Let us talk fabric here for a second. I love fabric. It is without a doubt love affair that started when I was a kid. The colors, the texture, the prints; they all add up to create this wonderful piece of fabric that has limitless possibilities. When I stumbled across the world of “designer” fabric, my world literally changed for the better. My wallet would probably not agree to this lifestyle change, but whatever! Whenever I find a fabric collection I love I must have it! Immediately.
Animal Crackers by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics is my latest I MUST HAVE IT fabrics. The muted yet rich colors with the dopey looking animal characters just melt my heart. I still cannot decide which animal I like more, the stick legged cow or the lime green alligator. Realistically, it is probably the cow as I did buy 5 yards for the backing of this quilt!
I was happily able to pre-order the fat quarter bundle (FQB) from Fat Quarter Shop. And I should note, for me to pre-order a FQB that costs over $100, I must really have to have it! As a whole, I really love Sweetwater fabric collections. They definitely have the western, I live on a ranch feel and even though I have never lived on a ranch, I have always felt I could fit in nicely on a ranch out west.
The Animal Crackers FQB arrives on my doorstep and I literally leap with joy! I was possibly even anxiously awaiting the mailman so I could get the package as soon as it arrived. I opened the box, skimmed through the bundle, gave it a good hug and then put it on the shelf in the closet to look at and admire.
Now here is the big debate: Do I leave this fabric to sit and look at or do I make something with it? As I did not have a project in mind, the Animal Crackers by Sweetwater would be living on the shelf.
There are three giant hot pink binders of quilt patterns in my craft room, all nicely organized in binder sleeves and arranged by pattern designer. I was looking through them, not entirely sure what I was looking for, but I came across a pattern called Hide and Seek by Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms. The pattern cover is very bright, very scrappy and it caught my attention.
I bought this from Fat Quarter Shop! 
I began to think, this would be super cute for the Animal Crackers fabric. The Hide and Seek pattern from Thimble Blossoms calls for a Jelly Roll and a few additional far quarters, not a FQB. I do not technically have the supplies for this quilt, but I am sure it could be adjusted. I pulled the pattern out of the binder, grabbed the Animal Crackers FQB and put it on the sewing table. Reading through the pattern directions, counting the fabrics in the bundle, seeing what was available for background fabrics. It took all of about 15 minutes to know this was going to happen!
I found the pattern for this awesome fabric and the best part is I would have large, solid pieces leftover, enough that I could make another project! This is what I call awesome!
Now came the fun part, sorting the fabrics and adjusting the math! It worked out that there were enough teal and white color fat quarters in the bundle for the main blocks, then the rest of the fabrics would be turned into the scrappy borders and sashing. The math was very easy to adjust, one jelly roll strip is equal to two 2.5in x 21in strips from each fat quarter. Super simple! I cut two 2.5in strips from each fat quarter, then folded the remaining fabric for another day. I took my time, 1 fabric at a time and enjoyed the prints as I went along.
The star blocks made from flying geese are one of my fabric blocks to make. The blocks are simple, have a lot of seams for matching and are oh so satisfying when all the points match together. They are also easy to strip piece and put together! The scrappy sashing which are comprised of simple 4 patches are also easy and quick to put together.
Once all the components were sewn together, the front was as simple as placing the different pieces about to make sure the “scrappy” 4 patches were mixed in a nice assortment.
This quilt front came together in no time! Now comes the hardest part – picking out the pantograph for quilting! This is such a busy quilt, that I do not want anything too fancy. I decided on Two Scoops by Crystal Smythe which was purchased from Intelligentquilting.com. This is my first time using this pantograph; fingers crossed! I am always so nervous about choosing a pantograph!
I always pick one of the main prints or a large print from the fabric line for the backing. In this case, the white print cows were the winner! Love those little stick legs! And for the binding I pulled in one the smaller print teal fabrics from the star blocks. This quilt was super fun to make and it is perfect for beginners!
Happy Quilting from Buffalo Flatts Quilt Co!