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Because thread is the best glue

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:: Dialed In Quilt ::

November 20, 2020 By Katie

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Spinning Webs Quilt

You know fall has arrived in Seattle when you more than occasionally face plant into spider webs. Considering its seasonal theme, I thought it time appropriate to finish up this quilt. I think it was going on its 6th year unquilted.

Obviously, I missed the seasonal window for posting it;)

How to quilt it was the problem, I just couldn’t decide. I thought about starting in the middle, echoing the octagons/spiderweb shape with angled straight lines, but that would be a lot of turning and I’m a lazy quilter. If I can run my quilting off the edge I do.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Spinning Webs Quilt

Finally getting some lines of quilting in was like shooting a current through it. It just made it come to life. Without a seam to readjust, I wasn’t completely sure how the measuring of the “V’ing” lines would turn out. It’s pretty easy to have the quilting get pretty wonk by the time you get to the outside edge when using this design.

I was super thrilled, it was no hassle at all.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Spinning Webs Quilt

I’m not a fan of the feel of a faced binding, but quilt needed one. I wish I would have had more of the yarn dyed Essex from the front. It would have framed the backing fabric a bit better, but we’re working with what we have here.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Spinning Webs Quilt

I’ll definitely be offering this block as an improv workshop starting in the studio when the world returns to right side up. It already has its person, they just haven’t been created yet.

I planned on getting a post of this quilt up by Halloween and can’t remember if the weather was good, so I was outside gardening, or if it was bad, so I was cooking and baking, I’ll use both as an excuse.

When you see these photos you’d think all I do is bake, but trust me, I share with my neighbors.

For Halloween and Day of the Dead I made pies and improv paper cut some stencils to decorate them.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Sewing & Quilting Studio | Spinning Webs Quilt

The pumpkin was just ok. From can, pre-made crust, mixed with a physics lesson reminder that powdered sugar melts into anything with moisture. Way better presentation on a flourless chocolate cake.

I hadn’t made a cream pie in about 20 years, so in March I decided it was time. Banana cream is my favorite, though I’ll take a chocolate or a coconut with zero complaint. I’ve tried all the variations my cookbooks have to offer, but I faze back to the recipe in Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. Cocoa powder works great for these stencil designs and of course what is better with bananas than chocolate?

With a round of over-ripe bananas I tried the NYT’s Nutella Banana bread. I think I’ve found my forever banana bread recipe. I’d just make it next time with chocolate chips and avoid the palm oil ingredient in Nutella.

I also found my forever recipe for oatmeal fudge bars. There was a box mix we loved as kids called Fudge Jumbles. This recipe is probably better than my 13 year-old brain remembers.

I’m usually reminded it’s time to bake of batch of almond kiss cookies when I see the kisses all wrapped in their holiday outfits. I don’t see many cookies in my near future since our kitchen is still in glamping stage. I’m baking about 5 at a time in a little convection oven , but If I’m going to make a cookie I make these.

Of course I’ve made a bunch of savory food, it’s just not as exciting to photograph. I have perfected my hot and sour soup and chicken pho during all this craziness.

I still have blooms happening in the yard though I’m largely in ignore stage now.

My cosmos from seed were really late to bloom and have been hanging strong ever since.

The snails love to eat the tips of these.

Last Friday the weather report for the unforeseen future looked solid for zero time socializing outside, so we took advantage of the last night, pack up some blankets, made some walk-tails and headed over to our friends for happy hour and a fire.

Roan and I finally wore Jefe down and we adopted this sweet little mutt to mix things up and keep us on the up and up. We now have a Jefe and a Boss in the house.

He’s already got his own quilt.

Lastly, Clark County Quilters is holding their annual quilt festival online starting today, so go check them out. I had planned on joining them as the featured quilter this year. I always enjoy the teaching, but was looking forward to a walk and talk of my quilts. I thought it sounded like a fun approach that I hadn’t done before. They will still be displaying quilts virtually and I’m guessing with all of us spending more time at home it should be quite a show.

I’ve got some tips on how I quilt a king size quilt on my domestic next time. I hope you’re finding joy in the things that keep you busy too;)

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Filed Under: finished quilts, Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilts, My Blog, Uncategorized

:: Reoriented Quilt ::

September 24, 2020 By Katie

It was on a whim, but we ran away to the Oregon coast at the end of August. For a whole weekend we were able to blank out 2020’s deluge of crap. Adding fires and the death of RBG to the mix dropped the year to one star for me. I feel this quote from Ironman sums up the break we all need, “Sorry, Earth is closed today.”

It’s all overwhelming and hard to process.

The good news, or the bad news depending how you look at it is none of us are unicorns. COVID has changed EVERYTHING FOR ALL OF US. I’m leaning hard on my friends and family, beyond grateful for what I have, and still embracing my mental health strategy of dealing by keeping on with celebrating the small wins.

Like binding a quilt that’s been around for years AND actually getting photos of it.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

So as to not waste all that precious van time for hand sewing, I made it a priority to add binding to two quilts before hitting the road. This in itself is a feat since the studio hasn’t held my attention in months.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

Reoriented is one of those quilts I might have looked at in the early days of the word ‘modern’ being put in front of everything, including quilting, and thought someone pretty quickly got sick of making blocks and just decided to fill the rest with ‘negative space,’ but I’ve gotta say I actually like it.

I ran out of the shot cotton I was using to surround the blocks and expanded and filled in with a yarn dyed Essex linen. I like the effect it created through all that negative space.

The blocks are a smaller version of how I teach my improvisational strip piecing workshop. My mom taught me how to do my binding corners a bit differently and if you’re interested I have a little tutorial on that here.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

I can’t help but think that during our time in Manzanita things seemed kind of… well… normal. Reflecting on this photo from the perspective of a quilt maker reminds me that I love how quilts can place us in certain time/events of our lives.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

I’m still pulling fabric for quilt backs from stash. Even though I’ve been bulldozing through stash for them for years it doesn’t seem to be creating a hole or dent.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

This quilt got an all over of vertical straight lines.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

I finally bought a raised lap hoop. I haven’t gotten beyond placing the quilt in it and I’m not sure I’m so impressed with it for the cost. I’ll let ya know. I also have no idea what design I’ll be quilting yet;)

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Reoriented Quilt

And actually a quilt finish really is a BIG win;)

We have a saying we use in our house from rafting days, “Take part in your own rescue.” Please, if you need help reach out to your people, talk to yourself like you would talk to those you love, celebrate your small wins, wear your mask (over your nose please), and check your voter’s registration here 🙂 In some states you only have two more weeks to make sure you’re registered, so today’s the day.

xoxo Katie

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilting, Modern Quilts, Uncategorized

:: Wee Raindrops Quilt ::

September 9, 2020 By Katie

Though I never met a boot I didn’t like, I’m not somebody that craves fall. When people point out a wink of it at the end of August I jokingly tell them to shut up. September seems like this sweet spot in between, but things can really go either way in Seattle.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Turning my attention back to the studio/office/school room and mentally embracing the grey and rain is something I’ve begun planning for by taking inventory of some hand sewing I’d like to do.

The Wee Raindrops quilt resurfaced. It was quilted and bound over 8 years ago, just missing its appliqué raindrops that had lived in my imagination long enough. Seemed an appropriate quilt to slowly start my adaptation.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

It has a new home waiting for its person and the cooler weather to arrive. Perfect timing for all that lovely flannel on the back and binding.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

One of the first quilty skills my mom taught me was how she creates appliqués making templates and that same technique is how I created the raindrops.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

I started by freehand drawing and cutting the raindrop shape on a cereal box in a few sizes (or find the shape and print from the internet) An emery board for nails should smooth out any edginess to the curve.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Pick a scrap.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

I go for one that’s at least a 1/4″ larger than my template.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Trace the template onto the wrong side of the scrap and trim a 1/4ish” from the line.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Starting at the bottom of the curve stitch just outside the drawn line with short stitches leaving a tail of thread at the beginning and end.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Pull the two tails to shape the fabric tightly around the template. At the raindrop’s point I sometimes clip a little of the extra bulk out or just fold one side over the other. Get your iron hot and if you have some starch give it a spray front and back.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt
sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Press and let cool. Once cooled I carefully pull the template out and place it face down on the ironing board to give it a final press from the front or clean up any issues.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

From here I choose their placement and ladder stitched (invisible stitch, slip stitch, blind stitch) them down. Youtube has a worm hole of videos on this.

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

My thinking was that any free-motion quilting that wasn’t perfect could be covered up with an appliquéd raindrop and if they all fell off the quilt would still be structurally sound. It could be the perfect I-Spy or cute with some hand quilting stitches added around or on the appliqués.

It’s so happy and reminds me that rain is good;)

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt
sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt
sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

None of the appliqués are perfect and I was gifted a reminder that few things are, even in nature with one of my sunflowers this week. Yup;)

sew Katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Wee Raindrop Quilt

Ok, maybe tortes are perfect;), especially with a pile of billowy whipped cream;)

Plums from my alley are the star player right now. One of my favorite recipes is a plum torte with a third of the flour replaced by cornmeal.

Homegrown summer tomatoes and corn are also perfect.

I’ve gathered up three more unfinished projects that need either binding, mending, some appliqué and/or hand quilting and added them to the pile by the couch.

I’ve been able to subtly listen in on the remote learning that’s happening here while writing this and I’m hoping to add/delete the pile to keep busy and present if I’m needed. Yesterday it was a little sad on my walk to see kids through windows sitting alone at tables in front of computers, but I’ve been pretty impressed with the emotional support Roan’s teachers have been providing the students.

I hope you’re all etching out some sewing time or other good for you things too.

xoxo, Katie

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Filed Under: finished quilts, Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilts

:: 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

Intersected Quilt

August 8, 2018 By Katie

 I’ve had my sights set on running a Part II Psychedelic Baby workshop.   We create secondary or cast off blocks in the Psychedelic Baby workshop that can be simply used on the back, but why not make another quilt?

 I’ve been focusing my studio time on finishing up a variety of samples for this new workshop and now have enough to start rolling them out here.  I’ve popped some sessions of Part II on the calendar for those of you that have already taken the first session or are signed up.

Here’s the quilt I made using the secondary blocks.  I’ll call Intersected.

Here’s the Cross-Roads Quilt I shared last week with blocks from the first session workshop.  You can read more about it here.  I’ve added one more session since the two I had up filled last week.

My past samples using the secondary blocks have been more improvisational in design, so I was aiming for a ‘traditional’ layout with Intersected.  We’ll cover how to size our blocks into geometric shapes, study the construction of several more traditional designs and learn how to build out improvisational designs like I did here and here.

I’d like students to also bring with them several inspirational quilt designs from books, patterns or photos so we can talk about their potential construction using the blocks as a group.

A few details about this quilt… I’ve straight line quilted vertical random lines at different widths in white thread.  The binding could really have been any of the fabrics in the quilt, but I went with the neutral Essex to have more flexibility in picking the backing fabric from stash.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Intersected Quilt Workshop

The backing is a fabric that you’ve seen before if you follow the blog.  I have a 70s love for this Smitten Kitten.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Intersected Quilt Workshop

As always, if you’re looking for a specific workshop to fit your schedule let me know;)

Back in the 90s here in Seattle, but looking at a cooler weekend for our workshop.  Enjoy Peeps!

P.S.  Big thanks to Curated Quilts for featuring my quilt in their triangle issue.

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilts Tagged With: Improv, improvisation, improvisational, improvisational patchwork, modern quilt, psychedelic baby block, psychedelic baby quilt, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild, sew katie did

:: Split Crumbs Quilt Top ::

October 4, 2017 By Katie

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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Filed Under: Classes and workshops, Improvisational Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilting, Modern Quilting Classes, Modern Quilts, Split Personality Quilt block, Uncategorized

:: Fractured Hearts Pillows ::

September 19, 2017 By Katie

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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Filed Under: Classes and workshops, Improvisational Quilts, Innovative Patchwork Piecing, invisible zipper, invisible zipper pillow, modern quilt, Modern Quilting Classes, Pillow Tutorial, pillows, Projects, Quilting Modern techniques and projects for improvisational quilts, Split Personality Quilt block Tagged With: heart pillows

On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble Quilt

July 19, 2017 By Katie

Where to start?  We’re pretty much being spoiled brats around here right now.

Our Northern Irish have invaded and it sure doesn’t seem 2 years ago since we parted at the steps of a cafe in Spain. It’s only like we saw them yesterday.  The calendar has been filled with the usual Seattle summer adventures we do together as a family.  We’ve spoiled ourselves with full menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner and shared our love of margaritas.  We’ve jumped off the raft in Lake Washington, shivered in the Sound and added floating down the Yakima River, laughing that we were eating quiche and that our cans of Rainer were chilled by the river just like our butts.

Many a birthday to celebrate in July.  John’s passed with a raised glass to him, who knew our last goodbye would happen on those same steps in Spain.

IMG_2692

Jefe celebrated another anniversary of his 21st,

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and in the keeping it real department, my brother in law Jeremy’s 50th is at the end of the month.  Living 4+ years with ALS he is still bossing us around.  Everything’s different, yet everything’s the same he says.

His partner of 20+ years, Hallie is our hero and his rock.

sew katie did | seattle quilting studio | Double-Trouble Toss Up

Oh yeah, and quilting has happened here and there too.  This quilt is an oldie.

I remember moving into the house and piecing this double-trouble quilt top in the little room that is now the kid domain.  The crumbs that started the quilt are half square triangles from Roan’s quilt.  I simply added improv stitch and flip triangles (you can find the technique in Quilting Modern) on the neutral side of each hst.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | On Point Double-Trouble Quilt

The scrap bins got a sifting through for the perfect fussy cuts of kid prints.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble Quilt

 I placed and pieced the blocks on point to form the squares rather than diamonds.  And then it sat patiently;)

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble Quilt

I used the top as a template for building quilt backs in my class a few months ago.  I figured when I was cleaning up the design walls after class that I might as well just sew together its back.  One stage done and onto the next.

I ran the quilting a quarter inch along the seams vertically and horizontally first, before deciding to fill in more with the diagonal.  I used a light blue Metler thread.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble Quilt

This quilt is a perfect eye spy with its bits and pieces from clothing I made Roan as an infant and the receiving blankets that my mom sewed.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble QuiltOf course there’s fabric from stash on the back, some favorites in fact, all pieced willy-nilly together.  It screamed green or orange for binding and the last of the Flea Market Fancy went towards that.

It looks kind of summery and cheerful.

Since I love having quilts in all various stages, I’ve got 2 more basted and a finished top up on the design wall, not to mention all sorts of play with the Split Personality block drifting around.  It’s hard to say it but I’m trying to wrap my head around a few classes for fall coming up here.  I’m excited to get to the samples, something new and fun.

Until August Peeps;)

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, half triangle square quilt, modern quilt, Modern Quilts Tagged With: double trouble quilt, double-troub

Full Tilt Quilt

March 14, 2017 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Full Tilt QuiltWell hi there;)

On my flight to teach in Jackson Hole I finished the binding on what I’ll call Full Tilt.  I always love to have something new to share and this was just in time for a line up of winter-spring lectures and workshops teaching this block.

 Traveling and spending time with my tribe is such a bonus of being in this industry and you quilters are the nicest people.  The inspiration you pull from your own toolbox when given a few improv techniques and a little structure is quite energizing even when I feel a little exhausted.  It all kind of kicks my brain and my wanderlust into overdrive.

Travel on top of the home front’s Open Studios and Workshops hasn’t allowed me a lot of time to get ideas out of my own head and into fabric.  Good things take time I hear, and in the meantime I’ve been directing my sewing groove into quick projects we can explore in Open Studio like these reversible grocery bags and rope bowls.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Full Tilt Quilt| Inspiration |

I know, again with the Psychedelic Baby Block.  You all might be sick of seeing this block, but I have yet to scratch the design surface with it and its secondary block that we make in this workshop.  Full Tilt’s colorway was this sweet geometric dress I found in a catalog.  Its layout is simple and inspired by another string quilt I made this year.

I noticed in lecturing this season that my solids have shifted over the years from a abundance of Osnaburgh to Essex.  Solid fabric quilts can be so flat and the indigo here adds some much-needed texture.  I went with 4 different blues, including some shot cotton and the Essex.  The rest of the solids are a mix of Kona and Michael Miller Cotton Couture.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Full Tilt Quilt | Quilting |

I was asked in a lecture this month who was the favorite to quilt my quilts?  I whole heartedly answered “Me.”

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Full Tilt QuiltI didn’t always feel this way.  Often it was where I stalled out on a finish. I didn’t feel I had the skills or vision to free-motion with the amount of precision I desired.  I know, I know, ‘practice is the best teacher,’ and I did that, but I was just never feeling it with free-motion as I did with a straight line.

It took time for me, years actually, to figure out that my quilts really didn’t need the fancy quilting I thought they did.  It often distracted or even clashed with the piecing, stealing the limelight. I think my patchwork holds its own quite well.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Full Tilt QuiltOnce I just started quilting straight lines I lost the anxiousness AND actually started finishing quilts at a faster rate.  Straight-line quilting felt intuitive to me.  Another unexpected discovery was I liked my quilts more.  Now they’re a 100% ME from start to finish.

The quilts I have with a variety of straight line quilting keeps building.  As I was getting my Straight Line Quilting Workshop together, I first thought I would quilt some simple panels in a variety of designs until I realized how many samples of straight line quilting I already had.  Actual quilts to demonstrate the tips and tricks, just like my other classes, duh.

That’s a long-winded way of saying Full Tilt got a simple grid in a light pink Metler thread and I like it;)

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Full Tilt Quilt| Binding & Backing |

I went pieced.  I considered the navy to frame, but regardless I had to order fabric for the finish.  I thought it would carry the piecing of the blocks onto the edge for a detailed addition to the design.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Full Tilt QuiltMy technique for this is to strip piece some panels and sub-cut them to the binding’s width.  I sew it on until I’m about to turn a corner and then I’ll add a larger strip of one fabric that accommodates the turn so that I don’t have seams stuck in the miter.  Once the corner is turned I reattach my pieced binding and continue until I come to the next corner.

I have a whole photo shoot of this process that some day I’ll get up here as a tutorial.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing StudioI haven’t bought backing fabric in ages, just pulling and piecing from stash,  I don’t see a noticeable dent honestly.  Apparently I bought up all of this flannel so that none of you could have any.  I’ve used it to back several quilts.  The vans have now made an appearance in the blue and pink.  It all seemed to compliment the front and come together simple enough.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting 7 Sewing Studio | Full Tilt Quilt All in all I love it;)

 I’ve added a few more dates for the straight line quilting workshop onto the schedule, including an evening slot as requested.  I also have a reader coming to the studio from Germany that picked playing with the Psychedelic Baby Block if anyone would like to join us.  Just follow the links;)

Happy week Peeps!  I’m actually heading out to the studio;)

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilts

Skewed Symmetry Quilt

November 23, 2016 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Skewed Symmetry Quilt

| Inspiration |

I’m not quite sure where the inspirational starting point was for the Skewed Symmetry quilt.  The blocks originally seemed destined to become matching pillows, but from the moment I stacked the blocks it just kind of developed on the design wall organically.

The mitered log cabin blocks were the cast-offs from making the Alignment Optional Pillows  with my Psychedelic Baby Block technique.  The color-way seemed best left alone and I liked the idea of the minimalist blocks partially floating depending on the background.  I actually ran out of black fabric, so the planned symmetry of halfing the background eye-catchingly fell into the rule of 3rds instead.

Essex yarn dyed linen combined with Cotton Couture’s split personality of a dull and shiny side, offered multiple layers of texture.

Improvisationally pieced and designed.  I love that.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Skewed Symmetry Quilt

| Quilting |

I went vertical with the quilting in a Metler black thread, subdividing the quilt with 1″ lines and then went back in for the fill.  I didn’t really worry that they were evenly spaced, just eyed it up on the design wall here and there with distance as my assistant.  Some are 1/4″ apart and others a little bit more or less.

Unfortunately, I tugged out the top corner of the quilt when I hung it to photograph, but this is truly one of the squarest quilts to date with no waving at the edges.  No blocking, so satisfying.

dsc_0551

| Binding and Backing |

The binding switches out in value/fabric to oppose what’s in the quilt at the top and bottom vertical strips.  Not only do I like the design interest it adds, but I was able to scab together enough scraps of black to make it happen.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Skewed Symmetry Back

After talking about white batting bearding in my Alignment Optional Pillows post, I actually did have the foresight to order some black batting.  All said, done and basted I realized my backing fabric had white in it.  I was a little concerned the opposite effect of black batting bearding through would happen, but all went well.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | two-for-the-road quilt

This quilt will be a great workshop sample to explain how I improvisationally panel out a quilt on the design wall.

I’ll be the visiting artist at the Arts Center of Jackson Hole teaching a two day Psychedelic Baby Block | Improv Strip Piecing Workshop January 21st and 22nd.  I’m pretty excited to have two whole days in Jackson Hole to hang out with students and play with both of the blocks this technique creates!

I should mention that I’ll also be in B.C. Canada in February and a bunch of locations in Washington come winter-spring.  All my locations are up on the Events page.

Happy be grateful weekend Peeps!

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilting, Modern Quilts Tagged With: classes and workshops, improv quilting, improvisational patchwork piecing, modern quilt, quilting seattle

No Know Quilt/s

June 30, 2016 By Katie

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/sTwo quilts for welcoming babies.

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

My friends said they were going old-school and not finding out the baby’s gender.  Their neutral color palette of grey and white was a challenge long overdue for me, but to stay interested I had to add one color at the very least.  So all the mustardy yellows in my stash that didn’t nod towards girl or boy were thrown in.  That turned out to be mostly Cloud9 fabrics and some older Heather Ross.

sew katie did | No Know Quilts/s

I called to acquire the guesstimated birthday and was given an exact date, so on the back the Taurus fabric went, plus a little dose of Katie neutral.

sew katie did | No Know Quilts/s

It was all quilted, bound and ready.

Well you might be wondering why there are two quilts?

A few days later I got word that the BABIES were here. That’s right, joke’s on us, a boy and a girl.  I haven’t gotten the whole story yet, but they must have known.

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

It just so happens that when I made the first quilt I was experimenting with a method of teaching my modern improvisational strip piecing workshop that produces two unique styles of blocks at once.  Not only was I covered in the quilt department when it came to the business of twins, but my quilts were matching.  Just like I planned it or something;)

I finished up the last of my bolt of Carolina Chambray building out the blocks.  It becomes so soft with use.

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

Both got the horizontal and vertical grid quilting treatment with a little variation.

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

The patch of Taurus fabric made it onto the back of each, but I pulled this old Alexander Henry from stash to complete the second.

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

Generally I would have given them different binding, but the same Kai dot seemed appropriate.

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

I’m not sure who gets which, I’ll let them figure that out.

I’ve got one workshop up for July teaching this fun and easy method, but these samples will be delivered so I’ve already got some new basted and ready.  I’ll miss seeing these around the studio.

sew katie did

Hope all is well in your world.  I’m pretty happy to be playing in the garden again and enjoying the slower pace of no school.

I’ll be here next week with another string quilt for Riley Blake’s Quilted Modern Blog Tour.  Happy week Peeps;)

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, modern quilt, Modern Quilts Tagged With: improvisational patchwork piecing, modern string quilt, quilting, Quilts, seattle, workshops

Boxed-In Quilt

May 11, 2015 By Katie

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Quilt Full

I swear no quilt in history has been put up and taken down from the design wall more.

I kept recycling the left over blocks that I call Psychedelic Baby Block into new design/layout ideas and now have an ample supply of samples for teaching the workshop.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Block neutral

I was in high gear to finish it for submission to the MQG’s Texas Museum Exhibit, but I realized that with the minimal quilting it would start to sag if hung for long.  Like how I’ve already envisioned it as accepted for exhibit?

The softness is amazing.  I don’t think I’ve even made a softer quilt.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Center

Not only did I mix in leftover blocks, but my neutral scrap bin got dug into.  Though no dent was made in that bin, texture was added through a mix of linens, flannels, and Osnaburg fabrics.  Shockingly even with the shot cotton it quilted up lovely.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Block Center

It was difficult to not throw in a print or two.  It is one of the reasons I feel in love with quilting.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Block Detail

Here’s a little peek of the dot I added too.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Quilt

Eleven year old boys are worthless at quilt holding for long, but good for showing scale.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Back full

I did it again and used a fabric from stash for the back.  Twice I ran out of thread when quilting and of course both times I was smack dab in the middle of that red strip where it would show the most.  I left it.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Back detail

It’s a favorite Alexander Henry.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Binding 2

The binding I actually cut for my On Target Quilt before I changed my mind to something darker.  I held onto it thinking it would work here.

SEW KATIE DID:Boxed-In Block

It’s all perfect, just perfect;)

SEW KATIE DID/Studio

For Mother’s Day Jefe installed my flooring, cooked every meal and did the dishes while I went shopping.

I’m so thrilled with what I picked.  That goes for guy and floor.

Happy Week Peeps!

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Filed Under: modern quilt, Modern Quilts Tagged With: classes, improvisation, improvisational patchwork, improvisational patchwork piecing, modern quilt, modern quilting, psychedelic baby block, quilting, quilting studio, seattle

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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.
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