Great Granny Twist with Lori Holt - The Jolly Jabber Quilting Blog

Great Granny Twist with Lori Holt

Don’t you love transforming old projects into something fresh and new? Today we’re looking at Lori Holt‘s Great Granny Squared Book in a whole new way! 
In honor of Great Granny Squared‘s one year anniversary, we decided to put a new twist on Lori’s Mama Blocks by turning it  into an applique circle block. 
Kimberly sporting Lori’s One Stitch at a Time t-shirt
Original Mama Block quilt with our appliqued Mama Block Tablerunner.
We love how these appliqued Mama Blocks look like vintage buttons! 

If you want to know how you can sew our Great Granny Circled project, grab a copy of Great Granny Squared and watch Kimberly’s video tutorial!

We’ve also invited Lori’s quilty friends to sew along this week. Hop on over to their blogs each day to see their “twist” on Lori’s Great Granny Squared blocks!

Monday, December 14, 2015
Fat Quarter Shop (Hey, that’s us!)
Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Melissa of Oh How Sweet

Thursday, December 17, 2015
Jennie of Clover & Violet
Erin of Why Not Sew
Sherri Falls of This & That Patterns
Rachel of P.S. I Quilt

Friday, December 18, 2015
Daisy of Ants to Sugar
Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs


If you love these “twists” but still think the Great Granny classic is the bees knees, check our our Attic Treasures Quilt Kit featuring the Toy Chest collection by Penny Rose Fabrics.  

SURPRISE! We are giving away 5 copies of Great Granny Squared on the blog. To enter our fun giveaway, let us know what “twist” you would give the Great Granny Squared blocks on the comment section of our blog. We will pick 5 random winners on December 21, 2015! Good luck everyone! 

99 comments

  1. Great tour!
    I think a fun 'twist' would be to make the second row and the center in the background fabric so that the block has a flooting feeling to it.

  2. My twist would be to make the Granny Squares in a two color pattern using various prints, such as a red and white or black and white. Thanks for the Blog Hop with all the different perspectives.

  3. I think it would be fun to try and duplicate a granny square crochet afghan–the one that resides on the back of so many couches in this country. Black background, bright yarn colored solids, all done to scale.

  4. Love the Great Granny Twist Blog Hop that has started. Love seeing everyone's twist to this wonderful block. I love making the smaller version and inserting them into the Barn 'Door' Blocks – also designed by Lori Holt.

  5. I'm not that creative…but looove the Circle block you did…would love to make…& use charcoal as background color…and maybe use solids? Thanks for chance to win this Awesome book!!

    MERRY CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!!

  6. I love the circle mama block. I would love to try this in an ombre in each block- maybe alternate darker outside/lighter middle blocks with lighter outside with darker middle blocks. Hmmm… so many fun ideas! Thanks- Sarah: crjandsbj(at)netzero(dot)com

  7. Granny Square is my favorite block and I think I have made it every way there is with every background I can think of. That said I was thinking it would look beautiful with some Batiks and maybe a black background. I might give it a try or oranges/brwns/reds batiks with a beige/tan/ecru background.

  8. i would go strictly Granny with the classic look. Probably in my collection of vintage calico prints. Thanks for the chance to win! Helen G. hrglover at hotmail dot com

  9. I'd do a Valentines quilt w/the new Sweetwater fabrics! I'd use these appliqued versions to make X's, and keep all the outer "ring" dark, and the inner square low volume, as well as the outer fabric of the square to make an O. I hope I win! My birthday is Dec 21st!
    Noelle

  10. Block one would have a light center, moving to darker fabrics each succive outer ring. Then block two would have the opposite…a dark center square with lighter colored fabrics on the outer rings. Etc. Hope this makes sense.
    Debbie
    ollieami(at)aol(dot)com

  11. I haven't made one yet, but I love the design and want to get started over Christmas break. I think I'll do it scrappy I spy, that would be fun when the grands are over!

  12. What a great giveaway!
    I would probably make the blocks in red and white, like Canadians would!
    cpoot at telus dot net

  13. There are so many possibilities! I think I would want to use saturated colors for the background and the squares – make it jump out at you!

  14. Maybe would try bright colors on black background–maybe set blocks on point–but I really like your design! bjkaupathunteldotnet

  15. I'd like to try and turn those squares into diamonds by making them on point. I would also try a dark color for the background to make the diamonds pop.

  16. I would love to do the granny circles in the full quilt size, placing white squares in between the granny circle to add some visual "space." Maybe use primary colors from American Jane lines. Fun!
    gowendy (at) gmail dot com

  17. I'm not sure what twist Iwould put on the granny square, but I am liking the projects done so far, I love the block the way it is, thanks for the chance to win, Lorraine M Isaac

  18. I wonder what it would look like if you made it larger then cut the blocks like a disappearing nine patch. The white would come together in an interesting way. I may have to put that on my to do list!

  19. I'd love to use some modern fabrics or just use a single color family…I can see it in gray. Or aqua/turquoise. SO many possibilities!

  20. I love the Granny Square in crochet or in quilts! I'm so in love with the Granny Square Circle! Love the circle twist to things! And the look of buttons! Applique! All the things I love! I believe that this book with make putting these squares together easier for me…..so many tutorials I've read /watched, but I get so confused! Lol could be I'm not "buttoned" down properly! Ha ha

  21. I love the Granny Square in crochet or in quilts! I'm so in love with the Granny Square Circle! Love the circle twist to things! And the look of buttons! Applique! All the things I love! I believe that this book with make putting these squares together easier for me…..so many tutorials I've read /watched, but I get so confused! Lol could be I'm not "buttoned" down properly! Ha ha

  22. I would do a red, white, and blue one – maybe try to twist it to look like a flag – and give as a soldier quilt to my cousin doing her second tour over in Afghanistan!

  23. I am making a granny squared blanket for Christmas, using only Christmas fabric and white sashing. The back of it is red fleece and the binding will be red and white stripes, as a candy cane 🙂 can't wait to see it ready! Thank you for the giveaway!

  24. I would fussy-cut the fabric and make an "I spy!" quilt for my niece! So fun — Merry Christmas everyone!

  25. I think it would be neat to make them more modern. Using a grey background and using some of that grey in the blocks themselves to make squares seem to disappear!

  26. I quilt and crochet. I make Crocheted Prayer Shawls for church members who are in hospice or have a serious illness and need a "hug". After seeing the blogged pillow from WhyNotSew where she crocheted the squares in a pillow, I thought it would be beautiful to crochet some of these squares into a Prayer Shawl. Surely the recipient would feel better after receiving a gorgeous shawl like that! And it not only makes their day, but it blesses my day to have made them. Thank you for all the ideas and Merry Christmas to your staff!

  27. First of all I love this quilt!
    I think in a quilters mind this block is endless.I am always in awe of the talent and artistic ability of my fellow quilters. I think this is a verisitile pattern Just using different fabric lines would give it a total new look. I personally love some of the rich color classics of the Moda Or perhaps changing the background border where the diamonds and squares would give it a picture framed feel
    * Thanks for the opportunity to win this terrific book

  28. Actually, I wouldn't mind trying out the circle twist you featured in your video. It looks so fun to make and I need more experience with fusibles.

  29. My Granny Square twist would be to use this pattern to make a retro-style apron. I think it would be adorable.
    Happy Holiday wishes to everyone at Fat Quarter Shop!

  30. I would like to make this with a dark background and bright colours like Busy Bee Quilts version – it's beautiful.

  31. I would love to win a copy, its a cool pattern. I have made a queen size crocheted granny square blanket, would be neat to make a quilted one.