improvisation

Night Owl Quilt Finish

March 30, 2015 By Katie 23 Comments

I’m here to show you today is my Night Owl Quilt.

At one of my lectures this week I got a bunch of questions from an attendee about my Night Owl Quilt. Typically I can send someone the link from my “Quilts” page where I post all of my finishes when they want photos.

Night Owl Quilt was MIA from that page.

So as I ran out the door for Roan’s field trip I thought to grab it and my camera for photos on the morning ferry commute and make use of my minions.

The design is a pattern called Supernova that is published in our book Quilting Modern.

I think quilters are drawn to reproducing this quilt pattern due to its simplicity of technique and construction. I come across its remake online more than any other quilt in the book.

The softness quality is exactly balanced for me on this quilt. Soft colors, soft Essex, wool batting, Osnaburgh on the back, and just enough density of an organic quilting pattern all add up to perfect.

The only thing I wish I would have added are the spin-offs into the background. There’s always something;)

I really love how the design allows you to play with just about any fabrics you’re in love with, including novelty if that’s your thing. I’ve always been drawn to this Alexander Henry owl print and used it as my starting point, layered fabrics from stash as I built out.

Quilting swirls=Starry Night.

I love these colors. For some reason I’m smitten with the binding pick on this one. Something about the small scale tone on tone and the color of this fabric attracts me to hoarding it. You can try to find it, but I’m pretty sure I bought it all so you couldn’t;)

There it is, Night Owl Quilt has landed on my Quilt page!

If anyone has suggestions of a graphic designer that does logos I’m in the market. Please only someone that has a real business, with a questionnaire to get us on the same page with design and fresh looking portfolio;)

Happy Monday Peeps!

::Week In Review::

March 17, 2015 By Katie 3 Comments

I was rather nostalgic traveling to Victoria last week to talk and explore all things quilty with my hosts the Victoria Quilters’ Guild and some members of the Victoria MQG. Jefe worked on the Coho ferry between Port Angeles and Victoria for many years and Roan and I would occasionally go see him on board.

When we docked in Victoria this image of Roan pretending he was waving to all the fine people of Victoria popped into my head.

And reading in the wheel house.

It was a happy image to start my trip with.

I can never say enough about the hospitality of guilds and The Victoria Quilters’ Guild was exceptional;) It was marked with wonderful conversations, amazing creativity in workshops, and learning experiences. All wrapped up with a little “quilt fluffing” at the border.

My Victoria friend Jo-Anne drew me this Zentangle as a souvenir of the trip. The hair, boots, quilts, the “A” and socks…the whole thing is perfect. This is getting framed and going in the studio.

Big thanks to my friend Marianne of The Quilting Edge and Jo-Anne for entertaining and feeding me. So fun to hang out away from home and feel so happy and comfortable with good friends.

I travelled home Friday, taught again Saturday and regrouped Sunday and today so I can start it all over again tomorrow.

While I was gone amazingness happened in the studio. Jefe completed the electric, as well as hung and wired the lights. He put in the windows quite some time ago. Hunting for a door with windows and flooring is next.

I didn’t really want a closet, just good functional storage, so he build me a nook that holds two of these shelves to house my fabric. I’ll try to keep my fabric collection limited to that;) Now that I think about the niche I wanted at the top, that will house fabric dust and hopefully some rolled quilts. Originally the side niches were going to be walled to hide some structural stuff, but he made storage room there for me too.

This whole wall will be design wall. Everyone needs a padded room;) I figure when students come I can roll laminated backed design walls down over whatever I’m working on to provide them with their own space.

Jefe thought of things I never would have thought of, like being able to open the door and step in onto a platform rather than straight down some stairs. This corner I envision a little food/tea/coffee station.

I’m finding that I need things complete before I can envision a practical and functional set up. Luckily I’ve had a lot of opportunities to work in unique spaces and know what works and doesn’t work for me.

Of course I’m collecting my Studio/Garudio Pinboard, but I would love suggestions if anyone has any in making the space more efficient, what they couldn’t live without, etc…

I’m loaded up again for my week.

Happy Monday Peeps. I managed to post.

Have a great week;)

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Thursday’s Improvisational Curves class is full, but if you were wait listed or just interested you can contact me (sewkatiedid@gmail.com) to attend another workshop on Curves this Saturday with the Mukilteo Lighthouse Quilters’ Guild.

March Open Quilt Studio is full, but there are a couple spots in my monthly Medallion/Magic Numbers Workshop and one spot in my Strip Piecing Workshop on the 24th.

We’ll hold our last Open Quilt Studio at Island Quilter on Sunday, March 29th until they find their new space. Keep current by following their Facebook page.

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;)

:: Double-Trouble Take Two Quilt ::

January 26, 2015 By Katie 26 Comments

As I’m making one quilt I generally have block cast-offs and another design lay out evolves. That’s just what happened with the leftovers from the Scrappalicous Double-Trouble Quilt I made a while back.

What I call the Double-Trouble block is a half-square-triangle with an improv Stitch and Flip triangle on one side. Merging the two triangle techniques creates a block that is both controlled and chaotic. The Swirling Medallion quilt we made in Quilting Modern has the directions for the Stitch and Flips and my tutorial for hst is combined with my value quilt tutorial.

This time around I thought I’d try out the squares by turning what I had on point and giving them some space to breath. I love the scrappy controlled sets.

I tried my best to create the whole quilt, even the background with scraps. There’s a mix of flannel, muslin, and other neutrals that I used for landing the improv triangles. Anything goes for the triangles, voile, flannel, home decor and corduroy are all present.

I failed on using left overs for the binding. This small scale print from Alexander Henry’s Farmdale line was perfect.

I could have adjusted my neutral squares in some places with a larger size, but keeping everything to 3 1/2″ squares created more texture and depth.

The backing is another old Alexander Henry. Shocking I know.

One of my goals this year is to have my backings consume cast offs from the front and fabric from stash. This challenge so far has led to creating some backs that I’m rather smitten with. Unfortunately I don’t have a current full shot to show you what I’m talking about.

The quilt hangs at Island Quilter on Vashon Island for the month of January with other lovelies made by my peeps in the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild. Go take a ferry trip!

Happy Monday Peeps!

::Double-Trouble Take Two::

January 26, 2015 By Katie 26 Comments

This time around I thought I’d try out the squares by turning what I had on point and giving them some space to breath. I love the scrappy controlled sets.

I failed on using left overs for the binding. This small scale print from Alexander Henry’s Farmdale line was perfect.

I could have adjusted my neutral squares in some places with a larger size, but keeping everything to 3 1/2″ squares created more texture and depth.

The backing is another old Alexander Henry. Shocking I know.

The quilt hangs at Island Quilter on Vashon Island for the month of January with other lovelies made by my peeps in the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild. Go take a ferry trip!

Happy Monday Peeps!

Cutting Corners Binding Technique

January 20, 2015 By Katie 16 Comments

I posted a photo on my Instagram the other day and a comment was made about how I stitch the corners of my binding. Years ago I noticed my mom used it on a quilt and I just messed with it until it was second nature for me. I’m sure the method has a name. I’ll call it the Cutting Corners binding technique.

I use a ladder stitch to bind my quilts and if you need some direction on that Turning Turning’s blog has a great tutorial.

1) As I approach a corner I fold the corner binding towards the middle of the quilt and bring the binding’s folded edges on the right and left sides together at the inside corner so that they just touch.

Secure where the right and left sides come together with a clip.

The goal is to aim for the right and left fold of the binding to come together at an equal measurement and create 90 angle at the corner. Binding clips on either side of the corner can help even things out.

2) When I approach the corner I take the needle into the quilt back and bring it out through the binding’s corner fold. It might be easier to do the next step before pulling the needle through.

3) Grab with your needle the opposing folded corner of binding and if things are looking even pull your needle through.

These two points where the needle is pictured above is where you will complete some tacking stitches.

4) Once you feel it’s got enough stitches to be secure, take your needle into the right side and through into the quilt backing, coming out into the fold of the binding. Continue with the ladder stitch.

It should look all nice and square from the front. I’ve never had any issues with it coming untucked. Anyone know of the name of this technique?

Let me know if you have any questions.

Poof, Somewhat Circular Hex is another sample for my Hexagons by Machine workshop next week;) Now I need to get a post up on it.

Happy Tuesday. I’m off to get my tax crap together, exciting stuff Deb;)

::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.

Improvisational Quilting Techniques Pillow Series

December 16, 2014 By Katie 17 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!

Improv Patchwork Pillow Series

December 16, 2014 By Katie 16 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.

::Pop::

December 9, 2014 By Katie 15 Comments

Well happy Tuesday everyone. Today I’ve got zip pouches on the list and class tonight, but thought I’d pop in here first.

Pantone announced the new colors for 2015. Have you seen them yet?

They must have subliminally gotten to me already, but seeing them inspired me to put this Double-Trouble block back up.

Marsala?

It reminds me of the L’OREAL eyeshadow and nail polish I use to wear in the 80s. And come to think of it I have some MAC shadow currently in this color.

What do you think?

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There might be one space left in my zip pouch workshop tonight or the invisible zipper pillow class Thursday if you’re thinking about some gifts. Check it out;)

::Happy Fabrics::

November 21, 2014 By Katie 10 Comments

TGIF peeps.

I’m onto all sorts of projects for the holiday. Last season I was struck by the color palette my friend Allison used for the zip pouch she gifted me, such happy colors for me. Around that time Cloud9 Fabrics mailed me a FQ pack of their Up, Up, and Away fabric line with some of those inspiring colors included.

Cloud9’s fabric lines of late having really been catching my eye, so I decided a Quilt As You Go technique pillow was in order.

There’s something deeply satisfying about digging around in your stash to find the perfect fabric collaboration.

I polished it off with some invisible zipper skills.

Have a good weekend.

I hope to have some projects finished by Monday (thus the short but sweet post;)

::Going Circular::

October 21, 2014 By Katie 15 Comments

Thanks for all the kind comments last week. We’re regrouping in week three and lucky to have such awesome friends.

Life continues behind the scenes of a quilting blog;)

I finished the last of the samples for my Exploring Inside the Box series. It might be the colors, but regardless of the improvisational curves this pillow has that same graphic edgy feel as the others.

This shape is so simple to execute improvisationally. I really love the little hit of added strip piecing. I rotate building out all four quadrants on this design. A little to this quarter and a little to that avoids identical colors mingling in the same location, unless that’s the look you’re aiming for. It’s rather forgiving if you feel you’ve misplaced a color because you can always rip it apart or recut.

It would be fun to make in a binary color scheme too.

I’ve really enjoyed working with this color way, but it’s time to move on, so I’ve been thinking of new blocks and colors for Series II. We’ve got the winter dates, I just need to get going on the blocks before we list it.

Series II might be inspired by Seattle’s fluffy white and grey clouds currently passing us by and the blue sky you get snapshots of here and there.

I have all the pillows currently home and it’s fun to see them all together, though overwhelming in the matchy-matchy department. Perhaps some Plain Jane’s are needed to break things up.

I’ll get right on that;)

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If you were wait listed for the first Exploring Inside the Box series we have new dates for the winter session on Tuesdays, follow the link here.

Monday, October 27th is Open Studio at Island Quilter. Reserve your spot by following this link.

« Previous Page

improvisation

Night Owl Quilt Finish

::Week In Review::

New York Beauty Pillow

:: Double-Trouble Take Two Quilt ::

::Double-Trouble Take Two::

Cutting Corners Binding Technique

::Lightening Speed::

Improvisational Quilting Techniques Pillow Series

Improv Patchwork Pillow Series

::Pop::

::Happy Fabrics::

::Going Circular::

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