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quilting

Hearts

February 3, 2019 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

All the Christmas stuff is down in the basement still waiting to be put away, but the upstairs is rocking its Valentine.  I’m sure Jefe is fully enjoying the amount of quilted heart patchwork in the house right now;)

I thought it would be fun to post a few photos of this shape that might have recently surpassed the amount of stars I’ve made.  Above is a stash busting quilt made with my Value Quilt tutorial, which is the studio’s featured February workshop.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Splintered Hearts

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Splintered Hearts

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Have a Heart Quilt

These Splintered Hearts pillows were left overs from making my Have a Heart Quilt.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Have a Heart Quilt

If you make enough pillows they all start working together;)

My Improv Crazy Piecing workshop called Crushed It has become one of my favorite to teach.  You can make different shapes of course but I love the look in the heart shape.  I’ve got a Saturday workshop this month going on with this fun block.

My love of Crazy Piecing started with a bunch of  leftovers that became this quilt.  Someday I’ll get a good photo of it.  The background is amazing.

I’m sure I’m forgetting some finished projects with this shape and I’ll spare you knowing the ‘in process’ amount.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

When I can manage to steal some time alone in the studio I’ve been getting some new workshops together.  You’ll find a little improv mixed with foundation piecing and the precision traditional curve piecing gives you in Round and Round.

Have a good Valentines Peeps.  May your heart be happy.  xo

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Filed Under: Improvisational Quilts, Innovative Patchwork Piecing, Projects Tagged With: improvisation, improvisational patchwork, modern quilt, modern quilting, quilting, Quilts, seattle, value quilt, workshops

:: Seeing Stars ::

September 21, 2018 By Katie

I’m certainly feeling a new season coming on here in Seattle.  Gardening and seasonal cooking seem like kindred spirits to quilting so I’m always torn between the studio, the yard and the kitchen.  Luckily the weather has started cooperating by providing us inside time with a squall here and there, and peppering in some sunshine and those huge fluffy clouds I love so much. I want time to do it all, so the weather has been good at compromising.

If you’re living in Seattle during the winter it’s crucial to have indoor hobbies.  My Seattle peeps must be feeling the same desire to shift back to the indoor sort and are coming out of the woodwork to cultivate new ideas in Open Studios and request workshop dates.

I’m picking up the bug myself.  I’ve been traveling around for months to lectures with the binding half done on my Seeing Stars Quilt and finally caught some couch time to finish it up.

sew katie did| Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | seeing stars

If you’ve taken my improv strip piecing workshop Psychedelic Baby the triangles in this quilt might look familiar.  I made the large star from my triangle cast off blocks we create in Psychedelic Baby and now have enough samples for running the Part II  workshop.

This in studio workshop will focus on improvisational or traditional layout and design using the blocks from the workshop’s first session.

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

Here’s the original quilt called Full Tilt that I made with the blocks from the first workshop.

Other quilt examples for this Part II workshop are,

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

the Intersected Quilt,

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio

Skewed Symmetry Quilt,

sew katie did | No Know Quilt/s

and my No Know Quilt.

Some are more improvisational in design and some are simply triangles sewn into rows.  Easy to choose a design that works at a skill level you’re comfortable with.

Somewhere along the way stumbled upon a large star layout and decided it was a perfect design for my triangles’ placement.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern  Quilting & Sewing  Studio | Seeing Stars Back

Keeping with my tradition at this point I pulled from stash for the back.  I have a love affair with this Alexander Henry fabric and have some pillows around with it that are in the household rotation.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Seeing Stars

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Seeing Stars

The binding is a double binding so that the quilt would have a little framing and the quilting is a grid of straight lines.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Seeing Stars

I really like how it turned out and there’s a bit of star twinkle in some of the fabrics that have silver threads running through them.

A new quilt is always a welcome addition to lectures and for feeding interest in workshops and I’ve got a few of those coming up.  October has some opportunities to visit me outside the studio and even the state.  I’ll be at Quilting Mayhem teaching my Improv 101 | Coin Quilt.

If you live in Oregon I’ll be at the Stitchin’ Post teaching Psychedelic Baby October 18th and Double-Trouble Triangles October 19th.  My Thread Talk is at 6:30pm October 17th; classes are 9AM-4PM.  I’d love to see you!

With October being pretty full I’ve stuck mostly to Open Studios, but as always if you see a workshop you’re interested in email me and we’ll find a date that works:)  Happy Weekend Peeps!

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, Modern Quilts Tagged With: improvisational, improvisational patchwork, psychedelic baby block, psychedelic baby quilt, quilting, Quilts, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild

Hearts Value Quilt

June 19, 2017 By Katie

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | Heart Value Quilt

I took my finished Heart Value quilt along on retreat.  I like to have a quilt with me as a little reminder of home and knew I would have some helpers for photos.  I think it was the only time I ventured outside and away from my sewing machine.

Sew Katie Did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

This is definitely the largest quilt I’ve ever quilted on the studio’s Berninas.  It’s a little shy in width to a King.  One of my Facebook readers asked when quilting if I go north to south, and then turn to go south to north?  This quilt was too large to continually turn, so I just worked my way out from the middle.  I started with a vertical quilting line ½” from the seams and then went back to fill in.  It was the first time I’ve used the stitch in the ditch foot that came with my Bernina’s walking foot to tack down the seams.  It turned out perfectly.

Oh, all that lovely color.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | Heart Value Quilt

I combed through my stash to find just the right fabrics for each heart.  Again a perfect sample of archiving all your lovely fabrics in one quilt.  No matchy-matchy required.

I lack in low volumes except for an insane amount of light pink.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | Heart Value Quilt

More from the stash for back.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | Heart Value Quilt

I have to say I’ve pulled quite a number of fabrics lately from stash that I bought specifically for backs and upon trying to square them up I believe who ever is operating the printing or checking the quality is not doing their job.  The motifs are printed so off grain that they look horrible as huge cuts and can’t be used.  I finally moved from my original prints and patched together a bunch of mostly flannel in a simple back.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

I think I mentioned in a past post that I purchased a fabric favorite for the binding once I saw that it was reprinted.  It’s a Sevenberry and ties in the colors of the back perfectly.

I try to get photos of quilts before I wash them and now that that’s done I threw it into the wash.  I was super impressed with how supple it was when I pulled it out.  It has an amazing drape.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio | Heart Value Quilt

It’s perfect timing.  The morning fog has cleared and sunny skies are expected for Seattle by mid-day.  It appears the season is turning just in time for the first day of summer making it time to pull the duvet and sleep with just a quilt.

This is just another example of how to use value in your quilts.  You can follow the simple instructions in my value quilt tutorial to make your own.

Happy Week Peeps!

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sew katie did seattle quilting and sewing studio

P.S. I’ve added evening and weekend Open Studios to the schedule;) One can never have too many opportunities to quilt!

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Filed Under: Finished Quilts, Modern Quilts, Value Quilt, warm cool color quilt Tagged With: modern quilting, patchwork, quilting, Quilts, value quilt

Walk the Line | Straight-Line Quilting Workshop

January 28, 2017 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Straight Line Quilting Workshop I still quilt, I swear.

The New Year brings out the clean, organize and purge in me. So on the 1st I jumped into The January Cure, a scheduled out month of house chores. Even with a few missed days to teach in Jackson Hole, the momentum to finish is still present.

I’ve also made my yearly mental checklist of unfinished tops or other projects that could use some quilting.

Maybe some of you are making these lists, and organizing for the year as well.   I thought you might even welcome the opportunity to refine your straight line quilting skills in a workshop before you tackle all those unfinished quilt tops on your own home machine.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Straight Line Quilting WorkshopI’d certainly like to share all the know-how of straight line quilting I’ve accumulated and I happen to have a closet, a very clean closet 😉 full of quilts to show you as examples.  Each of them have their own straight line quilting story.

To practice these geometric, curvy and geometric designs I thought we’d go with the New Year’s theme of ‘organize’.  Nesting buckets seemed appropriate, made with either whole cloth (we won’t count that as a new project;) or orphaned blocks (you can see that look here).

We’ll learn the tips and tricks of using a walking foot, marking, turning and burying knots as you master modern straight line quilting designs on the studio’s Bernina machines.  The bucket’s panels make perfect practice palettes and you can pull from your stash to make them happen.

Take a closer look at my finished quilts and smaller projects with straight line quilting, or SIGN-UP to develop this skill for yourself.

Hope the New Year has been rich in craftiness Peeps.

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Seattle-Modern-Quilt-Guild-1

I’ll be showing my quilts and speaking at the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s Wednesday, February 8th meeting from 7pm-9pm.  You don’t have to be a member to attend, so this is a great opportunity to check out what they have planned for lectures and workshops this year.  I promise to entertain;)

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Filed Under: Classes and workshops, Modern Quilting, Modern Quilting Classes, Projects Tagged With: classes, nesting buckets, quilting, seattle, straight line quilting, workshops

Alignment Optional Pillows

November 6, 2016 By Katie

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Pillows

I’m still rolling with concept inspiration from my psychedelic baby block workshop and ended up with these fabulous pillows made with a block I’m calling Alignment Optional.

Back in September I thought I’d revisit a color way we used in Quilting Modern for the Shattered Quilt, replacing the Carolina Chambray with yarn dyed Essex as my light and Michael Miller Cotton Couture for the black.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio

I made some blocks, and well…they just didn’t look good.  I packed them into a zip-lock and added them to the bureau in the basement where I collect marinating ideas.  This approach is making the drawers a bit harder to open, but we all know the importance of play when it comes to creativity, which sometimes just means yielding your rotary cutter and making the cut.  So that’s exactly what I did.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Pillows

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Pillows

Though it was fun to try two different straight-line quilting styles, when it comes to a pair so similar in design I’d like the quilting to be identical.  Problem is I’m not sure which design I like best.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Block Pillows

These are only the second project I’ve personally quilted with a lot of solid black fabric.  When I did my first quilt with black I didn’t know about black batting and small fibers of the white batting became visible on the quilt top.  The term in quilting for this is ‘bearding’ and I won’t go into all the reasons it can happen, but the right color batting and a new sharp needle can generally prevent this issue.  Too bad I didn’t remember black batting for these pillows;)

sew katie did | Seattle Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Pillows

Here’s an Instagram photo showing my starts of the Alignment Optional pillows at the top.  Sharing this hopefully gives you an idea of the secondary design multiple blocks would create, very similar to the Psychedelic Baby Block.  Though I was planning on making a coordinating pillow with the blocks at the bottom, they actually became a quilt.  I’m hoping to get some photos of it today.  And this time I used black batting;)

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Pillows

All finished off with my invisible zipper tutorial and this awesome Alexander Henry Ghastlies Clover.

Interested in creating some pillow tops yourself?  I have three dates listed for the Alignment Optional Pillows AND since I taught myself how to create coupon codes let’s celebrate with $10 off classes (sorry, not open studios) until the 24th with the code ‘meagain.’

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio | Alignment Optional Pillows

I’m already envisioning my next pillows being fabulous in red and white for the season.

Happy Week Peeps;)

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Filed Under: Projects Tagged With: class, classes, Improv, improvisation, improvisational, improvisational patchwork, invisible zipper class, modern quilt, modern quilting, patchwork, pillows, quilting, Quilts, seattle, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild, sew katie did, washington, workshops

New Tricked Additions In Pillow Form

October 15, 2016 By Katie

Seattle’s got Halloween kind of weather going on.  We’re currently enjoying the light things up and warmth that electricity provides, but I have definitely put some thought into a list of backup chores for if it goes.  My fabric shelves and scrap bins are due a serious clear out and that alone could easily eat a few days.


I’ve been joyfully moving stuff around all week.  Decorations are up, and in their true place.  Each year I love the hunt of a few well sought out additions, like these awesome lit pumpkins from Target for the top of my fridge.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing StudioAnd just like Christmas I allow myself a few new Halloween prints.  Novelty print generally means pillows.  You already know I’m seriously not lacking in pillows and nothing stops me from making more.  I believe I’ve added five to the rotation this year for Halloween alone;).  Last year my splurge was this zombie fabric by Riley Blake.  A huge spiderweb pillow (more here) has become Roan’s perch when waiting for his morning carpool.  Playing with this block ignited some new ideas.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing StudioSince it needed something matchie-matchie and I had left over test blocks I made a couple more.

sew katie did | seattle modern quilting and sewing studio sew katie did's seattle modern quilting and sewing studioThese pillows I made last year are still my favorites.  So in the Ghastlies print I made a couple long lumbars which are my favorite shape for comfortable couch lounging.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting and Sewing Studio I generally buy the forms from Garnet Hill, though IKEA does carry a nice rectangle shape.  They’re down-filled and puff out to the corners nicely.  You don’t need tons of forms.  Under Halloween lives the Christmas ones, and quite possibly another layer under that.

sew katie did | Invisible Zipper TutorialAll have invisible zippers following my tutorial of course.

sew katie did | modern quilting workshops Seattle | hanging halloween candy bagMy favorite made addition of the year is the hanging candy bucket I created using this paper pieced pattern.   I’ve collected a few new patterns for next year. There are so many more projects I’d like to do, but I think I might be considered borderline something at this point.  I’ve been collecting them all on a Pinboard.

sew-katie-didhalloween-heads

It’s probably time to think of a costume.

Happy week Peeps;)

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Filed Under: halloween, invisible zipper, pillows, Projects Tagged With: alexander henry, class, classes, handmade, improvisation, improvisational patchwork, invisible zipper class, pillows, quilting, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild, workshops

:: Psychedelic Baby Quilt Top | Improv Strip Piecing ::

September 13, 2016 By Katie

sew katie did | seattle modern quilting and sewing studioRegardless of the pile of quilts in need of quilting, I’ve got a finished quilt top to show you!  Another using what I call the Psychedelic Baby Quilt Block.  It has just the right amount of improvisational technique mixed with a traditional on-point layout.  I can’t seem to get enough of this string block, so after teaching this workshop for a bit now I’m trying to wrap my head around fabric amounts to make a quilt pattern.

sew katie did seattle modern quilting and sewing studioWhere I get my color way inspiration for my quilts is a common question.  Since I’ve had a languishing half-written post about the various avenues I take for gathering it, I’ll just share a bit here and there as quilts come together.  Like my last quilts of this nature, this color way was out of my comfort zone (step away from the purple Katie;).

For this version I found inspiration in a Land of Nod catalog.  I often go this route because it gives me an opportunity to work with color combos that are trending or not on my radar.  I’d recommend subscribing to catalogs that lean towards modern design (or traditional for that matter) and just like the endless bucket list of quilt ideas, you’ll never lack for a mixology of color.  I generally rip out what catches my eye and pin it to either my quilt design wall or my Color Way Pinboard stocked with art, quilts and randomness, all inspiring.

sew katie did seattle modern quilting and sewing studioOnce I’ve got a color way solidified I try to shop from my fabric stash as much as possible and fill in the holes from there.  I try to think of it as a good challenge when I run out of fabric and mix something I have in (even a shade or tint lighter or darker).  Though not as drastic as some, this quilt had that going on when it came to the white.  I supplemented some white flannel and off-white adding some texture and depth.

These blocks are BIG (15″ x 15″), and come together so quickly.  The fun really is in seeing this block represented in each student’s fabrics and how excited they get about what’s happening on the design wall as the blocks are created.

sew katie did seattle modern quilting and sewing studioThis month I’ve got out of town students coming to take the workshop while on vacation in Seattle.  Because I needed new step-outs to teach, them coming provided me with the perfect excuse to play with another color way.  This time around the colors actually work with something in my home.  I tease I get my color out when it comes to making things.  You’ll be seeing this block here soon with a little twist and a binary scheme.

sew katie did | seattle modern quilting and sewing studio and classes

Because of the method in the workshop we actually can create two quilts (like my No/Know Quilts) at once.  These blocks are great for teaching paneling and free-piecing.  I hope to show you them soon as a finished quilt.

You can see more of the Psychedelic Baby block in use here, here, here and here😉 and I’ve added one more Saturday workshop to the website.

Happy week peeps!

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Filed Under: Quilt Tops Tagged With: class, classes, Improv, improvisation, improvisational, improvisational patchwork, modern quilting, quilting, Quilts, seattle, Seattle Modern Quilting Guild, workshops

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

::Modern Domestic Gallery Show::

December 14, 2015 By Katie

katie-Pedersen-Quilts-split

I’ve always enjoyed teaching at Modern Domestic in Portland.  They sell quality fabric, Bernina machines and have an amazing classroom that doubles as their gallery space.  Of course I should mention the friendly and knowledgeable staff;)

They kindly asked me if I’d like to be featured.  It turned out December was the month I could manage since I have no scheduled trunk shows or classes.  I figured people are making and shopping to boot and would see the quilts.

katie-Pedersen-Quilts

  I pulled all of these wonderful images from their blog,


and Instagram.

I selected quilts from the series I created, my Value Quilt Tutorial and then a few that reflect my favorite technique workshops, like elongated and double-trouble triangles.

katie-Pedersen-Quilt-2

xkatie-Pedersen-Quilts-split-2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.en0EuGosSA

I loved this photo that Sometimes Crafter posted on her Instagram account.

SEW KATIE DID:MD Show

It’s always so fun to “see” (I wish I could have gone) all the quilts hanging together, especially in such a light and bright space.

I’ve been working on holiday gifts that I’ll likely pop back in to share at the end of the week.  Maybe a Christmas fabric FQ giveaway??? Be sure to add your email to the “follow me around” button in the sidebar for that update.  I’ve got some out of prints you surely need;)

  This Tuesday, next Tuesday (22nd) and this Thursday I have a space in  Open Studio with requests to teach/work on double sided napkins and other holiday projects like the dopp kits and zip pouches I’ve been making and posting on my Instagram.  Drop me an email to join us;)

Happy Monday Peeps!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: modern domestic portland, quilt, quilting, seattle

Modern Domestic Gallery Show

December 14, 2015 By Katie

katie-Pedersen-Quilts-split

I’ve always enjoyed teaching at Modern Domestic in Portland.  They sell quality fabric, Bernina machines and have an amazing classroom that doubles as their gallery space.  Of course I should mention the friendly and knowledgeable staff;)

They kindly asked me if I’d like to be featured.  It turned out December was the month I could manage since I have no scheduled trunk shows or classes.  I figured people are making and shopping to boot and would see the quilts.

katie-Pedersen-Quilts

  I pulled all of these wonderful images from their blog, and Instagram.

I selected quilts from the series I created, my Value Quilt Tutorial and then a few that reflect my favorite technique workshops, like elongated and double-trouble triangles.

katie-Pedersen-Quilt-2

xkatie-Pedersen-Quilts-split-2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.en0EuGosSA

I loved this photo that Sometimes Crafter posted on her Instagram account.

SEW KATIE DID:MD Show

It’s always so fun to “see” (I wish I could have gone) all the quilts hanging together, especially in such a light and bright space.

I’ve been working on holiday gifts that I’ll likely pop back in to share at the end of the week.  Maybe a Christmas fabric FQ giveaway??? Be sure to add your email to the “follow me around” button in the sidebar for that update.  I’ve got some out of prints you surely need;)

  This Tuesday, next Tuesday (22nd) and this Thursday I have a space in  Open Studio with requests to teach/work on double sided napkins and other holiday projects like the dopp kits and zip pouches I’ve been making and posting on my Instagram.  Drop me an email to join us;)

Happy Monday Peeps!

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Filed Under: Modern Quilting, Modern Quilts Tagged With: modern domestic portland, quilt, quilting, seattle

Merry Moderns (Split Personality) Christmas Quilt

December 7, 2015 By Katie

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas Quilt Section

This quilt is a long time coming, as in years…

Alexander Henry’s Merry Moderns fabric was THE Christmas quilt fabric for me.  I just fell hard for it the minute I saw it.

IMG_1293

The fabric seemed a perfect merge for an improvisational technique I’d been brainstorming about.  A block that was a faster way to produce ‘crazy pieced’ looking fabric.  So I started playing with the block construction concept that became what I now call the Split Personality Quilt Block.  The method quickly produces multiple blocks allowing you instant playtime with it in endless design concepts.

IMG_1289

Fabrics from the stash that would coordinate with a Christmas theme were pulled, auditioned and sewn.  Some favorites were eaten up in the process.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Block

 And so, all these happy fabrics have been living together as blocks for a few years, waiting for the perfect pattern to show itself.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas Quilt Fold

My friend Laurel showed up at an open studio to finish up an Arkansas Crossroads quilt.  I instantly envisioned my blocks in that design and the production began…last year;)

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas Quilt Full flat

The essex linen in a cross weave black stabilized the scrappiness.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas quilt awesome

Merging traditional quilt designs with improvisational techniques has really become where my process leads me.  I love the secondary designs traditional set blocks create.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas Quilt side

When it came to quilting I lived and breathed this quilt for days.  For once I didn’t overthink it and went with straight lines that ran off the edge and echoed the ‘Xs’ the secondary design created.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas Quilt Side block

I dreaded the thought that I’d have to add another horizontal and vertical line because my body was done with quilting, but in the end I dismissed the addition.  It has the perfect drape and isn’t over quilted into the luscious feel of cardboard.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas quilt back

Here’s a peek at the back.  Leftovers and flannel of course.

SEW KATIE DID:Split Personality Christmas Quilt Detail 2

SEW KATIE DID:Side:Split Personality Christmas QuiltThe binding is the small scale print in the Merry Moderns line.  It worked out that some faces landed on the front and back of the quilt’s edge.

SEW KATIE DID:Binding Roll

You can see more designs and concepts with this block in my Instagram feed and I’ve added this block onto my January calendar as a daytime, nighttime and weekend workshop.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and then of course there is spring!

Happy Happy Peeps;)

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Filed Under: Classes and workshops, Improvisational Quilting Classes, Improvisational Quilts, Innovative Patchwork Piecing, Modern Quilts, Quilting Modern techniques and projects for improvisational quilts Tagged With: classes, Improv, improvisation, Improvisational Christmas Quilt, modern quilt, modern quilting, patchwork, quilting, Quilts, seattle, sew katie did

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.
Slowly getting some Xmas decor out. The pillows ar Slowly getting some Xmas decor out. The pillows are Boss Dog approved. #handmadechristmas #neverenoughpillows
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