Fun with Fat Quarter Style & Calico Days

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We don’t have much snow this winter in central Minnesota, and the weather has been fairly mild.  But this weekend the arctic air finally settled in on us and it started to feel like a typical January in Minnesota.  On Saturday the high temperature was 4 degrees! And I\’m not even adding in the wind chill factor.  Oh yes, this is the perfect weather for hibernating in my house and quilting, don’t you think?

Primrose Quilt:  Fat Quarter Style

I found a way to bring a whole lot of warm sunshine and happiness into my sewing room this weekend, as I began work on one of my favorite patterns from the Fat Quarter Shop\’s terrific book, “Fat Quarter Style.\”  The quilt I chose is called \”Primrose.\”  I’ve been drooling over that quilt since the book first came out! I was just waiting for the right fabric.  My choice for this happy quilt . . . \”Calico Days\” by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet! 

The little letters are \”Alphabitties\” from Fat Quarter Shop.  They are an excellent way to keep your pieces organized!

I hit a small snag during the planning and cutting stage, as I really wanted to do the navy background as shown in the book.  You can see here how great the yellow flower looks on a navy background in the picture below!  However, the \”Calico Days\” line includes some darker blue prints.  I wasn\’t sure how well they would stand out in a finished quilt against the navy, and I didn’t want to omit those darling blue prints.  I was in quite the quilting quandary and even texted my support group and pestered my family to weigh in with votes.  The votes were split, but in the end I decided to sew up my flowers with a white background.  I think the effect will bright and cheerful.  I\’m sure someday I will have to make another with the navy background!

There are 12 quilts in the \”Fat Quarter Style\” book.  As with all of the lovely quilts in the book, the pattern for \”Primrose\” is available in four sizes: crib, lap, twin and queen.  I will be making the lap quilt. I have all of my pieces cut and have made six flowers. Don\’t they just make you think of summertime?


I have worked with several of Fat Quarter Shop\’s \”It\’s Sew Emma\” patterns, and without fail they are easy to follow with detailed instructions and terrific illustrations!  I encourage you to check out this book and other \”It\’s Sew Emma\” patterns at your local quilt shop. Please visit Fat Quarter Shop by clicking their banner ad in my left sidebar.  You will be amazed at their vast product line, video tutorials, excellent customer service and much, much more!

To finish off my Saturday sewing, I had to add the stems and leaves to just one of my blocks to see how darn cute it was going to be.  And of course it was too darn cute!!


Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!  If you live in my neck of the woods, I hope you are using this cold weather snap as an excuse to keep that sewing machine whirring.  And to everyone, happy sewing to you!

~Taunja

16 thoughts on “Fun with Fat Quarter Style & Calico Days”

  1. Oh these are cute and I can see your dilemma with which background fabric to use. This pattern has also been on my 'to do' list and it just might be pushed closer to the top of the list, after seeing your beautiful blocks.

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  2. Thank you!! And thank you for understanding my dilemma!! I have never done a quilt with a navy background, and that was entirely my plan with this. Oh well. Sometimes you just have to \”go with it!\” I hope you have a great week and will have time for sewing! 🙂

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  3. This really reminds me of spring! They look happier with their stems and leaves! Someday hope you will also give the navy background a whirl, it would then be primroses showing their perky petals just before the sunlight fades and darkness is moving in.

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  5. I can see why you chose this sweet pattern the flower blocks are so bright and cheery, we are finally getting winter weather here in Florida low 30's which for me is the time to take out a big quilting project.

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  7. Yes, oh yes! I actually have this book! I've got the quilt on the front cover almost cut out. Now I want to do this one next, but am afraid I just cannot get as good looking blocks as you always do. These are so perfect! How do you do it every time? You also have such a good eye for colors and patterns. Soaking up your inspiration again today, Taunja! Pam

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  8. You are too kind, but I think we always think that about someone else's work!! I go back and forth when picking fabrics and choosing colors too . . . I am sure my faithful few that I text with (mom, sister, quilting BFF) get pretty sick of me sometimes! I love that quilt on the cover of Fat Quarter Style too. A \”must sew\” for some day! What colors/fabric are you using?

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  10. Good morning Taunja,Sounds cold up there! Miss the Northern winter 🙂 Love this tutorial and fun bag. After my move, I need to add this to my list. Have a great weekend. I am so thrilled to have a 3 day weekend. I plan on finishing the backing to my snapshots quilt and one other backing to get to my quilter. Chris

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  14. Yeah! Had granddaughter set me up. I promise to start using it more. Must work on my \”phone photography\”….I'm such a camera snob about that! LOL!

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