26 November 2014

Maxi Quilt Revolution!

I promised a Maxi Quilt Revolution, and I delivered!

Mini quilts are fine and dandy when it's summer and you just want something cute on the wall, or a throw pillow on the couch.


But Maxi quilts, where we take a quilt block and maxi-fy it, are what's needed in the fall and winter. Maxi quilts are also fantastic at showcasing big prints that get chopped up in smaller quilt blocks.


When you're going to start a revolution, you should first occupy the capitol building. I read that somewhere.


#occupythecapitolwithquilts
(thanks, Kate, for the hashtag inspiration)

I've taken my first four patterns and maxi-fied them into quick, simple, easy-to-piece quilts. Let's get acquainted, shall we? I photographed these on my fence so you could see just how big these blocks and quilts are.

First, the Make It Do Maxi. The center churn dash block is 36" square. Yep. 3 feet. 1 yard. It's fabulous for big prints that don't get the proper showing in smaller blocks. The final quilt size is 72" square.


I really wanted to keep the shoo fly blocks in the corners, so I just made them a part of a border.


This quilt is layer cake friendly, with lovely scraps left over for a throw pillow or a doll quilt. This quilt seriously came together in just a couple of hours. Fast and fun!

Second, my Taffy Maxi. I liked the bright candy colors of my first one, but I thought this one would be awesome in Christmas prints. I used some Solstice FQs, but wouldn't it be fun in scrappy reds, like my Christmas stockings?


She's a FQ friendly quilt (just 15), and goes together so quickly. Four blocks! Four BIG blocks - they finish at 30" square. The final quilt size is 78" square, just like the original, but with 1/4 of the blocks. Kinda nice, huh? And that center block would be extra cute as a pinwheel.

Third, my Something New Maxi. This one would be fun for scraps, but a layer cake will also give you just what you need. I chose to use some Surrounded by Love. We need another Valentine's Day quilt around here!



The blocks finish at 24" square, so they work up fast, and would be great to feature some of your favorite prints. The final quilt is 76" square, perfect for a cuddle quilt!


And finally, my Five Spot Maxi


These blocks are also 30" square, which works beautifully with the larger prints in so many lines. I still had some Wee Wander FQs, so I worked it all out, and even fussy cut some prints. You'll need just 13 FQs for this girl!



She finishes at 75" square. Roasty toasty toes will thank you for a big quilt to cuddle up in. Back it in Minky and you will be everyone's favorite.

So, who wants to win some patterns? Start shopping for your fabrics, with all the sales going on this weekend! 

I've listed the specific fabric requirements in the Craftsy listing if you want to go ahead and get ready to make it. You'll have plenty of time to finish just four blocks (or even one!) for a last minute Christmas gift. 

To enter, just leave a comment here. Let me know your biggest pattern pet peeve. Mine is having a whole lot of fabric left over. For additional entries:

  • Follow me, porchswingquits, on Instagram. Leave me a comment with your IG handle
  • Follow this blog and let me know you do

One winner will receive a PDF copy of all four Maxi patterns, plus a layer cake from one of my favorite etsy shops, Red Chair Quilting. Gotta support my Idaho shops!

And you have two giveaways to enter. Kate, the genius behind all my pressing instructions, has the same deal going on over on her blog. So hurry!

If you don't want to wait, you can purchase a copy of each one in my Craftsy store for $6.50 each. That's not a sale price. That price sticks forever! And if you want all four, you can buy the bundle for $20.

Giveaway will end Sunday night, and I'll announce the winner Monday morning. Good luck, and happy shopping! And pretty please, make sure you're not a "no-reply" blogger. I've had a handful every time, and it makes me sad to think that you'll never get replies to your comments, or chances to win. Check out this post to fix it.

Oh, and our winner from last week was Melanie! Congrats to you! Enjoy your patterns and fabric!

37 comments:

  1. Totally amazing Jennie. Can't wait to try these!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your fussy cutting, and love that you made these maxi quilts! My peeve would be the same as yours, since I almost always get a little bit extra fabric just in case...that and not clear enough directions since I am new to quilting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I follow your blog using Feedly.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also follow on IG - vdizzledazzle

    ReplyDelete
  5. My pattern pet peeve is not enough good pictures sometimes to be sure of what to do.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My IG handle is Jusletmesew. And I follow you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those are so cute! I love your "taking over the capitol approach"--just made me laugh. Also thanks for sharing your link on my party at Modern Tradition Quilts. Lets see, me pattern "pet peeve"--borders always cut on the lengthwise grain (I know it's so that the borders don't stretch on the longarm) but still...if we sewed the patchwork center--we quilters should be able to sew a simple seam along the straight of grain to create the border (unless we don't want a seam). It would save fabric to use a SOG border....just mine! :) Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love these big blocks! I follow you on IG - 67kirsten.

    ReplyDelete
  9. And I follow your blog on bloglovin'

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm so excited to win....thank you!!!!
    Love taking over the capital idea!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I need that Valentine version! I hate a pattern that has you make extra blocks and not use them. I like to sew but that just seems silly. If they at leadt made a suggestion on what to do with the extra. I follow your blog on Bloglovin. I'm off to find you on Instagram (my latest addiction, like I need another!)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fun! Ilove these. Bigger blocks are so fun and fast! I too hate it when there is a lot of fabric left over. I did a pattern once that had a whole yard extra of one print! I made a matching pillowcase.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I follow you on Instagram - aquiltingsheep.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am a long time follower of your blog. And I forgot to share my pet peeve. Not enough pictures! I am a visual learner and pictures help so much. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I hate a pattern that has no pictures to explain more difficult procedures. I can usually figure them out with time and careful reading but many times a quick picture just makes it all come together. I love the big block patterns. Leaves lots of room for nice quilting.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I can't do mini-quilts. I am not sure what purpose they serve. I was just talking to a friend at my local MQG about how I am too clumsy for small pieces.

    My pet peeve is inefficient cutting instructions. Like having a WOF 3" strip and a 2" strip for 3" and 2" squares, when you can just cut the 3" one and then trim down for the 2" ones.

    ReplyDelete
  17. LOVE all of these, it would be too hard to choose just one to do, so looks like I'll be adding some more patterns to my list of "want to get done someday". Pet peeve, it would have to be directions that aren't clear. For us newbies, we need to have it spelled out, and lots of pictures would be nice!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Oh, forgot to tell you, I follow your blog

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the maxi quilts! And your takeover is awesome!!! I always like it when pressing instructions are included. I like seams that nest, so it bothers me when it isn't included. And are those giant clothes pins?

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow with bloglovin. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Amazing quilts - the size makes them great for quick and easy donation quilts. I can see the Make it do Maxi in browns and oranges with an off white background as a great man gift.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow all of these are awesome. I have not yet made one large block. Been on my to sew list for a while .

    ReplyDelete
  23. I just started following you in IG my name in IG is bhaferko

    ReplyDelete
  24. What realllllly irks me is when you've cut hundreds of pieces out only to discover after numerous tries that the pattern is just wrong!!! Then after taking a step back and jumping on the treadmill to relieve stress, I recut pieces to make it work. And ya know what, it comes out even better than the original pattern. I just found your blog from Crazy Mom Quilts. I'll certainly start following.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I have yet to make a big block quilt and yours are really neat!

    ReplyDelete
  26. My pet peeve is no pictures for complicated blocks. I follow your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I love big blocks! My pet peeve. . . When pattern designers assume you know what garment sewing construction is like. I am learning how to sew 3-D shapes but I am more familiar with flat quilts

    ReplyDelete
  28. Maxify - what a great term! I love to use one great block design as a huge quilt - and yours are lovely! My biggest pet peeve would be patterns that haven't been well-proofed - nothing more frustrating than finding an error in your pattern after cutting everything out! Fortunately, those are few and far between! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Jennie! Thank you for sharing your blog post on my linky party last week at Modern Tradition Quilts. I choose my favorite post each week and give you a free pattern. Simply/reply to this comment and tell me which is your favorite (you can see them on my blog's link to Craftsy or Etsy) and I'll send you your choice! Thanks! --Shannon

    ReplyDelete
  30. My biggest pet peeve was paying $8 for a pattern at the quilt shop and then opening it up at home and spending fifteen minutes convincing myself that they didn't put the wrong pattern in the package. There were no pictures showing how the blocks are constructed or the colors are laid out, just blocks of hard to follow text.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Where did you get those giant clips for attaching the quilt to the fence? They're perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Love the blow-up idea! So many designers are churning out larger prints, so your maxi quilts are great for them. I would like to start with the Shoo-Fly one and then Taffy Maxi. - Sandy at sewhigh.blogspot.com.

    ReplyDelete

"The more things you do, the more you can do."

Lucille Ball