I haven't used any of the precut packs, layers or rolls.

My first 2 Queen size quilts were made using Bali Pops. I made them from patterns in a Jelly Roll book but because I made them larger (I like quilts to go nearly to the floor) I used a few strips from Batiks I already had and bought some extra. Batiks are probably my favourite fabrics. Both had a light colour contrast added. They were good for beginner projects but I prefer to design my quilts now or something like twisted bargellos if I'm going to use patterns.

I rarely buy kits or packs of fabric of any kind, although I do like the BaliPops and have purchased a few of those. I think half the fun of making a quilt is looking for fabric after you have decided on the pattern. I love to spend one of my few days off at the quilt store, looking for just the right fabric for a quilt, then getting it home and spending time with it while I'm cutting it for the quilt.

Any time I have purchased precut fabric, even fat quarters, I am disappointed in how they are cut. I have found that a lot of FQs aren't "on grain" and when I try to straighten them out, I lose a lot of fabric. So I feel in the long run it would be cheaper to buy the fabric off the bolt, and get a little extra to make sure I can get my fabric on grain, and still have what I need for my pattern. Plus, I always buy a little more than I need, so if I don't get around to making the quilt right away, and I need a little more fabric, I already have it and don't have to go searching for more of something that is sold out or not carried any longer. And I have the added benefit of having leftovers for scrap quilts later on.

Diane in Colorado Springs

I have only done 2 projects with charm packs and have added a background fabric to them. They were both Schnibbles patterns and the pattern tells you to buy a background, binding, and border fabrics. They've been quick projects, just wallhanings, and I like the colors in them. I only buy the packs I love.

I've not used the jelly roll (batiks) I bought yet. I've never bought a layer cake.

I love charm packs if I like the blend of fabrics in them. I think layer cakes & jelly rolls are too expensive. Love some of the pattern books for them too, so I cut my own when I need to. Alot of the packs, none of the fabrics really go together, so I make sure I check them out first. Like you mentioned, I often add another background color to them. Makes them go further, & you end up with a little bigger quilt!

I think the PACKAGE FABRICS need background... all those medium/ blended fabrics make flat quilts. I am finding the only charm pack/ layer cake patterns I like ( after examination) have added a background of some sort. Why go through the bother of making a quilt if you can not see the blocks.

They are also missing a kicker.... something that add depth..

Are quilters getting lazy they can't cut their own fabrics?


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I do like the layer cake and charm packages, but I do have a jelly roll that I've never used. One thing these packages are great for is getting all the fabrics that work well together. I sometimes take one piece that has all the different fabric colors in them to my LQS to get border, backing, and white fabrics that work well with the packaged fabric.

My favorite quilts to make are scrap quilts with 50-100 or more fabrics. Most packaged sets are too matchy-matchy for me, not to mention not nearly enough different fabrics.

I have never bought any of those! Part of the fun of quilting, for me, is to choose from all of those wonderful fabrics in the store. I like quilts with attitude! I like it to be different. I am doing a Judy Niemeyer Bird of Paradise, and took what I had done so far to one of her retreats. There were two women there doing the same pattern, but from a kit. I do not know who pulled the fabric for the kit, but it was really sad compared to mine! Their words, not mine. If you want a great quilt, you've got to start with great fabric!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

I have only purchased one layer cake pack and it contained lighter and darker colors but there were not many light fabrics--mostly mediums. I picked out the fabrics I am going to use from the pack.My pattern is just an ordinary block pattern--it was just that I needed a variety of small pieces of fabric to make star blocks.

Are YOU a charm pack/ layer cake/ jelly roll KIND OF QUILTER?

I recently bought two books by Carrie Nelson .... SCNIBBLES and Ms Rosie's SPICE OF LIFE QUILTS.... I made a startling discovery.... This was the first time I had purchase books for charm packs and layer cakes. I love the quilt patterns shown.... but I have decided I really do not like PURCHASED charm pack/ layer cakes/ or jelly roll quilts.... I do not find they have enough contrast/value between the patches in the block. I find I always use BACKGROUND YARDAGE to get the contrast I like.... either a white/ light or a dark to give depth. To me all the pre packaged fabrics are MEDIUMS and seem kind of flat when you put them together.

I also hate the patterns ( not in Carrie's book) that are just squares and rectangle blocks.... no real pattern or thougth to it. I find them terribly boring. There seems to be a lot of patterns out there that just use charms/ layers in squares and rectangles. The plain jelly roll patterns are just is boring.

I might be old fashion but I think that these charm squares, layer cakes and jelly rolls limiting creativity more than enhancing it.

WHAT IS YOUR OPIONION ? Comments and Conversations welcome.

Lady Rags


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