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SewKatieDid

Because thread is the best glue

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:: Throwing Stars Quilt ::

June 15, 2020 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

I cracked up finding photos I have of Throwing Stars. This little quilt really gets around 🙂 There’s photos of its prestudio starts in the little sewing room in the house and Birch Bay, as a quilt top on Vashon Island, and all finished at the front and back of our house, some during a snowstorm, Whidbey Island, Quiltcon…

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

Lately, you’ll mostly find it keeping me company on my couch. For always thinking it was oddly sized, it’s become my go-to lounging quilt since the day I laid it upon my lap to bind it.

One place it hasn’t been in all this time is here. Time to share.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

I love scrap quilts. Scraps are an opportunity to play with ideas. They’re almost magical in the way that they bring back memories of past projects, people and special or not so special times. I even love watching people dig through the studio’s scrap bins to see the look of joy it brings to their faces. I feel the same. Sometimes they’ve found just the right scrap for their master plan, or a bit of a fabric they’ve always admired.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt


Those are the kind of scraps that made it into the improv triangles in this quilt along with a couple colors of yarn dyed Essex linen as background. The Essex, or something similar like a Carolina Chambray with all that soft texture really allows scraps to show their true character, giving them all a place to shine.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

I sorta merged the block size system from my Magic Numbers Workshop (online tutorial here) with the pieced improv triangle (you can find the triangle technique in Quilting Modern).

I placed my blocks into the throwing stars shape as a layout example. I think I had to stop at about 12 block examples for the workshop, but I certainly could have continued as the layout ideas just wouldn’t stop.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt
sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt
sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt
sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

Above are just a few block layouts repeated in the Layout app. The designs a few of my friends and I came up with during a little workshop run through were, like I said, endless. Repeating the block designs certainly isn’t necessarily and could create an improvisational design.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

Of course, playing with color can only add another layer.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

I debated going with swirls on this one with the quilting, but didn’t diverge from my straight lines. Initially I was a little unhappy with some of the quilting creating puffiness possibly due to poor basting, but as they say, it all came out in the wash.

I pulled from the stash for a backing. That might never end.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Throwing Stars Quilt

I’m guessing this won’t be the last example you’ll see from me merging these two techniques and you’ll for sure be seeing this class on-line in the next year, so hope to ‘meet you’ there;)

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, magic numbers, modern quilt, Modern Quilts

:: Brighter Skies Quilt ::

May 24, 2020 By Katie

I know, this photo has nothing to do with quilting and I’m not even wrapped in a quilt, but truth be told, there has been very little sewing. During all of this crazy Seattle has been delivered a gift of mild weather. I’ve taken advantage of it by spending the majority of my time outside.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt

Any studio time has been purely spent in mask making production mode with the exception of a two week binge in the beginning of shelter in place. I shared my Coin Quilt probably a month ago now and Brighter Skies I finished right after.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt

Elizabeth Hartman’s Sparkle Punch caught my attention several years ago, and like most new starts I got a wild hair one day and just started pulling from stash for each star as I went along.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt

The improv stitch and flip triangle technique is one Jacquie and I covered in our Quilting Modern book and I’ve applied it to all sorts of designs over the years.

It didn’t need anything special with the quilting and I have a box of Metler spools in white so that was its finish. Of course I picked a fabric that I had very little left of for the binding AND I wanted the stripes to be adjacent to the edge, so there’s probably way too much piecing involved, but I love it.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt

A few stars that didn’t fit in the front of the quilt created their own constellation at the back. What a great go-to baby quilt design.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt

If you’re looking to start something from stash this would be a great way to use up scraps and the background blocks a good exercise in practicing color value.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt
sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Brighter Skies Quilt

I’m often conflicted on a regular day of showing my personal life on social media, especially now when so many aren’t experiencing all the gardening, baking and cooking, or sitting by a fire, but these hobbies are kindred spirits to sewing for me and I’m grateful for their distractions and the happiness they bring me right now.

Though Seattle is where I’ve grown roots, my hometown in Michigan is experiencing another catastrophe on top of all this. People need help, please make sure to reach out to your friends, family and neighbors. I’ve been asking those I’ve made masks for to please donate to any food bank. We can all help in small ways and it adds up.

I’m not sure why or what all of you are doing in your spare computer time, but the bots and spammers that leave comments here seem to think quilters are super interested in Viagra, gambling and sports t-shirts, so I’ve disabled comments on my site. If you need to get ahold of me for any reason go ahead and use the contact form on my site and I’ll get back to you.

I’m hoping to make it to finishing a back for this Magic Number version of the stars tomorrow since it’s looking like rain. Crossing fingers for motivation;)

xoxo Katie

P.S. and please please please wear your mask.

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, Modern Quilts, Uncategorized

:: Pony Up Quilt | Design Potential ::

May 3, 2020 By Katie

In our current state it’s rather dreamy to think about packing up and going on a sewing retreat, but that’s where this quilt started and where my mind was as I finished it here one sunny morning.

This will be the first year in many my little tribe won’t go sew, eat, drink and walk the beach so it seemed the most appropriate pull from the growing pile of UFOs.

Because I sew faster in my head than in real life, I tend to have an unrealistic vision of what I can complete in four days + days of retreat, same goes for the cooking.

A no boundaries approach would lead to the entire studio being loaded, so I tend to look for something double or triple duty in tools and material. Under those guidelines there’s no technique full of more potential than improvisational strip piecing. Half hatched ideas using that technique made the cut this past trip.

I enjoy teaching what I call an Improv Coin Quilt as my beginning improv class and wanted to take my teaching samples to make another example quilt for layout options.

In my workshops there always tends to be student or two that have taken a beginning quilting class with a more traditional scope. All those important skills like precise cutting and matching points have been covered, but what I love the most is how they just light up when they come to discover that quilting doesn’t always have to be that way.

You’d never guess from it’s simplicity how much I messed with the layout.

As far as the quilting I went with straight lines which is a divergence from the quilting design I used on my first quilt sample for this class back in 2011.

I’m a lazy quilter and like to run off the edge of my quilts. My process wasn’t any different for this one, starting with quilting a quarter inch from the seams to tack them down and working in lines here and there until it seemed visually pleasing;).

I tease at my trunk shows that I bought all of the Anna Maria Horner flannel out there so no one else can have it and I’m still using it for my quilt backs. I love the weight and drape.

I went with faced binding, a first for me. The jury is still out on whether I like it or not. I can see its appeal on an art quilt or wall hanging, but I make utilitarian quilts and I think the cuteness factor of a baby quilt would have held better had it had a binding.

You’ll be seeing more of this fabric combo and improv strip piecing in the two other quilt tops I finished at the retreat last May. They all match my box pouch. I love the color way and the pony fabric.

I’m calling Pony Up my second quilt finish of 2020.

I haven’t been in the studio much since the initial order to physically distance ourselves with the exceptions of finishing these two quilts and have just let that be. Jefe has etched out a corner of the studio for an office and our dining room table is now a school.

For me, gardening and cooking are sewing’s kindred spirits and with the weather playing so nicely my garden has been where my head space seems best. I got back to my running routine this past week after more than a few weeks of pure laziness. I’m amazed not only with how quickly things grow and bloom this time of year in Seattle, but also how quickly the muscles atrophy;)

We have rain this weekend so a little studio clean up happened yesterday with hopes of making it in there today.

Hope you are all well. xoxo

xoxo

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Filed Under: finished quilts, Finished Quilts, Modern Quilts

|| Heart Shaped ||

February 10, 2020 By Katie

When I look at all the things I’ve created, it’s pretty obvious I like heart shaped blocks mixed with a little improvisational technique.

I’ve been putting my heart shaped projects up on Instagram, but thought it might be fun to share here too.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | BIG Tossed Hearts Quilt

The Crusted Heart pillow and the BIG Tossed Hearts quilt above are two of my favorites. These crazy pieced blocks are a little addictive to make. I combine them with half square triangles and an improv triangle to come up with their shape.

I know most of you are probably running out of fabric, but if you aren’t cut a square from all your yardage and make a Value Quilt. I’ve got a new layout in my head for my Value Quilt workshop that creates light and dark hearts. That will have to wait until retreat, but I’ve got my squares all cut.

I think it’s safe to say that strip piecing is my go-to technique. My friend Sandie at Sleepy Owl Studio and I put together the tutorial for the Heart Strings quilt a few years ago.

I’ve made this Fractured Heart quilt twice over now, and of course matching pillows. They’re all made with blocks created in the workshop Double-Trouble. I’ve gotten way more comfortable teaching the heart shape thanks to students requesting it as a specific workshop.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Splintered Hearts
sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Have a Heart Quilt

The colors in these pillows work so awesome with some of my other non heart ones. That could be a whole blog post in itself.

This one’s a work in progress. I’ve taken it apart twice and am still not thrilled so it’s marinating somewhere.

I know the heart shape isn’t for everyone, so we can dream up other designs in Crushed It and Double Trouble. Both workshops are on the studio’s March schedule along with a couple Modern Quilting 101 workshops. My Coin Quilt workshop teaches beginner improv piecing and design, while Improvisational Triangles angles a bit more towards building technical skills like cutting and precise piecing with an improv technique thrown in. I can’t help myself that way;)

As always, if you see something on the workshops page that you’d like to schedule just contact me and we’ll schedule.

Since it’s entirely possible I might now make it here until April I thought I’d share what 2020-21 is shaping up to look like. Maybe you’ll be in the neighborhood;)

xoxo

::  Upcoming Events for 2020  ::

February 20-23rd 2020| Austin, TX | Quiltcon

February 25th 2020 | Puyallup, WA | Comforter Quilt Guild | Lecture

April 9th, 10th and 11th 2020 | Vancouver, WA | Clark County Quilt Guild | Featured Artist, Quilt Walks and Workshops

May 11th 2020 | Northwest Quilters | Portland, OR | Lecture and Workshops

June 2nd 2020 | Omaha, Nebraska | Omaha Modern Quilt Guild | Workshop and Lecture

::  Upcoming Events for 2021  ::

January 13th-17th  | Craft Napa | More information to come

June 4th and 5th | Soldotna, AK | Kenai Peninsula Quilting Guild | Lecture and Workshops

August 12th-14th 2021 | Mission Viejo, CA |Beach Cities Quilters Guild | Lecture and Workshops

xoxo

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:: Finishing It Up ::

January 20, 2020 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Psychedelic Baby Quilt Block
Yes, as you can see, I like a straight line.

After finishing my king size Value Heart Quilt with straight lines, I said I’d never do it again, but I’m thinking my newest sample quilt for my Magic Numbers workshop is going to get the same treatment. I just loved the look so much. Never say never eh?
It was suppose to be a reasonable size for fitting in a suitcase for travel teaching, but I just couldn’t stop, and face it, if you have a Valentine’s Day quilt, then you obviously need a Christmas quilt;)
Other people are thinking of finishing quilts up for the new year, so I’ve added 3 dates for my Straight Line Quilting Workshop, Walk the Line. All have one slot left.

sew katie did | seattle modern quilting and sewing studio | straight line quilting workshop
When I was developing this workshop I didn’t want everyone to just walk away with a bunch of practice panels, but to also learn some additional sewing techniques and feel the joy of making something utilitarian. My friend Christina has this great nesting bucket pattern that makes a perfect canvas for our stitches.
On another note, travel has started for the year with a great kick off at Craft Napa. I feel like I don’t need to eat for a few weeks since I grazed my way through the region. A student in one of my workshops stated that if you’re eating bad food in Napa you’re doing something wrong and she certainly was right. I’ll be returning next year.

Besides workshops in my Seattle studio, here’s the line up so far for 2020. You can see into 2021 here.

February 20-23rd 2020| Austin, TX | Quiltcon
February 25th 2020 | Puyallup, WA | Comforter Quilt Guild | Lecture
April 9th, 10th and 11th 2020 | Vancouver, WA | Clark County Quilt Guild | Featured Artist, Quilt Walks and Workshops
May 11th 2020 | Northwest Quilters | Portland, OR | Lecture and Workshops
June 2nd 2020 | Omaha, Nebraska | Omaha Modern Quilt Guild | Workshop and Lecture

Hope your new year has had a great kick off. I’m intending to make it to this little space more often;)

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Droppin’ the ball, but it keeps rollin’

October 9, 2019 By Katie

I know I’ve dropped the ball on my blog posting lately and there’s a long list of excuses that I’d rather not bore you with, but I do want to share where I’ll be teaching nationally in the upcoming year.

::  Upcoming Events  for 2019  ::

October 15th | Mukitleo, WA | Mukilteo Lighthouse Quilters | Lecture

October 27th- 29th 2019: Chicago, IL | Prairie Star Quilters Guild | Lectures and Workshop

::  Upcoming Events for 2020  ::

January 16th-17th 2020 | Craft Napa | More information to come

February 20-23rd 2020| Austin, TX | Quiltcon

February 25th 2020 | Puyallup, WA | Comforter Quilt Guild | Lecture

April 9th, 10th and 11th 2020 | Vancouver, WA | Clark County Quilt Guild | Featured Artist, Quilt Walks and Workshops

May 11th 2020 | Northwest Quilters | Portland, OR | Lecture and Workshops

June 2nd 2020 | Omaha, Nebraska | Omaha Modern Quilt Guild | Workshop and Lecture

::  Upcoming Events for 2021  ::

June 4th and 5th | Soldotna, AK | Kenai Peninsula Quilting Guild | Lecture and Workshops

August 12th-14th 2021 | Mission Viejo, CA |Beach Cities Quilters Guild | Lecture and Workshops

I launched a new quilting workshop called Modern Quilting 101, but have some of the standards listed before the holiday. If you’re thinking of jump starting on your gifts, now’s the time for classes and open studios. Open studios are a good time for napkins, bags and invisible zipper pillows or to finish up projects in a social atmosphere. I’ll help ya;)

I’ve got the zip pouches, box pouches and straight line quilting workshops up. I find the buckets we make with our straight line quilting samples perfect for hostess gifts like napkins or cookies.

Well hopefully that isn’t it for blogging for me this year. Talk soon Peeps;)

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:: Side Hustle Quilt ::

April 5, 2019 By Katie

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

I really wanted to call this quilt Avocado Kitchen.

There’s something about these colors together that I love, but I get the feeling 20 years from now the combo might be like an avocado colored kitchen appliance.

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

I thought while making the blocks that I would repeat either this or this layout, but came up with a new design by folding and playing with them on the design wall before slicing.  I’ve got my sights set on another layout in a binary color scheme now.

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

This one just needed straight lines.

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

I’m still using up stash for backs.  It’s interesting to look at them all finished and reflect on what I like or what I would have done differently.

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

I feel like I really haven’t been doing that much sewing lately and I’m not quite sure what happened to March.  Looking at the calendar April is going to blow by too.  The good news about this is I get to go on retreat with my girlfriends in May.

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

I’m already sorting though possible projects to take.  I’m thinking of pulling the cast off blocks from this quilt from the design wall and taking them with me.

sew katie did |Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Side-Hustle Quilt

I’ve got two more samples in mind to make for this workshop and then I’m ready to move onto some new workshop development.  I’ve so enjoyed making and teaching this block.  I can credit all of the block layouts and quilt designs to my inability to make the same quilt twice.

I haven’t listed a date for this workshop, so if you’d ever like to take it you can email me, more information here.

Happy Making Peeps.


sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Have a Heart QuiltThe Bainbridge MQG workshop on Double-Trouble is full, but there are still slots at the Everett Quilt Show on April 27th.  I’ll be presenting my quilts in a lecture at night on Friday, April 26th.

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Filed Under: Modern Quilts Tagged With: class, classes, Improv, improvisation, improvisational, patchwork, Quilts, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild, workshops

BIG Tossed Hearts Quilt

March 27, 2019 By Katie

Seattle continuously delivers a good snow day per year.   I enjoy it as a legit excuse to spend the time at home, watch the kids be kids and be generally lazy.

Plus those kids are useful to hold quilts;)

I’ve taught the Crushed It workshop around Puget Sound and the studio a bit this month, and I have three favorite parts of this workshop.

  • First is the excitement from students about how easily the blocks come together and the fun shapes they create.
  • Second, seeing what background fabrics make the piecing pop.
  • Students telling me they went home and couldn’t stop making them;)

I’ve got a little of it brewing up on my own design wall lately too.

My background audition started with a flax that quickly was restashed.  The crimson dead on.  I built the hearts into squarish blocks with the crimson and decided on this tumbling layout with the hearts.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | BIG Tossed Hearts Quilt

From there I began paneling out the quilt top’s construction. When I ran out of that specific crimson I went to stash for more…and more…and more.  The end result is a richly textured background and in my opinion way more interesting than had I stuck with one solid.  Shot cottons, Kona, Cotton Couture, plus some others all live harmoniously together.

The binding spoke that it needed that color too, so it got an all most solid print, I didn’t want to distract from the hearts.  I flanged this one too for a little frame.  Backing is an old Erin McMorris from her first line Slope Park. I finished it off with vertical straight lines in lavender (some straighter than other ;).

Love this technique and quilt.  I’ve got the workshop on the studio schedule for Wednesday April 10th and Saturday April 13th.  Sign up here.


FYI-  I’ll also be at:

The Everett Quilt Show| Lecture Friday, April 26th 7pm and Double-Trouble Triangle Workshop  Saturday, April 27th 9am.

Bainbridge MQG | Double-Trouble Triangles Workshop Saturday, May 4th 10am.

Gig Harbor, Mukiteo, Chicago, Omaha and Napa details soon.

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Filed Under: Modern Quilts

:: Going Circular Quilt ::

February 11, 2019 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

 It’s still snowing in Seattle which makes for small helpers around and good light.  Two futsal games and Super Bowl in a single day gave me some time to finish up the binding on a few quilts including this Free-Wheeling Girl.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

I purchased the templates and pattern from Next Stitch.

 The pattern I cast aside and went improv on creating the rings.  I traced the inner ring template onto paper so that I could foundation piece the bits.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

I mixed old and new for fabrics into a combo that started with my box pouch pattern and stuck.  Playing with the same fabrics surrounded in different background colors on the design wall creates a dramatically different feel.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

Sandie and I loaded it on her long arm and went straight line.  I told her I was going to do horizontal lines at which she laughed when we took it off as it is square;)

It’s perfect.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

This IKEA fabric I used for the backing has made its way into a few projects including a cover for my pressing station (tutorial here) and some sewing machine covers that I’ll show you soon along with a very easy pattern I’ve created.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

A print made into flange finished the binding along with the Essex I used as the background.  It was kind of random that I saw the purple on the stash shelf and thought to add it as a flange as there’s none of it in the quilt, but it works.

 I realized only after I was done that I’d made the purple too wide and had to redo the whole thing.  I cut mine at 7/8″ and I’m glad I redid. I use this easy technique all the time and Jaybird Quilts has a great tutorial.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt

I’ve added this workshop to the calendar so I can teach all the tricks and tips I learned improvisationally creating the rings and piecing the curves.  Any curved ringed template or pattern will do, but I’ll have the curved templates available in the studio too for you to experiment.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Free-Wheeling Girl Quilt by Maureen

My student Maureen has been working on similar in the studio but with the Single Girl Pattern and the templates I made for it years ago.  I have to admit I’m a bit more in love with the larger rings, so I’ll be playing with some piecing and making the paper rings for the class and my next sample, be it most likely a pillow;)  But you know how I love pillows.

Happy Snow Day from Seattle Peeps!

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Filed Under: Modern Quilts, Uncategorized

Hearts

February 3, 2019 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

All the Christmas stuff is down in the basement still waiting to be put away, but the upstairs is rocking its Valentine.  I’m sure Jefe is fully enjoying the amount of quilted heart patchwork in the house right now;)

I thought it would be fun to post a few photos of this shape that might have recently surpassed the amount of stars I’ve made.  Above is a stash busting quilt made with my Value Quilt tutorial, which is the studio’s featured February workshop.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Splintered Hearts

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Splintered Hearts

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Have a Heart Quilt

These Splintered Hearts pillows were left overs from making my Have a Heart Quilt.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Have a Heart Quilt

If you make enough pillows they all start working together;)

My Improv Crazy Piecing workshop called Crushed It has become one of my favorite to teach.  You can make different shapes of course but I love the look in the heart shape.  I’ve got a Saturday workshop this month going on with this fun block.

My love of Crazy Piecing started with a bunch of  leftovers that became this quilt.  Someday I’ll get a good photo of it.  The background is amazing.

I’m sure I’m forgetting some finished projects with this shape and I’ll spare you knowing the ‘in process’ amount.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

When I can manage to steal some time alone in the studio I’ve been getting some new workshops together.  You’ll find a little improv mixed with foundation piecing and the precision traditional curve piecing gives you in Round and Round.

Have a good Valentines Peeps.  May your heart be happy.  xo

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Filed Under: Improvisational Quilts, Innovative Patchwork Piecing, Projects Tagged With: improvisation, improvisational patchwork, modern quilt, modern quilting, quilting, Quilts, seattle, value quilt, workshops

:: ‘Cue It Up Quilt ::

December 29, 2018 By Katie

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

This quilt came together with blocks Sandie made while she was helping me test out my improv strip piecing workshop.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

I’m always a fan of Sandie’s color ways, and the fabrics she picked from her stash were perfect.   We’re kindred spirits when it comes to purging, so I was only too happy to accept her starts on her last round of clear outs.   I only had to add a few blocks to finished it up.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

The Navy Essex and the Kaffe print really pop the rest of the colors.   ‘Cue It Up offers another example of how the layout of the blocks can change the quilt’s design.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

I was saving this apple print for some grocery bags, but they were perfect for the back.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

A grid of straight line quilting as well as a simple binding finished it off.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

I think it turned out to be a very sweet baby quilt.  I’ll be teaching this technique at Quilting Mayhem Saturday January 19th if you’re thinking of learning a new skill for the new year.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | 'Cue It Up Quilt

It’s been a good holiday and I’ve added a few Saturday Open Studios to the schedule.  We’ll be making simple zip pouches, grocery bags, invisible zipper pillows or working on individual projects.

In honor of Valentine’s Day I’ve switched up some classes.  I’ll be offering two classes that make heart shaped blocks, if that’s not your cuppa tea we’ll also be exploring other geometric block shapes.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Fracture Heart Pillows | Split Personality Quilt Block Workshop

 Crushed It | Improv Crazy Piecing (photo above) and Quilting with Color Value Workshop (photo below) will be the studio’s January workshops.  We’ll cover zippers with some cute Zip Pouches and practice some new skills in Free Motion Quilting, each have one space left.

Value Quilt Hearts | Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio

February’s studio workshops are Splintered Hearts and Quilt Binding.

I’m looking forward to the new year, and as always hope to make it to this space a bit more.  I’ve got more finished quilts to show once I get some better light here in Seattle to photograph them.  I’m still dwelling on what I might do as my little resolution.

Happy Merry Peeps.

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, Modern Quilts, Psychedelic Baby Tagged With: improv quilting instructors, improv quilting workshops, improv strip piecing, modern quilting, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild, sew katie did, workshops

:: One Week ::

October 25, 2018 By Katie

One of my sweet little peep students exclaimed that everything in my house was sewn for Halloween and another student told me she had to close her eyes or she’d get too many ideas before the others were done when she walked through.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio |  Quilting Modern

It’s a little over the top, but Halloween’s my favorite holiday.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | log cabin improv pillows

I actually refrained from making anything new this year and honestly I would have if I’d found the time.

sewkatiedid | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

I also cut the purse strings and didn’t even look at the newest Halloween novelty fabric of the year.  That’s a first for me.  I know there’s some new Ghastlies out there.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Spiderweb Quilt Block

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | halloween pillows

There’s certainly no lack of pillows with invisible zippers in this house at any season.

I’ve done a lot of small projects for Halloween and some of the paper piecing patterns out there are favorites.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | quilted/paper pieced trick or treat door bucket

I’ve got Skully here by Twiddletails printed out big for another floor pillow someday, but until then I’ve got a little doorknob caddy for handing out candy to my trick or treaters.  It’s one of my fav projects, especially if it’s full of 3 musketeers;).

Quilt-As-You-Go is a perfect technique for making unique bags with prints from stash.  It’s also good practice in picking fabrics that compliment each other in a log cabin block style.  I’m not a very nostalgic person when it comes to keepsakes, but Roan’s Halloween bag has been packed away with a few other heart-felt gifts.

Straight line or free motion quilting?  Yup, practice is the best teacher and a small project a perfect palette. Baskets are great for nurseries, studios and candy!

Supplement it all with scouted out decor.  My pumpkin heads from Safeway always make me happy and I’m pretty sure I funded Target alone last year with their lite pumpkins.

Outside isn’t so great due to our lack of plugs;(

And the memories of the kids in costumes are what makes it so fun right?  Fourteen year old photo next.

Happy Halloween peeps!

 

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Christmas decor is all packed up. We repurposed th Christmas decor is all packed up. We repurposed the IKEA wood fabric that generally hangs during the season into a fireplace screen to keep Boss and the Roomba out.
Ending 2020 all inspired by a freshly bound quilt Ending 2020 all inspired by a freshly bound quilt finish. I’m sure to be asleep by midnight, so wishing all of us a brighter and hopeful new year. 

Some photos of Boss for ya @josnowsew ❤️ and he was being naughty even if he looks nice!
Ghastlies aren’t just for Halloween. #alexanderh Ghastlies aren’t just for Halloween. #alexanderhenryfabric #neverenoughpillows
Feels pretty quiet here. Seattle even had the surp Feels pretty quiet here. Seattle even had the surprise and enchantment of snow for a brief moment. It was spectacular for an evening walk.
This isn’t going to last long, but for now I hav This isn’t going to last long, but for now I have company while sewing on my binding and watching some Martha Stewart baking inspiration.
Slowly getting some Xmas decor out. The pillows ar Slowly getting some Xmas decor out. The pillows are Boss Dog approved. #handmadechristmas #neverenoughpillows
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