Stash Bandit
  • Home
  • Booking Inquiries
  • Ideas & How-tos
  • Trunk Shows by Diane Harris
  • Classes
  • Galleries
  • About
  • Contact
  • Calendar: Where is Stash Bandit going next?!
Stash Bandit

So many scrappy ideas: New book!

Written by Diane Harris on September 22, 2025. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

Is there anything more fun than a brand new book that is packed with possibility? I think not.

Scrap Quilts from Crumbs, Strips & Strings by Emily Bailey is hot off the press and let me tell you, it’s a good one!

Click image to pre-order!

Emily has taken traditional patchwork shapes like hexies, Log Cabins, stars, braids and Nine Patches and turned them on their head by using up leftover bits and bobs.

I can’t say I wanted to make a Grandmother’s Flower Garden before…but now I do!! Look at the size of those scrappy hexagons. And the dark scrappy ground is marvelous.

And if I ever make a braid quilt, it’s going to be this one in the coolest colors of all.

How about a little improv to make some flowers? They’re the perfect place for those favorite tiny scraps you couldn’t bear to toss.

Of the 15 patterns inside, the cover quilt called Fireworks is one of my favorites. The dullness of the grays with the brightness of the colored strips makes my heart sing. I’m probably going to make this quilt!

You can preorder the book now right from Emily, or ask for it at your local quilt shop when it arrives mid-October. Official publication date is 10/14. Get a better look at the quilts in the video below.

Let’s have a giveaway! Leave a comment for your chance to win Scrap Quilts from Crumbs, Strips & Strings by Emily Bailey. I’ll choose a winner on Oct 15 and notify by email.

Quilt on,

  • Continue Reading
  • 81 Comments

Rollin’ Along: Review & Giveaway

Written by Diane Harris on June 1, 2022. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

Ideas for 2.5″ strips abound in new title

My friend Anne Wiens from Montana sent me a copy of the newly published Rollin’ Along from Martingale and Moda Bake Shop. Compiled by Lissa Alexander, it features a dozen clever designs by Moda Bake Shop creators.

Rollin’ Along is a new book from Martingale and Moda Bake Shop.
It was compiled by Lissa Alexander.

One thing I noticed right away is the nice variety in the designs. There are some traditional looks and there are modern vibes. There are super easy quilts and more challenging designs. There’s even a Dresden Plate quilt with a super fun twist!

Summertime Fun! This quilt by Jessica Dayon is patterned in Rollin’ Along.

Maybe you want to sew for summer. There are quilts to fit the bill like Summertime Fun by Jessica Dayon (one of my favorite sewalong hosts).

Backcountry Cabins by Jen Daly

Or maybe you’re itching to sew for the winter holidays. You can make Backcountry Cabins by Jen Daly as Christmas-y as you like.

Storm Warning by Anne Wiens

Anne’s Storm Warning features a clever technique that looks especially great if you have striped fabrics. You really can get that large center square from 2.5″ strips! I’m anxious to give it a go. (Visit Anne’s blog here for fun and interesting posts, and visit her pattern shop right here!)

There’s something to love in all 12 designs and I feel sure you’ll find several quilts to make. Use a Jelly Roll you already have or go scrappy by cutting strips from your stash.

Jennifer Keltner at Martingale created a trunk show of the quilts. Take a look.

What is not to love?! Don’t the quilts look amazing? And it’s surprising how large they are! So if bed quilts are on your “must make” list, this book has them.

Let’s have a giveaway.

Fill in your email below by midnight on Friday, June 3 and click “sign up” to be entered. If you’re on a device and the form does not appear or doesn’t work, just leave a comment and I will enter you manually. Thank you for visiting Stash Bandit, and look for Rollin’ Along at your local quilt store or wherever you buy books. It’s a keeper!

Order it directly from the publisher right here!

By entering, you agree to receive occasional emails with helpful, useful and practical tips on making scrap quilts. Of course you want to get those! (But you may easily unsubscribe any time.)

The winner of this giveaway is Bev from New York, who says she has never won anything, ever! Thanks so much to all who participated! 😊

  • Continue Reading
  • 11 Comments

Giveaway #6 at Stash Bandit

Written by Diane Harris on April 5, 2021. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration

There’s been a resurgence of interest in cross stitch. Have you noticed? I have a special place in my heart for cross stitch because when I married in 1981, my new sister-in-law Ruth Ann introduced me to it. I was a fanatical stitcher for decades. I still have many samplers in my home, and recently my daughter asked if she could have one. I think she considers it part of her heritage!

Now a number a quilt designers are also designing cross stitch patterns, including It’s Sew Emma (Fat Quarter Shop’s house brand) and Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet.

  • Continue Reading
  • 31 Comments

Giveaway #5 at Stash Bandit

Written by Diane Harris on April 3, 2021. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, Quilt Lifestyle

We’re up to the fifth giveaway of 10. I’m going to try and get all the rest of the giveaways posted within the next 10 days so stop back often to leave your comments on all of them for a chance to win.

Today’s giveaway features a variety of really cool stuff! The Fat Quarter Shop is one of my favorite businesses and I’m a big fan of their products of all kinds. A while back they purchased the Triangles on a Roll business and it’s a marriage made in heaven!

  • Continue Reading
  • 32 Comments

Giveaway #4 and Welcome!

Written by Diane Harris on March 14, 2021. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

If you’re new to Stash Bandit, welcome! My Scrap Quilt Secrets sessions on Sundays have brought in new people and if that’s you, I’m happy to have you.

I’m doing a series of 10 giveaways to celebrate a milestone on Instagram. This is #4.

Giveaway #4 includes new books and items
plus Kim Diehl books from my collection.
  • Continue Reading
  • 33 Comments

Day 2 Giveaway: Fabric!

Written by Diane Harris on February 22, 2021. Posted in Blog, Complimentary, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration

Stash Bandit is celebrating with 10 days of giveaways and this is Day 2!

I recently finished piecing a throw-size version of a quilt called Maisy Daisy, which I ran across in a back issue of McCall’s Quilting. Its scrappy deliciousness called to me.

Maisy Daisy, designed by Maho Schwartz, made by Diane Harris

Then I made the exciting discovery that McCall’s put the pattern online at no charge, so if you like it, be sure to grab it here.

The quilt was designed by Maho Schwartz. I made just 12 blocks but the original has more. Totally up to you!

  • Continue Reading
  • 87 Comments

Day 1 Giveaway

Written by Diane Harris on February 16, 2021. Posted in Blog, Complimentary, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

Stash Bandit is celebrating with 10 days of giveaways and this is Day 1!

I have two great books on quilts made from 2-1/2″ strips and a specially-curated bundle of those strips in blues and neutrals.

I have been doing a monthly Facebook Live with Annie’s so it is fitting that I feature one of my favorite books of theirs: Time-Saving Quilts with 2-1/2″ Strips.

In case you’re wondering, I’m not being paid for this and I don’t get a commission on the books. I really just like this title and want to share it with you. 😊

And if you’re a scrap quilt lover like I am, I hope that you’ve discovered Susan Ache.

  • Continue Reading
  • 122 Comments

Stash Bandit is Celebrating!

Written by Diane Harris on February 16, 2021. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

I hope you’ll join me to celebrate a milestone! Stash Bandit reached 10,000 Instagram followers on Sunday, Feb 14 and that calls for a party!

  • 10 days of giveaways
  • “Scrap Quilt Secrets” Class Launch (it’s complimentary!)
  • A new pattern that’s fun and easy (and free!)
  • Sneak peeks of what’s ahead
  • Booking specials on Stash Bandit trunk shows
Father & Farmer by Diane Harris, quilted by Julie Lechner

Let’s first talk about the launch of my complimentary series of classes: Scrap Quilt Secrets. Why am I giving away six hours of instruction on fabric, color and making dynamite scrap quilts? Here’s why:

I want to visit your quilt guild!

I’m doing this series to give people a sense of my style and a taste of what I share during my trunk shows. And there’s another reason:

I love to talk about scrap quilts!

Framework by Diane Harris

People are hungry to know how to use the fabric they already own to make beautiful scrap quilts. They want projects with cohesion rather than a messy jumble of chaosβ€”and that’s what I will teach you.

You can sign up for one, any or all of the six one-hour sessions. I will give a presentation on a scrap quilt topic and then we’ll have discussion where you can ask questions or show me your fabric and get help.

The first session is Sunday, Feb 21 from 2 to 3 pm CST. It will happen on six consecutive Sundays: Feb 28, March 7, 14, 21 and 28. Sign up for one, any or all. Missing one won’t put you behind. Each one stands alone.

Read more or sign up for Scrap Quilt Secrets right here.

Starting Tuesday, Feb 16 we’ll have 10 days of giveaways with all sorts of great treasures!

Ten days of giveaways begin Tuesday, Feb. 16

There are books and bags and bling! Some of the giveaways will be here and some will be on Instagram. You can enter either or both; the giveaways will be for US addresses only. Find me on Instagram @stashbanditquilting.

If you subscribe to the blog, that’s the easiest way to be sure you never miss a thing.

Subscribe to the blog.

I’ll also publish a new complimentary pattern this week for my easy, simple, modern design called Nights in White Satin.

Nights in White Satin, EQ rendition, by Diane Harris

I designed this quilt in EQ8 and I’ll start piecing it this week. Join with me if you want to! It would be a good time to get EQ8 for yourself or to learn how to use it. Lots of great info at The Electric Quilt Company.

Pattern coming later this week!

But wait! There’s more! 🀣

For quilt guilds, I’m running booking specials this week.

Discounts plus a quilt!

Flower Baskets by Diane Harris

I am giving a 15% discount on virtual lectures booked for any time in 2021 or 2022. And for the first three guilds that book a virtual lecture, I will send you a quilt which you can award to a member, donate or use as a fundraiser. This offer only applies to new contracts not already in place or in progress.

Offer ends March 31, 2021.

See my trunk shows here.

Thank you for your support over the first four years of my business adventure. I so appreciate it!

Need to get in touch? Click here.

  • Continue Reading

Quilt Block Mania and Giveaway!

Written by Diane Harris on September 1, 2020. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

I am so excited to be part of this month’s #quiltblockmania with many other quilt designers. We all used the same color palette and designed blocks with a Halloween theme. You’ll want to check them all outβ€”that’s 29 free blocks! Scroll down for links.

πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ πŸŽƒ

I’m building a new program called Taste Test: Unexpected Sampler Quilts, so I designed Pumpkin Chain in EQ8 as a way to tie lots of other quilt blocks together. It would make a terrific sampler!

Just choose favorite 12″ blocks with a fall or Halloween theme. Alternate them with my Pumpkin Chain and like magic: amazing sampler quilt!

Pumpkin Chain by Diane Harris for Quilt Block Mania

You can also change out the center portion of my pumpkin so that each chain block is different. I’m excited to share those center blocks with my newsletter subscribers between now and Halloween! Sign up for Oh Scrap! and never miss out!

Last week I wrote about coloring designs in EQ and shot a video of how it’s done. If you watch it, you can see one of my ideas for how Pumpkin Chain can be used. More to come!

Pumpkin Chain by Diane Harris, Stash Bandit

GIVEAWAY! I’ve gathered some soft oranges, backgrounds and neutrals to help you get started on your own autumn scrap quilt with some of the blocks you’ll find during Quilt Block Mania.

Giveaway fabrics straight from my stash so you can start your own scrap quilt!

Leave a comment before midnight on Thursday, Sept. 3 and I’ll pick a winner on Sept. 4. Tell me where you found another cool block during #quiltblockmania! The winner of the giveaway is Bev C in Florida! I have already heard back from her and the package will be on its way shortly. Thank you, everyone!

Here’s a printer-friendly pdf with instructions for Pumpkin Chain.

“Which Hat?” at Pretty Piney
Black Cat at Inquiring Quilter
Ring of Pumpkins at Always Expect Moore
Haunted House at Powered by Quilting
Three Treats at Sew Brainy
Bat at Slice of Pi Quilts
Day of the Dead Skull at Duck Creek Mountain Quilting
Gypsy Wagon Fortune Teller at Orange Blossom Quilt
Monster at Seams to be Sew
Patchwork Pumpkin at Quilted Diary
Stacked Pumpkins at Perkins Dry Goods
Spooky Star at Block of the Mo .com
Leaf Ghost at Off the Wall Quilt
Leaf and Vine at Quilt Moments
Frankenstein at Around the Bobbin
Bat by Heidi Pridemore
Candy Corn by Quilt Fabrication
Dark night by Cotton Street Commons
Pumpkin by Sew on the Go
Pumpkin and Bat by ScrapDash
Pumpkin Chain by Stash Bandit
Happy Jack-o-lantern by Patti’s Patchwork
Foundation Pieced Creepy Eyes by Amarar Creacions
Spooky Trees by Aunt Em’s Quilts
Upside Down Witch by Appliques Quilts and More
Scaredy Kitty by Tacy Gray
Sun-Boo-Net Sue by Blue Bear Quilts
Spider by Oh Kay Quilting
Candy, Pumpkins, and Witch Hat by Utah Quilt Appraiser

Whoa. That’s a whopper of a list of free quilt block patterns!

  • Continue Reading
  • 46 Comments

EQ Giveaway! EQ Video!

Written by Diane Harris on July 28, 2020. Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

I use and love EQ8 quilt design software. I came on board around 2006 or 2007 with EQ5 or so. I was not computer-savvy but EQ was user-friendly and easy to learn, and it’s even more so now.

I’m partnering with The Electric Quilt Company over a few months’ time to show how powerful EQ8 really is. Lately I’ve been playing with one particular design and yesterday I learned how to record what’s happening on my computer screen. This makes it possible to show you much more about EQ and how I use it.

  • Continue Reading
  • 84 Comments
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3

Search

Contact

Stash Bandit
Diane Harris
Bladen, NE
402-756-1541
Email Diane

Sign Up Links

  • Follow the Blog
  • Get Scrappy Tips by Email

Social Links

Popular Topics

antique quilts baby windmills Christmas quilts classes color for quilters Diane Harris easy quilts electric quilt company EQ8 fabric fabric savvy free quilt block free quilt pattern giveaways holiday quilts how-tos improv patchwork improv piecing inspiration jingle bells trunk show machine quilting make extraordinary scrap quilts one hundred small quilts open enrollment classes original quilt designs quilt design quilters world quilt guild quilt ideas quilting 101 Quiltmaker quilt museum quilt retreat sampler quilts scrap quilt scrap quilts stash bandit classes stash bandit trunk shows stash sewing trunk shows UFO UFOs vintage quilts virtual learning workshops
Β© 2017 Stash Bandit     Site Credits: Infuze Creative

  • Home
  • Booking Inquiries
  • Ideas & How-tos
  • Trunk Shows by Diane Harris
  • Classes
  • Galleries
  • About
  • Contact
  • Calendar: Where is Stash Bandit going next?!