(reversible Quilt-as-you-go-Quilt) First of all I’d like to thank Lynne for allowing me to plaster my ramblings on this blog, cos l...
52 of my favorite modern quilts from QuiltCon 2024.
Since my grandson is into video games with tanks and planes and battles, he’s got me thinking in terms of weapons and fire power, too. The Scrap Wars in my studio are going to be facing a new…
Today I've been catching up on some long overdue housework. As a quilter I must confess that my housework sometimes falls behind my creative pursuits. As I was sorting out a storage cupboard I found this beauty and had to revisit it. I've been quilting for so long now that I have a large 'back catalog' of quilts that haven't been seen by very many people. Yes I'm biased but I do think that this quilt is just too pretty not to show off! I love every little detail of Hearts Desire. And what's odd is that, if I had to recreate it today, I wouldn't change a thing. I look at these details and wonder how I had the patience to domestic machine quilt every last inch. Phew! Nowadays, I'm happy just to complete a 'quilt top' and move on. Interestingly, I still love the fabrics I selected. This was my first 'serious' applique pattern that I felt was a step up from easy or fun applique patterns. In fact I think this was the last hand drawn pattern I accomplished before I went digital. Check out those hearts! In this quilt design I can see my love for flowers, baskets, birds and leaves - the shapes and lines I favor have now become hallmarks of my style and patterns. I'm also really happy to see the 4x petal heart appear throughout the design - years before I started out on my Love Entwined journey. Obviously that precious coverlet had burrowed into my imagination years before I even realized! Hearts Desire is an applique design full of old world charm and plenty of time to sit back and enjoy the splendor of a blooming garden. Finished size: 84 x 84 inches There aren't any Hearts Desire quilts in the Open Gallery yet but I do hope that this will change as I know they're out there! Perhaps you have one yourself? I think I'll go and add my own to get the ball rolling. Like it? Make it! Hearts Desire Digital Pattern Download $39.95 USD What you need to know: Payment is securely completed via PayPal You don't need a PayPal account to pay as PayPal also securely processes Credit Card payments Pattern downloads are INSTANT and followed up with a live link to your email inbox Check your email for the follow up email (and check your spam / junk folders if you can't see it) The pattern will download to your computer directly You REQUIRE an UPDATED PDF Reader in order to open and print the PDF Pattern Note: When you receive your download, be sure to SAVE it to your computer. If you print it directly from the browser download screen, it will not be backed up to your computer. Click here to read my tutorial on printing my PDF patterns at home Here are all my posts connected to Hearts Desire, if you go ahead and make it yourself, feel free to add your own blog post specific URLs to the linky archive below for other quilter's to enjoy: An InLinkz Link-up
How to Make an Easy Patchwork Quilt. It's easy and makes a great beginning quilt project.
When I’m in a stash-busting mood I always look for a quick and easy yet effective quilt pattern. The Disappearing Four Patch is a handy pattern to keep on hand, as you can easily alter the size of the starting blocks to suit both the scale of the pattern on the fabric, and the amount of fabric that
Learn how to make a quilted jacket with or without lining. These details will help you make a proper quilted jacket the right way.
Learn a super simple quilt as you go strip quilt project in this video from National Quilters Circle today!
Twin I-Spy Lattice Quilt Finished Size: 66x83" Fabric Requirements: 180 3"x6.5" I-Spy Squares 60 2"xWOF (width of fabric) sashing strips backing slightly larger than 67x84" batting slightly larger than 67x84" To begin, sew each I-spy fabric to the sashing strip with 1/4" SA (seam allowance). When the fabrics are all sewn onto sashing on one side, cut them apart and sew the other side with 1/4"SA. Once all 180 I-Spy fabrics have sashing on both sides, press them all with seams to the inside Next, trim all squares to 6"x6" Now it's time to lay out the quilt. To do this, separate the squares into 3 piles. One is for squares that must be laid out vertically, the next is for horizontal squares, and the third is for squares that can go either way. First, lay out the horizontal and vertical squares. You will have 12 squares across and 15 down. The layout is all according to preference - just make sure there are no areas that are all dark or light, or bright colors all in the same spot. Here's how I laid mine out. Now, pin squares together and sew strips. Press the seams to the solid color, and then sew strips together to complete your quilt top. Press the seams to alternating sides (left on one row, right on the next) Now that you have completed the quilt top, baste it to the batting and backing. I use spray baste, but you can pin if you would like. Quilt as desired. For this quilt, I meandered on the white. Bind and wash. Congratulations! If you're looking for all the I-Spy fabrics and binding fabric, please visit my Etsy shop. I'd be happy to help you create your very own I-Spy quilt top!
Tilkkutöitä
Are you ready to make the easiest quilt ever? If so, read on to see how I made this easy quilt with no measuring or pattern required!
This past Saturday I taught a workshop on the One Block Wonder Technique at the Eastern branch of the Irish Patchwork Society. It was a busy but satisfying day and I think the participants enjoyed it. I don't have a lot of photos from the day, but I thought I'd share those which have resulting blocks in them (pity I don't have everybody's), as well as the tips we were able to take away from the day. I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished quilts, though finalizing the layouts may take quite some time. This is a picture I wanted to print out, but didn't manage to get to the printers'. It sums up what we did on the day very well (both the picture and the phrase were found on the Web). I will not run through the whole process of making a One Block Wonder quilt (there are a lot of tutorials around on the Web), but I do want to share some tips which proved handy and/or were learned the hard way. 1. When choosing the fabric, pay attention to its color way - the pattern will change beyond all recognition, but the colors will stay the same. 2. For the first stage of the process - identifying your pattern repeat - it's handy to use a tailor's yardstick or any piece of board/plank that has a long straight edge. Alternatively, you can tape together two quilting rulers. 3. Some fabrics have their prints printed straighter than others. Don't be afraid to shift and wiggle your fabric to align the pattern. Once it's aligned, handle it with care to keep it that way. 4. Use flat pins to keep together your six layers while you're cutting. They don't have to be removed from the fabric when they get under the ruler, so your strips will remain aligned and won't shift. 5. Although most tutorials call for cutting 3 3/4 in strips, you don't really have to stick to this number. Measure the width of your repeat - in some fabrics it will not divide by 3 3/4, so to avoid wasting too much of your fabric you can choose a different strip width, say 3 1/2 in of maybe 4 in. Another thing to consider is the scale of your pattern. If it's on the smallish side, decrease the width of your strips. 6. Using a 60 degree triangle ruler with a "blunted" corner saves you a bit of fabric width when cutting the triangles. The blunted corner can also be handy to mark your central corner when piecing the triangles together. However, you don't really need a special ruler for this technique, any ruler with a a 60 degree line on it will do the job too. 7. Make sure your ruler has a horizontal line matching the edge of your strip. If it doesn't, create a line by sticking a piece of tape to the ruler - this will ensure all of the angles in your triangles are 60 degrees, and thus, all of the sides in your triangles are equal. 8. When piecing your triangles keep them in strict order, and always keep the center corners facing one way (for example, away from you) or mark the center corners with a pin, then your piecing process will be fast and smooth. 9. After you've assembled and pressed your half-hexies, keep them together with a piece of masking tape on the back while you're playing with the layout. 10. The layout is a very personal process, but I would still point out two important things - lay out all your blocks to see if there is any "focal" color that really jumps out at you; if there is, start the composition with the blocks that have most of this focal color and create some sort of shape of line with them, then arrange the other blocks around. This is a quilt I made before with the same lilac fabric. I chose to arrange the purple/pink blocks in a sort of wave with the greens supporting the shape. 11. When playing with the layout, snap photos of every variant, even if you don't really like it - the pictures make it easier to evaluate, compare and discuss your layout with other people, you might spot something you can't see up close and personal. On the whole this is a very fast and satisfying technique, definitely worth trying, at least to gain a new perspective on the use of pattern in fabric and the potential of fabrics you probably never considered suitable for quilting. UPD: If you're wondering what came out of that fabric, here's the finally finished quilt Linking up to Tips and Tutorials Tuesday at Quilting Jetgirl
My first block for the Sorbet quilt from the book 'New York Beauties and Flying Geese' by Carl Hentsch, made in Tula Pink fabrics.
Phew! Bottled Rainbows is complete! First off, a big thank you to Rachel for designing this fun quilt and giving us all an excuse to use up some of those precious scraps we’ve all been hoarding. I’m so grateful for this quilt design as it has always made me happy to work on it and has ...
Carbide is inspired by the luxury and glamour of the Art Deco period. It is a modern Art Deco quilt pattern that has blocks set on point.
For those of you who wanted it, here it is--my first tutorial! Check it out if you so desire. Lightning zigzags
Glitch Mode was born out of my desire to make a precut friendly pattern. Each quilt size comes with a recommended size of precuts, but it’s just as easily made with scraps or yardage. Be sure to check the Materials Requirements to ensure you purchase the correct type of precuts for the size you plan to make. Note: This item is a digital download of a PDF pattern. A physical pattern will not be sent. Fabric and materials are also not included with this purchase. Skill Level: Beginner Finished Sizes Wall Hanging: 28 1/2" x 45 1/2" Small Throw: 48 1/2" x 60 1/4" Large Throw: 68 1/2" x 95 1/2" I used a precut roll of 2 1/2” x WOF fabric in an ombre colorway to make my first small throw size quilt, and the way the colors abutted instantly made me think of a computer screen glitching out. Others see an ascent or a descent - maybe a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty situation! Whatever you see, I hope you enjoy making this pattern without any true glitches along the way.
It's likely not a surprise to anyone, but my geometric sewing machine pattern is my most popular of all my paper pieced patterns. Don't tell my other patterns, but it's definitely one of my favourites! I've made a number of versions in a number of sizes. In fact I've recently added a simplified version in varying sizes to my pattern shop. So now there are options! Because we all like options obviously! But maybe paper piecing isn't your most favourite - but you love the geometric sewing machine. Perhaps you'd like to show off your love of all things quilty by wearing it - oh yes you can get a geometric sewing machine tshirt through Patchwork Threads. It's perfect for retreats or quilt shows - just saying ;) Or maybe you'd like one to grace your sewing room wall - without the effort of paper piecing. Maybe you need a clock? Well look at this - I've got you sorted! You can now get a geometric sewing machine wall clock. Hooray! And it doesn't even make a noisy tick - so no distractions when you're sewing. Can't get better than that right?! And to finish up on some sewing news... I'll have a new pattern coming out soon that features the geo sewing machine. This time it'll be a pattern to make a full quilt. I'm a bit excited about it - it's currently with testers and I hope to release it in September. So watch this space! Usual disclaimer: While I do not have direct paid sponsorship on my blog, I am a Craftsy affiliate and receive commission payments based on affiliate links that I may include within my blog posts. A girl's got to help fund her fabric addiction somehow ;)
Explore laydbird2004's 237 photos on Flickr!
I don't know if I've told you before, but I learned how to quilt while I lived in Japan in 2002. Japanese housewife culture, including their approach to quilting, has always fascenated me. I should have been an anthropologist and studied that more intensely, I know, but I got caught up in trying to communicate and became an ESL teacher instead. Anyway.. I discovered flickr in 2006 and the quilts I saw there lead me to start blogging about quilting. Tonight I want to share a handful of my favorite quilt photos from the Tokyo International Quilt festivals held each year in January. One year I'll make it there myself, but until then, I will live vicariously through Jennifer and Jan. Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2011 Set Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2010 Set Be*mused Tokyo Quilt Fest 2009 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2008 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2007 Set Movinghands Tokyo Quilt Fest 2006 Set (one of my all-time favorites is the 9th quilt in the set-- the blue one) All photos in this post were taken by Jan of Be*mused, used with permission. (*I hate to post quilt photos without information about the makers, but sadly most of these pics don't include any. Apparently the quilter info is only printed in Japanese at the show. If you have any information for any of these quilts, please comment and I will give them proper credit.)
Now that the crafty deadlines of November and December have passed, I can do anything I want on my sewing machine. Anything. I could make a bag or finish a WIP. I could start a brand-new quilting project. That should feel empowering, but it feels a little overwhelming and I’m not sure where to start. I thought I’d participate in Meadow Mist Designs’ Best of 2017 Linky Party as a way to review my sewing accomplishments of the past year and provide myself firmer footing to plan the next few months. (Could this also be a procrastination ploy, avoiding making any concrete decisions about future craftiness by looking at past projects? Why yes, yes it could be.) Without further ado, here is an overview of From Bolt to Beauty 2017 in five “most” posts ... Most Trafficked Post The most popular post of 2017, according to log reports, is actually not from 2017. It’s my Ridiculously Easy Jelly Roll Quilt post, which was published back in November 2015. I attribute the phenomenon to all the pins and links that point to that post and the allure of a title like Ridiculously Easy Jelly Roll Quilt. I think of a lot of you are like me, suckers for a thick roll of 2.5-inch strips and attracted to the notion of an easy sew! (My follow-up to that design—my Still Pretty Simple Jelly Roll Quilt tutorial—has been on the back burner for months. It will have its day in the sun sometime in early 2018!) Most Noteworthy Finish—According to You My most popular finish, both here on the blog and on my Instagram feed, was Grape Fizz. It’s a showstopping design by Amy Garro that I rendered in shades of eggplant and lavender. I’m not the connoiseur of purple that some of you are, but this design is so bold and graphic in its purple-osity that I can see why it was so well received. To see more pics, including close-ups of Mary Gregory’s quilting, read the post. Most Noteworthy Finish—According to Me I love Grape Fizz, but I also really love my Ode to Art Gallery quilt. It was fun to play with all of those different prints and see them come together, with the help of navy plus signs, in a cohesive quilt top. I gifted the quilt just recently, and the recipient was elated. I don’t know much about her design sense, but I felt good about sending it off with her. The quilt is modern but not too modern. It has a lot of some colors and a lot of other colors, as well. It’s pretty and feminine, and I like gifting pretty and feminine quilts to friends who are like me, the lone lady in the house. Most Triumphant Sewing Feat Hands down, the technical sewing I was most proud of this year is all the Y-seams I sewed! These appeared first in my Happy Hexie Baby Quilt. I’ve since sewn more, in a yet-to-be-unveiled project. (To learn more about my approach, see “How I Machine-Piece Hexagons” under the Techniques tab.) Most Triumphant Quilting Feat I tried two fancy-for-me quilting techniques this past year, both from Jacquie Gering’s book Walk. The first one, an orange peel design, went well but left a lot of room for improvement. The second, a cross-hatch with a secondary diamond pattern, however, rocked my world. It was a super fun experience with my walking foot and worth every stitch. Do any of those “mosts” resonate with you? If you have a noteworthy finish or quilting feat or other “most” you’d like to share, the rest of us would like to celebrate with you! Linking up to Needle and Thread Thursday and Finish It Up Friday ...
Explore ruthdesigns' 382 photos on Flickr!
After a gorgeous day with lots of lambs, I finished up the borders on this green KFC quarter log cabin block quilt this evening. Putting borders on a quilt is not my favorite thing to do, but I per…
Collage quilt-making has been such a wonderful exploration into creativity for me-- my only desire has been to figure out a way to make it faster so that I can create more! As happens most times I get a good idea, I was awoken in the middle of the night with this solution for how to make the process easier and faster!
Whether you're a beginner or seasoned quilter, you may find yourself asking "what is the best quilting thread?" And our team has the answers!
I was going to write a short description with a few pictures from Quiltcon. Or so I thought. But Quiltcon exceeded all my expectations and it therefore deserves a full post of its own. Sunday at Quiltcon I dropped off the completed flimsies at the collection point next to registration. The blocks were overflowing from the table, when I handed her my contribution. Woman 1 - How are they going to take everything back? Woman 2 - It is a good problem to have. I silently wished there wasn't a need for these blocks/quilts. Let the eye candy begin. I have included the artist's description following each quilt. Deportation by Jackie Benedetti Detail This is Bob. Bob won the Viewers Choice Award, which confirms my belief that at heart we are all kids :-) Bob by Patti Coppock Sedona Sunrise by Erin Andrews Unfinished by Kathy York Detail New Mexico Crosses by Terrie H Mangat Detail Tuberose by Anneliese Johnson Mell and I have very different styles. She is most definitely a modern quilter. My style is more traditional - Traditional Modernism at best. But there were a few quilts that we both agreed upon. The next quilt with improv triangles and color wash effect is one of them. Triangle Color Study III by Nicholas Ball Detail The following quilt won a ribbon. I can see why. Like a Girl by Niagara Modern Quilt Guils Detail Homes for the Homeless - Community First Village by Kelly Hogan There was a section devoted to Youth Quilts. Here are my favorites from that. No explanation required Made me cry Twist by Maria Shell And here is Jayne's quilt. Sold!!! Making Waves by Jayne Willis Damned by Skye Rayburn Usually I would be hard pressed to pick one favorite in a quilt show that had so many spectacular beauties. Also it is hard to imagine that I would pick a quilt that had no color. But this is that quilt. It made me so happy, I have been going around and showing it to complete muggles and reliving the experience of reading it the very first time. I love this one!!! Kudos to you Tulsa Modern Quilt Guild. For best experience, read aloud from left to right, one line at a time. As far as techniques go, this is the one that I want to learn. I had the opportunity to meet the designer Audrey Esarey. She won two ribbons but this is not one of them. You can see her winning quilts on the MQG website. Retro Radial by Audrey Esarey I was not familiar with Lizzo's music or this song, but I fixed that as soon as I returned. And I can totally relate to this quilt - music or not. I Heart Lizzo by Alison chambers Can you Get Inside by Isabel Munoz Resonance by Cassandra Beaver Nothing I Desire by Patti Coppock Typographic Abstraction by Jessica Wheelahan I was happy (but not surprised) to see Cindy's quilt. She is in my guild. Kaleidoscope by Cindy Grisdela This was a spectacular beauty that left both Mell and me awestruck!!! And yet not a ribbon in sight. Hmmm... Zenith by Cassandra Beaver We ended the day supremely exhausted but insanely happy. People of Quiltcon I met Alison Glass and showed off my finisher's pin from the Trinket QAL. She was kind enough to pose for a selfie. With Alison Glass I met Vasudha of Storied Quilts and talked about future quilty ideas. I invited her to DC and she offered to host me for the Quilt Market. With Vasudha Mell and I were admiring a quilt and trying to figure out the piecing. Mell - It is partial seams Me - Yes, but it is not partial seams in a block. It is the whole quilt. She had to sew one huge jagged edge of fabric to the next huge jagged edge of fabric. That is when Victoria Findlay Wolfe surprised us, came from behind and said - Totally crazy, isn't it. We chatted for a bit and I called her a glutton for punishment. She wholehearted agreed and then I took this picture of her. Victoria Findlay Wolfe I met Anja but forgot to take picture. The best part of the day was when a kind looking woman approached me and asked me if I was Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts. Yes, I replied. Someone actually recognized me from the blog!!! Boy, I have arrived. It was a mild high. OK, it was a huge high. It was Kathleen. Oh but your picture doesn't do you justice, I remarked. She smiled and accepted the compliment. We hugged and chatted. Sightseeing in Austin Monday morning Mell and I decided to check out the Capital in Austin. Here are few pictures. Life Size Sculptures He was stealing my goat I put up a good fight I eventually lost but not without a fight :-) Mell was kind enough to go along with my silliness. Pioneer Woman Goofiness Spectacular When I returned, I became a member of the Modern Quilt Guild. I am sure there are more Quiltcons in my future. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. As usual I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Links for the free coloring pages are at the end of this post. See the Riley Blake Designs blog post announcing the Home Run Quilt Pattern.This beauty began out of my desire to make the technique of foundation paper piecing (FPP) accessible to all quilters. FPP is a great because we can use it to make all sorts of shapes and designs and using paper stabilizes the fabric so that quilt blocks are precise and don't stretch out of shape. I first tried FPP about 12 years ago and made a block with lot
I love reading the comments here on the blog. So often I get good ideas from all of you or are introduced to new things from you. I always read every comment and honestly, if you want to get in tou…
Visit the post for more.
quilt-as-you-go, QAYG,
