Lagoon Appearing on Quilting Arts TV on PBS

June 12, 2013

I have been waiting forever to show this quilt to you. I am calling it Lagoon for it's watery palette of color and the large pinwheels that make me think of gently flowing water.

At the beginning of this 2012, Penny McMorris (co-founder and vice-president of Electric Quilt) contacted me about guesting along with her on a segment for Quilting Arts TV with host Pokey Bolton. She proposed a design challenge that we present on the segment of the show. [For behind the scenes shots and an account of my first TV appearance, go here.]

The challenge: both of us started with the same basic block. Then independently, we used EQ7 to create a new block design based upon the original. Also, we created several quilt top designs. The segment demonstrates some of the interesting ways that quilts can be designed on the computer - before you cut up your fabric. Both Penny and I chose one quilt design to make into a sample. Lagoon is the product of this fun experiment!

Look closely! Although there was no reason, I was particularly nervous about making everything perfect on this quilt. Hey, if the camera adds 10 pounds, who knows how it makes a quilt look? You have never seen such a fine example of squareness and precise binding from this woman.

Check out Quilting Arts TV Episode 1107. Below I have the little teaser video clip that introduces this episode.

Quilt Stats.

Name: Lagoon

Size: 65" x 65"

Design: pixelated block design and layout by me

Fabric: Robert Kaufman Konas in greens, blues, and purples on Kona White.

Piecing: Me

Quilting: Beany of Quilty Pleasures

(Thank you so much to Robert Kaufman for providing the Kona Cottons for this project. And also a huge Thank You to Penny McMorris for asking me to join her - it was such a fun experience!)

Sisters' Ten Modern BOM June Block: Contrary Wife

June 7, 2013

Summertime is here! And this month we're going to ease into summer with a simple block for June in the Sisters' Ten Modern Block of the Month Club! This month we have the Contrary Wife - a simple but elegant block, using just 4 HSTs in this 9-patch block.

photo sistersTenJuneblogcover_zpsda734fe5.jpg

Cutting Instructions.

For 12" blocks.

Cut (2) 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" squares of Fabric A (background).
Cut (2) 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" squares of Fabric B.
Cut (3) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares of Fabric C.
Cut (2) 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" squares of Fabric D.

For 9" blocks.

Cut (2) 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" squares of Fabric A (background).
Cut (2) 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" squares of Fabric B.
Cut (3) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares of Fabric C.
Cut (2) 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" squares of Fabric D.

Piecing Instructions.

*Use a scant 1/4" on all seam allowances. See the Scant Rant series for details.

1. Make Half-Square Triangle (HST) units with Fabric A and Fabric B. Use (2) Fabric A squares and the (2) Fabric B squares to make (4) total Half-Square Triangle units using the method in this tutorial. The HSTs should be trimmed down to:

12" blocks: 4 1/2" (unfinished size).

9" blocks: 3 1/2" (unfinished size).

2. Layout the Half-Square Triangle Units, remaining Fabric C squares and Fabric D squares as shown below.

3. Sew each of the three rows together, alternating the direction the seams are pressed.

4. Sew the rows together and you're done!

5. Make (2) blocks. They may be identical blocks or made from differing fabrics for a scrappier look.

Fabric is Alison Glass for Andover, Lucky Penny with background Quilter's Linen in Straw by Robert Kaufman.

Spangled

May 24, 2013

I've spent a long time working on Spangled. I've procrastinated working on this quilt in every stage of it's being. Paper piecing the blocks - yes. Assembling the quilt top - yes. Quilting - yes. So now that it's finally done, I LOVE it!

full shot photo fullshot_zps821676b0.jpg

The design of this quilt top morphed along it's journey into a surprise I certainly would not have come up with if I had worked on this quilt straight through from start to finish. Funny how that works out, huh?

I backed and bound this quilt with Joel Dewberry Modern Meadow.

I gave this quilt to my mother-in-law as a surprise. I have been meaning to make her a quilt for a long time, but her taste is more traditional. I wrestled with how to make her a quilt she would love, but also would be a quilt made in my style. I think this is perfectly it.