SewKatieDid

Because thread is the best glue

invisible zipper

::Modern Quilting Everywhere::

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First I found the modern block of the month that Handmade by Alissa is doing over at Sew Mama Sew.

July’s block finally gave me a mission for my Flea Market Fancy.

I always wanted to make a simple charm quilt out of it (which I cut for too), but this block seemed fitting.

So guess what I finally did?

That’s right, chopped it all up.  Eekkk…it was a little scary, but the reality is there will always be more fabric I want and this has been sitting for…oh about 7 years.

The quilt will likely loose its modern edge with the more country feel of the line, but I thought that might make it stand out from what others make.

I just need a background color now.  Suggestions?  I was thinking Kona Pond or Ice Frappe for a fresh, but more traditional look.

I’ve been trying to design a quilt based on this above and wasn’t getting results so the timing couldn’t be better.

Deciding on a layout adds to the fun.

On the same day Alissa Haight Carlton and Kirsten Lejiniek’s book Block Party landed on my doorstep.

And then my life became an info commercial, “but wait there’s more!”

I received this mail virtually from the Modern Quilt Guild.

Hop over and check out the guidelines for submissions.

Truthfully, the timing of all this couldn’t be better.  I’ve been feeling rather uninspired lately, struggling with anything coming together on my own.

Well, sometimes you just need a little juice from others to get you moving.

Last night in my improv triangle class the juice kicked in and I came up with an idea.  This morning I did some mock up blocks and think I figured out how to make the vision a reality.  So I think, yeah, I have a potential submission.

Are you joining in?

::HST LOVE Done::

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I’m so in LOVE with this quilt.  Perfect for my half-square triangle class and value class coming up in a couple weeks.

One of my favorite quilts E-V-E-R for sure.  Maybe a hair behind Split Decision.

I did remove some of my first quilting and went with horizontal lines at 1.25″ apart.

It really allows the design to shine.  And while we are on the subject of design, I’ve been asked about the layout for this quilt.  There was no plan, seriously.  Make your half-square-triangles and then put them up on the design wall.  Don’t over think it.

However, if you want to play with value you could come up with some stellar designs.

I think I’ve found my go-to wedding gift for sure and already have a bevy of color combos nestled on my pin-board.

I was happy I used the Lush print for the back, it added a softness that can disappear with denser line quilting.  I finished it off with binding made from the same purple shot cotton that forms some of the triangles on the front.

Pretty plain Jane and pretty pretty.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.   Don’t spend all your money on fabric sales.

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destash

quilting and sewing classes

Birthday Boys

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Brothers, and still young enough to be gifted a pillow, maybe even love it.

That little robot kills me.  He’s so stinkin’ cute.

On the flip side of the pillow, celebrating the 4th revolution around the sun.  I went with some corduroy that I’ve had around and never use.  This one I finished with an invisible zipper (I just redid my tutorial).

I popped this out of print Alexander Henry into my destash with some coordinates for making a pillow too.

For older brother, robots as well.  This print is flannel and I wish I had bought enough for a quilt back, just got scraps.

Big Boys dream in robot too.  Happy 6th revolution…

spinning on this lovely home.

Many smiles to you this year.

I know your Momma will like them too, because she gifted me some of the fabric.

I’m try to fit in some quilting today.

Happy Saturday!

::hst love::

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I wanted to diverge from the traditional half square triangle with one solid and one print for my half square triangle class.

Ara Jane  came along to guild with her hst quilt and I was hooked.

On my last trip to the island I stacked some bolts at Pink Chalk Fabrics.  Most are Kona with one shot cotton thrown in.  Purples, teal, light blue, light green, gray and white.  They play off one another perfectly.

If you are in the market for solids, Kathy Mack is my one stop shop.

I also scored this Lush for backing at half off.

After consulting my quilting expert (hee hee) I have a quilting plan.

I mopped and scheduled in some back/knee injury time,

also known as basting.

After removing the table from the kitchen for the process I’m also realizing that I need to schedule some repaint the baseboards and sew new curtains to replace those that are beyond faded.

One task will go on the honey-do list and the other will give me an excuse to buy fabric.

I hope I love the quilting as much as I adore the top!

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destash

classes

::FaceLift::

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Our couch and my Add Zip to Your Pillow Invisible Zipper Tutorial both needed a facelift.

I think installing an invisible zipper just got easier than it already was.

Now that my couch is happy, I’m off to mop and baste.

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Destash

::Cracked Ovals::

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We’re mastering curves in the second half of my improvisational patchwork class this week.  I thought I’d grease the wheel since it’s been a bit since I’ve created anything with a curve.

My friend Meagan was having a birthday and it lent itself the opportunity to create for someone that might possibly appreciate a handmade gift.  Zip pouches are perfect for bits of patchwork and using up those scraps of favorite fabrics.

This could be for scissors and other sewing tools to travel to guild or a home to sew.  I added some hex papers and hardware to make a curvy clutch.

Inside I used the cracked oval I didn’t like so much.

I have a few more quilts on the list and some class samples to finish up and then it might be time to play with some cracked ovals.  I envision some cute kids quilts.

The sun is shining here!

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out of print destash going on!

::Hers and His Pillows::

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I needed to make demonstration samples last week for my Add Zip to Your Pillow Class and Roan needed a birthday gift for a classmate.  Two birds, one stone…

For Sofia’s new pink bedroom.  Little girls seem to still appreciate the handmade.  Little boys, not so much.

Last time I tried to make a pillow for a boy gift Roan’s response was, “Oh, a pillow?!  Can’t we just buy a toy?!”  Add a whining tone to that.

Skip the gift wrap, that’s what all those selvedges are saved for.

And that two bird thing?  Roan needed a new pillow cover and I had just a bit of this Alexander Henry fabric left from the back of his quilt.  Still reminds me of the A-ha video.

My couch is still in need and I’m waiting patiently for this fabric to arrive.

In the meantime the floor was washed and this was basted.

Now, off I go, I have a date with a quilt and I’m happy to report the sun is shining in Seattle.

Happy Wednesday!

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p.s. In light of the past few days, I found this video on Ted is worth a watch.

::Zip Pouches and Needlebooks::

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I’m still on the list.  Two class sample value quilts to quilt before I can manage the Split Decision Quilt.  I’m going to need those basting pins.

I did diverge for a small project required for travel.

A needle case, pretty much using this tutorial by Sew She Sews.  Handy for Hexis that I never made it to.

Love covered buttons!

I’d been eyeing the safety pin fabric and really had no reason to purchase any, so I made up an excuse.

Have scissors, will travel.

Onto quilting!

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Improvisational Patchwork Piecing class on Thursday.

::Still on the List::

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I’m still on the list.  Two class sample value quilts to quilt before I can manage the Split Decision Quilt.  I’m going to need those basting pins.

I did diverge for a small project required for travel.

A needle case, pretty much using this tutorial by Sew She Sews.  Handy for Hexis that I never made it to.

Love covered buttons!

I’d been eyeing the safety pin fabric and really had no reason to purchase any, so I made up an excuse.

Have scissors, will travel.

Onto quilting!

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Improvisational Patchwork Piecing class on Thursday.

::Whole Cloth Quilt and Quilt Finishing Class::

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I’ve had this simple quilt sandwich basted and rolled up waiting for its addition of scraps and stitchin’ to make it into a ticker tape.  I got to thinking about our limited basting space in the class room and that a simple, modern AND most importantly small quilt could do the trick for teaching the basic threes to quilt finishing.

Stuff Three’s:

  • Quilt Top
  • Batting
  • Quilt Back

Do Three’s:

  • Baste
  • Quilt
  • Bind

The end result, this modern baby quilt!  We’ll cover the three’s in the class, and discuss what straight stitched quilting design to execute, plus centering and squaring a quilt and troubleshooting.

The design of the stitching is really seen from the solid front.  I think this is Kona Pond.  I straight stitched some gentle curves and left a space to straight stitch a third in.  I added a few lines of red.

 It’s bound in one of my favorite Cake Rock Beach dots.

And the backing is one of my stockpiled Alexander Henry Raindrop Stripe.


I think it will be a super fun class.

I’ve got Add Zip To Your Pillow class next Thursday if you need some new Spring flare.  I have my fabric all picked out.

::Wavy Gravy Whole Cloth Quilt::

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I’ve had this simple quilt sandwich basted and rolled up waiting for its addition of scraps and stitchin’ to make it into a ticker tape.  I got to thinking about our limited basting space in the class room and that a simple, modern AND most importantly small quilt could do the trick for teaching the basic threes to quilt finishing.

Stuff Three’s:

  • Quilt Top
  • Batting
  • Quilt Back

Do Three’s:

  • Baste
  • Quilt
  • Bind

The end result, this modern baby quilt!  We’ll cover the three’s in the class, and discuss what straight stitched quilting design to execute, plus centering and squaring a quilt and troubleshooting.

The design of the stitching is really seen from the solid front.  I think this is Kona Pond.  I straight stitched some gentle curves and left a space to straight stitch a third in.  I added a few lines of red.

 It’s bound in one of my favorite Cake Rock Beach dots.

And the backing is one of my stockpiled Alexander Henry Raindrop Stripe.


I think it will be a super fun class.

I’ve got Add Zip To Your Pillow class next Thursday if you need some new Spring flare.  I have my fabric all picked out.

::Zip It Up::

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This past week I’ve been working on getting samples done and Spring classes on the books.  I’ve made many a zip pouch and thought a class would be fun.

They make such great gifts that every sewist should know how to make a professional looking lined pouch.

I figured while I was at it, I would kill two birds with one stone and get the end of the year teacher gifts out of the way.

Last weekend digging through Kathy Mack’s scrap boxes at the Pink Chalk Studio I came up with the scraps to create these beauties!

The Lecien is a new favorite for sure and the trip to her studio inspired me to pull out the covered button bin.  Thanks Kathy!

Again, I dabbled in making Amy Butler’s Stash and Dash bags.  The pattern is just so finicky, or maybe it’s just me?

I actually took the large one apart and put it back together AGAIN before I was happy with it.  When using home decor they say, “no” to stabilizer, but I say, “yes.”

The set will go to my sister-in-law with Ethan and Ella’s quilts.

Off to sew.