Are You a Sampler Addict? Pat Sloan is Back with The Splendid Sampler 2

Over 28,000 quilters joined the online Splendid Sampler group. Now Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson return with 100 all-new block patterns to inspire quilters all over the world, all over again! from the publisher

Can you resist these sweet treat 6" blocks? The joy and exuberance in the blocks reflect the designers: they were asked to create a block in their 'signature style' to answer the question "I'm living my best quilting life when.."

New blocks from Lissa Alexander, Carrie Nelson, Jenny Doan, Susan Ache, Betsy Chutchian, Rob Appell, and others (see the complete list here) include all styles: patchwork, applique, embroidery, paper piecing. Along with great instructions the blocks are shown in alternate colorways.

Pat herself designed Radio Waves block to represent the "email that changed my life" when she was asked to host an Internet radio show about quilting. Jane Davidson created First Aid to represent patching up beloved quilts worn from too much love.

The late Nancy Zieman contributed Nancy's Spool in memory of her annual quilting getaways with dear friends. Lissa Alexander's block Big Sun was made during Hurricane Harvey, "I remember wishing that a Big Sun would come and dry up all the rain."

Other blocks show a love a gardening and flowers, the wonders of cities and majestic mountains and starry nights and the seaside, antique needlework and the women who made them, a love of reading, childhood memories, pets and friendship and family and faith. And of course, a love of sewing quilts!

I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Learn more about The Splendid Sampler 2 at
https://www.shopmartingale.com/the-splendid-sampler-2.html

Splendid Sampler 2
by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson
Martingale
$28.99
144 pages
publication October 1, 2018
ISBN: 9781604689525

Learn more Splendid Sampler (I) at
https://www.shopmartingale.com/the-splendid-sampler.html

Join Pat's Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/QuiltWithPatSloan/
Tutorials are available online at The Splendid Sampler.

Teach Me to Machine Quilt from Pat Sloan

I knew the day would come.

In 1991 I learned the quilt stitch and for years enjoyed spending a few hours every evening hand quilting. Now twenty-six years later, instead of quilting a bed-sized quilt in two or four months it took me two winters. TWO WINTERS. In the meantime, I finished six or more quilt tops.

I hauled a pile of quilt tops to a machine quilter in January. It is now May and I have not got one back. And when I do, I know I had better have a wheelbarrow to carry what I am going to owe her.

The day has come...to learn how to machine quilt my quilt projects.

Luckily, the marvelous Pat Sloan has prepared a book for people like me, a step-by-step, illustrated, simplified, marvelous resource! She covers all the bases, including how to quilt with a walking foot and free motion quilting.

And if we still have reservations about tackling machine quilting, Pat includes multiple patterns for quilt projects and then walks us through machine quilting them.

Thank you, Pat! You have thought of everything.

Pat offers the above simple Strippy Table Runner, 16 1/2" x 36 1/2" to learn walking foot quilting. The instructions include hints like how to prevent bowing when joining long strips and using Jelly Rolls.

This adorable Mini Charm Star, 28 1/2" x 28 1/2",  is another walking foot project. Just think of the scraps you could use...the color variations...

I like applique', and am glad that Pat offers applique' projects, too. I know a lot of people who would love My Little Kitty, 12 1/2" x 15 1/2", which uses fusible applique, blanket stitching, and walking foot quilting. SO easy!

Another simple fusible applique project is Winter Bliss, 24 1/2" x 28 1/2", a sweet snowman hanging out with his friend. Pat guides readers in making the bias stems and the free motion quilting.

Larger projects include Cherry Pie, 65 1/2" x 81 1/2", which uses a combination of machine walking foot and free motion quilting. Michigan is known for its cherries and I am imagining a quilt with cherry print fabrics...yum!

Mexican Rose, 56 1/2" x 56 1/2", was inspired by a vintage quilt. I love floral applique quilts! The wide border is a chance to highlight an amazing fabric you can't bear to cut.

Blue Lagoon is a Rail Fence variation, 64 1/2" x 72 1/2". Pat quilted with free motion swirls to counterpoint the straight lines.

See more of the projects at That Patchwork Place here.

I am eager to try my hand at machine quilting again. I have done some projects but without Pat's knowledge under my belt, and I think I will be more pleased with the results after reading Teach Me To Machine Quilt!

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss.

from the publisher's website:

Pat Sloan teaches everything a first-time quilter needs to know to machine quilt successfully, going step-by-step through walking foot and free-motion quilting techniques. 

Popular teacher, designer, and online radio host Pat Sloan teaches all you need to know to machine quilt successfully. In this third book of her beginner-friendly "Teach Me" series, Pat guides you step by step through walking-foot and free-motion quilting techniques. First-time quilters will be confidently quilting in no time, and experienced stitchers will discover the joy of finishing their quilts themselves. 

No-fear learning for quilting novices--Pat covers all the information you need to quilt from start to finish. 

Pat guides you through simple and fun practice projects, including a strip-pieced table runner and an easy applique design. 

Collect the entire skill-building library of Pat Sloan's popular "Teach Me" series of books.

The Splendid Sampler from Pat Sloan

Pat Sloan's thirty-fourth book is The Splendid Sampler, a collection of 100 blocks from 80 designers. The 6" blocks employ varied techniques, including patchwork, applique', paper piecing, hand and machine embroidery, English Paper Piecing, and mixed techniques. Many are new, original blocks. 

Beginning February 14, 2016, the blocks were featured for free online, two a week, at her website found here.

A year ago I was able to see Pat at a local quilt guild. My post with photos of Pat's quilts can be found at https://theliteratequilter.blogspot.com/2016/03/pat-sloan-visits-town.html.

Pat Sloan

Quilters from the guild brought in the Splendid Sampler blocks they were working on. Over 23,000 quilters participated in the year long sew-along!

Great Lakes Heritage Quilters members Splendid Sampler blocks

Lucy from my weekly quilt group has made some of the blocks, including this embroidered block.

Martindale's That Patchwork Place gave me a free ebook of The Splendid Sampler in exchange for an unbiased review.

Why, you may ask, should you buy the book when the blocks were free online?

The book includes the patterns but also a lot more.

A well illustrated, comprehensive Quilting Basics offers all the great information you need for every technique, including hints such as how to avoid a 'shadow' under light applique pieces, pressing small pieces, preparing circles for applique, marking for embroidery, and how to make foundation papers easier to remove.


The blocks are arranged by technique: Patchwork, Applique, Foundation-Pieced, and Embroidered.

Each block pattern designer offers an artist's statement about her block.

Each block has a full-color photograph of the designer's completed block, supplies needed, and step-by-step, illustrated assembly instructions including hints for success.

Alternate colorways are often included and suggestions on fussy cutting and color choice.

I appreciated the construction illustrations showing how to sew rows to complete the pieced block.


There is a quilt gallery of completed sampler quilts in different settings and layouts and an alphabetical Block Index by the block's pattern name.

All patterns in the ebook have links to a PDF file for downloading.

80 designer's worth of inspiration, advice, and creativity in one book! Designers include:

• Co-authors Jane Davidson and Pat Sloan
• Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill
• Lynette Anderson
• Laurie Simpson of Minick & Simpson
• Joanne Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts
• Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings
• Victoria Findlay Wolfe
• Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quilt Works 

Every quilter, beginner or advanced, will find something to inspire them in The Splendid Sampler. 

I received a free ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Publication date is April 4, 2017.

Pat Sloan Visits Town

I went to the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters meeting this past week to see Pat Sloan. She gave a lecture on her quilting life. Pat has been seriously quilting since 1992 and in 2000 left her job to make her hobby full time. Pat has authored 30 books and designs fabric.

 I get her newsletter and have seen her patterns and books. It was great seeing her quilts up close and personal.

Pat learned hand piecing with cardboard templates making traditional quilts. Inspired by antique quilts and folk art she developed her own style. She combines piecing and easy fused appliqué.

Pat is one of 83 designers offering 100 free blocks in their Splendid Sampler. Some of the guild members are participating and displayed their blocks. Learn more here.