One of the perks of knowing so many talented quilt artists is that they will occasionally ask me to review their book. It’s always a treat – and sometimes I get to see the book before the rest of the world! I feel so special. (Send in my hand maidens with fans, I’m feeling flushed.) Today that honor comes from my friend Sandi Blackwell.
 
Sandi has made a name for herself by coming up with a technique to create quilts with on-point blocks without all that messy math to figure out the setting triangles. She calls this technique Square-agonals. This is her fourth (yes, 4th!) book using this technique. There is a little blurb in the book that explains the precise math involved to make this technique work but I skipped it. It’s not for the faint of heart to read and is ABSOLUTELY not required to know in order to make these designs. That’s the beauty of Sandi’s methods. I luv people like her!
Basically, you sew some squares and pieced blocks together, do a little slice and dice, give ’em a spin and sew the pieces back together. Then…viola…you have blocks on point. It’s magic. Depending on exactly where you put your initial blocks creates different finished projects. Sandi expertly explains (in both wording and pictures) where to place those blocks, how to make those slices and what the final outcome will be. This book has 6 different projects and each has 3 different design options. That’s 18 different possibilities in one book. There are 2 runners and 4 quilts (lap to queen size). I’m torn between the Babbaloo Quilt which has a modern flair and is in one of my favorite color combos teal/lime green or the Lightning Quilt which is pictured on the cover…or maybe I’ll start with the Legacy For Patti Runner which would be stunning in fall colors, oh but there’s one with stars too…sigh…guess I have to make them all…
You can check out Sandi’s website Stitched Buy to get more info. She also has a couple of free patterns there so you can try the technique and see how easy it is.  How cool is that, you can try before you buy! You can also check out Sandi’s Craftsy classes, hear her podcast with Pat Sloan and more.
Sandi will also be a guest teacher at our April 2017 retreat. We don’t have details yet (it’s over a year away!) but we are taking pre-registration names if you want to be the first to know. Just drop us an email and let us know you want on the list. Retreat Info
You can also get the book for FREE right here. Yup, I’m giving one away! Simply leave a comment here on the blog telling me what your favorite color combo is for quilting. I will randomly pick one on Thursday December 17th at midnight. OK, ok…so I probably won’t pick it at midnight…more like first thing Friday morning but you know what I mean!
Ready, set….comment!
I love a dark red with tan, an all time favorite! Thank you for the chance to win this book, looks like something I\’d like to add to my library! Ann in NC
My all time favorite color is purple, but when I\’m quilting I like grays and lime green together. They just seem to mingle together so well! Square-agonals sounds like a great idea! I\’d like to give it a try!
ooh, lime green…my favorite neutral!
I like brights, mainly primary colors. I make lots of red, white and blue quilts, too, since I make lots of quilt tops for Quilts of Valor.
You have a happy way with words. Makes me want to jump in and do quilting. Your selection of fabrics is warming that you care so much! I really like the theme fabric that I can make the kids favorite things quilt. Bright and bold, yellows and blues. But than again I like the purples and teal!. Although I haven\’t made anything in a while some kind of block still going on, I still consider myself a quilter when I browse fabrics and patterns and admirer others work in awe!
Regardless of what \”you know who\” says…you are still a quilter and always will be. We all go through slumps. It\’s not like you don\’t have a gazillion other things going on in your life. When you\’re ready then all your fabrics will still be there waiting to get started!
Just love working with greens and reds. They may seem too Christmasy for all year round but mixing different shades of each with the right fabrics makes for a rich palette that is beautiful all year long.
I like the quilt on the cover and all of those spikes. Square-agonals sounds interesting. Thank you \”Head Moose\” for the chance to win this book.
My pleasure, I love to give stuff away!
I pretty much love anything with bright colors! Probably my very favorite would be red, black and white together or black and whites with any bright color added in. Thank you for the chance to win this book; it looks awesome:-) Darlene in MN–Merry Christmas
First off, thanks for doing a new method for setting triangles. My favorite colors are teals, peachy/cantaloupe and white. Happy quilting.
What a great way to make a quilt
I have always liked the look of blocks on point but planning can be tricky. This books looks like it would be a real help. However, you won\’t see me playing the \”viola.\” 😉
It\’s amazing how quilting has aspired. This book will be a joy to have and quilt with.
Thanks for chance to win this coool book!! 🙂 I love to use bright colors too…but favorites ate shades of blues & greens…more sky & watery shades. 🙂
MERRY CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!!
i love purples and teals in my quilts but I am also a sucker for a classic red and white quilt! I prefer bold colors rather than muted shades! Thanks for the chance!!! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a bright and Happy New Year!
Purple is right up my alley!
I am going to try this method and I love your colors. I am all about easy
This book looks like it has lots of fun patterns. My favorite color combos are all saturated colors – the rainbow is the limit!
What a neat way to create blocks. My favorite color combinations are purple and yellow!
A woman after my own heart…
I just love all that I have seen about the quilts in this book! I would sew love to win a copy!
I love oranges and yellows, paired with pretty much anything. I am so glad to see true white being used as the background fabric again. I loved her first book on Squaragonals!
I love adding mustard to all quilts. I made the cutest green moose quilt. I kept working and working and it was so not coming together. So, low and. Behold I added mustard!!! WOW, IT WAS WHAT IT NEEDED. It\’s one of my favorites now. I\’d be honored to win your book. The purple moose is the emails I always look for. Everything needs a moose attached. Merry Merry Christmas. Thank you for a great year.
Congratulations Charlotte…you\’re a WINNER!!! Please contact me at headmoose at purplemoosedesigns dot com with your mailing address so I can get it right out to you!
Favorite color combo? Definitely chocolate and pink…yup! Oh, wait… I forgot about cream, brown and lime green….that\’s it for sure! Um… gee, maybe black and teal? LOL… who can have just one favorite color combo? Best wishes to all the Moose-peeps for a wonder Christmas and a blessed new year. Terri in MO
You have the same color disease I do!
Ooh, I\’d love this book! Thanks for th echance to win & learn a new technique.
Kate Desko
kdesko at g mail dot com
Try as I might,I just can\’t get away from hell tones. Give me some turquoise, add a dash of purple, a bright gold to lighten things up, and don\’t forget done emerald green. ….how can you go wrong?
I love your color choices but you may need to come up with another name to get out of purgatory!