Well, what's a kimono without props? I designed this block about 25 years ago for paper piecing. Then I turned it into one for rotary cutting and sewing. I call it my Japanese Lantern. It is the April 17 block in my upcoming Block a Day Calendar by C&T Publishing. Japanese Lantern: 9" I realized (too late) that I should have made it 12" so that it can be used with the Kimono from yesterday. So, I will offer this to calendar owners in the 12" size, too. Once it comes out I will make that announcement. Then the two blocks can go together! Here is a digital file created 25 years ago for Quilt Magazine. The kimono is slightly different, but this is how I envision the two blocks together in a simple quilt: All I need to do is add a simple strip to the bottom of the Lantern to make it the 14" height. Here are two blocks I made yesterday using the Equinox Collection by Benartex. I am going to remake them one more time using a lighter blue for the Lantern (and a lar...

Here is another quilt created with the awesome Sashiko Collection by Windham Fabrics. I appliquéd circles to hexagon background units. Set them with red 60 degree triangles. I shared the post last July. Check it out . I figured I could quilt it myself on my HandiQuilter Sweet16 (sit down) and did just that. I had a very old border print, some binding, but had to really dig around for some backing fabrics. Here's the finished quilt: Circles of the East: 42" x 42" Here are the circles I cut from the Sashiko prints: Then I appliquéd them to larger hexagons: I had enough for the front, but I got a little creative with the backing. I had this awesome 20" square of cotton decorator fabric with a beautiful bird in a tree print. I centered it with two other fabrics, and this is what I got. Back of Circles of the East I made a 4 block Kimono quilt using these same Sashiko fabrics and shared it here before (in 2020).  Four Block Kimono Quilt: 42" x 42" I did share th...

Next to a hexagon, I love circles the best! They have so many possibilities for quilt design. And I've combined the hexagon and circle for some new blocks using the Sashiko Collection (Windham Fabrics). I blogged about this fabric last year.  Sashiko Fabrics by Windham Here is some REAL hand stitched sashiko by yours truly. I've been working on this, off and on, for about 15 years. Hand stitching some sashiko More sashiko Now for my circles. I used a cottage cheese lid (the same size as a CD) for the circle. I interfaced it (with a used dryer sheet!) Easy interfaced circles Then I turned them right side out and centered them on a 6-1/2" high fabric hexagon. I machine zigzag stitched them using monofilament thread. Invisible. Beautiful. No handwork! Sashiko circle and hexagon block Now it's time to clip away both the interfacing and the background fabric (to reduce bulk). I made 16 blocks (and need one more). Here is my idea: It's a slight variation on my  Big Block...

When I love a fabric collection, I imagine a variety of ways to use the prints in blocks and quilts. Such is the case with Windham's Sashiko fabrics. They are timeless with the blues and white and have captured many of the Japanese patterns in the centuries old flowers and geometrics. Sashiko Fabrics by Windham Yes, I get a lot of fabric from various companies, but they really only send sets of fat quarters! I have to get creative to make something bigger than a child's quilt, but I do make it work! Here is a kimono quilt that looks lovely in these Sashiko prints. The borders are not Windham and I've had those two prints in my stash for at least 20 years. They work and they enabled me to make something a bit larger than just the 4 blocks. Bamboo Garden Kimono : 43" x 56" I wanted to play with circles, so I recreated one of my really old patterns (called Spiroglyphics). But instead of placing the circles on a background square, I decided to use hexagons. I interfac...

Did you download my FREE June Wall Calendar of blocks? If so, you will notice that today's block is an Asian inspired Cloisonné with both appliqué and Sashiko stitching. It first appeared in my 2007 desktop calendar. What does it look like? Cloisonné Block I used this block often in subsequent calendars. I first designed it in 2005, but the idea is NOT original with me. It is a century's old pattern. Here is the quilt I designed. Lots of great images! Asian Delights, 2007 I planned on making one of these blocks a few years ago and even cut out my freezer paper template. I ironed fusible webbing to the back of a large square. But I lost my motivation. If you're interested in getting this free block , let me know. Send me an email: kratovil@his.com and I'll send the small, 3 page pdf for the original 12" block size. I ALSO include the full size template for the 8" size. (The 12" size is the half-template, easy to use with folded template material). You do...