Just Two Charm Pack Quilts - Book Quilts in Two Colorways

One of the most popular features of my previous book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts, was how each pattern was shown in two different colorways.  I think that seeing a quilt pattern with different colors and prints makes it so much easier to imagine and plan out your own quilt using that pattern.  

Because quilters found it so helpful, I had make each quilt in the book twice in different colorways (I had the help of 16 quilters making the second version of each pattern).

I'd love to do a mini little trunk show showing off some of the patterns from the book.  You can also watch the video about the quilts:

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts - Two Colorways Per Pattern Video

MORE FISHIES

The Just One Charm Pack Quilts book had a pattern in it called Fishies.  It was one of the most popular (and one of my favorites) so I had to come up with a new fish design, this one called More Fishies.

The two colorways show off light blue and navy backgrounds along with different prints.

BETTY

The blocks in this quilt reminded me of granny squares so I named this quilt after my Grandmother Betty.  I love how the blocks on the version on the left each look a little different depending on where the prints are placed in the block.  The version on the right uses the same colors in the same areas within the block for a scrappy, but more cohesive look.

DIAMOND HASHTAG

Diamond Hashtag was made using a beautiful green as a background and a cream as a background.  The fabric A that forms the hashtag pops more against the background and prints in the version on the left and blends in more with the prints in the quilt on the right.

ABBY & KATIE

This quilt was named after two of my pets that are no longer with us, my cat Abby and my yellow lab Katie.  Because this quilt uses two different blocks I decided I would name it after both of them together.  The cream colored background version on the left with much more subtle than the more bold version on the right. 

SPECIAL SIGNED BOOK BUNDLE

Hop over to the Pre-Sale Bundle blog post to see the special deals for the launch of Just Two Charm Pack Quilts.  The pre-sale kicks off on Monday!

 

Melodic Mystery ++ Reveal Parade and Prizes

Thank you to all of the quilters that joined in on the Melodic Mystery Quilt Along!  Today is the reveal parade and prizes will be awarded.

If you would like to make a Melodic Mystery Quilt, you can start at any time, the instructions will always be posted as blog posts!  Find out all about the quilt along at the Melodic Mystery Main Page.  

Now that the Melodic Mystery Quilt has ended, you can find a easy to print, full version of the pattern for sale in my pattern shop.

Full pdf Instructions of Macaron Mystery Quilt

Without further ado...here are the ALMOST 150 Macaron Mystery Quilts...

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Here are the prize winners (winners randomly selected from quilts submitted to the linkup).  Learn more about the sponsors here.  Winners should have received an e-mail from me.

Quilting Jetgirl: Two winners of 2 pdf patterns each

Link #103 Denise W.

Link #34 Gail K

InkTorrents Graphics: 2 winners - Large Fairy Lantern Everyday Notebook (US addresses only)

Link #85 - Turtle Haven

Link #66 - Jane J.

Fat Quarter Shop: $35 gift certificate

Link # 78 Krista L.

Aurifil: 12 large spool thread collection

Link #117 Selwyn K

Quilt Pattern Mart: $40 gift certificate

Link # 127  Califivy

Busy Hands Quilts: Three winners of $25 gift certificates each

Link #10 Lori E.

Link #106 Marcia S.

Link #9 Kandy F.

 

Backside Fabrics: $50 gift certificate

Link #16 Carolyn D.

 Quilting by Anne-Marie: $85 voucher for longarm quilting of mystery (or equivalent) quilt

Link # 8 Jayne Sue C.

Sew Colorado Quilting, LLC: Voucher for longarm quilting of mystery (or equivalent) quilt

Link #6 Celine P.

Meadow Mist Designs: Two winners of 2 pdf patterns each

Link #151 Cathy H.

Link #5 Brenda M.

Thanks again for taking part in the Macaron Mystery Quilt and thank you again to all of our wonderful sponsors!

Many thanks to the generous sponsors of the Macaron Mystery Quilt!

Backside Fabrics | Quilting by Anne-Marie | InkTorrents | Quilt Pattern Mart

Busy Hands Quilts | Quilting Jetgirl | Aurifil | Fat Quarter Shop

Cotton Cuts | Brewstitched | Sew Colorado Quilting LLC | Meadow Mist Designs

 

 

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts - Picking Fabric A and Background Fabrics

The count down in on!  The pre-sale for Just Two Charm Pack Quilts will start in just one week and the book will officially launch in late May.  I am so excited!

As part of the launch, I have recorded a number of videos showing some of the quilts from the book and giving some helpful tips.  

You can find the introductory post and video.

All about expanding one charm pack into two post and video.

The book, Just Two Charm Pack Quilts, stretches two charm packs into larger throw-sized quilts by adding in an additional fabric (called fabric A in the patterns) and a background fabric.  

I'm back today with another video for the series for some tips on how to pick out your fabric A and background fabric.  This can help with fabric selections for all of your quilts, not just ones for the book.

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts - Picking Out Fabric A and Background Fabric Video

EXAMPLE 1

For some of the quilts in the book, like Taylors Square shown below, both the charm prints and the fabric A (the gray solid) touch the background fabric (the white solid).  The charm prints never touch the fabric A.  

In this case, you would want to pick a background fabric that has good contrast with both the charm prints and fabric A.  In many charm packs, the prints tend to be medium in tone so picking a lighter or darker background works well.  

Fabric A can be any fabric that has good contrast with the background fabric.  You could even use some yardage of one of the charm pack prints. 

Taylors Square

Pieced and Quilted by Cheryl Brickey

Photo by Stash Publications

EXAMPLE 2

For other quilts in the book, like Gift Box and Carnegie Plaid shown below, the charm prints are next to both fabric A (the white solid in both quilts) and the background fabric (the light gray in Gift Box and dark gray in Carnegie Plaid).  Additionally, the fabric A and background fabric are also next to each other.

In this case, you want to make sure that the charm prints, the fabric A, and the background fabric all have good contrast with each other.  When your charm pack has mostly medium tones, the easiest way of doing this would be to use a light fabric and a dark fabric (or vis versa) for fabric A and the background fabric.

Gift Box

Pieced by Jackie Callis & Quilted by Carol Alperin

Photo by Stash Publications

Carnegie Plaid

Pieced and Quilted by Cheryl Brickey

Photo by Stash Publications

SPECIAL SIGNED BOOK BUNDLE

From only April 17th - 22nd, I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional stand alone patterns, a sticker, and a chance to win a quilt I made from the book. More details soon :)

LAUNCH DATES

Pre-Sale Dates April 17 - April 22 - I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional patterns, plus a chance to win a quilt from the book that will only be available during this pre-sale. More details soon :)

Publication Date May 25th - Just Two Charm Pack Quilts' official publication date right now is May 25th. The exact date may still change a tiny bit due to printing or shipping delays.

AMAZON PRE-SALE   

I will be having my signed book bundle sale, but if you prefer to shop at Amazon, The Just Two Charm Pack Quilts is available as a pre-order through Amazon (affiliate link).

BOOK HOP

In late July/early August, there will be a book hop where a bunch of quilters will be showing off their versions of the book quilts. I love seeing everyone's take on the designs and am excited to see what they make.

SEW ALONG

I will be hosting a sew along for the book starting in January 2024. This will be a super fun and easy going quilt along and I hope that you will join in! More details to come...

 

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts - Making Your Own Charm Pack

The Just Two Charm Pack Quilts book is launching soon!  Starting April 17th, I will be having a limited time, signed book bundle. The actual book publication is tentatively May 25th.

As part of the launch, I have recorded a number of videos showing some of the quilts from the book and giving some helpful tips.  

Book Introductory Video

SINGLE CHARM PACK INTO TWO

If you have a single charm pack that you would like to use for one of the book quilts you have three main options:

1. If your heart is set on using the charm pack collection and only that collection, you can try to find another charm pack (or layer cake) of that same collection.  I have had good luck finding older collections on Etsy, Ebay, and sometimes my local quilt shop.
2. You can combine charm packs of different (but complimentary) collections.  Many times collections from the same designer or same fabric manufacturer pair well together.  You might already have the prefect pair of charm packs ready to use :)
3. You can use your charm pack as a starting point and pull scraps and other fabrics from your stash to coordinate with them.  The video below shows how I pull fabrics based on the colors from a single charm pack.

Just Two Charm Pack Quilts - Video #2 - Making Your Own Charm Pack

COMBINING TWO CHARM PACKS

For the alternate version for the Star Rays quilt, I really liked the Elixir collection by Melody Miller for Ruby Star Society, but I only had one charm pack.

I also had a charm pack of Camellia, also by Melody Miller, in my stash and because the two collections were made by the same designer, they went together really well.

The resultant quilt actually has a more scrappy (yet cohesive) feel than if I had only used one of the collections.

Star Rays

Pieced by Dale Hernandez and quilted by the Carolina Quilt Studio

Photo by C&T Publications

EXPANDING A CHARM PACK

For the main colorway of Lover's Lane, I started with a single charm pack of Clementine by Melody Miller from Ruby Star Society (fun fact, this was a leftover charm pack from my other book, Just One Charm Pack Quilts for the quilt on the cover).  I used the colors within the charm pack to pull additional fabrics from my stash into order to "expand" the single charm pack into two.

Lover's Lane

Pieced by Cheryl Brickey and quilted by Bear Creek Quilting Company

Photo by C&T Publications

LAUNCH DATES

Pre-Sale Dates April 17 - April 22 - I am going to be offering a super bundle for signed books that will include additional patterns, plus a chance to win a quilt from the book that will only be available during this pre-sale. More details soon :)

Publication Date May 25th - Just Two Charm Pack Quilts' official publication date right now is May 25th. The exact date may still change a tiny bit due to printing or shipping delays.

AMAZON PRE-SALE   

The Just Two Charm Pack Quilts is available as a pre-order through Amazon (affiliate link).

BOOK HOP

In late July/early August, there will be a book hop where a bunch of quilters will be showing off their versions of the book quilts. I love seeing everyone's take on the designs and am excited to see what they make.

SEW ALONG

I will be hosting a sew along for the book starting in January 2024. This will be a super fun and easy going quilt along and I hope that you will join in! More details to come...

 

Melodic Mystery - Reveal Link-Up Reminder

Just a reminder that the deadline to enter your Melodic Mystery quilt top or quilt into the reveal parade to be eligible for prizes is this Thursday, April 6th at midnight ET.

LINKUP YOUR QUILT BY APRIL 6TH EST

Two Ways to Link Up

1.  Link up into the linky party directly using the link here.  If you have any problems with the linkup (can't get it to work, your image is sideways, etc.) skip to option 2.

2.  E-mail me a picture of your quilt top / quilt to  MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com.  I am happy to load your picture into the party.  Please let me know if you are outside of the US.  More than half of the prizes are available for everyone around the world.

Remember, you can always find all of the information and posts about the quilt along on the Melodic Mystery Quilt Page.

The Reveal parade (and prizes) post will be posted on Thursday, April 13th.  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Do I need to finish my quilt (quilted and bound) to take part in the parade and be eligible for prizes? 
• No, you can enter pictures of completed quilt tops or finished quilts.

• I posted my quilt picture to Facebook / Instagram / my blog, am I entered into the parade? 
• No, you must link up your picture to be eligible. I will help you if you have any problems (MMDmysteryquilts@gmail.com).

• How are the prizes given out? 
•  All prizes are given out randomly to quilters who participate in the reveal parade.

• I loved the mystery quilt so much I made two (or more) versions, can I link up both of them? 
•  Yes! You can link up all of the quilt tops and/or finished quilts you made from the Melodic Mystery quilt and each quilt gets an entry into the prize drawing.

• I changed up the design (added borders, arranged blocks differently, changed size, etc), can I still enter the reveal parade for prizes?
• Yes!  Any and all Melodic Mystery variations are eligible for prizes.

Click here to enter your quilt top and/or quilt into the linky party