City Quilts: FQ talks with author Cherri House

We are so pleased to be one of the stops on Cherri House's City Quilts blog tour. As you surely know by now, modern quilter extraordinaire (and all around extraordinary person) Cherri House has released her first book, City Quilts - 12 Dramatic Projects Inspired By Urban Views, which is chock full of inspirational projects suitable for both beginning and advanced quilters. According to the book's publisher, C&T Publishing, "the book explains the secrets of minimalist design and how to find beauty in the basic elements of your environment."

We've seen the book, and it is amazing. Want a chance to win your own copy of the book? How about some Kona cotton solids to make a project from the book? We're happy to give our readers the chance to win both. More about that in a minute, though. First, let's learn a little bit more about the amazing Cherri House and enjoy some amazing images of quilts directly from her book!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your quilting background.

I come from a long line of Mormon pioneers, who through necessity were quilters. My Mom was a very accomplished seamstress, and she taught me to sew when I was little. My FAVORITE thing to do was to go with her to the fabric stores, I loved the fabric, the colors, the smell...I loved it all. I made my first quilt with my Mom when I was 12 years old. Quilting really become important to me as a young mom, making quilts and blankets for my four little ones.

What do you find the most inspiring in the city?

Everything! The buildings, the architecture, the outdoor sculpture, fountains - most every city has fountains. I grew up near Los Angeles, California - so that was my first city! The best thing to do is to walk around a city, to see it on foot, and discover what is unique, and personal about an area. The little hidden gems that every city has; and treasures.

Apart from your own (of course), what is your favorite city?

London! I was there on business and spent several weekends walking around the city...I love everything about it, Manchester too. A guidebook and raincoat - I'll go anywhere!

What other things inspire you?

In what might be considered a little off, I see beauty in everything. Stacks of bricks, shipping containers, it doesn't really matter what it is, I think there is beauty and inspiration everywhere. I'm always looking at pattern, numbers, formations; and I'm always trying to figure out how to translate it to a quilt.

How would you describe your style?

I have somewhat of a split personality, Part of me likes clean, sharp, almost to the point of being severe, but there is a part of me that likes flowery, romantic, and vintage things. I'm a sucker of Moda's Three Sisters line of fabric, no matter how much I have, it's never enough!

How would you describe the patterns in your book? Are they step by step instructions, or designed to inspire a quilter to make their own design decisions?

The quilt patterns are step by step instructions, but there is a section of the book devoted to encouraging quilters to create their own designs. I'm quite passionate about learning the fundamentals of a skill, and then building on those skills in order to give yourself wings, to do whatever you desire to do. The quilts in my book were designed with that end in mind. If someone wants to recreate a quilt that I've made - go for it! If you like what I've done, but want to add, build, or change it, that is great too!

Do you have a favorite quilt in the book?

City Lot...I just love that quilt!

(not City Lot : )

Tell us about your road to publication. Was it how you expected it to be? Did anything about it surprise you?

I began my business, Cherry House Quilts with a quilt named City Scapes. I become very fascinated with translating city themes into fabric - the hardness of a city, to the softness of a quilt. By the time I got to a quilt named City News, I knew I wanted it to be in a book. The ideas and themes had become clear in my mind, and I was ready to go forward with a book proposal. Publishing, like most everything it seems, was not at all what I expected it would be. The deadlines were tight, 12 quilts in 5 months, plus the actual writing of the book, and everything else that went along with the process. In regards to surprises, the biggest one had to be the solitary nature of the project. My children were all gone, so it was me, my dog, and two cats. The days took on a particular kind of rhythm of cutting, sewing, ironing, quilting, binding. Oddly, when the quilts were finished, first there was a sense of relief, then there was the sense of "What's next; what do I do now?"

You are a very creative family. How much do you all bounce ideas off each other?

We do, all the time! Lizzy, Ashlee, and Melissa are all musicians, and all of us sew, and create. It's very much a collaborative effort, and there is much bouncing ideas off of each other. Distance doesn't seem to matter much, we take a digital pic, and email it to each other for opinions, and suggestions.

Describe your sewing space. What's on the walls? What's the overall vibe?

Small! I sew in a small corner of my master bedroom - I kind of like that all of the quilts in the book were made in this tiny, compact space...very cocoon like. Since completing the book I have converted one of the bedrooms into a fabric/prep room, but the actual work is done in my little corner. I dream of an awesome studio space, but until then...this is working for me. On the walls? Batting - a constantly revolving show of projects on my design wall. Nothing fancy I'm afraid.

What do you watch / listen to while sewing?

During the whole time that I was doing the book, all of my children were away from home...so I had to have something on to keep me company during all those hours. One of my best companions during the thick of things was watching The Amazing Race Season 2 on repeat. I can't even tell you how many times I watched it...I should have acknowledged the cast on my dedications! For music I have separate playlists on my ipod for machine quilting, and a playlist for sewing. I have to have something going all the time - helps me keep a steady pace.

You obviously love color. What is your favourite color palette for a quilt?

Going strictly by looking at the quilts in the book, the answer would be blue/green. I never knew I was so drawn to those colors until I looked at how frequently I used those same fabrics over and over again. I think more in terms of mood, than favorite colors, so pink would be sweet, and yellow would be warm, and blue would be calm and cool, on and on it goes.

Prints or solids?

SOLIDS! I do love prints, I love all fabric; but I am especially drawn to the timelessness of solids.

Who is your favorite designer?

I certainly have a weakness for Kaffe Fassett - can a girl ever have enough Kaffe? My own Lizzy House of course! She keeps getting better and better. Her next line is going to be incredible!

Shoes, socks, or bare feet while sewing?

Bare feet - I hit the door, and off come my shoes.

What projects (patterns + fabrics) are on your "must make" list?

I have so many of my own patterns that I am going to create all queued up - it's a really long list. Fabric I want to work with the most? Some beautiful yardage of Cherrywood Fabric! I'm going to make a Drunkard's Path - I've been trying to get to the project for over a year now.

What’s next for Cherri House?

New quilt patterns, a proposal for a new book, teaching opportunities, a booth at Fall 2010 Market, and I would like to explore designing fabric. More of everything!

Thanks so much, Cherri! To win your own copy of City Quilts and a Kona cotton solids FQ bundle, please leave a comment on this post. We will pick a winner next Sunday, 7/25.

Be sure to check out all of the other stops on Cherri's tour to learn more about Cherri and her book, and also for more chances at winning some fabulous prizes!

July 12th - Cheryl Arkison (Naptime Quilter)
July 13th - Amy Lobsiger (Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts)
July 14th - Stefanie Roman (Little Lady Patchwork)
July 15th - Pat Sloan
July 16th - Spool Sewing
July 17th - Allie (Robert Kaufman)
July 18th - YOU ARE HERE!
July 19th - Emily Cier (Carolina Patchworks)
July 20th - Sarah/Josh (Sewer Sewist)
July 21st - Julie (Jaybird Quilts)
July 22nd - Vickie Eapen (Spun Sugar Quilts)
July 23rd - Jessica Levitt (Juicy Bits)
July 24th - Kim Kight (True Up)

City Quilts Blog Tour

We are so excited to announce that Fat Quarterly will be one of Cherri House's stops on her blog tour for her new book, City Quilts.

Surely you have heard of Cherri and the City Quilts book by now. Cherri is an amazing quilt maker and pattern designer with a specialty in using solid fabrics to great effect. City Quilts is one of the most talked-about quilting books to hit the market in a long time, mostly because of its combination of beautiful new quilt patterns and insightful tips into choosing effective fabric combinations, especially when using solids.

Every stop on the tour will feature amazing giveaways, including copies of the City Quilts book and fat quarter stacks of Kona Cotton Solids from Robert Kaufman fabrics for you to make your own version of a City Quilts design.

Here the full schedule for the tour.

July 12th - Cheryl Arkison (Naptime Quilter)
July 13th - Amy Lobsiger (Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts)
July 14th - Stefanie Roman (Little Lady Patchwork)
July 15th - Pat Sloan
July 16th - Spool Sewing
July 17th - Allie (Robert Kaufman)
July 18th - Fat Quarterly
July 19th - Emily Cier (Carolina Patchworks)
July 20th - Sarah/Josh (Sewer Sewist)
July 21st - Julie (Jaybird Quilts)
July 22nd - Vickie Eapen (Spun Sugar Quilts)
July 23rd - Jessica Levitt (Juicy Bits)
July 24th - Kim Kight (True Up)

Be sure to visit all of the stops on the tour to learn more about Cherri & City Quilts and to maximize your chance of winning. We'll see you back here on the 18th!

Pretty Little Pillows Book Review

Are you taking part in Pillow Talk Swap or inspired to whip up a pillow? You might want to check out this great new book from Lark.

Pretty Little Pillows is new in the series of pretty little books from Lark. With 29 varied pillows there is lots to fire your imagination and get your creative juices flowing.



The book starts with a chapter on basic sewing techniques and some more specific tips about making pillows, including how to make different types of pillow backs and how to make pillow forms.

The book is then divided into 3 categories.

Creative Stitching has pillows with embroidered or appliquéd details.

"Flying dreams are the sweetest. Let this little work of avian-inspired art send you soaring to slumberland with wings outstretched."

Pillow designed by Kajsa Wikman.




"Smocking, a traditional technique for gathering fabric, makes a stylish comeback with these exquisite pillows. Heavily patterned fabric adds another decorative dimension to these not-so-square designs."


Pillow design by Amanda Hanley.

Pretty piecing and cute quilting focuses on how to bring your pillow to life through patchwork and quilting designs.


"If you’re the type who just can’t decide on one fabric, you’ll enjoy this project that puts a happy dozen in the spotlight. Circular designs, spiraling surface stitches, and an easy grid pattern bring everything together."

Pillow design by Malka Dubrawsky.

"Enjoy a taste of chocolate now and then? So do we. These delectable pillows feature sweet, little truffle shapes and dark-chocolate-dipped color. Yum!"


Pillow design by Amanda Carestio.

Surprising Spins has unusual shaped pillows such as a cunning pillow box hideaway perfect for storing your sewing supplies out of sight.

Other contributors include Elizabeth Hartman, Aimee Ray, Ruth Singer, Jennifer Cooke, Yvonne Eijkenduijn and many others.

It is a book that gets you thinking outside the box when it comes to pillows. Even if some of the pillows might not be to your taste the creativity behind them will certainly spark off your own ideas.

Stay tuned to find out how you might be able to win a copy of this book for yourself. In the meantime let us know are you a pillow lover, are you taking part in the pillow swap, what type of pillows do you like to make?

Whip Up Mini Quilts - Book Review and Giveaway

Created by Kathreen Ricketson, 'Whip Up Mini Quilts' is a book showcasing 24 contemporary small quilt patterns.

A few weeks ago, Kathreen took some time out of motherhood and Whip Up to answer a few questions about the book.

Can you tell us a little bit about your creative background, what inspired you to start crafting?

I had a very crafty childhood, my mother is very much all about handmade - everything from making clothes to bottling fruit and even raising our chickens for food. My grandmother lived with us throughout my childhood and I learned a lot from her, she was an amazing seamstress and cook. I inherited her sewing machine which I recently passed onto my daughter.

How did you come up with the idea behind the 'Mini Quilt' book?

The idea for the book 'Mini Quilts' was a collaboration between Chronicle books and me, they wanted me to something with them and I proposed a few different ideas - that's the one that they like the best. I think the idea of a curated quilt book really appealed.

Kathreen has done a fantastic job in selecting the contributor's and as such the book caters to all contemporary tasted and skill levels. The book is perfect for the novice but equally suitable for the more experienced quilter looking for challenge, there really is something for everyone.

Did the contributors have a design brief to work within?

The contributors in the book, artists, makers and quilters were given a very loose creative brief. I wanted them to be able to fully explore what a Mini Quilt meant to them. I am glad I let them have free reign as the results are so diverse, exploring many themes and using many different traditional techniques.

The patterns are grouped into the following categories: Romantic, Playful, Modern Folk, Modern Elegance, Geometric, Punk - Pop - Politics, Memorial - Storytelling.

The wonderful thing about the mini quilts in the book is that it gives readers a chance to try different techniques such as shibori dyeing, piecing concentric circles and incorporating photos into a quilt, to name just a few. More traditional methods like paper piecing and applique are also used.

The book has many inspiring quilts; do you have a favourite?

It is so difficult for me to answer that question because they are all so different. My daughters favourite is the 'Grasshoper in my gardern', and my husbands favourite is the 'two heads are better than one', my brother (father of 2 little boys) loves the Road transport quilted pillow and my son adores the TREGR map. I love them all for so many different reasons.

I know them all so intimately, having looked at them and edited the instructions for months on end. Nicole's Granny's delight really appeals to my cheeky sense of humour, the circus quilt is so clever an colourful. Concentric circles looks simple and zen but has these hidden layers. Imagine by Jude Hill is very special and shows how one image can tell a whole story, the layers of stitching and applique is so heartfelt.

Along with the quilt patterns, the book touches on the 'history of the quilt', 'selecting fabrics' as well as the various tools and equipment required when making a quilt. There is also a comprehensive section on quilt construction, basic block types, machine and hand piecing, embroidery stitches, quilting and binding a quilt.

In short, the 'Whip Up Mini Quilt' book is a great addition to a quilter's library.

We have one copy of the 'Whip Up Mini Quilt' book to giveaway, please leave a comment on this post and tell us a little about your idea for a mini quilt - winner will be drawn on Saturday 8th May!