Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Vol. 5 Giveaway Winner

A winner has been randomly selected to receive the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 5 free issue (drum roll, please). The winner is Jamie Todhunter from Watertown, NY. Thanks so much to all visitors who took the time to leave comments and enter the giveaway--I so much enjoyed reading all the comments and emails and am very much humbled. I wish you all many happy hours of quilting pleasures.

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Vol.5, Original Design Block

Welcome to Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 5 Blog Tour. Pictured is the block I designed, "Feng Shui". This asymetrical block, when constructed as shown along with mirror-image blocks, produces a chevron design, enhanced by color placement. For a completely different result, study the quilt top below made with Rowan fabrics: Kaffe Fassett "parasols" and 2 six inch jelly rolls (Rowan "Fire" and "Ocean"). This 106" square top (not yet quilted) features only 4 blocks with an added 10" border, and is named Modern Crazy Quilt. Observe the secondary pattern formed at the juncture of the four super blocks--yet another design element. Use this visual to plan color placement for your quilt. Using this pattern (available soon through Hancock's of Paducah), the strip-sets surrounding the center square are sewn using the full width of the jelly roll fabric (four colors per strip-set), then the strip-set is cut diagonally corner to corner to produce 2 half strip-sets (see strip-set photo). You will need 4 half strip-sets per block for this quilt.
Comments are welcome--would love to know your likes and dislikes, and if there are any topics you would like to see posted on Creative Folk Quilting--teaching or creative. If you would like a chance to win a copy of Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 5, please send your email address to CreativeFolkQuilting@gmail.com and place "Giveaway" in the subject line. All fabrics came from Hancock's of Paducah.

Quiltmaker's Volume 5 Blog Tour

Plan to visit next week on Monday, April 30 when I will be posting an image of a block I designed for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 5. I will be posting a photo of the originally designed block, plus a photo of a completed 106" square quilt top using the block design. Comments are encouraged--would love to learn your thoughts on any topic covered here. See you Monday!

Doing My Own Thang aka Modern Quiltmaker

Do you own any fabrics that you just love....so much so that you can't bear to cut them up into small pieces? They're either too beautiful to sacrifice, or just too perfect in their original, uncut state--perhaps a large print that loses its character if not used in its entirety. I have several I've collected over the years, both commercially-printed yardage and some hand dyed, one-of-a-kind fabrics. What to do? Well, don't cut them! The Modern Quilting trend gives us even more permissions to deviate from the traditional. Pictured are a couple of fabrics from my stash: a hand-dyed fat quarter and 2 Rowan fabrics--one that I will use for the large, outer borders and one I will use for binding. Like many folks, I purchase fabrics I love on the spot and decide later what they will be used for. These fabrics will make a lap-size throw or baby quilt, using the hand-dyed fabric as the central medallion atop the Rowan Kaffe Fassett Lotus Leaf print(GP 29). The finished lap quilt (below) uses salmon-colored Moda Marble on the borders with Alexander Henry's La-Ti-Dot in the central medallion on this Modern Medallion quilt. The fancy-cut binding that mimics a scallop-edge border is cut from the same Alexander Henry print. The pattern for creating your own Modern Medallion quilt is available through Hancock's of Paducah. All fabrics except the hand-dyed fabric were purchased at http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/.

Color Pools

More fun with Pancake blocks! Check out the March/April 2012 issue of McCall's Quilting for another variation of the Pancake block (also shown on the cover of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine below). All fabrics in this springtime runner are batiks purchased at Hancock's of Paducah--batting used in this runner is my favorite--Warm & Natural needled cotton. This block has unlimited possibilities for design variations by piecing blocks before sewing into circular "pancakes". Enlarge blocks for full quilts to speed the process of making large projects.

Please note: the star effect design on this block is not pieced as a star. In this design, strips of fabric are sewn to the center square--the star effect is produced when the circular flaps are sewn down. The pattern is not as complicated as it appears, so take a closer look at the McCall's issue to see how easy it can be to sew this complicated looking design.

Seaming Batting Sections

It occurred to me while piecing together a batting that learning quilters might like a photo or two of how it can be done. The batting I used on my last quilt is 100% cotton needled batting and to widen it, I attached a strip. You'll have to do your own figuring for sizes according to your individual project. Make sure the two sides you will join are straight-edged, and place 2 together, straight edges aligned. Hand baste a running stitch all along the edge (don't pull tightly--just enough to keep edges snug together). By leaving just a little slack in the tension, when you lay out the batting flat, the thread will flatten into the batting and appear "seamless". Hand sew your batting 4 or 5 inches and give it a test flattening to make sure the tension is suitable.

Dreams of Spring

Wow, I suddenly realized I've had a blinding love affair with Pinks! Glad I got that out of my system. This quilt is featured in the recently released (October 2011) Best Fat Quarter Quilts from Quilters Newsletter. The pattern for the quilt is included in the issue--click the photo above if you'd like to acquire a copy (likewise you can click the QN magazine image with Coming & Going to order magazine containing pattern). Even when using traditional patterns such as the long-honored Log Cabin, there is always creative room for exploring new block arrangements and embellishments. See full articles in these two Quilters Newsletter publications for detailed construction information. Now then, think I shall move on to the color aqua!

Coming & Going Modern Wall Quilt

In this post, you can see more clearly the versatile use of the Cathedral Window pattern. I have sewn the rounded edges of the "pancake" block to side one. Further design variations can be developed by forming patterns on each of the sides using the rounded "flap" edges. Topstitch some down on side one, some on side two.

Creative Visualization

Just when you think everything's been done that can be done in the way of piecing quilts, another idea comes floating down the stream. Check out the cover photo of the "Coming and Going" (get it--two sides, you can look at one side coming and the other side going) quilt on the Quilters Newsletter April/May 2011 issue above and you will realize it is composed of the Cathedral Window pattern. By taking this pattern and piecing each of the sides, patterning opportunities are endless with just this one pattern. You can view the photo below to understand the process of strip piecing the initial squares that make up the circular "pancake" blocks. or contact QNM for the full pattern for the pictured quilt. Now set your minds to studying on other blocks that you might piece to change the entire look of a quilt!

What You Can Do with White Elephant Blocks

Have a white elephant block or two that you can't bear to get rid of, but don't have enough to make a piece? Use the blocks to make small clutches or bags. The bags shown are made with 15" blocks in the pineapple pattern using the Twinkle fabric collection by Yolanda Fundora. To achieve the tailored look (with a stable batting), I recommend Warm & Natural 100% needled cotton batting. Fold your completed block (lined and bound) in half diagonally, tuck in the sides and stitch. One remaining corner can be fashioned as a closure, the other is tucked inside on my bag and stitched down. Use velcro, magnetic closures, or snaps to secure closure. Now you can put those leftover blocks into service as gifts for lingerie bags, casual carry-alls, or even sewing accessories--perhaps a carry bag for your scissors or rotary cutter.

Beginners Getting Started on Quilting

I'm not really much of a "quilter", although I prefer the feel of a piece that is hand-quilted. That is to say, I don't get involved with fine quilting, feathers, and all that fancy work so many other "real" quilters do so impressively. When I do hand quilt, it tends to be outline stitches or straight line stitches--very easy, quick, and usually does not have to be marked (and require that those marks be removed). For you beginners out there, you may want to try a technique that relies on using easily removable painter's (masking) tape. You can see in the photo at left that I am placing strips of 1" wide tape along sewn components to mark the stitching line for quilting. Simply align one edge of the tape next to a seam line and stitch along the opposite edge of the tape. I do place pins perpendicular to the tape to hold the fabric layers in place. Of course, this method won't work for every situation--it does well here where I have large expanses of solid (not pieced) fabric. You do have the availability of widths from which to choose, and the masking tape does not have to be painter's tape. If you want to get your feet wet quilting simply, give it a try.

Creating One-of-a-Kind Projects

Occasionally, you may want to create a project for which no pattern exists, such as the wall quilt pictured. I started with a graphic image selected from the works of M.C. Escher for a long-ago contest I entered sponsored by Quilters Newsletter Magazine in which contestants interpreted their favorite artist. The cut-away sphere and background are both designs of the brilliant Escher. I hand pieced the background, then appliqued the sphere on top. Blenders and other fabrics that seem to "read" as solids are great playgrounds for experimenting with depth and value.
Tip for producing a wall quilt that doesn't sag: when cutting backing fabric, ensure that the up and down grain (as it hangs on the wall) is cut parallel to the selvage edge. It is the direction of grain that is most stable. Test this by tugging, with both hands, the direction of the selvage grain, then the cross cut (or width of fabric) direction.

Sharing Design Ideas--Diamonds

,Sometimes all we need for
inspiration to embark on a
new design challenge is an
image of someone else's project.
The wall quilt below uses 60
degree diamonds to produce
the Lone Star, using leftover
pieces for the top edge header
and the bottom edge accents.
The dangles at center are
beads strung for a little
something extra.
To copy the table pad at left,
simply count diamonds and
substitute your preferred
fabrics, then piece together.

Using Patterns to Expand Possibilities

Use patterns that you purchase to expand design opportunities. When designing "Simple Elegance Table Dressings", I did not include directions for table pads or runners since there are so many different types of table sizes and shapes. Using the basic pattern and directions, the placemats will fit round, square, or rectangular tables. You can easily design your own desired shape, width and length for a pad or runner using the techniques explained within the pattern. For the pad shown, I started with a basic square (a bit smaller than desired) and applied the borders in the manner as for the placemats. You will need to shape the corners of the square before sewing on the borders. Simply cut off the four corners (right angle triangles) all equally. Cut small at first to visualize the shape of the pad. You can always increase the cut. Just remember to cut the four corners equally. Use the same method to create a runner to accompany the placemats, or smaller serving dishes pads. See earlier posts below to discover how to use cuttings from your original placemats for pads, using up your cuttings.
Something more on possibilities...............shown at left is the Business Card Caddy from the pattern "Sophisticated Trio of Handbag Accessories". Many of us do not need or carry business cards. I use mine when I want to travel light and not carry a purse. I place my driver's license, bank card, and a couple of greenbacks inside. Fits nicely in a shirt pocket while jogging or attending busy events.

Shown at right, gifting ideas using stash fabrics and the eyeglass/sunglass pattern. To ensure your projects sew up as in the photos, I recommend Warm & Natural needled cotton batting.

Something a Little Different

Hello All,
Decided to break away from the usual and try a little experimenting. I'm fascinated lately with fusible tapes--my fave is the Warm Company's Steam-A-Seam 2, which comes in 1/4" and 3/16" widths. I have used the tapes in past years for tasks involving sewing clothing, but now that I largely use sewing time to quilt, I find ever new uses for this time-saving notion. Two of my most recent patterns that you see in the sidebar, Leafing Lovely Tableware and Harvest Pumpkin Tableware both use the fusible tape instead of sewing together the sectioned components and not only just instead of sewing, but sewing a more difficult task--curved seam sewing. I use the tape to fuse edges (turn them under 1/4", tack the tape on, overlap edges and fuse) for a speedy and accurate joining of assymetrical edges. Using the 3/16" width in this sort of application ensures the tape is hidden within the seam allowance. You will also find that several cuss words will be eliminated from the sewing session using this technique--frustration free sewing! Super speedy, super accurate, you'll love this application of the tape.