Skip the Borders Blog Tour: Giveaway Closed

We are happy and honored to be a part of Julie Herman's Skip the Borders Blog Book Tour. Julie is a talented and profilic quilter. I can't wait for her to write a book featuring her Hex n More ruler (hint, hint).

Skip the Borders is a great book for both beginning and experienced quilters. The patterns range in difficulty and are perfect for showcasing a variety of fabric. And if you need the quilt to be larger just add a border!

Julie's brilliant introduction includes a detailed explanation of backing and binding. She makes quilt backs fun and exciting, showing several examples of how to make backings using leftover fabric from the quilt top and how to sew labels into your backing.

The introduction also has a focus on binding. Julie is the binding queen, guiding us through the ins and outs of binding. She encourages you to get creative with your binding by using the various techniques and playing with prints.

The first section of the book shows "one-block quilts." These patterns are great for both beginners and experienced quilters. Julie uses exciting prints and color to make each block shine.

The "two-block quilts" section focuses on quilts with two different block designs in the layout.

The third section of the book features "Outside-the-Block Quilts" which are fresh and unique. I cannot wait to make the Framed Coins quilt!

Now for a little Q&A.

Julie: All of the quilts in Skip the Borders are borderless! Do you skip borders on most of your quilts?
Kimberly: I add borders to all of my quilts. I love the finished edging of a border even if it is a skinny 2” border. My favorite quilts in the book are Box of Chocolates and White Stars! I plan to make both of these and to just add a 2” border to them! That is what is so great about this book, you can always add borders if you want!

Julie: In the intro to my book I give you Permission to Break the Rules. Do you break some quilting rules? What is the number one rule you break and why?
Kimberly: I stick to most quilting rules since I am an “in the box” type of person. However, I never prewash and I use a ton of steam and even more starch when making my quilts. I starch when I first iron my fabrics and I starch the blocks every time I go to the ironing board. Sometimes my blocks feel like cardboard when I am done. But I love the stiffness of the block. When the quilt is quilted you can’t tell that I even used starch.

Julie: It's no secret that I love binding! In Skip the Borders I included an entire chapter on binding. So the million dollar question, is do you use bias or straight of grain most of the time?
Kimberly: I always use straight binding and I cut my bindings at 2.5” for lap size quilts and 2” for crib sized quilts. I am not patient and bias binding is a little too tricky for the speed I like to achieve.

Lucky for all of our Jolly Jabber readers, we are giving away an e-book of Skip the Borders. The giveaway is now closed and Sherry B is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing!