Hi everyone! We're huge fans of Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet. One of our favorite things about her is her creativity and her famous design boards! If you
Learn how to baste a quilt 3 different ways including: how to pin baste, how to baste a quilt with boards, and how to spray baste.
Today's quilts include all the quilts I saw in the RMQM exhibit made from patterns by Willyne Hammerstein. Probably the most "famous" pattern of hers is La Passacaglia, which include all the quilts shown here except the second one. A couple of these ladies said this was their first attempt at English Paper Piecing. I'm not sure they could've picked a more difficult pattern! I have this book and the "papers" and have yet to start it. Some of the pieces are very tiny! I love all of these quilts - I think they're just amazing. And the three made from the same pattern are all very unique!
Modern, flying geese pattern that is fat quarter friend and comes in baby, throw, and queen size
A fun Saturday roundup! I'm doing a talk to day and a all day class tomorrow.. the teach season has begun for me! Love getting out to work with you in person! To find out where i will be, sign up for my newsletter Awesome supply sale going on from yarn to tools to kits.. Do you also knit or crochet? Be sure to check those supplies too! See ALL the Sale Items What a spectacular quilt, right? I spotted a kit for it... my finger is at the ready.. i know a little girl that would love this some...
I have been waiting and waiting to post this quilt on April Fool's Day...then I realized that this year, it fell on Easter Sunday. So, this April Fool is a double one - a trompe l'oeil , posted on the wrong day! *I would like to encourage you to read to the bottom of this post before Googling and clicking links you find online.* I did NOT design this quilt; I saw it online a good many years ago, and it has been on my bucket list all those years. It's a fabulous design, the brainchild of Ukrainian quilter Mezhibovskaya Valery Vadimovna, who blogs under the name lerusisik. You will notice I did not add any live links to her site as I normally would do. There's a reason... Lerusisik designed this quilt as part of a guild challenge on twisted log cabin blocks. They had 6 months to complete the challenge, and she came up with this brilliant design which she called "Through The Lens." Amazingly, it did not win the challenge. (? must have been some pretty strong competition in that guild!) She next entered it in a math contest (didn't win that either) and then decided to submit a picture of her quilt to a German magazine, Lena's Patchwork, who developed a pattern, and featured it on the cover. As happens, people began making the quilt and submitting it to shows and winning prizes, with no credit given to Lerusisik. They claimed the design as their own.I know how hurtful that is, and Lerusisik became quite upset about the whole thing. Earlier this year when I began my version of her quilt, I tried to revisit her website, with not very good results. My McAffee program refused to let me on the site, saying there was malicious code. I tried from a different computer, and Windows Defender gave the message, "Whoa - are you sure you want to go there? " Clicking a link from a saved sketch in Word gave the message, "this site contains viruses, click at your own risk." Hmm...I got brave (or stupid) and clicked it anyway. I got to the main page ok, and everything seemed fine, so I decided to try a link to Barbie doll clothes (that sounded innocent enough, right?) I ended up on a porn site. So...draw your own conclusions, but for these reasons I am not posting any live links to her site, and if you Google and click, do so at your own risk. I am not going back. Despite all of this, I still wanted to make the quilt! Originally, she had shared her working sketch, done in Corel Draw, on her site for readers to download (with permission), and I had saved that sketch. That's what I used to work from: In hindsight, I should have taken the time to draw this out in EQ8. It may not be obvious, but if you study the sketch, you will see that some of the blocks cannot be pieced as drawn. There were many last minute adjustments in strip sequence as I went. As you see in the magazine cover above, the original had multi-coloured centres but I chose to go with just 3 colours for the quilt: black, white, and Canada Red Kona cotton. I think the high contrast in colours helps add to the 3-D effect, and I like how clean and crisp the colours look together. There are only 4 square blocks in the entire piece (the corners), and these measure 4". The strips range from 1/2" to 1/8" wide, many of them curved. It was a nightmare to piece. I wasn't sure where all these pieces would fit in the final puzzle! I've done a fair bit of patchwork in my day, but this was truly difficult. About 6 blocks in, I decided I couldn't do it. I set it aside for a couple of weeks while I thought on it. It occurred to me that the piece is symmetrical side to side and top to bottom, so once I had the first quadrant of 9 blocks figured out, that would be the worst of it, as the shapes would repeat after that. I think I can, I think I can... Amazingly, as the blocks grew, the centre popped up right away. These are the sewn blocks before joining...which took another week or so to ponder. Since the blocks were all different sizes...how could I possibly join them in rows? It couldn't be done. I thought back to the Global Warming quilt I did last year, and a light bulb came on! I needed to join the centre blocks in a circle, and then insert them into the outside blocks, like sewing a sleeve in an armhole. There was a small fly in the ointment, as perhaps you can see below: No? Look here; there are gaps in the corners, where square meets round. I cut 2 triangles of black and 2 of white and hoped it would work. It did! :) About this time, Polly came along to shatter the illusion! The quilt is by no means perfectly made. There are strips that don't match up at the joining of the sphere to the background, but I did my best, and the illusion still works. Interestingly, I recall reading on Lerusisik's site that she also had issues figuring out how to join her blocks and finally sewed them together by hand, using an EPP method. I added a very simple border of black and white blocks and strips, which help add to the movement of the whole piece. It is quilted very simply using Aurifil white, black and red thread. All of the stitching is done in the ditch, so as not to detract from the fabric. This is far and away the most challenging patchwork project I've done. I cannot say I enjoyed making it, but I sure as heck enjoyed finishing it! If you would like to try your hand at this...I wish you the best of luck. Thank you, Mezhibovskaya Valery Vadimovna, for your very brilliant design. Beth of Mrs. Pugsley's Emporium has kindly invited me to display the quilt at her shop later this spring. I'll keep you posted on when that will be (I think we need to decide first who is climbing the ladder to hang it...).
I've been on a roll this week prepping for my 5-day teaching engagement at Quilting Adventures in New Braunfels, TX. There are always s...
Sometimes I go stop in my tracks when I see a quilt, this is one that did it for me! My friend Joanna of Figtree Loves antique quilts. She designed this quilt using vintage blocks in a gorgeous and classic Red/Green/Cream. The blocks seem to float as she used the same cream for ALL the block backgrounds and I love the effect! She worked created this gorgeous book with all the blocks, and 10 bonus projects using single blocks, it's so cool! And I decided..... I HAD to make it And sewing is WAY more fun with friends.. so.... do...
Paula Nadelstern is a quilt artist, teacher and designer of fabrics. From her studio in NYC, she creates amazing quilts full of detail.
This week of the solstice what is on the top of my mind.... today is a little different... Board Games! Sometimes the block comes about because of a memory or something I'm doing, like block 18 is 'On the Go' and I was traveling. Block 19 'Board Games' started as...
In Ste Marie-aux-Mines France, was the presentation of the new Quiltmania book of Willyne Hammerstein. the expo shows quilts from the book. www.quiltmania.com
Learn how to free motion quilt this funky In Stitches quilting design. This would be a great choice for Halloween quilts with a spooky theme!
Click on the image to download a PDF pattern. Most of the patterns are free – a few at the bottom are available for purchase in my Etsy shop, Piecemeal Quilts. Copyright: This is pretty commo…
Welcome to this week's tutorial for the How Far Will You Go? QAL - a traditional block called Crazy Ann. Can I just add that I was more than slightly crazy by the time I put the tutorial together - those half-rectangle triangle units nearly did my head in ;o) This tutorial is for a 10" finished block (10.5" unfinished). As always I have pressed my seam open unless otherwise noted, and all seam allowances are a scant 1/4 inch unless otherwise noted. Cutting Instructions: Print Fabrics: You will need four different print fabrics to make this block. Fabric 1 (centre square) - One 2.5" square Fabric 2 - Two 4 7/8" squares Fabric 3 - Four 2.5" squares Fabric 4 - Two 3" x 5.5" rectangles. Cut your Fabric 2 squares diagonally in half: And cut your Fabric 4 rectangles diagonally through the centre - please make sure it is this angle, not the other way (I recut these pieces more times than I'd like to count!) Background Fabrics: You will need: * Four 5.5" x 2.5" rectangles * Four 2 7/8" x 2 7.8" squares. Take your four 2 7/8" squares, and cut them diagonally through the centre. Piecing the Corner Units: The four corner units in this block are identical - so we'll be making four of these units. First take your Fabric 3 squares, and sew one of your background triangles to the side as shown, taking care to line up the top edges. Press this seam open and trim off the little dog ear. Take a second background triangle and place it as shown. Sew this seam and press it open. You should end up with four of these units: Next take your Fabric 2 triangles and align them as shown: Sew along this seam and press your seam open. These corner units should measure 4.5" square. Half Rectangle Units These units caused a fair amount of stress. I tried numerous times to get these to work and failed - the only way I can see these could possibly work is by using foundation paper piecing. If anyone knows a better way I would LOVE to hear it! Now, I don't have templates for you to print so you'll have to draw them up yourself (I am soooo mean!) You will need to draw four rectangles, measuring 2" x 4" each. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE SEAM ALLOWANCE!!! So you'll be trimming 1/4" away from the paper later on... Draw a diagonal line (at the angle shown) through each of the rectangles, and cut them out. I labelled mine, but that's totally up to you... Take your Fabric 2 half-rectangle triangle and place it right side up on the back of your template. Take a background rectangle and place it as shown: Sew along your drawn line, fold back the paper and trim 1/4" away from your seam. Press the background fabric over. : Using your paper as a guide, trim 1/4" away from the template. And you should end up with four units like this, each measuring 2.5" x 4.5": Putting the Block Together: Arrange your block units as shown, and simply piece together like a 9 patch. And a completed Crazy Ann block! There are two of these in the full Twin quilt - as always please add your blocks to the Flickr group :o) xx Jess
"La Passacaglia Quilt" progress ... progress ... progress ... It's not too often that a quilt comes along and holds my attention so well. It is all English Paper Pieced and I have the holes in my fingers to prove it! lol here is a quick look at the 3 new Rosettes. I decided to give the Racoons back their tails in this large Rosette and I am liking how it looks like they are poking out under the stars :o) Thanks for popping by, hugs Sharon You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here
Wondering about Finishing or Binding a Quilt? Top US quilting blog, Diary of a Quilter, features their Step by Step Instructions. Click here now!!
Pieced by Mona Beck
I have finally finished all of my new patterns that I designed using "Millie's Closet" So I thought I would do some showing and a little telling of 3 of them for you today! "Millie's Dresses" 60" x 80" by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet (rotary cut and machine pieced along with 3 buttons on each dress) "Spoolin' Around" 72" x 88" by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet (rotary cut and machine pieced along with 6 appliquéd hearts and daisies) "Sew Day" 58" x 66" by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet (rotary cut and machine pieced along with embroidered needles) I've had sew much fun playing with Millie:) I've really enjoyed pairing up my prints with solids... they make designing even more enjoyable! I hope you like my new patterns...all are available for purchase here. I'll be showing all 9 patterns this week and I'll be back tomorrow with a fun little tutorial using Millie's as well! xx Lori
First, we have a great design wall tip for you! Helen's new design wall is quick and easy to assemble. She used 3/4" foam core board. It comes in 4'x8' sheets and can be found at the hardware store
Last week I showed pictures of traditional quilt frames and how they were propped up parallel to the ground. The four boards that suppor...
Last class I did a demo of the Stack and Whack method and promised I would put it up here for you to see. For clear cut directions on how to select and stack your fabric here is a link to the directions by Quilter/Author Bethany Reynolds: http://www.bethanyreynolds.com/downloads/SnW_Basics.pdf This was my starter fabric, a bold print by Free Spirit Westminster Fibers called Stylized Tropical Garden. I bought it about 3 years ago and knew the minute I saw it that I wanted to do a Stack with it. It has been sitting in my stash waiting for this moment. And since this is my year to work from my stash...well, here we go! Following Bethany's instructions for stacking the fabric, I stacked 4 repeats one on top of the other. I then decided to cut 6" strips across the width of the fabric. Why 6"? My ruler is 6 inches wide, it's easy and I'm lazy...lol. I then subcut them again into 6 inch squares as shown below. This creates "sets". A stack of four pieces that are exactly the same. I can have lots of fun with these! First try putting the stack together different ways, rotating the pieces. You can get some interesting blocks from this. From my "set" above, I can arrange them to create the following four options just by rotating them. Isn't that cool?! Yes!!! And each "set" will create something entirely different. These blocks finished at 11 1/4 inches. They may vary depending on your 1/4 inch seam. The nice thing is they are incredibly easy to square up to the same size when you are all finished! ********************************************************************************* Okay, lets have some more fun! Let's take that 6" set and cut it diagonally both directions as shown below. Now we have created 4 more "sets". (to keep your sets together, place a pin through all four layers until you are ready to use it) Let's take one of these "sets" and put it together in a block as shown below: There is only one way that these blocks will come together, there is no optional rotating with these, but the results are great also! Here are the four blocks that were created from this cut. Such variety from one little square set of fabric! Your mind is racing right?! Infinite possibilities depending on where you cut. *********************************************** Okay, what to do with leftovers...you may find that you have some odd bits left from your strip, they didn't quite measure 6 inches square...You can go ahead and cut them into 3 inch pieces or 2 1/2 inch pieces or even 2 inch pieces. Subcut them again to make squares or in the case of the 2 inch strips...you can lay them side by side for another unusual effect. These don't look like much do they...but see below... ******************************************* So I hope you will try this technique, there are a myriad of possibilities. Just look at the blocks I got from my six inch strip of fabric below... And these aren't all of them! ***************************************************** If you like this technique and want to learn more, you can get some great books by Bethany Reynolds: http://www.bethanyreynolds.com/whackipedia.html Here is a link to another post in my blog that also discuss this technique: http://sisterofthedivide.blogspot.com/2012/07/tutorial-creating-stacked-lemoyne-star.html Have fun and show me your photos!!!
I recently created an enlarged design of a smaller quilt I had made several years ago. All enlargements have challenges, especially as I’m usually working from a photo and I don’t make patterns. This starburst design is a creation of “rays” with each having seven different fabrics in it, progressing from light to dark fabrics Read the full article...
Once in a while we come across a quilt artist whose use of color in design is simply masterful. Today we are honored to feature - and interv...
Start with an approachable lap-size quilt pattern and make a larger, bed-size quilt. The larger Dresden appliqués can be stitched in approximately the same
A pieced circle in 6 minutes! I first saw this technique on Simply Quilts, an HGTV show back in 2005. I thought the technique was cool and immediately bought the book about it, Pieced Curves So Simple by Dale Fleming. Of course, the moment passed and I never did anything with it until this week. I was inspired by my Redbird Bee buddy, Hanna's quilt Hugs and Hugs. I thought they'd make the perfect addition to my "X" blocks for a hugs and kisses baby quilt. Was I able to do a pieced circle in 6 minutes? At first, not by a long shot. But after a few, I managed to make a block in about 15 minutes. Considering my blocks were 2 pieced circles, I was pretty pleased. I found my Olfa circle cutter handy to make the freezer paper templates and a pair of super sharp to the point scissors for all the clipping. All in all, I loved this technique and plan to use it again. A nice video of the 6 minute circle technique can be found on the HGTV website here. You might want to bookmark it - I had a hard time finding it until my friend Kelly pointed me in the right direction! As far as other projects go, my Bee blocks are also pieced together and the quilting has started! . . . Cindy
Freddy Moran was in the house! And so was dear blogland friend that I met for the first time! Miss Beautiful Kat from http://kellygirlquilts.blogspot.com/ Creative ladies working on collages... And a new favorite pattern of Freddy's called Matrimony. And some lonestars Freddy style. My work in progress using a painting by Vlaminck from the Musee D'Orsay as inspiration. Freddy = Pure happiness and joy!!!
Playing again ..... a couple of filler blocks to help square off the bottom right She now looks like this If your on Instagram I can be found under "lilabellelane" and I started another last night. It's good to get back into this one. I have actually missed it! Until next time, hugs Sharon You can also follow Lilabelle Lane Creations here
Click on the image to download a PDF pattern. Most of the patterns are free – a few at the bottom are available for purchase in my Etsy shop, Piecemeal Quilts. Copyright: This is pretty commo…
Now that I have a long arm quilting machine, I don't have to baste my quilt before quilting it ... unless I have a small project that I want to quilt on my domestic quilting machine (can't let those skills deteriorate!). I really don't like basting my quilt with pins or hand basting the layers t
Well the province went blue last night with a majority PC government. I'm not so sure it was an overwhelming vote FOR the PC's as much as a big vote against Graham's Liberals. Regardless, much as I love the color blue, I'm in love with green today. Here is the top for the tablerunner I told you of; I am very pleased with how it turned out. The pattern/directions are from a magazine I picked up this summer. It's called More Fast and Fabulous Quilting Ideas , part of the Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collection. It had a few projects in it which interested me, but this table topper really caught my eye. I used 9 different green fabrics, most of them batiks or hand-dyeds. This first photo is what the pattern called for. As I was putting it together, I wondered how it would look without the center section so I basted it together just to see (below). I like them both! What do you think? Sorry these photos are both just a little crooked... And look at the color difference- one was taken indoors, one outside... The one below is truer color... I hope to get it layered and quilted tomorrow. I'm going to use a variegated green King Tut thread, by Superior threads. The backing is a beautiful leafy print, with some gold, I think it suits very well although it's more of an Olive green tone. It will be bound with one of the darker greens. I promise a (straight!) photo when it's all finished... Piece, Linda "I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree..." ~ Joyce Kilmer
