Two draws for Modern Bee quilt book

Thanks so much for all your great comments on the Modern Bee quilt book giveaway. After reading each one, I know you are all my peeps. The majority of us – though we love to sew and quilt with friends – when it gets down to getting the job done, alone is best. In short, groups motivate and inspire, while flying solo allows focused attention on our projects. Further, whether we sew in silence or stitch to music, TV, audio books or movies, alone gets us to a blissful state of contentment.

Now, back to the giveaway winners. Yes, you heard right, it’s plural. Not only is the publisher (Stash Books) of Lindsay Conner’s new book, Modern Bee: 13 Quilts to Make with Friends, giving away a copy to my first draw, I have decided to give away my review copy, also provided by Stash. That’s two draws and two winners!

Drum roll please…..allowing Random.org to do the choosing, winner number 1 is commenter 74, Jodie, who wrote,

While it’s nice to join in with friends I find I don’t actually get much done. We talk too much! Quilting by myself means that I can get the job done.

My second draw is commenter 76, Kylie, who said,

I like to sew alone. Its my time to relax and get lost in what I’m doing. I let my imagination do my best work.

Congratulations to the winners! You will get an email from me to wrap things up.

Thanks to all who entered, and do stay tuned for future Craft Gossip giveaways!

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.

Have you read?