Year of the Quilter

Hello Everyone,

Here I am, back in the saddle (so to speak) and creating again. Life was not condusive to quilting, knitting, or playing in my planner much the last six months. My two sons have been keeping me busy. I am now planning my quilting and knitting in advance, which brings me to this.

----> 2017 The Year of the Quilter <----

What is this plan I've devised? Well, simply put it's about quilting with the patterns and materials and techniques I know, and trust me there's LOTS of each in my stash/head! I have planned the general things I want to accomplish this next year. It all might be too grand, or maybe be too lean, but these are things I want to do to help me find balance and clean out my studio a bit. 

There are so many yards of fabric and yarn, books and magazines of patterns, and techniques for assembly in that poor small space. I have a sewing machine I haven't touch in way too long and a NEED to sew or knit or make!

2017 is my year, The Year of the Quilter, and also my last year in my 30s. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis, maybe I just want to show my husband I do more then curate a collection of materials that border on a serious fire hazard, but this year I want to make more.

I have a manta for YotQ:

Be a Maker. Use the Stash. Practice your Craft.

So simple. This is a dedicated choice, by me and anyone who wishes to join along, to make with what I have. The patterns I have, the materials I have, the knowledge I have. Some of my work will be derivative, (hehe I have a special project for this), and some of it will be WTF? originals.

I am going to try. It may not be pretty or I may end up with some great gifts for friends and family next December, but I will make the effort. 

Who's with me?

Making Modern or Modern Making

What is "Modern Quilting"? Am I a modern, contemporary, or traditional quilter? Do I have to be one of just those three? Can I just be me?

There are over a dozen different established definitions of "Modern Quilting". They are put forth by national guilds, local guilds, sewing circles, publishing groups, and individuals. I am not adding to that I am just wondering why quilting is being defined at all. Isn't it really about people making and loving what they make and sharing that with others? When did we get into the nitty gritty of 'How much white space' and 'All the technical quilting' and 'Did you use designer fabrics or generic'? It's all very cluttered and specific for something that is supposed to be simple and free-form.

Once you move away from defining the movement and start trying to pigeon hole quilters into it or it's fellow styles, that's when the panic sets in. Am I modern enough? I really love this novelty print but it's too contemporary... How do I change this traditional block to be better? These insecurities are infuriating! We are making quilts, not preforming brain surgery.

If you love that cute kitten novelty print then fussy cut it to bits. Maybe you frame it into a Ohio Star you found on Pinterest with some solids to highlight the bows on the kittens, or maybe you just checker board those pieces together with some ombre solids. If you love it then it will be perfect, no matter what, and yes it's modern.

We are living in 2016, and part of the current definition of "modern" per Merriam-Webster is ":based on or using the newest information, methods, or technology" so provided we are talking about a quilt you have conceived, pieced, quilted, and finished in the last 10 years or so, it's modern!

Just be you, just have fun, just let all that clutter and talking and labels go. See something you like, give it a try. Can't figure it out, look for a pattern. Find a different way to create the same effect. Paint with thread. Paint with paints. Make your quilt huge or make a thousand and one mini quilts to cover every inch of wall you have. Make a quilt using just techniques, tools, materials that people say are not allowed or are wrong. Who says they're wrong? The Quilt Police? Ooooo, scary.

The people that don't like your work won't follow your progress. They won't appreciate the time and love you put into something. They will always judge, so just let them. It is the same principle as 'be yourself'. Well, let them be themselves and don't let their weight drown you. Cut that line, metaphorically, and live for yourself, in this modern age, and quilt.

I have been stewing this in my head for too long. I needed to get it out so I can make room for something else. Something better. There are too many WiPs up in my studio to be completed and I had to wonder why. Why haven't I finished this or that? Why? Because I was afraid it wasn't good enough. Forget that I LOVE the colors, fabrics, patterns, and design of each of those projects, I had set them down out of fear.

Well, today I take them back up, one by one, and finish them and keep them all to myself. I will hoard the beauty and the love for just my family (and maybe my Instagram family) to enjoy. I will not let the pressure of another's opinion, good or bad, sway what I put of myself into these projects.

I am a Modern Quilter because I am quilting today, right now. Later all...

Block Number 37

Just a quick update for all, I finally made a Number 37 block that is 6.5" square. I updated the workaround posted over the weekend and below is an image of the finished block and the other two.

Also, here is the finished block and the 4 1" HST that were extras. I see I may have to make a fourth block since my greens are very close in value (center block). (Sigh) No rest for the weary.

Moda Modern Building Blocks

I am so excited that my first month's subscription for the Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt pattern came at the end of last month. I managed to restrain myself from cutting all the fabric that came for the various blocks and just started with block num.37. Good thing too, because I could not for the life of me figure out what I was doing incorrectly.

The block is too small. For a 6" finished block I need a 6.5" unfinished block to account for seam allowances. It is assembled using triangles, which can be tricky because of bias sewing, but I measured carefully and followed the limited directions in the pattern. My points do not line up and the block is messy. You can see how the HST in the corners run off the edge and how some of the points are staggered. Not pretty.

After a few days of planning and hypothesizing I decided to try the pattern instructions again but being super careful of my technique.

• I used only one ruler, instead of my square ruler and long ruler
• I checked and marked my 1/4" seam allowance on my machine and used a scant 1/4" seam allowance when sewing, replaced the needle, and oiled the machine
• I pressed with ample steam on high heat being sure to pin bias seams to prevent stretching
• I trimmed dog ears and pressed seams to nest and avoid bulking

As you can see, despite my best efforts, the pattern instructions just yield a small block and the points do not line up. I am sure there are a number of extra things I could do to prevent the fabric from distorting, such as pre-washing and using starch spray, and I may have to consider some of these going forward, but really the pattern should produce the resulting block for all fabrics and quilters. 

I did note in the construction the second time that the center square (yellow in blue) measured only 3" square instead of 3.5" and that the geese on the side were only 1.5" tall instead of 2". This pattern has a number of 1/8th inch increment cuts and triangles, which are not easy to work with. Though it calls for more planning, there are ways to create these blocks (not just num.37, but all the blocks) using squares and rectangles, making 2 HST or 4 FG at a time, which result in more precise blocks and less heartache.

As I make this pattern, I will document it here under the Modern Building Blocks link on the right. I foresee having a number of orphan blocks at the end of this quilt which will all go into the backing. As a note to those that bought the kit, my construction changes may eat up more fabric than your kit provides. I will do my best to stay as true to the pattern as possible, but I am neither an employee or a pattern tester for Moda, so the changes in construction I make are to be used at your own risk with the pre-packaged kits.

Other than MMBB I have been working on this large block quilt made of Cotton & Steel. The bright teal is Julianna Horner from Joann Fabric and the white background is from Bonnie Christine's new line, Winged. I wanted to make a quilt that was just a large block and as it grew, I realized I needed to make it more, so it is not done yet while I decide on the next border. I am thinking blue diamonds and pink pluses but that could change on a whim.

What an exciting first week of fall and the rest of the month is looking up too. In two weeks my guild will be holding the first ever Fall Retreat at The Hideaway in Monument, CO. I am excited to be part of this retreat and will probably take the time to finish projects in my studio instead of starting new ones. We shall see.

Past, Present, and Future

Hello again. It's been a quick summer break in our home. Now, with the first week under our belt, I am doing some back to school organizing.

First up has been this poor neglected blog. It was May the last time I posted which is unacceptable. So, today and going forward I am going to commit to posting on Fridays. It may not be a real juicy or productive post most weeks, but it will be consistent and let's be honest, even if I have just a new zippered pouch to show, then at least I am creating.

Next is a quick note about this quilt. This is the Kate Spain line Daydream. I bought a charm pack of the fabric a while back and put it all together in this small sample piece. I call these sitting mat size because it is not large enough to be a crib or baby size but it is too big to be considered a true mini. I use this piece to find filler fabrics. The great functionality of this line is that there are prints both large and small in scale, high and low in volume, and in a whole range of colors. Even if I am not using that fabric specifically, I have an example to give me an idea of what I want or need for other projects.

Second for this blog post is the amazing class I have be in the last three days. From Creative Live, Bonnie Christine of Going Home to Roost Blog has been teaching all about Surface Pattern Design which is pretty much the art of making patterns. She uses Adobe Illustrator and in the class shows us how to start with a sketch and get all the way to a finished print line. This is HUGE to me because it steps me through everything! It has been a great three days and I bought the videos so I can go back anytime and review what I learned. It was well worth the money and since I already have a Creative Suite from Adobe, now I can get the most out of the programs and actually start producing surface patterns for my own use and maybe more.

Now this next quilt is also a sitting mat size and came from a collection of random gray shade fabrics I got in a swap a couple years back. Truth to tell this was my first mail away swap ever and it was so fun I jump to participate in these types of swaps. The fabric was originally charm size and then I manipulated it some more to get this overlapping weave. This quilt has served as the construction and design foundation for my BasketWeave quilt pattern.

 Finally, I want to finish up this post with a few more finished objects. First is a quilt near and dear to my heart, Beautiful Mess. This quilt is throw size and I use it on my bed every night. It is backed in flannel so it is warm and cozy. The block is the Japanese x & + from City Stitches Blog and all the fabric with the exception of one + is from Birch Fabrics. Perhaps it is the organic cotton, maybe it's the flannel, but for whatever reason I sometimes have to go hunt down this quilt in the evenings because everyone seems in my family seems to enjoy spending time in this quilt too.

Below is a table runner that has ended up on the fireplace hearth of our master bedroom. Now, we don't use that fireplace because it is currently blocked by other furnishings, but the table runner covers the stone hearth and softens that portion of the fireplace. Also below is my Boat Tote. This bag is large enough for a two rolled beach towels but currently I am using it for some knitting projects. The inside of the tote is lined in a laminated fabric so that it is easy to clean out after having damp items in it.

I am off to practice some more surface pattern designing and to finish a couple of blocks for tomorrow's FRMQG meeting. I recently joined the national Modern Quilt Guild and have signed-up for a Michael Miller fabric challenge so watch for that too. Have a great week, everyone and see you next Friday!

Long weekends and short deadlines

Hello everyone and Happy Holiday Weekend to you all. I find myself busier this weekend then most due to the little man's Valentines Party on Friday, the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild meeting all day Saturday, swimming and LEGO Movie today, and no rest for this lady with extra days off from school for the President's Day federal holiday and a flex day out of school on Tuesday. Goodness, it's a good thing our annual quilters' retreat is fast approaching because I am going to need three days off after all this!

I have been happily knitting and quilting away since my last post at the beginning of January, completing the second Globetrotting BOM inspired by Venice. I have been to Venice once back in 2002 with my husband, though he was then my boyfriend. We did a month long tour of Europe via train, hitting cities like Paris and London, Amsterdam and Zurich, and ending in Venice and Rome. It was magical and a trip I hope to repeat with my husband and son someday when little man is older and better able to enjoy museums.


I also managed to complete a quilt of my own design for my son's PTO to sell. The funds are for the school so the children do not have to sell magazines or wrapping paper. I called it Hand Burst and will put together a quick tutorial. It's super simple and going to a good cause.


As other projects are completed I will continue to update my FO page. Right now I am thinking I might try to complete at least one quilt a month for all of 2014. Wish me luck and happy holiday to you all!

The first 7 days

At the end of last year I was amazed by how quickly 2013 seemed to pass by. Wasn't it just yesterday we were all doing Scrappy Trip Along quilts and getting our Pay it Forward 2013 lists filled? And now it's 7 days into 2014, that's a whole week!

And what a week it has been. I managed to compete my Japanese X & + quilt, Beautiful Mess, a set of pillowcases, and a few miscellaneous other items I cannot post just yet [they are gift sensitive]. Here are a few images of the quilt and the pillowcases. I used the tutorial from City Stitches for the quilt and the pillowcases are just the regular old one yard pattern.

I hope everyone else had a rocking holiday season and that the new year has started off well for you.

When the best laid plans go pear shaped...

It is 100 degrees outside today, no kidding, there is a storm coming but I don't think it's actually going to rain, and quilting was an epic failure. I just could not get comfortable with this mini and then my machine made noises I associate with "bad things brewing" and then I just couldn't handle it anymore. I quit, yes I am walking away from this for now, well, not right now, since I have about 1000 stitches to pull and then I think I might do some handwork on it, but I put it down to write this article and finish the knitting projects.

Just noticed the photo bomb...

First up, the Nixie Shawl from KnitScene, Spring 2012 issue. This pretty, simple shawl is jazzed up with the addition of a ruffled tail on one end. I did mine in Dark Arts Teal from A Stash Addict and limited edition Bliss from Fabric Bliss here in Denver. Both are sock weight yarns and I think they went together beautifully. Though I enjoyed knitting this and the yarns I used, I am not in love with this shawl, so it will be going into the kBear Crafts Etsy Shop sometime soon.

 Next is Wingspan from designer Maylin of Tricot Treat. Ok, this one has been out there for a while and many many people have done it. I decided to do mine out of Metallico Flint from Blue Sky Alpacas and Plie Bridgetown Brown from tilli tomas. These yarns both contain silk, either entirely [tilli tomas] or partially [Blue Sky Alpaca] so they were not the easiest of yarns to knit with, and both are sock weight. Boy are they soft though, and I just know I am going to adore wearing this shawl come this fall.

 
Finally, I cast on the Mambu Shawlette from Custom Knit Accessories by Wendy Bernard. I am using Hopper on a Flower from Expression Fiber Arts [one of my favorite people to get yarn from], which is a 4-ply Merino DK weight yarn. It is more robust than I was expecting, and though the pattern calls for yarn of this type, I think my reverse knitting style has it turning out a little denser than shown in the pattern photos. No worries, even though I have just started knitting, this is one of those keepers. If it turns out I don't need the other two skeins of this yarn for the shawlette, I'll make extras and post them for sale.

That's it for now. I am off to rip stitches out of my quilt and then I have my Adventure Block Swap to make for the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild meeting this Saturday at Treelotta at 10:00 A.M. If you're in the area stop by! We love new people in the guild or just to come say "hey".

Cheers

How wingspan looks on.

This is folded on the right side of the picture, it is actually a HST with the ruffle at one end.

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