hexagons by machine

::Working The Pile::

February 9, 2015 By Katie 23 Comments

You’re probably thinking,

“When will she ever finish that quilt already?”

And I’m with ya.

I’ve had a very genuine desire since the beginning of the year to clean up and clear out projects. A noticeable dent has been made in the pile and though there is still plenty of the unfinished, the process has been a good steady pace. Having quilts at each stage of the making process allows my attention to wander to what ever is in the rotation because it ALL needs to get done.

And bloody hell, Somewhat Circular Hex is D-O-N-E!

All inspired by the Alexander Henry Kokeshi doll fabric, then onto the color way this little Kokeshi doll/bank sported and certainly the Japanese art that I grew up with.

I love how the Essex background forms another Hexagon. Let’s pretend I planned that;)

Extreme binding auditions happened and this Denyse Schmidt standby won.

It just popped the other black prints.

I’m sticking with the use what you have stashed when it comes to backings program. Simple Simon on this one.

It held the diamond grid quilting texture well, as did the Essex on the front.

My seam widths annoyed me enough that I finally took action and had my Juki walking foot replaced. Juki is sitting on a quilting goldmine if they would step up and add all the measurement markers and width to their walking foot that Bernina has in my opinion.

Well and crap, then this happened;) But starting new projects is part of the process. You can see the other hexagons by machine I’ve done here and here.

Happy Monday Peeps!

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:: Somewhat Circular Hex Quilt ::

February 9, 2015 By Katie 23 Comments

You’re probably thinking,

“When will she ever finish that quilt already?”

And I’m with ya.

And bloody hell, Somewhat Circular Hex is D-O-N-E!

All inspired by the Alexander Henry Kokeshi doll fabric, then onto the color way this little Kokeshi doll/bank sported and certainly the Japanese art that I grew up with.

I love how the Essex background forms another Hexagon. Let’s pretend I planned that;)

Extreme binding auditions happened and this Denyse Schmidt standby won.

It just popped the other black prints.

I’m sticking with the use what you have stashed when it comes to backings program. Simple Simon on this one.

It held the diamond grid quilting texture well, as did the Essex on the front.

Well and crap, then this happened;) But starting new projects is part of the process. You can see the other hexagons by machine I’ve done here and here.

Happy Monday Peeps!

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::Somewhat Circular Hex::

January 23, 2015 By Katie 5 Comments

I didn’t manage to get a good full shot of my Somewhat Circular Hexagon quilt before bolting out the door to teach. I had to move it out since I wanted it to be hanging in the shop as a new sample for next Thursday’s Hexagons By Machine workshop. There are openings in this class if you are curious about the methods of strip cutting hexagons and piecing them by machine.

I’ll be sure to get some photos of it next week and post them. I’ve got my eye on some huge floor pillows that want this design on them. You know I like pillows.

Somewhat Circular is my second quilt finish for 2015, I think this quilt doubles what quilts I produced in 2014. My first was my Double-Trouble quilt hanging at the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s exhibit opening at Island Quilter. I’ll be on the island Sunday for an Open Quilting Studio at IQ and hope to snap some pictures of it to share. Anyone’s welcome to come work on projects and check out the guild’s quilts.

The binding was a hard pick on this one, but the black print worked great with the backing.

As you can see there are a few lines of quilting still needing to be removed and some to be added in, but the color way is spot on and the Essex linen really works with the black background fabrics.

I used this quilt to photo my Cutting Corners Binding Tutorial this week if you missed it.

It’s a beautiful Seattle day to stay inside and sew (and avoid laundry;).

Happy Friday Peeps!

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P.S.

I had a cancellation and now how one slot left in my Improv Log Cabin Workshop on Tuesday. Come play!

::Lightening Speed::

January 7, 2015 By Katie 21 Comments

Happy New Year Peeps;)

That end of the year mosaic with all the quilts I made, well, that won’t be happening. Mostly because unlike past years I really didn’t have any quilt finishes, I made a crap load of awesome pillows and a few tops. Some of that has to do with using my current little studio space to its potential, but also gearing classes towards smaller projects.

So instead of a mosaic I’ll share with you my pillows pictured up there. I think they are probably my favorite creation from 2014.

I didn’t exactly hit the ground running this year, I got the flu right of the bat. Thankfully at the end of the year I had the time and did a thorough studio cleaning to take account of classes and unfinished projects.

From the quilt top pile I picked my hexagon quilt. With Hexagons By Machine and Equilateral Triangles workshops coming up I thought to get it quilted and play with piecing triangles as I made the back so I could have another sample for each workshop.

But of course as I was piecing these stars together for a back I realized it really should be a pillow. So, now apparently I still have a back to work on and a pillow I really want to make, so no mosaic making time anyway.

We obviously need more pillows, but you’ll definitely be seeing more finished quilts in 2015.

Happy Tuesday. I’m off to sew for two whole delicious hours;) Hope to see some of you locals on Monday at Open Studio.

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Almost forgot, I really enjoyed listening to what Ruth Ozeki has to share in her talk titled Modern Distraction and the Dark Waters of Creativity. Check it out.