College Prep

Happy Monday, friends!  I hope you're ready to kick off another awesome week.  Today's quilt on the Stash Statement blog hop is College Prep, and it's the perfect quilt to use up all of your neutral scraps.

The shades of gray, taupe, and cream combine to create such amazing texture, and it allows the giant argyle blocks to really stand out.  I quilted with a dense stipple using 50 wt. Aurifil White, and I love the added crinkle.

When I designed the quilts for the book, I wanted to show that this technique can utilize modern or more traditional scraps, and the quilts can be made with a more masculine color palette just as easily as a feminine one.  In the College Prep quilt, I chose a classic color combo with Kona Basil and Navy for the argyle blocks that anyone would love, but this quilt would be so much fun to personalize with the colors of a favorite sports team or alma mater.

On the back, I used a large cut of this green and navy Denyse Schmidt fabric that I had been saving (hoarding), along with a stripe of Kona Basil.  I love this DS print, and I'm so happy I finally found a use worthy of it.  I used Kona Navy for the binding to tie in the X's in the argyles and I love the result!

If you think you might not have enough scraps for an improv background, or that you might not want to tackle quite so much improv, you can always flip the design!  I made this little mini awhile ago where the improv and solid sections are reversed, and with the argyles showing off the improv, the result is just as cute.  Versatility is the name of the game!

Lori at Crossquilt is sharing her College Prep project today, so head right over to see i.  Hilary at by Hilary Jordan and I had scheduling mix-up, so she will be posting hers later this week, so be on the lookout.  As soon as she posts, I'll update my blog hop list as well!

**Edited- Hilary's project is all finished, and I've updated the links for you!

Get your very own copy of Stash Statement and start turning your scraps into spectacular quilts! Signed copies of Stash Statement are available from my Etsy shop HERE, or you can get it from Amazon, Connecting Threads, Shop Martingale, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  Thanks, friends!

The blog hop is winding down, with just ONE more week, but don't worry!  If you missed any of the posts, you can always go back and check them out.  I have updated the links in the lineup each week (even in the previous weeks' posts), so you'll always be directed to the right place.  Check them out!

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

                                      Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered  Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts 

                            Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       

                              Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

                                                            

5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               

                                  Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 

                                                           

5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          

                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

                                                            

5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         

                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

                                                            

5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             

                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

                                                            

6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      

                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 

                                                            

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            

                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

                                                            

6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             

                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    

                                                            

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        

                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                             Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

 

Improv Piecing Video Tutorial

Everyone can do it.  No, really!  It's easier than it looks;  I promise...  These are the things I find myself repeating as I share the quilts from my book with guilds, or just here on my blog, and do you know what?  It's all the honest truth.

Believe me- I do know that improv piecing is a difficult concept for some.  It's can be hard to get into the right frame of mind and let go of control a little bit (but when you do it, it's also FUN!).  I do know that it is more comfortable for some to sew with a pattern or a set of step by step instructions.  And I do know that it takes just a little bit of practice with it for it to feel natural (just a tiny bit).  

I know all of this.  But I also know that if you follow the scrap sorting instructions and try the three, step-by-step methods shown in Stash Statement, improv piecing is fun, easy, and doable for every. single. quilter.  I really wanted to show this, instead of just telling you, so when the good folks at Martingale asked if I would like to shoot a demo video at Quilt Market in May, I jumped at the chance.

The video is only a few minutes long, but it shows my thought process as I sew my scraps into useable improv pieces.  Enjoy!

See, everyone can do it.  No, really!  It's easier than it looks;  I promise... Ready to give it a try?  Come on, you know you have the scraps!  

You can get a signed copy of Stash Statement from my Etsy shop HERE.  Or, it is available from Connecting Threads, Shop Martingale, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.  

*Stash Statement is also available from Amazon, but there is currently a glitch in the listing, and it is only showing the Kindle version.  Martingale and Amazon are working to fix this ASAP.

Churn Baby, Churn (and NTT)

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday!  My latest quilt, appropriately named Churn Baby, Churn is all finished, and I am in LOVE with it!

The colors in this collection are so rich and vibrant, and are perfect for the fun layout in the quilt.  When I went to quilt it though, I was stumped on the design since there is so much going on.  I feel like any allover quilting motif would have taken a back seat to the piecing and fabrics, so I just went with my good ole standby stipple.

When I asked for thread input in my last post, the aqua won out by far, and I'm so glad.  Sometimes I worry that I default to aqua too often, but my heart really wanted to quilt this with aqua thread.  So, it was good to have plenty who agreed with me.  I quilted with 50 wt. Aurifil # 5006, Light Turquoise,  my favorite shade of aqua thread.

You might also remember that I planned to use an entirely different main fabric for the back.  Well, sometimes the very best plans get foiled, and when I went to my local shop to get the fabric, only 1.5 yards were left on the bolt.  So, instead, I picked up this orange print from Art Gallery's Bound collection.  I mixed this print into the front as well, so it's all good.  I also threw in a stripe of Kona Pool for good measure.

With such an explosion of color and print on the front, this solid Kona Navy binding creates a perfect frame to contain all of it.

Several have asked if I am planning to write a pattern for this quilt, and after giving it lots of thought, I have decided that I am not.  The trouble with a quilt like this is that it is difficult to write concise cutting instructions for so many different sized pieces.  It can be done, but I just don't have the time right now.  Instead, I have created a layout diagram with (finished) sizing for you!

Each color corresponds to a different size, and the finished sizes are listed for you on one of each color block.  The black lines show how I sewed the quilt together in sections, giving it a random look (with no partial seams!)  This layout could really work for any block you like.  As long as your finished blocks are 15", 9", and 6", you can just plug them into the spaces for an awesome, modern quilt.  If you use this layout, be sure to send me a photo!

Okie dokie!  Let's get to the features from last week's party, shall we?  Denise from For the Love of Geese shared this pretty Granny Square quilt.  I love these colors!

Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty linked up this jelly roll log cabin quilt.  I love how making rectangular log cabin blocks give the quilt a fresh look!

Look at this awesome Sawtooth Star QOV by Katie Mae Quilts-

And finally, this awesome quilt is by Tiina from Kasityolainen- unelmissaan.  Her blog is written in
English as well, so definitely check it out!

Wow!  Just WOW!  Y'all bring such amazing inspiration each and every week.  I am just amazed.  Without further ado, let's link up!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Catch a Falling Star

Happy Monday (again), friends!  It seems to come around so quickly, doesn't it?  Well, since the weekend is over, we might as well start the week on a high note, with another quilt on the Stash Statement blog hop!  Shades of dark blue, purple, and gray depict the night sky in the Catch a Falling Star quilt.

When I set out to design quilts showing land, sea, and sky for this section of the book, I wanted to show a variety of backdrops in the quilts, and of course, I wanted to be able to use a wide variety of my scrap colors.  The combination of purples, dark blues, and gray blend together perfectly to create the effect.  The night sky is very dramatic, and the subtle color variation in the prints really show this well.

The Kona Corn Yellow and Tangerine star blocks cascade down the quilt, and they pop right out against the sky background.  I quilted this one with Aurifil 50 wt. #2783 (Medium Delft Blue) with a large swirl design, which adds really cool movement to the stars.

When I say that these swirls are large- I mean it!  Some of them are 10-12" in diameter, and the spacing between each line of quilting is about 3/4" to 1", which actually made it more difficult to keep them smooth and even.  This was the first time I quilted swirls, and next time, I would probably make them smaller.  I'm happy with the result, but live and learn!

This light purple pindot balances the darker front of this quilt well, and the navy binding ties it all together.

Anja Quilts and Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework are sharing their own Catch a Falling Star quilts today, so head over there and check out their awesomeness.

You can pick up your very own signed copy of Stash Statement from my Etsy shop HERE.  The book is also available from Amazon, Connecting Threads, ShopMartingale.com, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.

You definitely don't want to miss the rest of the Stash Statement lineup!

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

                                      Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered  Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts 

                            Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       

                              Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

                                                            

5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               

                                  Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 

                                                           

5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          

                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

                                                            

5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         

                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

                                                            

5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             

                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

                                                            

6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      

                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 

                                                            

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            

                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

                                                            

6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             

                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    

                                                            

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        

                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                             Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

 

Churning

It's time for Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  Last week, I gave a little peek at the fabric pull for my latest quilt, and I'm super excited to share that it is now a completed quilt top.

The idea of using alternate grid work with churn dashes in several sizes is one that I've had rolling around in my mind for awhile, and I'm so glad I finally made it a reality. I picked up the bundle of Bari J's Splendid Fusion fabrics at Quilt Market in May, and the fabrics seemed perfect for it.

Just in case you're wondering, the churn dash blocks are 15", 9", and 6" finished, and then I just filled in the open spaces with scrappy pieces of fabric.  I think the fact that there are little strips of fabric tucked between the blocks gives the quilt an extra modern feel.

I added this awesome print from the Joie de Vivre line (also by Bari J) to the Splendid Fusion fabrics.  Since one of my local quilt shops actually has this fabric in stock, I'm planning for this on the back (with scraps, for course).  I love it when a plan comes together.

I actually used this fabric to back my Centrifuge quilt last fall.  I loved the fabric so much then, and I'm excited to have the chance to use it again.

With all of the rich colors in this collection, I have tons of thread options for quilting on this one, but I'm leaning toward the yellow or aqua (though that berry color is luscious).  This quilt is getting an allover quilting design, and I think a lighter color would really work best.  Thoughts?

Last week's party was full of amazing inspiration!  Take a look at this amazing mini quilt by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.  Tiny, super-meticulous piecing looks so cool and I'm glad someone in this world enjoys it because it is definitely not me.  I'll just ogle, thank you very much.  I know my limitations.

This quilt, called Summer on the Coast by Alison at Little Bunny Quilts is just lovely, and I love the softer colors-

This improv mini quilt by Sarah Goer Quilts is ultra cool-

This Fireworks Show quilt from Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts is just awe inspiring (check out the closeups of her amazing quilting.  You won't be sorry!

and finally, this Electrify quilt by Jess at Quilty Habit is gorgeously crisp and modern.

Yes, yes.  I went a little overboard on the highlights this week (just a little).  And you know what?  I could really have chosen several more to showcase, because y'all continue to rock it out every. single. week.  Let's party!

1. You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Regatta

Are you ready for another stop on the Stash Statement blog hop?  This week features the Regatta quilt, and the background is full of soothing blue and aqua, with just a touch of teal to depict ocean water.

The variation in the shades of blue add amazing depth and movement to the water, and provide the perfect setting for the Kona Red and Corn Yellow racing sailboats.  I quilted this one with a very dense stipple with Aurifil 50 wt. White, and the crinkly texture also adds some great movement to the quilt.

For the back of this quilt, I pulled this soothing blue print from my stash, along with Kona Navy and more Corn Yellow.  This shade of denim blue is really perfect for this quilt, and the little print adds just enough interest.

I used plenty of my leftover blue strip scraps for a scrappy binding, and it disappears right into the quilt, which really is cool.

One of the great things about the quilts in Stash Statement is how easy it is to work on them as a longer term project if you prefer.  I generally like get down to business and sew my improv pieces together in a couple of days, but I have known quilters who prefer to sew a few blocks together here and there, pulling a handful of scraps out between projects.  

You can work on these quilts the same way some quilters put together string blocks or postage stamp blocks- but there is one BIG difference.  You don't have to do any additional cutting beforehand for improv blocks!  You can just grab a handful of scraps and start sewing!  I promise, it's easier than it looks, and the book walks you through the process with step-by-step instructions and three easy methods.  Everyone can do this!

Debbie at A Quilter's Table and Susan at Quilt Fabrication are sharing their own gorgeous versions of the Regatta quilt today, so head over there to check them out!

Ready to start turning your scraps into unique quilts, filled with amazing texture and interest?  You can get a signed copy of Stash Statement from my Etsy shop HERE.  The book is also available from Amazon, Connecting Threads, ShopMartingale.com, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.

Here's the full blog tour lineup!

4/16- Grand Bazaar    Shelley @ Cora's Quilts

                                      Connie @ Freemotion by the River

4/23- Louvered  Lindsey @ Primrose Cottage Quilts 

                            Diann @ Little Penguin Quilts

4/30- Precarious  Jess @ Quilty Habit                       

                              Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts

                                                            

5/7- Beach Retreat  Sarah @ Sarah Goer Quilts                               

                                  Liz @ Savor Every Stitch 

                                                           

5/14- Fire Pit   Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts                                          

                         Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts

                                                            

5/21- Detour    Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts                         

                         Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

                                                            

5/28- Murrina    Yvonne @ Quilting Jetgirl             

                            Leanne @ Devoted Quilter

                                                            

6/4- Scattered    Jayne @ Twiggy and Opal                      

                           Christine @ Triangles and Squares 

                                                            

6/11- Bloom Chicka Boom   Chris @ made by ChrissieD            

                                               Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

                                                            

6/18- Regatta   Susan @ Quilt Fabrication                             

                          Debbie @ A Quilter's Table    

                                                            

6/25- Catch a Falling Star  Cynthia @ Quilting is More Fun Than Housework        

                                              Anja @ Anja Quilts

                                                            

7/2- College Prep   Hilary @ by Hilary Jordan                 

                                Lori @ Crossquilt

                                                            

7/9- Take Flight (free bonus pattern)  Kelli @ Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches 

                                                             Paula @ The Sassy Quilter