My Blog

:: Going Circular Quilt ::

February 11, 2019 By Katie

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

:: Quilter’s Pressing Station Cover ::

August 30, 2018 By Katie Leave a Comment

A few students have enjoyed using the studio’s pressing stations so much that they followed my tutorial to build their own to use at home. We spent Monday’s Open Studio making covers for the pressing stations and since I was cutting and directing I thought it was time for the studio to have a new one of its own. Nothing like a demo that creates something new.

Last trip to IKEA this grey improv looking stripe caught my eye. I always seem to be jumping back and forth on whether I want neutral or I want bold color in my decor so I guess I’m going back to neutral on the pressing station. If you’re in the market for a fabric that washes up super soft I was really impressed with the drape on this and with my leftovers I’ll be mitering some new dishtowels.

Watch out IKEA PLUGGIS bins, I’m looking out for you on the thrift trail to match my new style. After years of my Target Oral Kiely bins I’m moving on;)

I get comments on how great my irons are in the studio all the time. If you’re a lover of steam (or not), flat seams and BOO at drippy irons than the T-Fal is for you.

I love that my design wall (tutorial here) allows me to audition fabric backgrounds without committing. Simply pin up your fabric picks, take a photo of each and scroll to see how the values of the colors are getting along. I’ve been playing with the Free-Wheeling Girl and other curve rulers like wedding rings in the studio and find my foundation construction and improv techniques way easier than a pattern. If you’re interested in learning my construction I’ll be available in any Open Studio to show you how to get started. I’ve got the Next Stitch and other curved templates available and tips galore to share.

Monday’s Open Studio has turned into a quilting session with two students finishing up with the quilting on their Psychedelic Baby quilts. If you’d like to quilt or just have some company sewing there’s one slot left.

Wishing you all a lazy & maybe productive long weekend Peeps;)

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post contains affiliate links;)

:: Spring Has Sprung ::

May 12, 2018 By Katie Leave a Comment

I’m fresh back from my annual spring retreat with my quilty friends. We’re all having some sort of issue with reentry;) Treat yourself peeps, anytime you can.

I finished up the instructions for my Southwest Highways block for this year’s Summer Sampler. A follower on IG commented they’re going to use the block as the border on their’s. What a great idea.

Sunday is the last day to get the discounted price. Read all about it on this post. You can purchase here. I’ll teach the block paper pieced block above in Open Studio on June 8th for those interested.

A few new classes on the schedule. Modern Quilt 101 is an improv spin on a Chinese Coin Quilt. For my working peeps I’ve got a Memorial Day and weekend option on the schedule.

It was about time for a project workshop and students have been asking about the thread catchers for awhile. I never leave for a workshop or retreat without mine. I’ve got you covered on some of the specialty supplies needed, you’ll just need to bring yourself and some fabric to customize your own.

Looking at the calendar I honestly don’t even know where to put classes this summer. Vacation, soccer tournaments, family around…I swear I’m going to blink and it will be August. Open Studios will continue and anyone interested in a workshop can contact me to schedule.

I’ll be teaching my improv string block class, Psychedelic Baby June 24th at The San Juan Museum of Arts. This class is part of the many activities around the exhibition Conversations With Gee’s Bend at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend. Sign up is here. If you are on island come visit.

And finally, if you get a moment and you love looking at amazing traditional quilts, check out this wonderful video of The Quilts of Ken Burns.

Have a great weekend and Mother’s Day peeps!

Destash

April 20, 2018 By Katie Leave a Comment

The time has come to move out some of my most coveted stash. So listen up, here’s how it works. My friend @crftychikdestash will be handling the destash over on Instagram. Follow her to see what goodies you can add to your stash like out of print Heather Ross, Alexander Henry, Denyse Schmidt, Tula Pink, Echino…

Some of the listings expire tonight at 7pm and others will continue.

Happy Hunting!

New Year, New Techniques

January 9, 2018 By Katie Leave a Comment

Happy New Year Peeps!

Have you had your fill of green smoothies yet?

Students and I kicked off the new year in the studio Saturday by flexing our creative muscles with an Embrace Our Curves workshop. Confidence in mastering improvisational curves grew and unique designs started to grown on the design walls rather organically.

It was so inspiring I had to restrain myself from starting a new curved project as I cleaned up, well ok, maybe I started one;)

This no pins required technique can be rather liberating. Come join me in the next round of this inspiring workshop, ~~including a Presidents’ Day session for my 9-5er peeps.~~ FULL Saturday, March 24th Available.

Don’t know if you’ve seen them on my Instagram or Facebook feed, but just in time for Valentine’s Day I’ve added some new heart shaped quilt samples to My Double-Trouble Quilt block class. You might all have had enough of my hearts over the past year. According it Jefe it’s looking like an epidemic around here. I’ll take it;)

Not into hearts? No worries I still heart you and we’ll play with all types of geometric shapes of design layouts. Bonus, learn some shortcuts for making multiple half-square triangle blocks.

sew katie did | double-trouble quilt block | seattle quilting and sewing studio

Wanna have some hand binding ready for quality couch time this winter? Or maybe try your hand at box or zip pouches? Open Studios for the month of January are up and might be your calling. Please come pick my brain, learn something new and finish up while using the studio’s tools and Berninas. Sometimes we just need to make the time and have the space (or huge design wall) available to get things done!

All other available workshops are listed and can be schedule by contacting me😉

There will be plenty of traveling this season. If you’re in the neighborhood I’d love to see you. Please spread the word!

January 11th, 12th and 13th 2018: Vancouver, WA Clark County Quilters Guild | Lecture and Workshops
February 13th-15th 2018: Frasier Valley BC Frasier Valley Quilters Guild Lectures and Workshop
February 22nd-25th 2018: Pasadena, CA Quiltcon Workshops
March 2nd-4th 2018: Boca Raton, FL South Florida MQG Lectures and Workshops
March 2018 (dates to be announced): Vashon Island
June 2018 (dates to be announced) Friday Harbor, WA | Workshops in collaboration with San Juan Island Museum of Art’s contemporary response to the Gee’s Bend quilts.

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

Embrace Your Curves | Mastering Improvisational Curves Workshop-

No pins required for this wonderfully liberated technique! Curves aren’t complicated when you create them improvisationally, even for beginners. We’ll go beyond mastering a curve and cover how to make your blocks unique by creating strip pieced rings and adding straight strips. Learn design and construction techniques to create blocks that back into the sizes you need to finish a project like a quilt, pillow or box pouch.

Let’s embrace our curves and add this fun technique to your quilting arsenal. If you enjoy my other classes that focus on technique within a finished block and freedom from matching seams than this is the next class on your list;)

Double-Trouble Triangles Workshop-

A modern quilt block that is really no trouble at all!

Double-Trouble is a fun quilt block and design workshop that merges a traditional half-square triangle block with an improvisational stitch and flip triangle technique. We’lll explore and inspire each other on the design walls with the unlimited controlled and chaotic quilt design potential this block has to offer. One block = endless designs!

I’ll will have multiple examples made with prints and solids to show for inspiration.

P.S. I wanted to share a little game changer for sewing. These LED light strips stick to the inside harp of your sewing machine. I can’t rave enough about how much they improve sewing on long dark rainy days or make my ailing eye sight seem drastically improved. Treat Yourself!

I’ve got four quilts bound and am ready for Winter/Couch Olympics. Hope to see you and that your season’s start is creative. xo Katie

Shortest Day of the Year

January 4, 2018 By Katie Leave a Comment

This post has had over three names. The one named ‘shortest day of the year’ might be an indication of how many times I tried to make it here. Life has taken control and I’ve gone with it, but it’s time to hit the ‘post’ button.

I love the reflection that the new year brings. I’ve been thinking lately about the comfortable pace at which my teaching, lecturing and working with students in the studio has grown over the past few years and nestled itself happily into my life. I’m truly thankful to hang out with a bunch of people that share the same delight in cutting fabric apart and sew it back together. A big thanks for your support and spreading the word about the studio and my teaching.

My season of travel is coming up and I’ve had the opportunity to travel to places I’ve never been for teaching and lectures. I’ve also spread my wings a bit and accepted an invite to teach at a private retreat. What a fun treat to have several days to work on one quilt technique.

Here’s 2018’s workshops and lectures:

January | Maple Valley Washington
January | Vancouver Washington
February | Frasier Valley BC and Quiltcon
March | Private Retreat in Leavenworth WA
March | Boca Raton Florida
June | Friday Harbor Washington

I’m pretty thrilled with my workshop offerings now. They have really tightened up in the past year and the feedback on my style of teaching has been wonderful.

As a teacher I’ve found that improvisational techniques are fun, but without a block structure most students were going to leave a workshop with another UFO regardless of showing them how to build out a quilt design. Sure, it would be great to create whatever I want, but as I’m designing I have to ask myself, “How could I teach this?” That question alone brings me back to block construction. Combining an improvisational technique with block structure has led my workshops onto a path that everyone seems to feel they can successfully finish a quilt that’s unique to them. Win-Win.

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

Winter will be a tight wrap for the studio with all the travel, but I’ve got a few workshops and Open Studios lined up and I’ll get a few more up in the next week or so. Embrace your Curves is this Saturday and I have had a last minute cancelation if anyone is interested in making blocks using this improv technique. No pin curves, I promise!

We’ll also be making some zip pouches on Friday January 19th, one slot left.

I’m not much of a resolutions person, but I am a creature of habit and like to think about things that create happiness. I generally pick something small and if I’m going to deprive myself of some indulgence I always pick the month of February since it’s the shortest;) Last year I made my bed every day and this year I was toying with 15 burpees a day, but haven’t done it yet. Got any similar plans?

We’ll see what happens for 2018 Peeps. Have a great holiday.

Collecting Spook II

October 24, 2017 By Katie 1 Comment

I tricked my house all out for Halloween before heading on my mini road trip. It really made it feel like fall had arrived.

The timing for teaching and trunk shows in Bend and Ashland couldn’t have been better. The trees were all turning and the people ready to get back into the quilting groove. My student’s enthusiasm about what they were learning was like an inspirational refresh button for me as well.

In between towns I had loads of free time and made a side trip to see Crater Lake which was experiencing a little snow storm. I’m a Michigander to Flagstaff girl, but it’s been awhile since I’ve driven on snow. Though lovely I don’t miss it;)

Now that I’m home I’ve done some rearranging and added some more.

Usually I get to making one Halloween project. The buckets might be it this year, besides a possible pillow while teaching zippers Thursday night.

The truth is we’re not lacking in Halloween pillows (or fabric) anyway, but they sure are fun to make.

Gone are the days Roan will use his little Trick or Treat bags, a pillowcase is all he’ll want this year, so I actually packed these little trick or treat bags into his trunk for safekeeping. I’m not a saver, but these have too many fond memories.

My Skully candy bag (paper pieced pattern by twiddle tails) is all ready for the night, though there seems to be a dwindling supply of its original contents.

While I’m excited for him to wander around with his friends this Halloween, it sure is sweet to look upon the past.

With Halloween almost here I’ve started thinking about the holidays and added some gift workshops to the line-up including evening sessions. We’ve got a lot of gifting to make including invisible zipper pillows, box and zip pouches, rope bowls. The quilting workshop will be Double-Trouble, triangles with a little tradition and a little improv.

The first sessions I listed filled, so I’ve added new additional dates.

Happy crafting peeps!

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:: Split Crumbs Quilt Top ::

October 4, 2017 By Katie 4 Comments

Loving this finish.

This Split Personality crazy piecing technique that I’ve been teaching is so fast and satisfying. I can’t stop making the blocks in all my favorite color ways.

I’ve made several sets and they’re waiting for their own quilt designs to come to me. I’ve also had a little personal challenge going on to make quilt tops come together with fabric I already have, a task that takes a little more design time.

I used traditional block techniques like half squares and quarter squares and randomly placed them up on the design wall filling in here and there with solid fabrics. For the quilting I off set it a bit, diagonally coming together somewhat in the center. It was enough without distracting.

Alexander Henry from stash for the back.

I love this Notorious line by Cotton and Steel for the binding.

This turned out to be an easy baby quilt and I love the heart pillows I made with the left over blocks even more.

I wish I could have both of these in two places at once so that I could show them at my lectures in Ashland next week and at the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild as samples for the November 4th workshop.

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:: Fractured Hearts Pillows ::

September 19, 2017 By Katie 6 Comments

I don’t know what it is about these crazy pieced blocks I call Split Personality, but I’ve got to say they’re nothing short of addictive. In talking with a few students in Saturday’s workshop, I’ve realized I’m not alone in this addiction. After learning the technique they’ve created more than a few sets and let them marinate on their design walls until the perfect quilt design idea came to them for their placement.

I had some left over blocks from my Split Crumbs Quilt top, so I placed them into one of my favorite shapes, the heart. I used the improvisational stitch and flip triangle technique we teach in Quilting Modern for the tops of the heart, and a good ole half square triangle for the bottom.

I’ve been wanting to play with a binding/sashing for pillows, but will have to start teaching myself another zipper or closing technique besides an invisible zip.

The variegated thread stitched up a lovely line. I was thinking a grid, but it didn’t need it.

In the Studio’s evening Open Studio for September and October we’ll focus on installing an invisible zipper into a pillow. I know it sounds complicated and scary, but I actually know 12- year olds that do it without calling their mommy and trust me, making pillows is addictive in a good way. You are welcome to bring any project though.

Of course if you don’t need the hand holding, but just a good tutorial for installing your own at home you can check my invisible zipper pillow tutorial out here.

The Seattle Modern Quilt Guild will be hosting me to teach the Split Personality Quilt Block November 4th. They’ll open up the workshop here soon, so save the date! Not sure but there might be some spots left at Quiltcon too.

Happy Week Peeps:)

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5th Annual Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival

August 1, 2017 By Katie 2 Comments

It’s that time of year again to start thinking about what to enter into my favorite quilt show.

I’m hoping to finish quilting up my Split Crumbs Quilt top this morning for the show to add along with my Hearts Value Quilt. This is a non-judged show and a great way to spend the day and show off your quilts.

Check out the link below to find out more!

Saturday, September 9, 2017

ENTER A QUILT NOW

Bainbridge Quilt Festival is a non-juried, non-judged celebration of quilts open to all quilters. Quilts are displayed outdoors along Winslow Way watched over by our many volunteers. Guidelines and entry forms are online at BainbridgeQuiltFestival.com

Deliver: September 8

Pick up: Day of Festival or by arrangement

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS

Dance Steps pieced by members of Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild. Quilting by Gladys Schulz. 54 X 66

Just $2 a ticket. Tickets at Esther’s Fabrics, July 4th booth, and first Friday ArtWalks Drawing at 4 on Festival day. You do not need to be present to win.

ENJOY FESTIVAL DAY

View amazing quilts hung outdoors along Winslow Way
Win a quilt.
Vote for your favorite quilt.
Sew blocks for American Hero quilts.
Buy a quilt.
Watch a demo by BARN fiber artists.
Enjoy the Farmer’s Market and shops along Winslow Way.

Bainbridge Quilt Festival is presented by Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild a local affiliate of the nation Modern Quilt Guild. The Guild is a non-profit formed to develop and encourage the art of modern quilting. BIMQG supports quilters and other fiber artists interested in non-traditional quilting projects and offers educational opportunities through workshops and sharing of information. We also provide opportunity for works that give back to the community through the use of modern

Hearts Value Quilt

June 19, 2017 By Katie 10 Comments

I took my finished Heart Value quilt along on retreat. I like to have a quilt with me as a little reminder of home and knew I would have some helpers for photos. I think it was the only time I ventured outside and away from my sewing machine.

This is definitely the largest quilt I’ve ever quilted on the studio’s Berninas. It’s a little shy in width to a King. One of my Facebook readers asked when quilting if I go north to south, and then turn to go south to north? This quilt was too large to continually turn, so I just worked my way out from the middle. I started with a vertical quilting line ½” from the seams and then went back to fill in. It was the first time I’ve used the stitch in the ditch foot that came with my Bernina’s walking foot to tack down the seams. It turned out perfectly.

Oh, all that lovely color.

I combed through my stash to find just the right fabrics for each heart. Again a perfect sample of archiving all your lovely fabrics in one quilt. No matchy-matchy required.

I lack in low volumes except for an insane amount of light pink.

:: Spilt Crumbs Quilt Top ::

June 12, 2017 By Katie 9 Comments

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I take organization to a serious level. So I was teased for showing up to retreat with two cart loads and no real project plan. Clothes are easy to pack for this type of vacation, but my time management for planning projects just didn’t exist.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | No Foul Quilt

Along with a lot of other random stuff, into the car went some blocks a few of my lovely students and I created last month. They helped me test drive a crazy piecing technique I call Split Personality as a three hour workshop at Quiltcon. It’s an easy technique that creates multiple blocks with ‘crumbs’ of each fabric in all sorts of fun linear shapes.

I’ll be teaching this block as a full day workshop in the studio this month.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

I started with the blocks we had made in colors I honestly didn’t like much together. I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by cutting them up. If I didn’t like what was happening I’d trash them and move onto the next set.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Crumb Quilt

I loved what happened.

I aimed for an easy design. Nearly everyone with some quilting experience has trimmed many a half square triangle, so merging one with the crazy piecing seemed ideal as a sample. Some time with the design wall led to this layout.

I love to have loads of examples of how to use a technique and/or block and students appreciate the inspiration, so I played with one of my favorite shapes that utilizes half square triangles AND improv stitch and flip triangles with the Split Personality blocks with my leftovers.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

I think these will be pillows, just have to decide whether they need sashing, piping or another colorful background. Stay tuned, I have 3 more sets of these blocks in a range of color ways left.

SEW KATIE DID | Weekend Retreat

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

As far as sewing at retreat, here’s what I walked away with. I find with the studio I don’t have as much time to sew and even though I needed to stick with making samples, I was also much more relaxed and organized on my walk out;) It might have been the inspiration, awesome company, good sleep or the margaritas…really doesn’t matter.

I highly recommend retreats.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

I’m pretty much smitten with this block. I love that you could fit it into just about any improv or traditional quilt design as a ‘made’ fabric. It just seems now that I find inspirational quilt designs I want to put it into everywhere.

I’ve got a weekend and weekday workshop on the studio schedule for this block.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

And Seattle’s got nothing but clouds in our future this week, so I’ve picked out a backing and am ready for some quality quilting time if I pay my time management cards right;)

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio And of course there’s Quiltcon. I’ve never been to Pasadena, so if anyone has some hot tips they’re willing to share about eating & where the best margarita is I’m all ears.

Happy making Peeps;)

Check out other quilts made with the Split Personality block:

My Blog

:: Going Circular Quilt ::

:: Quilter’s Pressing Station Cover ::

:: Spring Has Sprung ::

Destash

New Year, New Techniques

Shortest Day of the Year

Collecting Spook II

:: Split Crumbs Quilt Top ::

:: Fractured Hearts Pillows ::

5th Annual Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival

Hearts Value Quilt

:: Spilt Crumbs Quilt Top ::

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