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Tula Pink Sew Along: Alphabet

This post is part of the Tula Pink Sew Along!
For full schedule of guest post quilt pattern reviews, discounts, and prizes, click here!

Tula Pink Sew Along

Amanda from A Crafty Fox also owns a lovely fabric shop called Westwood Acres. The shop stocks all the hot fabrics – Tula Pink, Anna Maria Horner, chevrons, Amy Butler…please stop over and check it out!!


Hi, Everyone! I’m Amanda from A Crafty Fox and the owner of Westwood Acres. I am SO thrilled to share my Tula quilt pattern review with you! I asked if I could stitch the ‘Modern Alphabet‘ quilt pattern and was so thrilled that it was available. It has been on my ‘To Do’ list forever 🙂 I started by immediately modifying the pattern. Instead of using the 10 fat quarters it called for, I used 20 Fat Eighths from the Anna Maria Horner Field Study range.

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Other than that one simple modification, I followed Tula’s instructions EXACTLY down to not even squaring up my blocks and using her measurements rather than my own for sashing and borders. It worked out perfectly. There was very little stretching and I didn’t notice any issues basting or quilting it. I would advise to just follow the pattern on this one. And here it is complete:

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 I would rank this pattern intermediate or ‘confident’ beginner. It clearly outlines a technique Tula calls a ‘fast 45’ which is very basic technique that any quilter should have in their repertoire. However, the letters are all individual patterns with only two being repeated (A & V) Each piece of each letter is assigned a number that corresponds to the cutting directions, but has no bearing on the order you assemble them. I think this could confuse someone making their first quilt. It is this numbering and the lack of assembly directions that makes me think ‘intermediate’ although if pressed, I still think of myself as a beginning quilter and I managed just fine.
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 The other thing to notice about this quilt is the enormous amount of negative space. This is really typical in ‘modern’ quilts and really makes the letters ‘pop’. It also translates into the need for some quilting to fill those big empty spaces.
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If you are in the mood for an adventure, the quilting in the cover photo for Modern Alphabet is like an entirely separate pattern that really adds a lot to the overall design. I decided now was the time to tackle feathers. Each of the big empty spaces is filled with a giant (nearly 2 feet long!) feather.
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I can see this pattern being used for all sorts of different things, and not necessarily just your ABCs. I went for a pieced flannel back and scaled the letters down to 75% of their actual size. I love the result of just a simple modern geometric word in a field of blank space! You could use this pattern in an infinite number of ways just by using it as a fabric font. 
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 I would definitely recommend this to longtime quilters looking for something with a bit of pizzaz all the way to new-ish quilters ready to tackle something a little more challenging. This quilt is already a hit in my house and I LOVE the results. 
 Finished Statistics: Fabric Front: Field Study (20 Fat Eighths with LOTS of leftover scraps)
 Fabric Back: Random Grey Flannel Polka Dot and Folksy Flannels 
Batting: Pellon (which I am enormously happy with!) 
Thread: Auriful 40 Wt for Piecing and 50 Wt for Machine Quilting Finished Size: 64″ x 76″ 
 Thanks to Sara and Tula Pink for putting this all together! Stop by tomorrow for even more Tula Pink goodness!

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14 thoughts on “Tula Pink Sew Along: Alphabet

  1. Really fantastic!! I adore that fabric line too!

  2. The Alphabet looks fab in Field Study! Great quilt 🙂

  3. Amazing quilt, stunning backdrop!

  4. Judith says:

    Beautiful Quilt! Thanks for sharing…Judith, Texas

  5. Katy Cameron says:

    Cool, I don’t think I’ve noticed that pattern before, love the quilting on it

  6. Beth says:

    I love this pattern, and have been thinking of making it forever. I’ve just had the hardest time choosing fabric. Seeing how great yours looks with the strong color and many patterns, I’m thinking I’ll go with Kaffe. And thanks for the advice about following the instructions, as well as the reassurance that fat 1/8ths would work very well.

  7. Absolutely completely totally stunning!!

  8. Beth says:

    Wow – this is beautiful Amanda! The quilting is beautiful and I love your photos!

  9. Beth says:

    looks awesome! Love how much the letters pop.

  10. Beautiful quilt! the fabric choices are great.

  11. Ali says:

    Hmm I don’t remember seeing that pattern before either, and I’m amazed how identifiable the letters are – thought I’d have to think hard to figure out what the back said but no, totally readable!
    It turned out wonderfully!

  12. Laurie says:

    Ohmygosh – i love this quilt and the background of foliage is just gorgeous! Where were these pictures taken?

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