improvisational patchwork

::Playing with Hearts::

November 10, 2015 By Katie

I’m still quilting my Christmas quilt made with blocks that I call ‘Split Personality.” Both the vertical and horizontal quilting lines were finished over the weekend and I’ll move onto the diagonal lines once the week’s open studios and workshop are done.

I try to give my body a break from quilting every hour or so and since staring at my design wall is a favorite activity I’ve dedicated my move around time to these solid fabric versions. Last season I was rather smitten with all the heart designs I’d been seeing and decided I’d really like to play with an improvisational variation of this shape.

The block’s effect is similar to what the crazy piecing technique in Quilting Modern produces, but this new technique is rather quick and without fuss.

These Split Personality blocks have evolved into the “what” with their heart shaped design element, but they have yet to find the “how” of their final composition. I’ve been inspired by so many traditional quilts layouts where I could place this block, but am really trying to stay improvisational with this one.

I have plans at the end of the week to play with some I made that I’m not as happy about and see where an elongated heart shape might land me. Pays to not always throw away the ‘not so goods’ eh? Maybe in the end I’ll have some great trivets for Christmas presents at the least:)

Happy midweek Peeps!

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I’ve got new Open Studio dates up and a few spaces in my design wall/improv workshop left. Thanks to everyone’s feedback and response to my newsletter. I’ll be working on an evening Open Studio and a Sunday monthly in the new year. Hope to see you soon;)

Off-the-Wall Improv Patchwork Pillow Workshop

October 19, 2015 By Katie

Travel is done for the season. I say it all the time, “Quilters are the kindest people” and everyone involved made this season particularly memorable.

I’m looking forward to some project time, both in the studio and around the house. A website for the studio is in the making and now comes the exciting bit of writing copy. Open studios and workshops will be much easier to plan and execute with a system for sign ups. For now I’ve just been doing it the old fashion way via phone or email.

It’s all about the baby steps right?

But I finished up some new Halloween flair a few weeks ago as samples for a design wall heavy improvisational workshop I’ve been thinking about. I wanted to cover some basics that students are always asking me about. So I thought I’d just put it out there.

This workshop is really a reincarnation of the classes I taught when I started teaching, exception being that at the time we were in the smallest room ever with little to no design wall. Now I have a fully padded room of design walls and the tools and machines students need, so why not a class?

In my opinion the design wall is the greatest design tool EVER when it comes to improvisational work, so this improv workshop will focus on building out a design there, breaking it down into sections and using various improvisational patchwork techniques to piece it all together. Angle and strip piecing, “floating” patchwork, composition, creating definition and value are a few of the techniques and design concepts we’ll cover.

Over the years I found that working within a mapped out space helps us visual/kinetic learners. So thinking small, like a pillow, wall hanging or even one block at a time is to our creative advantage.

Hammer girl thinks so. She was my starting point.

and then bits were added for detail.

As I was working on the design wall another pillow started to take shape. That’s often how it works.

I believe all the fabrics are Alexander Henry with the exception of the Essex linen I’m so drawn to currently.

They’ve nailed it with the facial expressions.

Perhaps some Christmas pillows are in your future?

I have room for three students per workshop. Bernina sewing machines and all tools are provided, just bring your creativity, materials and an open mind;)

So here’s the dates/email me at sewkatiedid@gmail.com to secure your spot:

~~Wednesday, November 11th, 10am-3pm (this is Veterans Day if you have it off)~~ FULL
~~Saturday, November 14th, 10am-3pm~~ FULL
Thursday, December 3rd, 10am-3pm 1 spot left
Sunday, December 6th, 10am-3pm 2 spots

Happy Week Peeps;)

Boxed-In Quilt

May 11, 2015 By Katie

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

It’s a favorite Alexander Henry.

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.

It’s all perfect, just perfect;)

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!

Mod Pinwheel Quilt

May 4, 2015 By Katie

I’m continuing my documentation of projects that haven’t yet made it to my Quilts Page for one reason or another.

Mod Pinwheel is another quilt pattern Jacquie and I created for Quilting Modern that didn’t make the cut, but is available as a free e-book.

The adjective Mod is a little off for this quilt in my opinion, but we named it years ago. When I look at it now it speaks to the traditional side of quilting that I love, with a taste of something a little different.

It’s these ‘eyes’ that are the twist, removing it one step from a traditional straight set layout.

Hanging this quilt up gave me a new appreciation for it.

As always, I have a love/hate relationship going on with this quilt. A little more thought with the value and color placement might have elevated the design, but truly I think this is a pattern that speaks to going scrappy, something we stayed away from in the book, but where my heart really is in quilting.

I see myself playing with this foundation pieced block again with a bin of scraps to see if my vision is true. What a great baby quilt it would make.

Teal dot for the binding and a delicious red dot flannel for the back.

If I had to pull one component that I love most in this quilt it would be the quilting by Angela Walters combined with the flannel backing. Oh wait, that’s two.

I pulled out some sample blocks to dream up something new with, but ‘been there done that’ set in and cutting seemed necessary.

You can make your own Mod Pinwheel with the instructions posted here.

I went ahead and ordered the flooring on the right for the studio. We’ll hopefully install it and paint in the next few weeks. Three Berninas have arrived for student use and tool kits are collected.

Things are coming together;)

Have a great week peeps!

::Tools For a Quilt Sandwich::

April 27, 2015 By Katie

To make a quilt a quilt you eventually have to baste it through your choice method. I’m a pin baster. I also have OBD (Over Basting Disorder).

If I’ve already over thought my quilting design then I try to land my pins in areas that won’t interfere too much with it.

In my life basting a quilt is a good excuse to clean my floor, have a beer, and soak in a few episodes of whatever TV series I’m currently chain-smoking. I’m having a marathon with Scandal today.

Here’s a list of my tools for basting a quilt. A nice container to store them all together in makes for easy transport to my basting spot.

::Basting Tools::

Basting Pins– I’ve run into a load of poor quality basting pins in classes. If you’re going to bother pin basting buy good quality, your quilt top will thank you. Heavier thread count material can also make sharp pins even more important. I prefer the smaller curves ones. They are about 1.5″ long.
Kwik Klip– This little tool helps close pins. I don’t know what my problem was that it took me so long to purchase one of these. If you are going to pin baste this tool is also an essential in your toolbox. Trust me;)
Painter’s Tape– Use this to systematically tape your quilt back right side down to the floor. I work by alternating sides as I tape. Beginning from the midpoint of the sides. Don’t stretch, but it should be flat.
Shears– For getting rid of excess batting. I fold the batting back onto itself and cut away at the fold to an inch or so smaller than my quilt back. This gives me a visual to run my quilting off the quilt top and secure it into the backing.
Snips– To rid quilt of stray threads.
Lint Roller– Don’t forget about the back. If the quilt has been handled a lot the back will have longer stray threads. It generally isn’t even a problem, but if I have a light color on the front and a dark thread gets quilted behind it it will show through. I find this annoying after putting so much work into perfection.

This is by no means a concise tutorial on all aspects of making a quilt sandwich or basting, but I’ll fill in the blanks at some later dates.

I also am a true believer that there is no need to reinvent the wheel, so I’ve pinned a Whole Cloth and a Quilt It Pinboard with a load of great tutorials on quilt finishing such as basting, quilting and binding that wonderful people have put together for wonderful you;)

Any tools you can’t live without?

Happy Week Peeps;) I’m off to quilt and fold a mountain of laundry.

::Design Wall 101::

April 13, 2015 By Katie

Hopefully in the next month I’ll be updating my design walls for the studio so that I can expose the electrical sockets and make them floor to ceiling.

I’ll make sure to document the process to be included in the tutorial.

I use two types of design walls. The grey one above is insulation board wrapped in flannel (tutorial here).

I’m sure none of you have more than one project you work on at a time, but if you do the other is a layered system (tutorial here) that allows you to roll things up and keep them in place so that you can work on what’s underneath or take it for travel. This system is also perfect for those of you in small spaces since it can be rolled up and stashed somewhere like under a bed.

Design walls aren’t an essential tool in everyone’s creative process, but I do talk with my students about it being number one for mine. I like to step back and see how things are getting along. I encourage students to take photos of their project’s progression and even when they think they’ve got it perfect to take everything down and rearrange it. This is how new ideas might develop. In Quilting Modern we talked about not being ‘married’ to what’s on on your design wall, and in a workshop Jacquie and I taught together one of our students joked, “You’re just sleeping together.” That quote has stuck.

I’ve developed some tricks along the way when it comes to using the design wall and the one I utilize the most is not sewing things together, but rather use bits of scraps pinned up to audition color or placement.

I now have a bowl of various 90 degree triangles for this task. Like so.

I have the same with strips. This system does add to the amount of scraps, but I’m good with that. I can’t tell you the number of times something has been all sewn together for me to realize I should have changed out something dead center of the quilt.

Happy Monday Peeps.

Hope you and your design wall are finding some time to sleep together:)

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Night Owl Quilt Finish

March 30, 2015 By Katie

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

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.

Diving Geese Quilt

March 9, 2015 By Katie

This year was a skip year for me at Quiltcon, but several of my quilts made the show.

Including Diving Geese. It was a last minute thought to enter it.

The process of designing and piecing the quilt seemed easy compared to the task of quilting all that negative space.

My thought was a sun-like concentric circle starting up in the top right corner, but actually sitting down to do it was, well…not happening.

So when in doubt consult a friend and a professional;)

Enter Krista Withers.

Amazing artist, long arm quilter, teacher, and FRIEND (MG;). Krista and I share a lot in common besides quilting and are even jokingly the only two members of our own secret society, which obviously I can’t tell you about:)

Krista brings a quilt top to a whole new level with her signature style of quilting.

AND she won 1st place in Machine Quilting!

It’s no surprise. It’s amazing.

My only request was some ‘ghost geese,’

and we had good laugh over the unintentional (or maybe) subliminal Star Trek symbol.

I polished it off with a narrow faux binding to give it a little bit of a frame with out the distraction of a colored binding or the flat edge of additional background fabric. It’s soft and lovely.

This is not our first collaboration merging design and quilting. When it comes to negative space I call on Krista.

(photo by Rendy Tucker Photography)

Krista quilted my Scattered Remake.

Plus the first,

and second Opposing Triangles.

And my Seattle Lone Star Quilt.

You can see more detail of Krista’s quilting in our other work together by following the links.

I’m off to lecture and teach this week in Victoria B.C. for The Victoria Quilter’s Guild (information on that here if you want to join in). I really enjoyed looking through their event lists and seeing how open they are too inviting ALL types of quilters into their world. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot in the days I spend with them.

Have a great week peeps;)

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~~Full FYI (1) spots in Saturday’s paper piecing workshop.~~

On-Target Quilt

March 2, 2015 By Katie

Remember this quilt?

I showed and sold Psychedelic Baby at Quiltcon 2013. It is still one of my favorite quilts and block workshops to teach. I love blocks that provide so much design potential.

I instantly wanted to recreate Psychedelic Baby a little differently, so I upcycled the leftover bits into a new quilt with a little different take.

I’ll call it On Target.

Just as with any quilting I learned some things.

The amount of linen and shot cotton meant some stretching would occur and my choice of quilting didn’t help. As I reached the smaller outer edge with my “V” things started puckering. If I was to do it all over again I would stitch in the ditch between the blocks that create the “V” shape and then go back in between with the fill lines on the blocks. This likely would have stabilized it a bit more. I was also lazy on switching directions when quilting the same side and this certainly didn’t help.

But let’s not take things too seriously, it’s just a quilt.

On the back I showcased an Alexander Henry print that I love. This was all I had of it and I’m continuing on my path of using what I have to create quilt backs.

The binding I made twice. I wanted to reproduce the feel of the original quilt and selected the light blue with out auditioning it. Poor choice. This quilt needed the drama of the dark purple.

(Thanks Rachel of Wooden Spoon for the photo;)

I finished it up just in time for Anja and Paul of Island Quilter to take it with them to Quiltcon for their booth.

This year was Quiltnon for me, but three of my quilts made it;)

AND I have another layout in process to add to my Psychedelic Baby Quilt Block workshop samples.

I’d think it might never end, but I’m officially D-O-N-E with this color way.

Happy Week Peeps!

(p.s. thanks to my friend Krista for being my quilt holder;)

New York Beauty Pillow

February 16, 2015 By Katie

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;)

::Throwing Star Pillow::

February 2, 2015 By Katie

That leftovers thing happened again. Hexes turned into triangles, and now I have another shape to show as an example in my triangle workshop with a hexagon shape center to boot!

The stars turned out pretty wee by the time I cut them from the left over hexes.

The precision I’m pretty happy with, no paper piecing involved for those of you that asked, just 60 degree triangle piecing.

I floated them in Essex Linen.

These prints are favorites and deserved some limelight.

The diamond shape the quilting forms was simple enough to execute.

And it matches the pillows on my couch;)

Finished off with my Invisible Zipper Tutorial.

The weather couldn’t be any more perfect for quilting and if my child’s mood this morning is any indication of how most of Seattle is feeling today I think I’ll make the best of it and stay home to sew.

Chin up Seattle.

Happy Monday;)

« Previous Page

::Playing with Hearts::

Off-the-Wall Improv Patchwork Pillow Workshop

Boxed-In Quilt

Mod Pinwheel Quilt

::Tools For a Quilt Sandwich::

::Design Wall 101::

Night Owl Quilt Finish

::Week In Review::

Diving Geese Quilt

On-Target Quilt

New York Beauty Pillow

::Throwing Star Pillow::

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