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5th Annual Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival

August 1, 2017 By Katie Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again to start thinking about what to enter into my favorite quilt show.

I’m hoping to finish quilting up my Split Crumbs Quilt top this morning for the show to add along with my Hearts Value Quilt. This is a non-judged show and a great way to spend the day and show off your quilts.

Check out the link below to find out more!

Saturday, September 9, 2017

ENTER A QUILT NOW

Bainbridge Quilt Festival is a non-juried, non-judged celebration of quilts open to all quilters. Quilts are displayed outdoors along Winslow Way watched over by our many volunteers. Guidelines and entry forms are online at BainbridgeQuiltFestival.com

Deliver: September 8

Pick up: Day of Festival or by arrangement

BUY RAFFLE TICKETS

Dance Steps pieced by members of Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild. Quilting by Gladys Schulz. 54 X 66

Just $2 a ticket. Tickets at Esther’s Fabrics, July 4th booth, and first Friday ArtWalks Drawing at 4 on Festival day. You do not need to be present to win.

ENJOY FESTIVAL DAY

View amazing quilts hung outdoors along Winslow Way
Win a quilt.
Vote for your favorite quilt.
Sew blocks for American Hero quilts.
Buy a quilt.
Watch a demo by BARN fiber artists.
Enjoy the Farmer’s Market and shops along Winslow Way.

Bainbridge Quilt Festival is presented by Bainbridge Island Modern Quilt Guild a local affiliate of the nation Modern Quilt Guild. The Guild is a non-profit formed to develop and encourage the art of modern quilting. BIMQG supports quilters and other fiber artists interested in non-traditional quilting projects and offers educational opportunities through workshops and sharing of information. We also provide opportunity for works that give back to the community through the use of modern

On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble Quilt

July 19, 2017 By Katie 3 Comments

Where to start? We’re pretty much being spoiled brats around here right now.

Our Northern Irish have invaded and it sure doesn’t seem 2 years ago since we parted at the steps of a cafe in Spain. It’s only like we saw them yesterday. The calendar has been filled with the usual Seattle summer adventures we do together as a family. We’ve spoiled ourselves with full menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner and shared our love of margaritas. We’ve jumped off the raft in Lake Washington, shivered in the Sound and added floating down the Yakima River, laughing that we were eating quiche and that our cans of Rainer were chilled by the river just like our butts.

Many a birthday to celebrate in July. John’s passed with a raised glass to him, who knew our last goodbye would happen on those same steps in Spain.

Jefe celebrated another anniversary of his 21st,

and in the keeping it real department, my brother in law Jeremy’s 50th is at the end of the month. Living 4+ years with ALS he is still bossing us around. Everything’s different, yet everything’s the same he says.

His partner of 20+ years, Hallie is our hero and his rock.

Oh yeah, and quilting has happened here and there too. This quilt is an oldie.

I remember moving into the house and piecing this double-trouble quilt top in the little room that is now the kid domain. The crumbs that started the quilt are half square triangles from Roan’s quilt. I simply added improv stitch and flip triangles (you can find the technique in Quilting Modern) on the neutral side of each hst.

The scrap bins got a sifting through for the perfect fussy cuts of kid prints.

I placed and pieced the blocks on point to form the squares rather than diamonds. And then it sat patiently;)

I used the top as a template for building quilt backs in my class a few months ago. I figured when I was cleaning up the design walls after class that I might as well just sew together its back. One stage done and onto the next.

I ran the quilting a quarter inch along the seams vertically and horizontally first, before deciding to fill in more with the diagonal. I used a light blue Metler thread.

This quilt is a perfect eye spy with its bits and pieces from clothing I made Roan as an infant and the receiving blankets that my mom sewed.

Of course there’s fabric from stash on the back, some favorites in fact, all pieced willy-nilly together. It screamed green or orange for binding and the last of the Flea Market Fancy went towards that.

It looks kind of summery and cheerful.

Since I love having quilts in all various stages, I’ve got 2 more basted and a finished top up on the design wall, not to mention all sorts of play with the Split Personality block drifting around. It’s hard to say it but I’m trying to wrap my head around a few classes for fall coming up here. I’m excited to get to the samples, something new and fun.

Until August Peeps;)

Hearts Value Quilt

June 19, 2017 By Katie 8 Comments

I took my finished Heart Value quilt along on retreat. I like to have a quilt with me as a little reminder of home and knew I would have some helpers for photos. I think it was the only time I ventured outside and away from my sewing machine.

This is definitely the largest quilt I’ve ever quilted on the studio’s Berninas. It’s a little shy in width to a King. One of my Facebook readers asked when quilting if I go north to south, and then turn to go south to north? This quilt was too large to continually turn, so I just worked my way out from the middle. I started with a vertical quilting line ½” from the seams and then went back to fill in. It was the first time I’ve used the stitch in the ditch foot that came with my Bernina’s walking foot to tack down the seams. It turned out perfectly.

Oh, all that lovely color.

I combed through my stash to find just the right fabrics for each heart. Again a perfect sample of archiving all your lovely fabrics in one quilt. No matchy-matchy required.

I lack in low volumes except for an insane amount of light pink.

:: Spilt Crumbs Quilt Top ::

June 12, 2017 By Katie 7 Comments

Anyone that knows me well, knows that I take organization to a serious level. So I was teased for showing up to retreat with two cart loads and no real project plan. Clothes are easy to pack for this type of vacation, but my time management for planning projects just didn’t exist.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | No Foul Quilt

Along with a lot of other random stuff, into the car went some blocks a few of my lovely students and I created last month. They helped me test drive a crazy piecing technique I call Split Personality as a three hour workshop at Quiltcon. It’s an easy technique that creates multiple blocks with ‘crumbs’ of each fabric in all sorts of fun linear shapes.

I’ll be teaching this block as a full day workshop in the studio this month.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

I started with the blocks we had made in colors I honestly didn’t like much together. I figured I didn’t have anything to lose by cutting them up. If I didn’t like what was happening I’d trash them and move onto the next set.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio | Crumb Quilt

I loved what happened.

I aimed for an easy design. Nearly everyone with some quilting experience has trimmed many a half square triangle, so merging one with the crazy piecing seemed ideal as a sample. Some time with the design wall led to this layout.

I love to have loads of examples of how to use a technique and/or block and students appreciate the inspiration, so I played with one of my favorite shapes that utilizes half square triangles AND improv stitch and flip triangles with the Split Personality blocks with my leftovers.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

I think these will be pillows, just have to decide whether they need sashing, piping or another colorful background. Stay tuned, I have 3 more sets of these blocks in a range of color ways left.

SEW KATIE DID | Weekend Retreat

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

As far as sewing at retreat, here’s what I walked away with. I find with the studio I don’t have as much time to sew and even though I needed to stick with making samples, I was also much more relaxed and organized on my walk out;) It might have been the inspiration, awesome company, good sleep or the margaritas…really doesn’t matter.

I highly recommend retreats.

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio

I’m pretty much smitten with this block. I love that you could fit it into just about any improv or traditional quilt design as a ‘made’ fabric. It just seems now that I find inspirational quilt designs I want to put it into everywhere.

I’ve got a weekend and weekday workshop on the studio schedule for this block.

sew katie did | Seattle Modern Quilting Studio

And Seattle’s got nothing but clouds in our future this week, so I’ve picked out a backing and am ready for some quality quilting time if I pay my time management cards right;)

SEW KATIE DID | Seattle Modern Quilting & Sewing Studio And of course there’s Quiltcon. I’ve never been to Pasadena, so if anyone has some hot tips they’re willing to share about eating & where the best margarita is I’m all ears.

Happy making Peeps;)

Check out other quilts made with the Split Personality block:

Well Hello June

June 1, 2017 By Katie 1 Comment

I believe Seattle had 13+ consecutive days of sun in May! It was wonderful to have the doors and windows open in the studio, and we all enjoyed our lunches with an extra dose of Vitamin D. Today my plants are enjoying a little drink of water.

I had an incredible month of teaching, helping and being inspired by my students.

Everyone seemed determined to finish up some quilt projects for graduations, weddings and just because.

In Open Studios we designed, enlarged, quilted, squared, bound and zipped a load of quilty things, and as requested I’ve added an evening Open Sew to the studio’s schedule. Did someone say mimosa? I’m open to feedback if another evening is convenient.

I ran a second session of the Psychedelic Baby quilt workshop. I was pretty impressed with the twists everyone had on the design walls with their secondary blocks.

A big thanks to a few that generously offered their time to help me redevelop and test out new class ideas I’ve had floating around in my head.

I’ll send out a newsletter here soon for my Split Personality Quilt Block workshop, but for those of you that have been in the studio and requested a date I have listed a weekend date and will get to adding an evening as soon as I can.

I’m off to retreat for the weekend after Open Studio. Yeah!

Have a great weekend Peeps;)

Tuesday

May 16, 2017 By Katie 2 Comments

Hi there;)

Popping in for a moment. The studio’s all clean and ready for some sewing this afternoon and I’ve organized quilts for Thursday’s lecture with the Tacoma Modern Quilt Guild (please come if you want;).

I’ve got the samples for Part II of the Psychedelic Baby Block workshop out for air. Tomorrow’s class is full, but if you’ve taken part one and want to come play with finishing it up or your secondary blocks please do! It will be an excellent opportunity to get your improv on.

I’ve had a request for the Modern Straight-Line Quilting workshop on Friday May 26th, if you’ve been trying to make it to this class here’s your chance! I’ve loved teaching this workshop. We make some useful nesting baskets with our panels.

One spot left in Memorial Day’s Value Quilt Workshop. We’ll cover how value drives quilt design and make hearts and other shapes with simple half-square triangles. I’m trying to get some squares cut from my stash to make available.

Some students and I’ve been playing in new color ways with one of the improv block techniques I’ll be teaching at Quiltcon. Even putting pillows on the bed puts a combo in my head and leads me out to the studio to pile fabric.

I pre-ordered The Modern Quilt Guild’s new book that has a few of my quilts in it. I’ll be sure to share when I receive it.

I’ve got a birthday present to make today and some celebratory roller skating tonight. We’ve been into making and gifting these Michelle Patterns grocery bags with fabric from stash in the studio lately.

That’s it for now peeps.

Hope you all have time to get your craft on this week.

Some Stitching

April 25, 2017 By Katie 5 Comments

My Value Heart Quilt has spent more time in the past couple of weeks being shuffled from one corner of the house to the next, than being stitched.

I’m hearting it though and I thought I’d share a little bit of process before yet another week walks away from me.

Last week I did managed to start this post, and sit long enough to turn one corner of the binding. I don’t know about you, but I always love that moment when you can spread it out and admire even just one bound edge.

Saturday, I spent the most lovely day with the Bainbridge Island MQG and managed to finish all but one side while traveling on the ferries. I usually get out of the car deck and head upstairs to the cabin, but the King size kept me warm and car-bound. I also had a pretty sweet viewing spot to watch rainbows over Puget Sound.

Many scraps ago I bought this Sevenberry print, and I had the most wee bit of it left. When I noticed they reprinted it, I got it in my head that it was the one and only binding fabric that would do. Definitely a ‘treat yourself’ moment for someone that could certainly bind a million scrap quilts from her stash.

I have OBD (over basting disorder) and a similar problem with wonder clips. Some tools once discovered are hard to live without. Using its clever risen dots to align all the binding to the same seam measurement is a game changer. You really only need a few, but I like to see it all clipped back like that and you feel so accomplished when you get to start removing them.

Even width binding!

I’m sure Jefe is seriously happy that we’re now going to be sleeping under a scrappy heart quilt, but I love the brightness and cheerfulness it brings to the room.

I’m hoping to finish it up and snap some photos of it next week for a workshop that focuses on how to optimize the use of color value in your quilts, but in case that doesn’t become reality I’ve listed some class dates. Come get your value on and use up some of those lovely prints in your stash;)

I know some of you Monday-Friday peeps tell me you like a holiday of sewing, so I added one for you.

I know you’d miss all the examples I have to show you how value works, but if you can’t make it here you can still make your own with my Value Quilt Tutorial and some scheduled time with your design wall.

Well, since somebody might have had a little accident and there’s no transmission in the car, there is car hunting in the near future. This will also be the last photo of the bedroom with the Pure Periwinkle in my dream weekend. I think I feel some new pillow covers coming on with the paint transformation, plus I’ve got another quilt quilted and ready for some binding, so out I go to visit my stash.

Hope your future is full of something inspirational.

Happy week Peeps!

Drive-By Post

March 30, 2017 By Katie 6 Comments

Just a quick drive-by post to let you know that if you live locally I’ve had a request for the Psychedelic Baby Block Workshop in studio on ~~April 19th and have room for two additional students.~~ FULL, so I’ll apply the discount to the Sunday, May 21st workshop date until Monday.

This is a perfect time to play with an improv technique within a finished block size. No more “what/how do I design a quilt with this improv stuff” in this workshop;) The how and what is all provided.

I’ll run it on sale through the weekend.

And a big thanks to all that have inquired about a pattern to this block and its layouts, you have lit the fire;)

Have a good one Peeps!

:: Hit The Ground Running ::

March 27, 2017 By Katie 6 Comments

Since the beginning of the year I’ve folded, packed, unpacked, shared and refolded quilts a million times and I wanna extend a big heartfelt thanks to all those involved in my workshops and lectures this season. Please know that everything from holding up my quilts, taking a class, teaching me things you know, giving me a hug, to feeding me is all appreciated!

Quilters pretty much rule.

Now I’m looking forward to wrapping up the season by sticking closer to home with the Bainbridge and Tacoma MQGs, and the Stray-Threads Guild in Woodinville this coming month. If you’re around one of these guilds please come visit me;)

Then I’m going on retreat to sew what ever I want!

We’ve been busy in the studio constructing sets of nesting buckets with our practice pieces in the Straight-Line Quilting Workshop. This workshop has really been fun, from spilling all the information in my head out, to seeing everyone’s amazing straight line designs and hearing what they’re going to use their buckets for.

I had to developed myself a little system to keep class samples in check as I unpack and I’m slowly working up to full occupation of the linen closet;)

On the list for the afternoon is categorizing my sample pile for this week’s and April’s Creative Inspiration for Quilt Backs workshop. I’ll be sharing the strategies I use in constructing my own quilt backs and guiding you through making some beautiful backs of your own on the studio’s design walls.

Seattle had like 3 days of sunshine in February and March’s outcome is yet to be determined, but let’s say it’s kind of seems like a tie. So lucky to have a space dedicated solely to my indoor hobby when we’re living in the rainy months.

I’ve already took a walk, so now I’m hoping to make it out to the studio so I can get to the quilting on my Value Hearts Quilt.

It’s all basted up, TWICE.

Though I’ve cut it extremely close with batting more than a few times this seemed a little ridiculous. So after putting 50 or more pins I recut some batting, rebasted and I’m ready to roll.

The first lines were lain yesterday and now I’m itching to get back to it. I’ll be adding this to the concept classes closer to summer.

Happy Week Peeps!

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FYI, aren’t these amazing inspiration? @lysaflower Psychedelic Baby block quilt top from Frasier Valley MQG workshop and @carrie_ellens pillow creation from my improv log cabin workshop.

Now doesn’t that just make you want to run with scissors and take a workshop?

@lysaflower psychedelic baby

@carrie_ellens fab pillow from @sewkatiedid improv log cabin workshop

@carrie_ellens improv log cabin pillow

Full Tilt Quilt

March 14, 2017 By Katie 12 Comments

Well hi there;)

On my flight to teach in Jackson Hole I finished the binding on what I’ll call Full Tilt. I always love to have something new to share and this was just in time for a line up of winter-spring lectures and workshops teaching this block.

Traveling and spending time with my tribe is such a bonus of being in this industry and you quilters are the nicest people. The inspiration you pull from your own toolbox when given a few improv techniques and a little structure is quite energizing even when I feel a little exhausted. It all kind of kicks my brain and my wanderlust into overdrive.

Travel on top of the home front’s Open Studios and Workshops hasn’t allowed me a lot of time to get ideas out of my own head and into fabric. Good things take time I hear, and in the meantime I’ve been directing my sewing groove into quick projects we can explore in Open Studio like these reversible grocery bags and rope bowls.

| Inspiration |

I know, again with the Psychedelic Baby Block. You all might be sick of seeing this block, but I have yet to scratch the design surface with it and its secondary block that we make in this workshop. Full Tilt’s colorway was this sweet geometric dress I found in a catalog. Its layout is simple and inspired by another string quilt I made this year.

I noticed in lecturing this season that my solids have shifted over the years from a abundance of Osnaburgh to Essex. Solid fabric quilts can be so flat and the indigo here adds some much-needed texture. I went with 4 different blues, including some shot cotton and the Essex. The rest of the solids are a mix of Kona and Michael Miller Cotton Couture.

| Quilting |

I was asked in a lecture this month who was the favorite to quilt my quilts? I whole heartedly answered “Me.”

I didn’t always feel this way. Often it was where I stalled out on a finish. I didn’t feel I had the skills or vision to free-motion with the amount of precision I desired. I know, I know, ‘practice is the best teacher,’ and I did that, but I was just never feeling it with free-motion as I did with a straight line.

It took time for me, years actually, to figure out that my quilts really didn’t need the fancy quilting I thought they did. It often distracted or even clashed with the piecing, stealing the limelight. I think my patchwork holds its own quite well.

Once I just started quilting straight lines I lost the anxiousness AND actually started finishing quilts at a faster rate. Straight-line quilting felt intuitive to me. Another unexpected discovery was I liked my quilts more. Now they’re a 100% ME from start to finish.

The quilts I have with a variety of straight line quilting keeps building. As I was getting my Straight Line Quilting Workshop together, I first thought I would quilt some simple panels in a variety of designs until I realized how many samples of straight line quilting I already had. Actual quilts to demonstrate the tips and tricks, just like my other classes, duh.

That’s a long-winded way of saying Full Tilt got a simple grid in a light pink Metler thread and I like it;)

| Binding & Backing |

I went pieced. I considered the navy to frame, but regardless I had to order fabric for the finish. I thought it would carry the piecing of the blocks onto the edge for a detailed addition to the design.

My technique for this is to strip piece some panels and sub-cut them to the binding’s width. I sew it on until I’m about to turn a corner and then I’ll add a larger strip of one fabric that accommodates the turn so that I don’t have seams stuck in the miter. Once the corner is turned I reattach my pieced binding and continue until I come to the next corner.

I have a whole photo shoot of this process that some day I’ll get up here as a tutorial.

I haven’t bought backing fabric in ages, just pulling and piecing from stash, I don’t see a noticeable dent honestly. Apparently I bought up all of this flannel so that none of you could have any. I’ve used it to back several quilts. The vans have now made an appearance in the blue and pink. It all seemed to compliment the front and come together simple enough.

All in all I love it;)

I’ve added a few more dates for the straight line quilting workshop onto the schedule, including an evening slot as requested. I also have a reader coming to the studio from Germany that picked playing with the Psychedelic Baby Block if anyone would like to join us. Just follow the links;)

Happy week Peeps! I’m actually heading out to the studio;)

Side-Lined Quilt

February 8, 2017 By Katie 5 Comments

I told you I still quilt:)

I completed this lovely ages ago and have just needed a brighter Seattle day to photograph it.

I thought it time to share it with you.

| Inspiration |

The Land of Nod spring catalog supplied an inspirational color way and it just so happens I didn’t have to buy any fabric to create it. Truly unbelievable.

There are a mix of Konas, Cotton Couture, some of my go-to shot cotton orange, and a flannel. The whites are quite a cocktail including some flannel. Amazing how different whites can be.

One thing about teaching workshops is you always need blocks in all stages to demo a technique. Before I know it I have enough blocks to finish them up into a baby/lap quilt which is a more manageable size to travel with, and yes, I do pack one King for lectures.

Can you guess the other thing not so easy to travel with? Books😉

I’d go mad if I have to remake the same quilt, so my inspiration was another variation of what I call the Psychedelic Baby Block for my improvisational strip piecing workshop. Teaching a technique over a pattern has its benefits for the short attention spanned like me. It gives me the flexibility to design something new.

At 15″ square, using the technique I teach, these blocks come together fast.

| Quilting |

Straight lined and Grid Grid Grid went the quilting. I started with light blue thread, but ripped it out after a few lines and replaced it with white. I have to say I was not liking the line quilting design at all, but kept adding and adding until it came together. Enough quilting to please the eye and little enough to still have a soft drape. It has a great texture.

| Binding and Backing |

I really wanted to purchase some flannel that I’d fallen’ in love with, but I poked around my stash and as usual was glad I did. These older Heather Ross prints and flannel came together into a lovely minimal back. My leftovers from the top were grey or white. White as a binding sounds like it would become a Swifter, so I went with the grey and it frames it nicely.

I love the controlled chaos happening in it. I’m going to make a larger one for our bed once I finalize the color way. Decisions decisions. I am slow moving, but am working on a pattern for this quilt.

Thanks for stopping by, hope you get in some crafty time Peeps;)

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P.S. If you’re in the mood to hear about my quilts I’ll be doing a lecture tonight at the Seattle MQG and this Friday with the Frasier Valley Modern Quilt Guild (workshop sold out).

————————————————————————————————–

I guess my call to finish up those quilt tops was needed and the classes filled! I’ve added two new sessions (evening and next Wednesday) to the straight line quilting workshop if anyone wants to come learn the tips and tricks that work for me. We’ll be making our practice pieces into useful nesting baskets.

Walk the Line | Straight-Line Quilting Workshop

January 28, 2017 By Katie 6 Comments

I still quilt, I swear.

The New Year brings out the clean, organize and purge in me. So on the 1st I jumped into The January Cure, a scheduled out month of house chores. Even with a few missed days to teach in Jackson Hole, the momentum to finish is still present.

I’ve also made my yearly mental checklist of unfinished tops or other projects that could use some quilting.

Maybe some of you are making these lists, and organizing for the year as well. I thought you might even welcome the opportunity to refine your straight line quilting skills in a workshop before you tackle all those unfinished quilt tops on your own home machine.

I’d certainly like to share all the know-how of straight line quilting I’ve accumulated and I happen to have a closet, a very clean closet 😉 full of quilts to show you as examples. Each of them have their own straight line quilting story.

To practice these geometric, curvy and geometric designs I thought we’d go with the New Year’s theme of ‘organize’. Nesting buckets seemed appropriate, made with either whole cloth (we won’t count that as a new project;) or orphaned blocks (you can see that look here).

We’ll learn the tips and tricks of using a walking foot, marking, turning and burying knots as you master modern straight line quilting designs on the studio’s Bernina machines. The bucket’s panels make perfect practice palettes and you can pull from your stash to make them happen.

Take a closer look at my finished quilts and smaller projects with straight line quilting, or SIGN-UP to develop this skill for yourself.

Hope the New Year has been rich in craftiness Peeps.

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I’ll be showing my quilts and speaking at the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild’s Wednesday, February 8th meeting from 7pm-9pm. You don’t have to be a member to attend, so this is a great opportunity to check out what they have planned for lectures and workshops this year. I promise to entertain;)

blog

5th Annual Bainbridge Island Quilt Festival

On Point Scrappy Double-Trouble Quilt

Hearts Value Quilt

:: Spilt Crumbs Quilt Top ::

Well Hello June

Tuesday

Some Stitching

Drive-By Post

:: Hit The Ground Running ::

Full Tilt Quilt

Side-Lined Quilt

Walk the Line | Straight-Line Quilting Workshop

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