If you’re in Kansas City on Saturday night, don’t forget the MQG Meetup!
We’re so excited that blocks for the QuiltCon Block Challenge have started to come in!
If you’d like to keep up to date on the latest blocks we’ve received, you can follow QuiltCon Block Challenge on Flickr.
There’s also a new Block Challenge Flickr Group where you can share photos of what you’re making. We would love to have you join us there!
Did you all see?? The Spring Market meet up was announced!
Modern Meet Up
Amber Carrillo drew her inspiration from several places when creating this bright and cheery quilt with a striking spiral quilting pattern.
Here’s what Amber had to say about her quilt:
“This quilt was made after I saw this quilt by Nettie, and this one by Jolene on their blogs. They were both so striking and I loved all the solid surrounding the patchwork block. I had a few Munki Munki blocks that I had sewn up just for fun and so I pieced a few of them together to form a larger block. Then I choose a bright pink Kona solid for the background.
When I went to quilt it, I decided I wanted to do spiral quilting like Nettie did on her quilt, and Alissa did on this one. I read through the comments on Alissa’s picture and saw that she recommended using your free-motion foot for the first few circles and then switching to your walking foot. So that’s what I did. I picked a spot in the center of the quilt that I wanted to start at (not dead-center but off to one side) and slowly started making small spirals out from the center. My lines are not evenly spaced but you can’t really tell when you are done. You can also mark your first few circles using a washable pen but I didn’t – I like to live recklessly – ha ha! It is a little harder than some quilting techniques as you are moving the whole quilt through your sewing machine throat every time you circle around, but the effect is wonderful.
I did about 5 spirals/circles with my free-motion foot and then switched to my walking foot. I used the lines I had already quilted as a guide and just made my way around, spiraling out towards the edges. When I reached the outer edges I just went off the edge of the quilt and then came back on in the next section and kept quilting until I reached another edge – in the end I was only quilting the very edges of the quilt. I also rounded the edges using a circle template and the used a bias binding to bind it.”
You can see more of Amber’s work on her blog One Shabby Chick.
A quick post to spread the word that a fun meet up will be happening at Quilt Festival in April!
Today’s featured quilt is a simple and playful design called Strawberry Disco Fields by Latifah Saafir from The Quilt Engineer. One of her very first quilts, this set the tone for her use of circles in quilt design but, the tools she used made first time circles less intimidating. She uses two “tools” in this quilt that makes piecing circles and squares just a little easier.
Strawberry Disco Fields by Latifah Saafir
Tell us about your use of tools in quilting.
Though some may argue this point I don’t consider myself a quilt tool junkie. BUT, if they make the job easier and quicker I’m there! I do love rulers though. I don’t have a ton but, I have a half a dozen that I swear by, use all the time and that I’m constantly convincing other people to use! My philosophy is that if it makes quilting easier and quicker then I can make more quilts!
Strawberry Disco Fields by Latifah Saafir
How did tools make sewing this quilt easier?
This is one of my earliest quilts and was my very first time using the Dale Fleming Pinless Piecing method – the method most people refer to as ‘Six Minute Circle’ method. I found the Circle Cutter by Olfa and was sold! It made cutting the circle templates so easy, especially having to cut 48 of them. I do find sometimes that tools limit what you can do though. The Circle Cutter while pretty awesome limits you to a maximum circle size of 8 1/2″ diameter so I now only use it on quilt designs with small circles.
In addition to the Circle Cutter, I used June Tailor’s Shape Cut ruler to cut the squares and to square up my final blocks. I find that the Shape Cut is an all around ruler of awesomeness! I’ve used this ruler so much and for so long, I think I’m wearing it out. It is slotted every 1/2″ and makes cutting any kind of strips or straight cuts easy especially if you have to make multiple cuts.
Tell us more about yourself as a quilter.
I started quilting just around three years ago and have been addicted ever since. I tend to create bright, colorful and graphic quilt designs but, I don’t like to limit myself as a quilter. I have a not so secret love affair with the Modern Quilt Guild that I hope never ends. And I don’t know how I lived my life before it had quilts in it.
Tools Used:
The Circle Cutter Latifah refers to is the OLFA 18mm Rotary Circle Cutter. This is how OLFA describes it:
The ground-breaking patented ratchet mechanism of the rotary circle cutter easily and efficiently cuts clean, perfect circles from 1 7/8” to 8 ½” every time. Reduces wrist fatigue connected with “yo-yos”, Cathedral Windows, Drunkard’s Path, etc. Includes a built-in blade cover for safety, and a plastic guard to cover the pivot spike when not in use. Uses RB18 (standard) replacement blades.
Olfa Circle Cutter
The other tool that Latifah used was the June Tailor Shape Cut Ruler. This is how June Tailor describes it:
Cut multiple quilting shapes in perfect 1/2” increments quickly and accurately.
• Easy to use; simply place ruler on fabric and cut in desired slots.
• Cut multiple strips in 1/2” increments.
• Turn Shape Cut™ after strips are cut to complete squares, triangles, diamonds, hexagons, bias strips and fringe.
• Large, gridded 12” x 12” size.
• Detailed instructions included with ruler.
June Tailor Shape Cut Ruler
Today’s featured quilt is Lucia’s “Trudy’s-Arse-Kicking-Quilt.” While this isn’t the result of a virtual quilting bee, it is a stellar example of collaboration within the modern quilting community. We found it in the Quilting Bee Quilts Flickr group and when we heard the story, we couldn’t help but want to share it with you. It’s a long story, but take some time to read it. You may be inspired!
Trudy's Arse Kicking Quilt by Lucia Wilke and many friends
Tell us about your quilt.
I have never in my life felt ‘called’ to do something, until the making of this quilt. In late summer 2010, we found out a friend from high school, Errick, was diagnosed with stage 4 colo-rectal cancer. He and his family were all I could think about after hearing the news. I knew I needed to do something for them. After reading how Errick appreciated the warm hospital blankets, I knew a quilt was the answer. I quickly realized that I needed help making the quilt because I have very little masculine fabric. (I am a mom to three little girls, ages 4, 2 ½, and 6 months at the time.) Once the idea of a collaborative quilt was formed, I knew it was the way to go because I wanted to show Errick how many people cared for him by the number of hands that went into making the quilt.
I put out a call for help on my blog and on flickr to anyone willing to help. I showed an example block and gave the collaborators instructions on block style, colors, size, the style of fabrics and a deadline. With some help from Flickr quilting friends and my guild, the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild, the word spread and the response was truly overwhelming. Within days, quilt blocks started showing up in my mailbox.
I knew I wanted to get the quilt to Errick as soon as possible so I did not give the collaborators a lot of turnaround time (less than a week, I think). Despite that, I ended up with 214 cross blocks made by 61 quilters from across the US, Canada and UK. Trudy’s Arse Kicking Quilt ended up being a large twin size quilt and I squeezed 117 cross blocks into it.
The quilt was a collaboration on many levels: making the blocks, donations for giveaway prizes to the block makers, donations of fabric and batting; a donation of the quilt label by Tula Pink; and a donation of the quilting by a longarm quilter near me.
A page from the book that accompanied the quilt
In my mind, the making of this quilt was just as important of the finished piece. I put together a book to go along with the quilt care package going to Errick and his family. The book told the story of how the quilt came to be, highlighted some special blocks and listed the cities where everyone was from who sent in blocks.
Small quilt made from the trimmings.
This story doesn’t end with Trudy’s Arse Kicking Quilt. With the rest of the block trimmings from TAKQ, I made a mini quilt, Trudy Trimmings. I just couldn’t throw away the block trimmings; they somehow felt sacred to me, so I had to make something with them. I thought Errick’s young son could one day use this mini to tuck in his bears.
And then there were the extra cross blocks (nearly 100). I turned half of the extras plus some orange blocks I made into a small quilt, Trudy Too for Errick’s son. The other half of the blocks have yet to be put together and turned into a quilt (to be named Trudy Tres). I have already figured out block placement for Trudy Tres and would like to finish it this year.
Trudy Too made from leftover blocks
Errick and his family truly appreciated the quilt and extras. He is continuing to fight the cancer (now in his lungs, adrenal gland and liver) and just this week celebrated his 34th birthday.
Tell us your thoughts on virtual quilting bees and about your bee experience.
I have participated in two virtual quilting bees (the last one ending more than a year ago). While I appreciated my time in them, I do not think I will be joining another any time soon. I am at a time in my life when I have very limited free time: my husband travels more than 50 percent of the time (and works long hours when home), we have three little girls (now almost 6, 4 and 2) and no family in-state.
I participated in a swap and two bees and realized that I did not have a lot of time left for sewing for me. In a later chapter in my life, I would consider joining a bee again, probably through my guild. That said, I have contributed/am contributing to some collaborative quilts when the opportunity presents itself. At this time, I much prefer helping with a collaborative quilt for a specific person or need, instead of participating in a virtual quilting bee.
Tell us a bit about you as a quilter.
I discovered the world of modern quilting in the spring of 2009 and was instantly hooked. Funny thing… I never thought I would make quilting a hobby after making a rag quilt for my daughter in 2006. Everything about the hobby seemed so tedious. I have a different point of view now, obviously.
I most enjoy designing and figuring out my own quilt patterns. I almost always sketch my quilts out before I begin (either by hand or digitally with Illustrator). I am lost without my sketches.
Lucia is a member of the Dallas Modern Quilt Guild and you can find her and her quilts on her blog, Lulubloom.
The next quilt up this week is a beautiful quilt from Muriel and the Honeybees of Bee Europa.
Quilt by Muriel van der Ploeg and the Honeybees of Bee Europa
Tell us about your quilt.
I made this quilt using blocks that were made by the members of the Honeybees of Bee Europa in 2010. I ask them to make wonky quarter log cabin blocks and in our Flickr group I provided a link to a tutorial. When I picked the fabric for this quilt I started with the burgundy Amy Butler fabric with flower rosettes. I chose other fabrics to match the colors in the inspiration. I sent each of my fellow bee members strips of fabric and fabric for the block centers. They were then free to make the blocks however they wanted. I received two 12 1/2″ blocks from each member.
Fabric packs for bee members.
I put the blocks together to form huge full log cabin blocks and added sashing. I made the back for the quilt with leftover strips and yardage that I saved. The quilt is a favorite in our house; when we watch television, my children fight over who gets to sit under this one.
Tell us about your thoughts on virtual quilting bees and your bee experience.
The bee that helped me make this quilt was my first bee. It was the first round of this European group and it is still going strong. We are starting on our third round soon. After this bee I have joined many others, all through Flickr: the 3×6, and 4×5 mini bees, Sew Buzzy, and the Cocorico Patchwork Bee where we are getting very creative and are making our own patterns inspired by wonderful themes such as vintage kitchen or Pippi Longstocking. I am also a member of the Do Good Stitches charity bee.
Muriel's quilt in progress with a little help from a friend.
I think virtual quilting bees are a fun and easy way to get connected with other quilters. In my non-internet life I don’t know anyone who quilts, so these bees are a community where I can share my work with people who can appreciate all the aspects of it. Also, bees provide the opportunity to make one or two blocks in a certain technique without having to make a whole quilt. They are a great learning experience.
The back of Muriel's quilt.
Tell us about you as a quilter:
Everything that I know about quilting I have learned through the Internet, through virtual quilting bees, quilt-a-longs and online tutorials. I love soaking up the knowledge there is to be found and then continuing in my own way. Not having a quilting tradition in my family or community means that I don’t feel much pressure to follow rules. I love selecting fabric for projects and playing with colors. I love combining florals with geometric prints and I am very interested in folklore patterns. My latest interests are foundation paper piecing, sewing curves, and exploring what makes things cute!
You can find Muriel on Flickr and on her blog, Doucepoints.
The QuiltCon Block Challenge is an opportunity to design a fabulous modern quilt block that may be selected for inclusion in a collaborative quilt that will be displayed at QuiltCon and awarded, by raffle, to one lucky attendee.
Thousands of people will see this quilt, both online and in person, so I encourage you to be thoughtful about your process and plan a block that really features your voice as a quilter.
In this post, I’m going to walk through a few steps that you may or may not find helpful in planning your block. Please don’t hesitate to take or leave these suggestions, and/or to modify the order of the steps in a way that conforms to your process.
1. Think about shapes and piecing style.
The challenge guidelines say to design a block that shows what modern quilting means to you. There’s no “right answer” here. It simply means that we’re looking for fresh, beautiful blocks that are, in your opinion, modern.
Here are some things to think about:
2. Focus your color and fabric choices.
The challenge guidelines say to use the colors of the QuiltCon logo. That doesn’t mean that you have to use them all. Think about whether you want to focus on one color, use a few select colors, or include them all in your block. Decide whether you want to use prints, solids, or a combination of the two.
You may want to take a look at my previous post about color and fabric.
Once you know what fabrics you want to use, group them together on your table or design wall. Look at your fabrics and then look at the QuiltCon logo and ask yourself these questions:
Work with your fabric choices until you have a palette that both coordinates with the QuiltCon logo colors and works for you.
3. Consider the size and shape of your block.
The challenge guidelines say to make a block that is 12½” tall x whatever width you want. This means you can make a conventional 12½” x 12½” square block, or many different sizes of rectangular blocks.
Any of these block shapes could work.
Some things to think about:
4. Sketch.
Even if you plan to use an improvisational piecing style, some casual sketching can help to focus your composition. As you sketch, think about the following:
5. Make a practice run.
Does your block include any tricky piecing? Are you wondering how those fabrics will look once they’re sewn together? It never hurts to make a practice block, particularly if you’re trying out a new design.
In a perfect world, your practice block will look just like what you’ve been envisioning. If it doesn’t, ask yourself these questions:
And, of course, the final step is to make your block and send it to me! Read all about the specifics of the challenge on the QuiltCon site, here.
I’m so eager to see what everyone makes!
This week we’ll be spotlighting quilts that are the result of our quilters’ participation in virtual quilting bees. Traditional quilting bees, where quilters come together to piece or quilt a quilt, many times for a special occasion, are a long standing tradition in the quilting community.
Profit Margins by Jacquie Gering and the members of the Block Party Bee
Modern quilters have refashioned this tradition by coming together virtually and connecting through the internet and the postal service. Virtual quilting bees have brought quilters together across states and nations. Quilters have inspired each other, shared tips, learned skills, made quilts and best of all, forged friendships.
Some bees have themes, some are focused on charity, and many are simply a group of quilters who have a desire to connect and quilt together.
A virtual quilting bee is an opportunity to mix an inspiration with a group of diverse quilters…
to create a collaborative quilt like this one.
All About Jon by Jacquie Gering and the Sew Connected Bee
If you’re inspired to start a bee of your own, the Quilting Bee Blocks group on Flickr has information on how to get started.
We’re kicking off the week with a special man who is the “dad” of collaboration in the modern quilting community.
