pillows

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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:: 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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Half-Square-Triangle LOVE pillows

December 15, 2016 By Katie 18 Comments

Well the half-square-triangle left-overs from the patchwork box pouches I made a few weeks ago just kept getting moved around the studio, so I decided to take them with me to my monthly Seattle Quiltie Beeings get together so that I could get some pillow tops together for my step outs in December’s invisible zipper workshops.

Years ago they started out in this lovely layout (other color ways here). Sometimes random is the right answer to getting something done. So into a bag they went and I started drawing them out and piecing them into pairs as I did when I made the first HST LOVE quilt.

Finished off with invisible zippers. Tutorial for invisible zippers here.

I just love the mix of colors and textures. To finish it didn’t need anything beyond a grid of straight line quilting. I had a problem with skipped stitches that was so frustrating and something I haven’t dealt with before. I tried everything to eliminate the issue, but it remained unresolved. Considering the use these would get on the couch I spent a lot of time with my seam ripper.

There is no lack of soft couch lounging happening lately, so the addition is welcomed.

I’m doing my usual end of the year round up and can’t wrap my brain around how many unfinished projects are laying around here, so I’ve decided to dedicate making them all into some small projects for refining new skills. I’m sure there will be some quilts too.

I think I’ll say that this is the last post of the 2016 year:) Our family has a daily practice communicating what we are thankful for and of course this time of year it takes on even more meaning.

The other night I was beyond grateful to have a pile of warm quilts to stack on top of my family when our heating oil ran out. Considering some of the extremely disturbing humanitarian issues our world is facing I feel so lucky to live a life where heat is a a pile of quilts and a phone call away.

The privilege of being able to teach and share a utilitarian skill that involves artistic creation is honestly something I truly treasure.

Thanks for sharing that journey with me this year Peeps.

I wish you all peace, kindness, love AND craftiness in the new year.

New Tricked Additions In Pillow Form

October 15, 2016 By Katie 6 Comments

Seattle’s got Halloween kind of weather going on. We’re currently enjoying the light things up and warmth that electricity provides, but I have definitely put some thought into a list of backup chores for if it goes. My fabric shelves and scrap bins are due a serious clear out and that alone could easily eat a few days.

I’ve been joyfully moving stuff around all week. Decorations are up, and in their true place. Each year I love the hunt of a few well sought out additions, like these awesome lit pumpkins from Target for the top of my fridge.

And just like Christmas I allow myself a few new Halloween prints. Novelty print generally means pillows. You already know I’m seriously not lacking in pillows and nothing stops me from making more. I believe I’ve added five to the rotation this year for Halloween alone;). Last year my splurge was this zombie fabric by Riley Blake. A huge spiderweb pillow (more here) has become Roan’s perch when waiting for his morning carpool. Playing with this block ignited some new ideas.

Since it needed something matchie-matchie and I had left over test blocks I made a couple more.

These pillows I made last year are still my favorites. So in the Ghastlies print I made a couple long lumbars which are my favorite shape for comfortable couch lounging.

I generally buy the forms from Garnet Hill, though IKEA does carry a nice rectangle shape. They’re down-filled and puff out to the corners nicely. You don’t need tons of forms. Under Halloween lives the Christmas ones, and quite possibly another layer under that.

All have invisible zippers following my tutorial of course.

My favorite made addition of the year is the hanging candy bucket I created using this paper pieced pattern. I’ve collected a few new patterns for next year. There are so many more projects I’d like to do, but I think I might be considered borderline something at this point. I’ve been collecting them all on a Pinboard.

It’s probably time to think of a costume.

Happy week Peeps;)

Tricked Out with Spiderweb Quilt Blocks

August 29, 2016 By Katie 12 Comments

Up until this weekend we were creating by bright light in the studio, diffusing it with random yardage. It’s been quite a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for being with students and working out fall’s workshops. This morning we have a maritime layer of fog, and since all weather is apparently good quilting weather than it’s not so hard to talk about fall here in Seattle or even the end of summer. Plus we’ll get to wear boots.

So I have a fun pillow to share with you as my fall quilt block class sample, a very L-A-R-G-E pillow, made with very large blocks;)

I needed to just step away from the design wall and get to listing September and October’s Spiderweb Quilt Block Workshop. I allowed myself some play time this month and it led into one of those really nice work flows, so of course the new ideas for fall classes and pillows kept multiplying. Don’t think you’ve seen the last of Halloween from me.

I enjoy the learning and ideas that emerge when playing with a new geometric shape, and this traditional quilt block has been on my bucket list. I also had zombie fabric. I’m pretty sure Spiderweb quilt blocks and zombie fabric are like peas and carrots.

The block’s tight finished construction combined with the freedom of improvisationally cutting and piecing the strings made for a good technique mix. I’ll be exploring the shape of this block more in the future for sure.

I super-sized these blocks to a finished 36″ x 36″ pillow top. I don’t know why but all along I envisioned floor pillows to celebrate lounging, movies and popcorn that come with the season.

One pillow form would make a perfect dog or cat bed, but I overstuffed it with two of these huge pillow forms and it certainly is quite tuffet-like.

Straight-line grid quilting worked easy enough. I polished it off with an invisible zipper. Don’t be scared, this is a skill you can teach yourself with my invisible zipper tutorial or swing by an open studio to learn how with all the tools including a serger for a nice professional look inside and out.

And when you have extra blocks you make a lumbar pillow.

It never hurts to coordinate.

These were ridiculously fun to make since I have such a love for Halloween decor.

You can see all the Halloween pillows I’ve made and how I tricked out the house last year here.

Wishing you a happy, not haunting week Peeps;) Hope you get your creativity on.

| Spiderweb Quilt Block Workshop |

| Paper Piecing Workshop |

| Open Studios |

Christmas Flurry Pillows

December 17, 2015 By Katie 57 Comments

It pretty much started with this VANHAKAUPUNKI fabric Jefe bought me last year for Christmas.

I stretched it over the frame covering the other Marimekko for the season.

So what do you do with the leftovers?

Well duh.

And of course you need coordinates.

And as it happens the coordinates match the ones from last year:)

But with the endless rain here all I want to do is sew or sit on my pillows,

so I made some more for the family room too.

I finished up some more dopp kits and napkins that I’ll share next week, but I think that’s it for my #handmadechristmas this year. Here’s the link to my invisible zipper tutorial if you feel in the mood to make some holiday pillows yourself.

::GIVEAWAY::

Oh, and the fabric giveaway as promised are these lovely Christmas fabrics. No annoying follow me here and there stuff, just copy and paste a link to your favorite PATCHWORK or QUILTING handmade gift tutorial in your comment and you could win…

(2) large scraps Heather Ross Flannel
(1) FQ+ out of print Alexander Henry Merry Moderns large print
1/4 yard out of print Alexander Henry Merry Moderns small
(2) large scraps Cotton and Steel Candles
(1) FQ out of print Alexander Henry Birds
(1) FQ Folk lore print in grey

Good Luck!

New York Beauty Pillow

February 16, 2015 By Katie 25 Comments

Paper piecing workshop development and sample made, CHECK! And totally drool worthy if I don’t say so myself.

The Foundations of Paper Piecing Workshop is listed if you find yourself with some spare time on March 14th.

A New York Beauty block has been on the bucket list F-O-R-E-V-E-R.

I bought just enough new make me happy fabrics and combined them with some old to create a new to me color way. It seemed to just come together on the design wall so effortlessly. As usual it matches nothing in my house.

The white/creams I pulled from the scrap bins. There’s even some flannel in there.

It ended up that neither the shot cotton and the flannel on the front, nor the voile on the back created the headaches I imagined.

I crosshatched it in a lightly variegated lilac thread. This easy off the edge quilting design has the kind of impact makes me happy. Off course all quilting minds of Seattle that I saw last week were consulted;)

I almost put the voile back into the stash.

It’s one of those fabrics I have to force myself to cut into if I had curtains in mind five years ago. There’s still that hope of getting to that alive;) The decision was a good one, it pairs perfectly with the front.

If you’re headed to Quiltcon please go say hi to my quilts. There are two on exhibit and I just finished up this one here for display there in Island Quilter’s booth.

It will look a little bit more lively than it does it this taken at midnight photo.

This quilt thoroughly falls under the “it doesn’t have to be perfect to love it” category and I considered not sending it due to some obvious struggles I had quilting it, but then I reminded myself that perfection isn’t what it’s all about.

Happy week peeps. I hope it’s a good one;)

::Throwing Star Pillow::

February 2, 2015 By Katie 22 Comments

That leftovers thing happened again. Hexes turned into triangles, and now I have another shape to show as an example in my triangle workshop with a hexagon shape center to boot!

The stars turned out pretty wee by the time I cut them from the left over hexes.

The precision I’m pretty happy with, no paper piecing involved for those of you that asked, just 60 degree triangle piecing.

I floated them in Essex Linen.

These prints are favorites and deserved some limelight.

The diamond shape the quilting forms was simple enough to execute.

And it matches the pillows on my couch;)

Finished off with my Invisible Zipper Tutorial.

The weather couldn’t be any more perfect for quilting and if my child’s mood this morning is any indication of how most of Seattle is feeling today I think I’ll make the best of it and stay home to sew.

Chin up Seattle.

Happy Monday;)

Improv Patchwork Pillow Series

December 16, 2014 By Katie 16 Comments

sewkatiedid/modern patchwork workshop series II

sewkatiedid/modern patchwork block workshops series II

The first group that joined me in my modern patchwork series made it so fun and I enjoyed making the samples so much that I’ve decided to run it again in the new year AND I’ve added a second part to the series.The color combo is so wacked and I’m 100% smitten with it.

Each of these pillows I’ve made with techniques I love to use and teach. One of the things so enjoyable about quilting is figuring out new ways to do things and I’ve certainly learned some good tips to pass along with these.

Here goes (and if you were wait listed or unable to do all of the first session than you can also sign up via The Quilting Loft).

-Exploring Inside a Box-

Modern Patchwork Series II

Please sign up via The Quilting Loft’s site.

Take one session, or the whole series, to explore the merging of traditional and improvisational patchwork techniques, one block at a time. Katie Pedersen, author of Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts will guide you through the techniques and skills needed for each block, variations in block design, and the secondary designs multiple blocks create. While we’re at it, we’ll get friendly with our design wall, touch on color and value theory, and cover the advantages of constructing a block that is either precise in piecing, or more willy-nilly.

*Even if you are a seasoned quilter you can up your patchwork game by adding improvisational techniques to your knowledge base.

*Session I- To the Point Triangle Workshop- Thursday, January 22nd from 6-9pm Learn the proper techniques for cutting and piecing equilateral triangles to create sharp points and a design with the most impact. How design is affected by color value, scale of fabric and placement will be covered in this skill building workshop. All levels of sewists welcome. *Session II- Psychedelic Baby Block- Thursday, February 26th from 6-9pm This modern block workshop combines improvisational strip piecing and a traditional foundation paper piecing technique to create unique string blocks that are both chaotic and controlled. Once we’ve constructed some blocks we’ll cover color and value placement so that we can play with the block’s unlimited quilt/pillow design potential. *Session III- Improv Curves- Thursday, March 19th from 6-9pm Fear the curve no more with this no pinning, no templates and no stress approach to the curve. This session gives you the class time to master improvisational gradual curves to be later built into curved emeba blocks (See Emeba Workshop below). Free-handing improvisational curves are manageable even for beginners. *Session IV- Tipsy Amebas Block- Thursday, April 23rd from 6-9pm (An Improvisational curves workshop must be taken to sign up for Amebas (March 19th or April 21st to sign up for this workshop) Now that you’ve mastered improvisationally pieced curves without pinning a thing it’s time to move on to creating organic shapes. Watch your ameba multiply as we cover a chain piecing technique to make more than one at a time and follow up by learning how to bring your blocks together on the design wall without noticeable block construction. Hope to see you there!

Improvisational Quilting Techniques Pillow Series

December 16, 2014 By Katie 17 Comments

sewkatiedid/modern patchwork block workshops series II

Here goes (and if you were wait listed or unable to do all of the first session than you can also sign up via The Quilting Loft).

-Exploring Inside a Box-

Modern Patchwork Series II

Please sign up via The Quilting Loft’s site.

*Even if you are a seasoned quilter you can up your patchwork game by adding improvisational techniques to your knowledge base.

Psychedelic Baby Block Pillow

March 14, 2013 By Katie 8 Comments

It may be small, but it’s grand to finish something.

A little sample for my Psychedelic Baby Block Class at Make*Do*Mend. I’ve got two other samples up on the design wall surrounded by a million other things that I hope to get to. This list includes a Supernova quilt for next weeks class that will later be gifted to a new neighbor baby.

My next post should really be a compilation of all the UFOs around here.

Half way through the week!

Gifting Boys

March 2, 2013 By Katie 4 Comments

Upon the arrival of the bus, Roan and I use to have this routine. It started with a hug and a kiss, a high five and then a bump. and ended with waving until the bus turned the corner and we could no longer see one another. All upon the request of a sweet little boy.

With the blink of an eye he changed his tune and I had to adapt to his next growing-up stage. Now I get a kiss blown to me before anyone sees and a hug before we leave the backyard. I miss those moments when he would just reach up to hold my hand. Life’s bitter sweet like that and I’ll take what I can get.

If you catch them at the right age it’s not all about Legos and Star Wars or hiding affection bestowed upon your mother. You can still make them (or their mom really) something sweet and homemade to be loved for a bit.

Brother’s with birthdays very close together and just revolving around the sun for their sixth and fourth year are still of that age.

I made these two a little bit larger than normal to have a soft cosy feel.

Fourth’s closure is from my invisible zipper tutorial (Class Scheduled). I wanted the back to have as much surface design as the front.

I finished off Six with an envelope closure since I decided to apply the age detail to the front.

There are some other details added in if you look close.

I’ve had this corduroy for ages and finally pulled it into a project. In fact I’ve had all those fabrics for ages. It’s fun to dig around in the stash.

As usual I lined these with muslin and serged all the edges, perfect for the wash.

pillows

Collecting Spook II

:: Fractured Hearts Pillows ::

Half-Square-Triangle LOVE pillows

New Tricked Additions In Pillow Form

Tricked Out with Spiderweb Quilt Blocks

Christmas Flurry Pillows

New York Beauty Pillow

::Throwing Star Pillow::

Improv Patchwork Pillow Series

Improvisational Quilting Techniques Pillow Series

Psychedelic Baby Block Pillow

Gifting Boys

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