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Alignment Optional Pillows

November 6, 2016 By Katie

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.

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.

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.

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;)

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;)

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.’

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

Happy Week Peeps;)

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.~~

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;)

::Somewhat Circular Hex::

January 23, 2015 By Katie

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!

Cutting Corners Binding Technique

January 20, 2015 By Katie

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;)

::Somewhat Circular Hex::

January 15, 2015 By Katie

Regardless of my best intentions posting anything here gets pushed to the back.

I have a new season of lectures and workshops coming up and am always hoping to finish up at least one more sample for design options. I love this practice as it allows me to reacquaint myself with a technique. Often I’ll gain perspective to share with my students that I didn’t originally think of. Design wall time is invaluable to my process and a main focus of my workshops. Leftovers from the original project are generally my go to, but more often than not, one project’s scraps merge into another project.

But it’s that desire for a finish that keeps me from here. What I need to get over is always wishing to post that finished project. Especially since I sew way faster in my head than real life.

So I think my intention for blogging this year is to focus on process AND post about it.

Marketing workshops is at the forefront of posting too and I wanna say I’m lucky that my classes fill as if late, but I also have to give myself credit that I’ve been working hard to figure out what people are inspired by, it’s not an accident.

But if there’s a spot I like to make sure that I’m working on a sample. And that’s just what happened with this hex quilt.

There’s some quilting that needs to come out here and there, but I’m pretty happy with it. The trend and my love for dense quilting however isn’t fitting for the utilitarian use of baby quilts in my opinion, cardboard comes to mind, but we’ll see how it washes out. I probably could have helped it out by selecting a type of batting that would be more supple instead of just grabbing a scrap that fit.

My To the Point workshop is full, but I’m working on a sample from the hex scraps for it. They’re wee and currently being quilted. Hoping for that finish today along with hanging sleeves/labels for Quiltcon quilts and squaring or at least picking out binding for the hex.

Thanks for reading, I’ve obviously got things to do;)

::Lightening Speed::

January 7, 2015 By Katie

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.

::Pop::

December 9, 2014 By Katie

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;)

::Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival::

September 8, 2014 By Katie

I want to remind you all that The Bainbridge Quilt Festival is this weekend. I’m sure the weather will be stellar.

I was digging for a photo of my quilt entries from last year to no avail, but here’s HST LOVE and Seam Ripper IPA, my entries for this year. I love both for different reasons.

seam-ripper IPA/sewkatiedid

I had a lot of fun volunteering last year, especially because I like to talk about quilts to who ever will listen. Everyone’s had a quilt, security blanket or comforter in their lifetime so there’s plenty to talk about.

Two spots are left in my Elongated Triangle Workshop Friday at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. The classroom space is amazing and it’s walkable from the ferry as is the festival.

Wednesday is my first open quilting studio at Drygoods new location! I’m pretty excited about the new studio space and seeing some of my peeps. I think I’m going to venture over via the water taxi this time.

Big thanks to everyone that signed up for my Exploring Inside a Block Series, All workshops filled with the exception of one slot in Double-Trouble, but we’ll run the series again in the winter along with some new blocks:)

Exploring Inside a Box | Improv Patchwork Series

September 2, 2014 By Katie

(Session I:Boxed In Block)

I’ve loved the idea of teaching a workshop series in which each session focused on a single block. A block of the month sort of thing, minus the sampler quilt finish.

I wanted the series to touch on both traditional and improvisational patchwork piecing techniques and construction, but focus more on the design process and students creating their own unique block. Of course being with classmates along the way feeds that inspiration and generates ideas outside the box, or maybe inside;)

The idea of pillows as the delivery system for this workshop idea hung with me for a few reasons:

1) If you know me, you know I like pillows.

2) We need pillows, more pillows.

3) Pillows are gems to perfect sewing skills, like an invisible zipper.

4) Pillows provide realistic parameters in which to create, design and buy more fabric, all with little intimidation or money.

5) No one can say to you, ‘Go big or go home.” when you’re making a pillow.

So pillows it is.

(Session II: Double-Trouble)

By going small we’d have time to enjoy, talk and develop our own design process.

That’s right, I’m a ‘pillow maker,’ a term that cracks me up because I actually heard it used once as a derogatory term by a quilter that didn’t think another really made quilts, only pillows. I’m not saying you have to be a pillow maker, you can even be a sampler maker if that’s your thing, but we’ll be exploring with in the confines of a box. Go big or go small, we’ll make it yours.

So here goes.

Sign up at The Quilting Loft.

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-Exploring Inside a Box-

Modern Patchwork Block Series

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.

Class Full/See Quilting Loft for winter session
~~Session I- Boxed In- Log Cabin Block/~~ ~~Thursday, September 11^th from 6-9pm~~

~~Let’s start off with some basics shall we? Go round and round, but in a square. Take on log cabin blocks with new perspective. Design wall process is a focus of this session.~~

Session II- Double-Trouble Block/ Thursday, October 2^nd from 6-9pm

Two techniques, one traditional and one improvisational create modern triangles. Skills like accurate cutting and piecing covered.

Class Full/See Quilting Loft for winter session

~~Session III- Stripped/ Thursday, November 13^th from 6-9pm~~

Cut fabric up, sew it back together, and then sew it together again. It’s like making your own fabric. We’ll place your piecing into a simple modern block design and learn how to build out an improvisational block.

Class Full/See Quilting Loft for winter session

~~Session IV- Improvisational Curves Block/ Thursday, December 4^th from 6-9pm~~

~~Master improvisationally pieced curves without pinning a thing to create organic shapes.~~

Session V- Pillowtalk/Invisible Zipper Closure Pillow and Finishing Class/ Thursday, December 11^th from 5-9pm

Finish up blocks and/or learn how to professionally install an invisible zipper.

::Sunday::

February 26, 2014 By Katie

Seattle is a very sleepy town on Sundays, but this weekend there’s reasons to get out the door besides that walk/run you’ve been promising yourself to take.

Let me help you, I’m a good planner and capable of Jedi mind tricks.

Preregister online for Sunday’s Open Quilting Studio at Drygoods
Pack your unfinished project/tools and machine provided
Go grab a coffee and shop the Ballard Farmer’s Market
Stroll into Drygoods Design around 11 to meet author Rachel May and have snacks
Find your seat around noon and start stitchin’

Have you peeked inside Rachel’s book, Quilting with a Modern Slant?

Eeeekkkkk! I sound like a dud compared to the other amazing people in this book, but I’m there! I sent two quilts.

My favorite Value Quilt that was quilted by Angela Walters (also in the book).

I use this quilt almost every night on the couch.

My Seattle Lone Star Quilt also made it into the bit on stars. This quilt is really simple. What really makes it shine in person is the amazing quilting my dear friend Krista Withers did on it.

Enough about me, the others in this book have amazing stories and quilts. I haven’t made it all the way through, but it’s very inspirational.

Hope to see you Sunday!

::Double-Trouble Workshop::

September 20, 2013 By Katie

TGIF! What a whirl-wind week! A few guild lectures, a few workshops and snap, it’s gone!

Fit a game in too last Friday. The boys always go and Sandie and I were planning a night of sewing and drinking beer when Jefe surprised us with suite tickets. Hard to say no to that.

I think I quite possibly took my last sunshine run this afternoon. The forecast is crummy for the next four days, so I do believe it is time to think about a new project, hint hint. There’s still space in my Double-Trouble Workshop Sunday at Drygoods.

Last time I taught this workshop the designs were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Go scrappy,

or go bold with solids. I’ll be bringing in the scrap bins for playful fun (because I know you’re almost out of scraps;).

I’m a little thrilled that the weather is changing. I love staying at home on a Saturday to sew.

I did manage last Friday before the game to get some sashing onto my crazy pieced flying geese and they’ve been waiting patiently all week. My game plan is to finish them tomorrow into some sort of quilt top. As usual, I kind of have a plan.

Is sewing or a workshop in your weekend plans too?

Alignment Optional Pillows

Diving Geese Quilt

New York Beauty Pillow

::Somewhat Circular Hex::

Cutting Corners Binding Technique

::Somewhat Circular Hex::

::Lightening Speed::

::Pop::

::Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival::

Exploring Inside a Box | Improv Patchwork Series

::Sunday::

::Double-Trouble Workshop::

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