learn more and save $$ with my affiliate link- color25kate!
