Today we’re joined by Kim Brackett of Magnolia Bay Quilts. Her wonderful book, Scrap Basket Surprises, is the inspiration for our newest quarterly club, Scrap Basket Surprises Quilt Club! (Hence the name LOL.) Her book is designed around 2 1/2″ strips, so — of course! — we’ve selected several patterns to kit every three months with stellar Moda Jelly Rolls!
As a member, each quarter you will receive enough fabric to make a selected quilt pattern in the book. You will need to purchase the book separately. We also have a Scrap Basket Surprises Backing Club to go along with the Quilt Club, so you don’t even have to think twice about purchasing the right amount of the right backing fabric. The first project ships in June, so click here for more details and join fellow Jelly Roll addicts for some Scrap Basket fun!
I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am that the Fat Quarter Shop is offering a quarterly club using my book along with Moda’s fabulous Jelly Rolls! They’re perfect for making many of the quilts in the book, and I know you’re going to love the upcoming collections that have been chosen for the kits (so far, Fresh Cottons, then future collections by Kansas Troubles, French General, and 3 Sisters!).
Those who already know me know that I have a “thing” for 2 1/2″ strips. The idea for Scrap-Basket Surprises developed after I cut all of my scraps into strips when my scrap basket (crate, really) became so full that I couldn’t close it. I liked the idea of having all my strips cut the same width so that any fabric I had would be useable in any of my quilting projects. Since then, I’ve added stash fabrics and lots of Jelly Rolls.
Almost all of the quilts in Scrap-Basket Surprises were designed by playing around with EQ6, a quilting software program. I can occupy myself for hours (okay, days) by drawing outlines of blocks, then coloring and re-coloring them, rotating them, and laying them out in different settings. My favorite quilt in the book, “Kitchen Sink”, began with a completely different layout, then ended up with two different blocks and set on point.
As hard as it is to unroll a brand new Jelly Roll, I like to store all of my strips in clear shoebox-size storage containers. The storage containers are in disarray at the moment because I’m working diligently on a new book (along with a few friends who have been extremely generous with their time and talent). The new book will have lots of new designs for 2 1/2″ strips. What else?
Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you’ll enjoy the Scrap-Basket Surprises Quilt Club!
Kim Brackett
Magnolia Bay Quilts
8 comments
I absolutely love this book. I have already made one and are collecting fabrics for a second and third. They are easy enough for anyone.
I love this book also, Kim. It's my favorite strip book ever! I've made one. I've joined the club, and although the first quilt will be a repeat for me, I'm so looking forward to doing it again! Thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop for doing this club! Awesome idea!
I have your book and can't wait to make some quilts from it. Congratulations on your new found fame with Moda – it's well deserved.
Kim – absolutely love your book. I purchased it after looking through it very briefly at Quilt Guild. I have finished a navy/cream Kitchen Sink and will definitely be doing another one really soon – I'm thinking of using greens. What a great idea to start the Scrap Basket Surprises Quilt Club.
Yippee for Kim!!!
The quilts in this book are to die for! There's not one in there that I don't want to make! I already have the fabrics pulled for one of the quilts. LOL! Scrap quilts rock! :o)
It was so fun reading this interview with Kim…I so appreciate her kindness and willingness to answer questions! And this quilt looks terrific in Fresh Cottons! It's an amazing book! And what a terrific idea for a club!
Love the book! All the quilts in the book need to be made and hopefully will try and get that acomplished one day!