Windham Wednesdays with Uncorked

I often revisit my older patterns. We are in the season of Valentine's Day and all things hearts. I created this for one of my block a day calendars several years ago and made it up using some brights and dots and flowers from Windham Fabrics. Here is my first one, which I called Stacked Hearts. It is one of my Craftsy patterns.

Stacked Hearts

The block is 8.5" x 12" and the finished mini quilt is 21" x 21".

I recently received a bundle of fat quarters called Uncorked. It is cotton fabric designed to look like colored cork fabric. It has metallic accents and the color range is awesome. See for yourself. I cut these for an upcoming pattern for Windham. There are 24 skus in the collection and I cut two squares from each one!

Uncorked squares

I selected the lightest gray and the deep red for a remake of my Stacked Hearts block. I cut out my freezer paper template and ironed it to fusible backed red fabric:

Preparing to cut out my Stacked Hearts

Then I centered it on my grey fabric, selected (and tested) my sewing machine stitch (zig zag) and stitched it down. Here are some companion fabrics auditioning themselves next to my stitched block.

Stacked Heart with some companion fabrics

And this is how far I've gone. Not quilted yet, but I like it. Not too sure about the light pink, but hey - I was just playing around, ok?

Stacked Hearts using Uncorked fabrics by Windham

And here's another view of those squares. I am remaking my 98 Dancing Squares quilt (which was stolen back in 2005). It appears in my first book, Bold, Black & Beautiful Quilts, 2004.

24 colors from Uncorked by Windham Fabrics

Check out the Stacked Hearts pattern on Craftsy. It's quick and easy and you can have a special Valentine for that special someone in no time!

Tea Party BOM Facebook Group

Hi, all. I will be uploading the February Tea Cup this Thursday and I'm so excited about it. I got a bit carried away and made not one, not two - but six of them!

This block is NOT it, but mine is similar (and a bit simpler). I know you will love it!

I have created a Facebook group where those who are participating in the BOM can share their blocks. I already have almost 600 who have downloaded the Cake Stand block. Big WOW, huh?!!

Original Cake Stand from 2005

 And my newest one:

If you would like to share your progress or finished blocks on my Facebook group, I invite you to check it out: 2018 Tea Party BOM group

I will be checking it throughout the day to see if I got the settings right. I want you to be able to post right to the group. I think as Admin, I have to "approve" you (and I will). Also, this is ONLY for the Tea Party blocks and I won't allow any advertising of unrelated things. It's all about the fabric and techniques and patterns (mine) you use.

Thanks for participating in the BOM. I really look forward to seeing what you've done so far. I promise I will make every attempt to correct any glitches that occur!

See you on Thursday for the February reveal of my six tea cup blocks (and the FREE pattern)!

Hearts: Love is in the Air!

I have a lot of scraps (really?!!). I took some of my fabulous Kaffe Fassett scraps and my OLD simple heart pattern and cut out 45 hearts. I first fused paper backed webbing to the wrong side before cutting out. Now what to do?

45 hearts ready for a quilt

Have you seen some of my REALLY old patterns using hearts? Let me show you! This first quilt was the result of trying to hand appliqué those hearts from Keepsake Quilting catalog. I could NOT do it. Then I machine appliqued them to a background hexagon and the rest is history. There are NO y-seams in this, btw. This was published in early 2002 in QUILT Magazine.

Black and Bright Hearts Quilt: 37" x 38"

This next quilt appeared in my first book, Bold, Black and Beautiful Quilts (AQS 2004). More hearts from that Keepsake pack of hearts. And I got so bold as to use ORANGE as my background fabric. What's with that?!

Dancing Hearts: 32" x 42" (8" blocks)

Now for a ring of hearts that my dear friend Jan Jolly made for my second book, Supersize 'Em Quilts (Martingale, 2009):

Jeweled Crazy Hearts: 42" x 42"

So, what do you think? Aren't these happy quilts? I have more heart quilts, but I thought I'd share these three because they are giving me ideas for using those 45 hearts at the top of the page.

Now to figure out a good background color. I'll be back in a few days with some more heart inspired quilts as we begin to think about Valentine's Day.

Free Pattern Friday: Charming Ideas, Part 1

Sometimes what's old is new again. This is part of an article I published in Quilt Magazine in 1995 when I was the Special Projects Editor. I gave several patterns for making scrap quilts using charm squares. I will address one of those ideas today. Come back for Parts 2, 3 and 4 in the coming weeks.

Taken from Quilt Magazine, 1995

"Some days I just want to cut and sew. I want to play with a lot of pattern and color and a scrap quilt is just what I need. Several years ago I swapped 5” charm squares with other quilters and now I have a large plastic bin full of hundreds of these squares and it’s fun to find new ways to make small quilts with them. If you don’t have any, you can cut 5” strips from a variety of fabrics and get your 5” squares from those. We will cut these into rectangles for  three quick quilts variations."

You may be working with a set that is all one color family:

Red/pink colored charms

 Or just a lot of various color and pattern:

Various colors

Back to Quilt Magazine:

"The Criss Cross block and quilt is created using one constant fabric as a neutral. This could be muslin, black or any other color that you happen to like and have on hand. Let’s use muslin for our example here. Cut several 5” strips of muslin. R andomly select 8 charm squares and align them end to end along the muslin strip."

Now, you may be working with fat quarters for your background fabric. Then you are only able to get 4 charms along one length (5" x 22").

Charms pinned end to end, right sides together with my light gray 5" strip

"Stitch them to the muslin strip along both long sides of the muslin. Recut each long strip into 5” wedges so that you now have a muslin square sewn to a charm square along two opposing sides.

Charm stitched to neutral fabric along two opposing ends and cut apart into 5" units

Trim these units to 4-1/2” wide as shown. This is because you have taken up 1/4" seam on those two ends. Discard the little 1/2" strip.

Trim 1/2" from one end as shown

Now cut these wedges in half down the middle, making your cut parallel with the two rows of stitching.

Cut the 4-1/2" x 5" two-fabric unit in half

Open these out and press the seams toward the darker fabric. Repeat for all remaining units. You now have two-fabric units that measure 2-1/2" x 4-1/2”.

Criss Cross Units

"Sew these together, keeping the matching fabrics separated as shown. Arrange into the quilt blocks as shown."

8-1/2" x 8-1/2" Criss Cross Block (finishes to 8")

And two blocks together show how the charm fabrics never touch.

Two Criss Cross Blocks

 Here is my digital rendition from 1995. First, in two colors.

25 Block quilt center = 40" x 40"

Then truly scrappy:

Same quilt using a variety of colors and prints

And my leftover charms await another project!

Here are more charms waiting patiently in a little plastic page protector.

So, grab one of those charm packs you have in your stash and some 5" strips of a neutral (I used a very light gray) and you will have 8" blocks in no time.

Come back next week for Part 2.  I will be talking about Chinese Coins, Staggered Bricks and Stacked Bricks - all using 5" charm squares. Oh, and even Thousand Pyramids. One technique at a time.

If you don't follow my blog, you won't be alerted to when I make these available. I am no longer permitted to post these on the Kaffe Fassett Collective Facebook page (and I totally understand why and am not complaining!)

You can sign up via email or via Bloglovin'. I don't bug you and have ads flashing and demanding your attention. It's all quilts. Only quilts. All the time.

Layer Cake Pattern: Stained Glass Pickup Sticks

I designed and sewed this quilt more than 10 years ago, right when those 10" stack of squares began hitting the quilt store shelves. It is part of my Magic Stack series and I thought I would feature some of these now and then on my blog.

This first quilt (54" x 64") is a bit larger than the pattern size. The quilt in my Craftsy pattern is 52" x 62".

Stained Glass Pickup Sticks

I made this using 10-1/2" squares cut from batiks, but my pattern has been rewritten for 10" squares. This is so easy! I taught this as a workshop for a few years; let me show you a few of my other quilts.

This 8 block table runner was our project for a half-day workshop. Students could expand their quilts with more squares.

8 Block Table Runner

 Then, I took a stack of some Asian inspired prints from Blank Quilting, and created this 16 block quilt. Don't you just love those thin black strips - looks like stained glass, doesn't it?

16 Block quilt center

 Then I created this using slightly wider strip inserts. I used a Timeless Treasures collection from about 7 years ago. It was beautifully quilted by Kathy Gray and was auctioned at my guild's fund raiser a few years ago.

Pickup Sticks using happy Spring colors

You can get your copy of Stained Glass Pickup Sticks at my Craftsy store. Stay tuned for more of these to show up here. And come back tomorrow for a tutorial on what to do with those 5" charms you've been hoarding.

Is it Pickle Dish or Double Wedding Ring? You Decide!

I'm revisiting this topic in order to set the record straight. I have made several Double Wedding Ring (DWR) quilts over the past 25 years and I've shared many of them here on my blog. Just check out the links listed on the right side bar or do a SEARCH.

Pickle Dish gets its name from the cut glass dish used to serve, well, pickles! This was a popular 1930s pattern that was only for those who could stitch accurately and weren't afraid of templates and curved seams. You don't believe me? Ha!

Pickle Dish pattern in Kansas City Star October 28, 1931

Here is my first Pickle Dish quilt using a collection by Windham Fabrics.

Traditional Pickle Dish

Then I made one using some Kaffe Fassett fabrics. (This pattern is coming via Craftsy soon)

My second Pickle Dish quilt

But, let's get back to the Double Wedding Ring version of Pickle Dish. Here is my first block based on my own pattern from several years ago. I have 6 elongated "spokes", a center melon, 4 corner squares and then the curved backgrounds. The SIMILARITIES with the Pickle Dish: corner squares, curved pieced units and a center melon.

Single block that mimics the traditional Pickle Dish, but is closer to the DWR

Here is the 16 Block quilt I finished (just the top) last week. It is 58" x 58" and I love these colors. All of the fabrics are various collections from Windham Fabrics.

58" x 58" Pickle Dish Quilt. 16 blocks!

I have taught this as a workshop for the past several years. I made one using some red, black and white prints and made a four block quilt for my class sample.

Four block quilt. Blocks are 11-1/4" square for a 22-1/2" center (before borders)

Now, to be fair (and nice), I'm not debating the names here. I love all patterns and have designed well over 1,000 of them in the past 25 years. I decided to show the steps for making this DWR pattern using some Kaffe Fassett prints. The 15 page pattern can be found in my Craftsy store with full size templates and the foundations to print as many blocks as you desire! I have several pages of these process shots to help with adding all these parts for a perfect finish!

The Pickle Dish pattern in my Craftsy store has directions for both the four block red and black quilt and for the 16 block quilt, which is a bit more scrappy.

Here is the first arc foundation pieced. Messy looking, but not trimmed yet. Those little pieces of fabric are what I trimmed from each patch before adding the next one.

Foundation pieced arc

Removing papers after trimming along the outside edge. You MUST remove the papers before adding the curved melon and background fabrics. Garment sewing teaches us this with needing the "ease" to work WITH you for setting in sleeves, etc.

Remove the papers to reveal nice, neat seams

Here are all the parts. Don't sweat bullets. These WILL go together very, very nicely. Nothing is too small or too large. We are working with curved pieces. Stay with me!

End squares, paper pieced arcs, center melon and curved background pieces

Adding the curved (concave) background piece. Notice my trick for keeping those straight ends, well, STRAIGHT. An extra pin to make them behave! I pin in the center first, then the two ends. Everything else fits with ease. Don't fight the bias here!

Keep the straight ends STRAIGHT using TWO pins

Then you attach the melon shape to one set of paper pieced arcs. If you mark the tip of the melon at the 1/4", and pin with two pins (as we did above) and sew SLOWLY, this will work like a dream. My Craftsy pattern shows a few more pictures of this process.

Adding the melon shape

Once all the parts are joined, then it's time to trim! While other patterns only give you a scant 1/4" on the outside background pieces, I include another 1/4" so you have something to hold onto when joining the arc to the BG piece.

My blocks finish to 11-1/4", so I check my block and trim to 11-3/4"

This is NOT a pattern for a beginner. You MUST be confident of your 1/4" seam. When in doubt, make a sample block before cutting out your entire quilt!

Here's my final block. Make 3 more and you have the red and black quilt assembly. Make 15 more and you have the 58" x 58" quilt! This is not a fast project, but very satisfying.

Pickle Dish (or Fat Double Wedding Ring) block: 11-3/4" unfinished.

Pickle Dish is a fun way to use up your scraps! Next week I hope to share with you more about my traditional Pickle Dish (with all those points in the arcs). Thanks for stopping by!

Lakeland 2018 Sewing Expo Classes

Year # 11 for teaching with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo! I love being able to create new workshops annually; it really animates me to do new things with new fabric for old and new students.

What's happening in Lakeland, FL March 15-17, 2018? Well, here are the classes I'm offering.

Big Block Lone Star: Thursday, March 15, 8:30 - 11:30 am

Big Block Lone Star. Block: 29" x 29". Quilt with borders: 40" x 40"

Make a Lone Star Quilt in a day! No need to tediously cut out templates when you can simply rotary cut and strip piece for accuracy with NO y-seams. This is a wonderful BIG block (29”) and makes a great wall or child’s quilt (40” with borders). Bring your own fabric, see supply list for details.

And just to show you that this is one of my "go-to" patterns, a few other quilts made with this VERY easy technique. No y-seams, btw!

Big Block Lone Star appeared in my Supersize 'Em Quilts book (2009)

And, of course, the Four Patch Star can have a different look based on the way you piece the units together! This 9 Block quilt (Farmhouse West Stars) shows the possibilities. Your choice!

Farmhouse West Stars

And a few smaller ones (same technique) made into large table mats.

Single Lone Star blocks

Waterwheels Quilt: Thursday, March 15, 1-4 pm

Black and Red Waterwheels Quilt. 36 blocks

 And just 16 blocks demonstrate my "When Four Becomes Five Blocks" assembly.

Black and Red Waterwheels center

Red, black and white is a timeless color combination for quilts, as we can see in this updated Waterwheels quilt – we first saw the original in 2001. Learn to create those awesome, sharp points (which spin in two directions) using paper piecing techniques. You’ll also learn about accurate 1/4” seams and working with curved units. Of course, you can make this quilt in any color combination you desire! All patches can be pre-cut ahead of time so you begin sewing right away! Detailed supply list at the OSQE website includes a coloring chart for you to audition your own fabrics!

The Gretchen Quilt: Friday, March 16: 8:30 - 11:30 am

This is such an easy block to sew!

The Gretchen Quilt. Block Size: 9"

It’s hard to believe this traditional block, Gretchen, can be sewn without a single template. Everything is cut from two sizes of simple squares; the magic arrives with a quick rotary cutting trick. Debby chose a bright collection of florals and deep hued blenders for this quilt, but you can choose any of your own colors with good contrast to show off the lines of the block. As always, Debby’s classes provide all the hints and helpful tips that make them so much better than a simple pattern or kit. And they’re fun, too! Bring your own fabric; Detailed pdf supply list at the OSQE web site.

And a few other color ways to get your ideas swirling.

My first Gretchen quilt made 10+ years ago

Some indigo blues I bought when I lived in Africa 40+ years ago!

Four Gretchen blocks in blue and white 

And these reds are also from Africa!

Four Gretchen blocks in red and white

And one in very girlie colors of pink and green - my favorite!

Pinks and greens

Double Hexie Star: Friday, March 16: 1-4 pm

There are NO y-seams; everything is rotary cut. You can fussy cut your center hexagon (info given in supply list on what to consider).

Hexagons branch out into double stars with this easy-to-piece block with NO y-seams! No kidding! You’ll create a block with the illusion of intricate piecing and the bonus of a large space in the center to showcase an awesome motif. All patches are cut with a 60 degree ruler, assembly is a dream! Bring your own fabric, 2 page pdf supply list has a planning sheet for you to audition your fabrics!

Double Hexie Star Block: 16" x 18"

 My two block Double Hexie Star quilt:

28" x 42"

 And one more block to show how the center can feature a lush, large floral motif.

Fussy cut the center motif

Machine Quilting: Basics and Beyond: Saturday, March 17: 8:30 - 11:30 am

Using Debby's KISS Method (Keep It Small & Simple), discover how liberating free-motion machine quilting can be. Discuss appropriate threads, various batting choices and basting your layers, then use your time for lots of PRACTICE. Play with doodles, swirls, curves and other simple shapes, as you are coached and gently guided into this exciting world. A perennial favorite at the Expo, this workshop is perfect for both beginning and intermediate level free-motion quilters.

We cover a variety of free motion "doodles"

 I include my Love Dove for you to doodle inside

Love Dove to outline, then doodle inside

 And, of course, Fat Cat! What's not to love?

Fat Cat

I have so many samples to inspire you.

So many ways to fill in your space