Quilting

Patterns, patchworks and projects

Review and giveaway: A Grand Design

by

Grand Design Amber Stockton

 

Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book by the publisher to review. But as always, all opinions expressed here are 100 % my own, or those of my guest reviewer. 

I have a treat for you today. I asked fellow quilter, Cindy, to read A Grand Design and to share her thoughts about it with Craft Gossip readers. She quilts with the group, Kingdom Quilters, located in central Arkansas. She is a prolific quilter and reader, and like so many quilters, gives many away to charities.

Review: A Grand Design by Amber Stockton

This is a light, quick read for the weekend reader, for a plane ride or a vacation on the beach. It is a book that can be read by teenagers and adults alike, contains a few life lessons and makes you dream of a more innocent time. The main characters do come across as young teenagers at times, instead of young people moving into their 30s; however, the message shared crosses generations. The focus was on Alyssa and her return to her childhood vacation place and finding peace with events that took place in her past. The author was able to describe Mackinac Island and the Grand Hotel is detail, allowing me to see myself on the veranda, riding in the horse-drawn carriage and walking on the beach feeling the sand squish between my toes. I picked up on a second storyline where Alyssa’s grandmother was a part of a quilting group when she was a young woman. Little tidbits of information about the relationships of the other women in the group left me trying to figure out why the group disbanded. Maybe a sequel is coming?

Thanks Cindy for another great review.

Giveaway: Enter to win a copy of this book

The publishers have generously given me a copy of the book, A Grand Design, to give away to a lucky Craft Gossip reader. To get a chance to win a copy of this book, leave a comment on this post and tell me you want a chance to win. That’s it.

Contest ends November 10, 2014. Only US and Canadian entrants are eligible due to shipping costs.

Comments

  7. Your description sounds so intriguing! I would LOVE to win this book, and I hope it does become the beginning of a long-running series! Thanks for the chance to win. <3

  14. I am so grateful for the chance to win “A Grand Design.” It sounds like a delightful read. Thanx for this opportunity.

  26. I would love to have ( win this book) I do Quilt but I’m having a little trouble starting back since Spring & Summer months. I need the inspiration to get me started back got many I would like to do and this just might be what gets me started back! Thanks

  27. WOW, I love quilting, along with all crafts, I would truly enjoy a copy of this book. Thank you for your offer, may you too be blessed.

Have you read?

Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness Review

A Soft, Vintage-Inspired Quilt Kit That Lives Up to Its Name

Some quilt kits are bold and modern. Others lean heavily into dramatic colour palettes. But every now and then you come across a quilt kit that feels calm, comforting, and quietly beautiful — the kind of quilt you imagine folded on a guest bed or draped across the back of a favourite armchair.

That’s exactly the feeling behind the Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness from Fat Quarter Shop.

This kit is all about soft, coordinated fabrics and classic quilt construction that lets the fabric collection shine. It’s the sort of project that feels relaxing to sew and produces a quilt that looks timeless rather than trendy.

And sometimes that’s exactly what you want.

What’s Included in the Simplicity Quilt Kit

One of the best parts of working with a quilt kit is that the planning stage is already done for you. Fabric choices, yardage calculations, and colour coordination are handled by experienced designers so you can focus on the stitching.

The Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness includes everything needed to create the quilt top and binding using fabrics from the Handmade Sweetness collection.

Inside the kit you’ll find:

  • Coordinated quilting cotton for the quilt top
    • Binding fabric to finish the quilt edges
    • Fabrics from the Handmade Sweetness collection
    • The official quilt pattern that guides the layout and piecing

Like most quilt kits, batting and backing fabric are purchased separately so quilters can choose their own finishing style.

The Look and Style of the Quilt

The design of the Simplicity Quilt lives up to its name. The layout is clean, balanced, and very easy on the eyes, making it perfect for quilters who prefer classic patchwork over complicated layouts.

The Handmade Sweetness fabric collection adds a gentle vintage feel to the quilt. The prints lean toward soft florals, small-scale patterns, and comforting colours that work together beautifully without feeling overwhelming.

The finished quilt has that handmade heirloom look — the kind of quilt that feels like it belongs in a cozy home filled with handmade touches.

If your quilting taste leans toward:

  • Vintage-inspired quilts
    • Soft cottage style fabrics
    • Classic patchwork layouts
    • Calm, coordinated colour palettes

…then this quilt kit will likely be right up your alley.

Skill Level – Perfect for Beginners and Relaxed Sewing

One of the nicest things about the Simplicity Quilt Kit is that it truly is approachable.

The construction focuses on traditional patchwork techniques most quilters already know:

  • Straightforward cutting and piecing
    • Repeating quilt blocks
    • Block arrangement into rows
    • Simple borders that frame the quilt

There are no tricky angles or complex piecing methods, which makes it a very comfortable project for beginners or anyone wanting a stress-free sewing experience.

This is the kind of quilt you can work on slowly over a few evenings while enjoying the rhythm of sewing.

Why Quilt Kits Like This Are So Popular

Many quilters love designing quilts, but not everyone enjoys the fabric selection stage. Choosing prints that coordinate, calculating yardage, and ensuring colour balance can take hours.

That’s where quilt kits shine.

With a kit like Simplicity – Handmade Sweetness, you get:

  • Professionally coordinated fabrics
    • The correct fabric amounts already measured
    • A pattern designed specifically for those fabrics
    • A clear path from first cut to finished quilt

Instead of planning a quilt, you get to jump straight into the creative part — sewing.

And let’s be honest… finishing quilts is always more satisfying than collecting half-finished projects.

Who This Quilt Kit Is Best For

The Simplicity Quilt Kit – Handmade Sweetness is ideal for quilters who:

  • Prefer gentle, vintage-style fabric collections
    • Want a calm and relaxing sewing project
    • Enjoy traditional quilt layouts
    • Are newer to quilting and want an approachable kit

It would also make a lovely handmade gift or a cozy everyday quilt for a bedroom or living room.

Where to Find the Simplicity Quilt Kit

If this soft, vintage aesthetic speaks to you, you can explore the kit here:

It’s a quilt that feels comforting from the very first block — a project built around the quiet joy of sewing something beautiful with your own two hands.