Because thread is the best glue
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!
Wanted: Seattle Quickbooks for Mac expert willing to trade for fabric or instruction!
I feel like I’m spinning my wheels here. I finally stepped up to getting Quickbooks. This led to upgrading my operating system which caused Word and other programs to be incompatible. It sadly doesn’t stop there…I seem to have something not quite right with my systems preferences, so my folders and documents won’t open and to boot, everything I created on Friday doesn’t exist. Insert deep breath here and acknowledge that Rome wasn’t build in a day. I wish I wasn’t such a neophyte when it comes to computers, but I’ve come a long way.
The drag is, I haven’t had an ounce of time to sew. The good news is classes are going well. I’m in catch-up mode to show you all what we’ve been doing since I myself have nothing.
Last weekend at Make*Do*Mend Studio we covered what you can do with the Double Trouble Block. It was fun to have the class filled with students from other classes plus a newbie.
A full class in itself is the best teaching tool because you have multiple fabric combinations that you didn’t pick out that create different looks.
Lights, darks, prints and solids all look different when laid out. The design layout that the students are drawn to give you more examples of what the block can do.
Petrina had completely revamped her design once she got home.
Allison changed up her fabrics last minute so she could include them all.
Noelle went all solids and for some reason I’m lacking a photo.
It was convenient to have Drygoods Designs right next door when the design needed something added.
And what’s a trip to a fabric shop without a purchase? Check out these beauties. I’m in love with this Cloud 9 and that Lizzy House Pearl Bracelet, well I want it in every color. On the bottom there, flannel! Already have a quilt that this will back.
Wish me luck with Quickbooks!
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::Seeing Value Workshop:: $85 Saturday, January 19th from 10am-4pm at the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio.
Learn how color value can transform your quilt making design process. Create multiple designs with your newfound knowledge of value and simple half square triangles. All levels of sewists welcome.
::Whole Cloth Quilt Finishing Class:: $85/Tuesdays, January 22nd and 29th at Make*Do*Mend in Ballard. Quilt top, batting, and a backing…baste, quilt, and bind! Learn the essential basics of finishing a quilt without piecing a thing! Create a simple crisp modern baby quilt while learning the process. Quilting designs with a walking foot will be a covered. Walking foot required.
What’s the difference between this quilt?
and this quilt?
Besides size and different fabrics, the answer is… placement. Both are made using what Jacquie and I call Magic Numbers in Quilting Modern. Three same size blocks are used throughout the design of the quilt.
Smitten Kitten will become a Magic Number class sample. The last time I taught this class the quilts were as unique as the people making them. Just like the Improv Coin Quilt class, everyone seems to throw in their own spin.
The quilting is the same orange peel design that I’ve used on my Mom’s quilt, Leftovers Quilt and on my cross quilt. Orange Peel is easily executed on the home machine or on the long arm.
Oh Fransson has a great tutorial on how to home machine it. I use a hera marker to draw a line through the center of blocks and help me stay visually on track.
Without a straight line of blocks to follow I went with the long arming this one.
Some Alexander Henry dot to finish of the binding and Anna Maria Horner sunshine flannel. I bought some more on sale to restock this favorite.
I’m loving this one! Yeah to a finish!
I’ve always LOVED my stocking. Each stocking my Grandmother made her grandchildren was unique, with our names of course. She was an talented knitter.
I love Santa’s nose, likely rosie from too much eggnog. His fuzzy beard made of Angora and the sequins sewn into his tree as ornaments. It is so heartwarming to know that he was preciously made with me in mind.
Roan has been so lucky to have a Great Grandmother craft a stocking especially for him as well.
G.G. passed away right after I took this photo a couple years back, so bringing it out every year now is special. Straight from the beach he looks so young (and great salty hair) in this photo.
Needlepoint this time. His name and a puff ball adorns the bear’s hat.
My handmade stocking always made me feel extra special and there were traditions you could count on, like a big navel orange and red delicious apple in the bottom.
This year I’m making a stocking for Jefe. His stocking made by his grandmother that made Roan’s somehow got lost in the shuffle. We have one knit and one needlepoint and I thought, why not patchwork? I think he’ll get beer and some bright flashy new lights for his bike commute in the morning.
The class sample was good practice, but I am going to go bigger with his. I’ll be able to see what others come up with tomorrow in class, it is always fun to see what fabrics inspired people and who they will be making their stocking for.
Roan always gets a star fruit, pomegranate and some chocolate coins. I would love to come up with some other unique items that can become part of the stocking tradition.
So my question is this, “What sticks in your memory and heart as your family’s traditional Christmas morning stocking stuffers?”
Can’t wait to hear!
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::Zip Pouch Class:: $45/ Saturday, December 1st from 10am-1pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard. (Combine with the Improv Strip-Pieced Oven Mitt class later in the day and receive both classes for $80).
Pouches make great gifts! Come learn the technical ins-and-outs of making one (or two) in this class before the gift giving season.
::Improv Strip-Pieced Oven Mitt or Christmas Stocking Class:: $45/Saturday, December 1st from 1:30-4:30pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.(Combine with the zip-pouch class earlier in the day and get both classes for $80).
Learn the improvisational technique of strip-piecing to design and construct a fully lined oven mitt or stocking. Great for gifts!
I taught the Psychedelic Baby Block class for the first time on Saturday. I learned a lot about the direction I would like to see this class go. In fact, I see a weekend workshop in the future! We’ll all be getting together in the new year for some further instruction as they grow their quilt.
Top of the list favorite when teaching is seeing the ‘fabric personalities’ of students as their projects evolve.
Michelle just went for it, stepping out to make some additional solids purchases to ground her Kaffe prints.
Sarah’s fabrics and colors matched what she was wearing.
Students provide great teaching examples through their individual fabric choices. I like to use their projects to help explain what happens when certain fabrics are chosen and how they can interact. Sarah’s was a good example of using tone on tone prints and/or small scale prints to provide the look of a solid.
My other Sarah has a fondness for Kona solids, so it was no surprise that she showed up with some lovely colors to choose from. I think she’ll be thrilled with the progression.
Cathy went all solids as well and had a palette chosen prior to the class.
I never got a good photo of Mary’s. Her colors were dark and saturated with a punch of hot pink that didn’t show up well in the photos. She was hoping to go home and place a coordinating print in the center.
When I returned home I had a copy of FabShop’s Webcents in my mailbox. Guess who was the featured teacher?! Teresa Coates crafted a great article.
Even though I feel a little weird about the large picture of me, the layout is awesome! There are also some articles featuring Keli of Drygoods Design and Monica of the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio.
For me today, the stocking sample for my Improv Strip Pieced Oven Mitt or Holiday Stocking Class.
Aliens and VWs, too weird for a Christmas stocking? Yes or no?
Happy Sunday! xo
I miss the sun. Today I could use some for sure.
So this is as close as it gets to a sunny day in these parts. The yard needs a mow, there’s morning glory everywhere and now the leaves are coming down, but truthfully, I don’t care. I’m content to ignore it all and stay inside to sew.
I picked Sunspots up from Krista’s and threw it in the wash this morning along with some other quilts I’ll be showing off here soon. Krista’s quilting just shrunk in so nicely!
We had fun deciding together what quilt designs should go where as we swilled beer. I can’t tell you how fun it is to work with a long-arm quilter that you adore.
I’m not sure what quilting element I like most, the swirls within the sun, the way the quilting in the background forms triangles, rectangles and squares,
or that little moon Krista quilted in.
Three awesome quilting elements make this quilt so fun. Krista’s amazing!
It looks rockin’ from the back too! So happy, don’t know what I’ll do with it.
Sunspots was inspired by Denyse Schmidt’s Crazy Star from her amazing book Modern Quilts Traditional Inspiration. I avoided the piecing on muslin and strip pieced instead. The final star is finished like a wonky star nine-patch block. I just didn’t want fussy or the same size points so this worked nicely for me.
I just dumped out my scrap bin that I use exclusively for strips for this one. Pulling oranges, reds, yellows and some browns. I never would have put brown in had it not been for DS’s inspiration. It makes so much sense to have that dark value of course.
Any one going to the Block Party Quilter’s show this weekend? I’m thinking of heading over on Friday.
Saturday I hopped an early morning ferry to teach at Island Quilter on Vashon Island. I felt so satisfied stitching away on the binding of my Rock Star Quilt during the sailing, knowing that all day I will be surrounded by fabric, creative juices and amazing artwork.
As usual, Anja of Island Quilter didn’t disappoint. This month for her exhibit of quilts she is featuring the artist Luke Haynes. They had just celebrated the exhibit’s opening the night before. I was sorry to have missed it.
From the moment I walked through the door I was wowed.
I’ve attended an exhibit of Luke’s before, but the Island Quilter exhibit space is just amazing for viewing quilts.
It certainly is a must see.
Both the students and I commented on how much we appreciate Island Quilter’s workshop space. Nothing like a large bright space with your own table and design wall to get the creative juices flowing.
I taught the Stitch and Flip triangle technique from Modern Quilting. I love it when I have a mix of students that are either in their element or attempting to jump outside their comfort level. We had a load of fun.
I left so refreshed that I instantly added some classes. We’re going to be doing a whole day of gift projects before the holidays and then some workshops in January.
And of course you know what happens when you find yourself in a fabric store right? I bought fabric! Ha ha.
Look what else I found on the shelves? Violet Craft’s fabric line Madrona Road.
I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the Modern Quilt Guild has launched its winter 2012 fabric challenge and we’ll be using Violet’s fabric line. I’m sure we’ll be needing more for binding and quilt backs and there are certainly some stash builders in this line. Love that crosshatch and the herringbone is a quilt design in itself.
I’m also totally smitten with this new Alexander Henry line and found it hard to walk away. Tucked in the maze of shelves here are out of print fabrics that you have drooled over online. There is one in particular that I’m not showing because I want it later for myself!
The whole day made me truly appreciate where I live and the people (and fabric) that surround me.
I’m off this morning to work on some samples blocks for my Psychedelic Baby Block workshop at the Quilting Loft. I’ve just been informed that a photo of the quilt will be in a magazine! I love this block, it is so versatile in design possibilities!
I don’t know if this time change thing has thrown you off, but I was up so early I could have escorted people home from the bar. Happy Monday!
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::Whole Cloth Quilt Finishing Class:: $85 Thursdays, November 15th and the 29th from 6-9 at The Quilting Loft.
Quilt top, batting, and a backing…baste, quilt, and bind! Learn the essential basics of finishing a quilt without piecing a thing! Create a simple crisp modern baby quilt while learning the process. Quilting designs with a walking foot will be a covered. Walking foot required.
::Psychedelic Baby Block Workshop:: $85 Saturday, November 17th from 10am-4pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.
We’ll create a unique block utalizing improvisational strip piecing techniques. Design wall time with your blocks will allow you to come up with a quilt design that suites you. All level of sewists welcome.
It finally dawned on me that if I waited for the sun to come out, photos might never be taken and the Whole Cloth Class sample never make it up at the shop. At some point I swear I’m going to learn how to use my camera more successfully.
I picked the Heather Ross up at Drygoods here in Seattle last month. The minute I saw it, the cheater print screamed, “whole cloth quilt!”
Keli instantly pointed out these flannels she had that were just the perfect match.Both the Heather Ross and the flannels washed as beautifully soft as she said they would.
I tried for some new examples of quilting with a walking foot which is part of the class’s technique/design focus.
I had yet to do a continuous circle and somewhat pulled it off. The first circle is the most difficult and I need to try out burying my threads, mostly because I am never pleased with stay-stitching or backstitching.
The citron quilt turned out ok. It’s sweet, but where I tried to quilt a design that left some spaces blank to look like blocks from the back it sagged. I had the same problem with the similar quilting on this one. Perhaps it is due to prewashing or just too much space.
I worked from stash for the bindings, using some older Lizzy House and Alexander Henry. Both turned out super cute and are finally up at the shop!
Hope you had a great Halloween!
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::Improvisational Stitch and Flip Triangle Workshop:: $85 Saturday, November 3rd from 10am-4pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island. All levels of sewists welcome.
An all day workshop to explore creating your own quilt designs utilizing stitch and flip triangles. We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique and construct blocks for your own quilt design. All level of sewists welcome. Quilting Modern Book required.
::Whole Cloth Quilt Finishing Class:: $85 Thursdays, November 15th and the 29th from 6-9 at The Quilting Loft.
Quilt top, batting, and a backing…baste, quilt, and bind! Learn the essential basics of finishing a quilt without piecing a thing! Create a simple crisp modern baby quilt while learning the process. Quilting designs with a walking foot will be a covered. Walking foot required.
I can’t be at market until spring, but my quilt Opposing Triangles is currently on exhibit at the festival for me. Hoping someone out there snaps a photo for me Thanks Jacquie, you’re the best!
Quilting Modern (Interweave,2012) by Katie Pedersen and Jacquie Gering. Photo by Joe Hancock.
So the toss-up was between Supernova and Blind Co-Pilot. Both are made using the stitch and flip triangle technique in our book Quilting Modern. Supernova was donated to an auction, but Blind Co-pilot has become a staple at home and a class sample for the technique. It is a simple, but whimsical quilt.
How about a little history on Blind Co-Pilot? The name of the quilt came before the actual quilt. Jacquie and I had just met in person for the first time. She came to Seattle and we of course went fabric shopping. Place of choice? Pink Chalk Fabrics to meet the wonderful Kathy Mack.
As we were making our way we stopped for some goodies, upon leaving the parking lot I asked my co-pilot which way we should go next. Jacquie couldn’t find her glasses to read the directions and I exclaimed something along the lines of, “Great, Blind Co-Pilot!”
It either had to be the name of a band or a quilt. Dang I miss her looking at this photo.
The background fabric we used is Carolina Chambray. If you ever discover some in your fabric buying adventures, I recommend picking up the whole bolt. Chambray adds great texture and dimension.
The triangles are created with the smallest of scraps in color groupings. I love any quilt that eats scraps. It provides an opportunity to glance one last time at those beloved fabrics. There are 222 triangles in Blind Co-Pilot to be exact.
The quilting is a simple crosshatch. Easy enough on the home machine.
I’m teaching a Stitch and Flip Triangle Workshop this coming weekend and am pretty excited to see what new designs people come up with. I’ll be filling my trunk with scraps.
If you want to see a collection of stitch and flip triangle designs, you can check out my Quilting Modern Pinterest Board for inspiration.
If you need some quilting inspiration, then go ahead and click the button above and our hostess Amy will have the collection there.
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::Modern Charm Quilt:: $85/Thursday November 1st and 8th from 6-9pm at the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio. Proper technique is the foundation of any quilt. Come learn how to pick and properly cut fabric, match seams and rows and come up with a square quilt in the end. A great class for all levels of sewists looking to improve technique.
::Improvisational Stitch and Flip Triangle Workshop:: $85 Saturday, November 3rd from 10am-4pm at Island Quilter on Vashon Island. All levels of sewists welcome.
An all day workshop to explore creating your own quilt designs utilizing stitch and flip triangles. We’ll cover this improvisational patchwork technique and construct blocks for your own quilt design. All level of sewists welcome. Quilting Modern Book required.
Value (the relative lightness or darkness of a color) is used in EVERY quilt, though not always successfully. You can play around all you want with color schemes (analogous, complementary…), and color temperature (warm and cool), but value is still going to be what you need to create design.
I wanted to play with value in a scrappy way that was different from my half-square-triangle Value Quilt Tutorial and thought of stitch and flip triangles as an easy place to start. The technique is one of my favorite in Quilting Modern.
Overall this quilt’s values ended up being very medium to light. The contrast created by the values was in no way extreme. The values created a softer, mellower look.
There are some places in this quilt where there isn’t enough value contrast. Giving myself some distance from the quilt would have been helpful to see that.
In the end though, I can embrace those learning mistakes and see that this quilt is perfect for a baby. And that little yellow rosebud fabric in there…I had those sheets as a kid.
This quilt also made me take a look at my overall stash building. Lights, I am deficient on lights. We all know how to take care of that little problem don’t we?
This little Value Quilt was thrown on the long-arm when I visited Sandie last week to quilt my Modern Charm Squared Quilts. The spiraling pattern was challenging to trace smoothly from the paper pattern I followed.
Sandie told me something she had heard that stuck in my head. “It doesn’t have to be a perfect line, just a pretty line.” All washed and crinkled, be it so.
The backing is from the stash. An older Alexander Henry that is just like sunshine.
The binding, a Cloud 9 flannel that I got from Drygoods here in Seattle.
This Value Quilt has already found a great home. Those babies keep coming.
I’ve now made about a million of these hst with stitch and flip triangles which I call double trouble. I’m not very enthusiastic about them up on the design wall, so I have some create thinking to do this week.
Happy Sunday!
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::Half-Square Triangle Class:: $85/Saturday October 27th from 10am to 4pm at the West Seattle Stitch and Sew Studio.
This versatile quilt block lends itself to endless designs. We’ll cover quilting basics such as picking fabrics, matching seams and create perfect points. We’ll play with a layout that suites your style and you’ll walk away with ideas for a multitude of quilts. All level of sewists welcome.
Ever get inspired by a quilt and it sticks with you?
This quilt by Amy of Badskirt did just that. So simple in design, but I love (and had) most of the fabrics. Just needed enough substituted and added to call it my own.
And while you are bothering to cut fabrics, why not just make two quilts, eh?
I will not lie, it took me a load of fabric elimination to come up with the boy one. The girl combo came much easier. My pile of toss out squares grew and are now destine for a scrappy charm quilt all their own at a later date.
I think sometimes I am so anxious to move onto the next new idea in my head that I cast aside the simple love of a square. My Modern Charm Class gave me the perfect excuse.
I needed these both as class samples soon and made a visit to my friend Sandie’s for a date with her and her long-arm. We originally planned on placing them side-by-side so I could quilt both at once, but decided they each needed their own quilted personality.
The girl one got what I call “happy clouds.”
The boy got a spiraling circle.
You can see the quilting a little better from the back. I pieced in some leftover squares to bring the backs to the square size.
The bindings are divine. I love to cut into something waiting patiently in my stash.
The only fabric I was in need of was a few squares of the pink vans, so I called in to one of my peeps. Thanks Amber for the vans, but mostly it was really fun to finally meet you! xo
Happy week!
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::Whole Cloth Quilt Finishing Class:: $85 Thursdays, October 18th and the 25th from 6-9 at the West Seattle Fabric Company.
Quilt top, batting, and a backing…baste, quilt, and bind! Learn the essential basics of finishing a quilt without piecing a thing! Create a simple crisp modern baby quilt while learning the process. Quilting designs with a walking foot will be a covered. Walking foot required.
What happens when you start piecing stitch and flip triangles and squares into a 16-patch?
Well, a star is born! In Seattle it is not uncommon to see just a lone star or two in the sky.
The squares in this quilt are scrappy and a bunch are leftovers from the Blind Copilot Quilt in our book Quilting Modern (which is available again btw)!
I love that you can use up the smallest bits of fabric and that I have another sample for my Stitch and Flip Triangle Workshop in November. You can see a few other great examples of this block in the Quilting Modern Flickr Group.
Krista Wither’s did the quilting. We collaborated on the design. I wanted something that would help define the large triangles that formed the star since they were a little off-set.
The background quilting needed to be a bit denser to advance the star and we went with this shape. It worked out fabulously in my opinion!
Now I can stare at all those little scraps when we read at night. I’m not much of a wall hanging gal, but if Roan had a larger room this might be up.
I love this Lizzy House print on the back.
After messing around as usual with the back, I went with one lone wonky star and showcased some favorite fabrics in the points.
This quilt will be on display as part on Krista’s exhibit at Island Quilter that opens on Friday night. Hope to see you there!
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::Improvisational Elongated Triangle Blocks:: $45 Thursday October 4th from 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.
Create an edgy block of triangles with this simple improvisational technique. Follow up with an invisible zipper class or create your own quilt. All levels of sewists welcome.
::Invisible Zipper Class:: $45/ Thursday, October 11th from 6-9pm at the Quilting Loft in Ballard.
Installing invisible zippers if easier than you think. Come learn how to make professional looking pillows, you’ll be hooked! All levels of sewists welcome.