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magic numbers

:: 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

Garden Plot Magic Numbers Quilt

March 1, 2016 By Katie

Theses squares just reminded me of garden plots.  This quilt’s four blocks were constructed using a method I call Magic Numbers.  There’s really nothing magic about them, Magic Numbers is a system of using block sizes that automatically fit together for flexibility in design without alteration. That’s right, all tidy;)

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot Magic Number quilt quarter

It’s a great method if you want to hone your skills at designing your own quilts, pattern free, but aren’t quite ready to free piece it or figure out the math. It’s great for bringing improvisational pieced blocks together or for adding texture into a background with added seams instead of just one big block of fabric.

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot magic number quilt corner

The quilting is my standard run-off straight lines, a quarter inch from each side of the seams.  I used painters tape as my guide for quilting the lines into the wide purple sashing.  I could have used Magic Number blocks instead of sashing if I needed more texture, but I think the blocks held their own.

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot Magic Number Quilt Close

I’m stilling piecing backs from stash.  This improvisational back falls in line with my creative quilt backs post on building out on the design wall.  Most of these fabrics are flannel, with a little hit of some quilting fabric and linen blend.

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot magic number quilt back

I branched out and played with an uplifting and happy thread color.  As I was filling the bobbin with the orange, I became suspect about whether I would like the effect it would have on the fairly neutral back.  In the finish the vibrant color added another level of texture to the back that a blended color wouldn’t have.  What a happy surprise:)

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot Quilt side

The color way is crazy good and bold.

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot Magic Number Quilt Binding

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Quilt Magic Number Quilt Binding edge

I generally don’t pick binding out until the quilting is done, but as I was putting this fabric back into the stash it came to mind it might work and that’s how it came to be.  There’s not a lick of it in the quilt itself.

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot Magic Number Quilt detail

This is a real simple quilt.  Anyone can quilt using this formula;)  Seriously the hardest thing would be picking the fabrics or you could forget about that and just go scrappy.  I’ve now made several quilts using the Magic Numbers method and each has a unique look.

SEW KATIE DID:Garden Plot Magic Number Quilt Full

Here’s some other examples of Magic Number quilts I’ve created.   You can see more about this scrappy one here.

SEW KATIE DID:Scrappy Sunshine Magic Number quilt block tutorial

  This one below is a great example of bringing the background fabric into the piecing to give the quilt’s blocks a floating deconstructed look.  More about this quilt here.

SEW KATIE DID:Smitten Kitten Magic Number Quilt Tutorial

I think it’s fun to play with how different each design can be.

Instead of offering this as a workshop I’m providing instruction for this method in Open Studios where we can merge some projects like box pouches and invisible zipper pillows.  Really any project can be adapted.  Simply respond if you’d like to schedule.

Happy week Peeps!

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Filed Under: magic numbers, Modern Quilts, Uncategorized

::Enter Sunshine::

November 25, 2011 By Katie

Scrappy Sunshine could not have finished up at a better time.  We’ve had days and days of steady rain in Seattle and some rays of sunshine were definitely needed.

I made it using Magic Numbers.

I’ve had it on the bed for about a week and the weight with the flannel on the back is perfect.  I keep thinking I’ll have a moment to spread it outside, but I’ll have to wait until this storm works its way through the Sound.

This morning we sat under it reading and I had the thought that it was time to share it.

This quilting wouldn’t have been possible with out the help of my dear friend Sandie and her generously offering her time and long arm to quilt it.  We went with the Baptist Fan, which to me looks like a rainbow and fit into the whole theme of the quilt.

When it came to a decision on the binding, I decided to just not decide.  I went scrappy.  The back is purely Anna Maria Horner’s folksy flannel in this diamond yellow with the exception of the Roanism of “can we cuddle?”

This quilt is unusual in that it really isn’t my taste.  I’m not even really sure if it fits into my home or bedroom for that matter, but it has grown on me.  As we were quilting it and each row would puff up, it was pure love.  Folded down at the end of the bed it is perfect, but I still want a king size value quilt for the end of the bed.  I never seem to tire of making them.

Next week I’ll head to the laundry mat with it for a wash.  I don’t think this would come close to fitting in my machine and it needs a run through.  Maybe by then I can hang it out for a full photo.

I’m placing the binding on my Leftovers Quilt tonight and then it’s time to move onto something more improvisational.  My mode of operation has some rhythm finally and working between improvisational and traditional quilting seems to keep me inspired.

My Anything Goes Quilt is back up on the design wall and after its fourth transformation (and visit with the seam ripper) it finally has a lay out that works (I think).  Two more blocks and some paneling should complete it before I agonize over how to quilt it.

I hope you all had a day surrounded with those you love.  I sure did.

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Filed Under: Improvisational Quilting Classes, magic numbers, modern quilt, Modern Quilting, Modern Quilts, seattle quilting, seattle sewing

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:: Throwing Stars Quilt ::

Garden Plot Magic Numbers Quilt

::Enter Sunshine::

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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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