October's class schedule is finally posted (better late than never :). However, while late, there is plenty of October left to find a class to fit your bill.
Our first October class is "Crazy Eight Strip Tease" taught by Clara next Saturday. A fun piecing technique for a unique table runner.
Becky begins a new monthly class "Beyond Traditional" that gives students the opportunity to try techniques that go beyond traditional quilt piecing techniques.
As the weather grows cooler in our part of the world, it's time to spend more time indoors wearing comfy clothes. Sandi's class is a great beginner garment class learning to make pajama bottoms for lounging around.
Itsy Bitsy Quilt Club is cancelled this month as I will be in Texas teaching and taking in the Houston Quilt Show and Market. Check back as I will post my adventures. Please check out the class schedule for full class details, including dates, times, and fees.
Blessings,
Karri
Well, it's the end of September and the first of the Ugly Fabric Challenge quilts have been submitted, both by the same person. I guess she didn't find it so ugly after all :)
This adorable rag quilt will be her little dog's bed after the challenge is over (buttons off, of course).
And this lovely embellished purse fulfills all the rules we set for a quilt submission so in it is. There's another month left to complete your submission (and begin it :) We look forward to seeing what you can do.
Blessings,
Karri
This past Wednesday I taught how to create this abstract quilt in my monthly Itsy Bitsy Quilt Club class. The end result is to allow a quilter to design and create their own art quilt.
My students agreed to be guinea pigs in my preparation for teaching this technique at a Texas guild next month. Here are their projects in the works. This student is putting the finishing touches on her threadplay.
The colors in this quilt make me think of a scarecrow.
This one has a fall feel, and
this student was the quickest and is appliqueing the final element to the quilt center.
Teaching a method of art quilting such as this is a little more intense for me as a teacher. I really have to have my act together and be sure I know what I'm talking about as my students are being asked to look at quilting from a more abstract point of view than they may otherwise be used to. Try different art quilting techniques if you really want to stretch and twist your brain.
Blessings,
Karri
Saturday, Clara will be teaching the Lone Star quilt from Eleanor Burn's book "Radiant Star". A few weeks ago I began one so I would know how it comes together. Here is what I know.
The quilt begins with strips that are sewn together and cut at a 45° angle. For this quilt size, four fabrics are used.
Now the fun begins with matching up the seams. For this quilt, the seams have to be marked and matched. There are no natural seam matches. Each diamond is marked 1/4" in (I used chalk).
The chalk marks are matched,
and pinned.
Once sewn, the strips are opened to verify that corners meet as should. If not, ripping is necessary, and I did rip more than a few times :)
The first set of sewn strips are sewn to the second set of sewn strips,
and you have a star point.
Once you have eight points complete, you have a star. Mine is called "Wild Child" as my goal is to make this the most colorful, busy quilt I will make (I think). I will put it all together in Saturday's class and will share my progress next week.
Blessings,
Karri
The September class schedule is listed. Check out our Class page to see what fits into your schedule this month.
September 8 and 22 will be the Lone Star quilt taught by Clara.
"Backdoor Bear" by Toni Whitney will be taught Wednesday, September 12 by Karri.
Twisted Fibers Friday is September 14.
A new block-of-the-month, "Graceful Rhapsody" begins Wednesday, September 19 with Becky.
The Itsy Bitsy Quilt Club will be held Wednesday, September 26 with this month's quilt being a quilt designed and taught by Karri.
We also begin our "Ugly Fabric Challenge." See the Challenge page for the rules. Join in on the fun and possibly receive a prize.
Hope you find something that tickles your fancy this month. Even if you are unable to attend, please check back and I will do my best to share class details here.
Blessings,
Karri
I am continually surprised at how creative we quilters are. This Spicy Spiral innovation from one of our students is no exception.
Our student made two table runners, one for Autumn,
and one for Christmas.
She wanted them to be one reversible table runner. Notice that the spirals on both table runners are reversed of each other. That allowed them to be placed back-to-back.
The table runners were sewn right sides together and turned inside out. And, whala, a reversible table runner. Our student figured out that the reversed spirals occur by how the wedges are sewn together. So smart, don't you think?
Blessings,
Karri
On Friday we held our second Spicy Spiral Table Runner Class. This is an exciting pattern to watch happen.
It begins with eight fat quarter stripped and sewn together.
Then the stress begins as the stripped section is cut with the wedge ruler. Students continually ask "Are you sure we can get what we need out of this?"
Then the fun begins as the wedged pieces are sewn together. Easy, peasy with no seams to match. Just the wonder of the spiral as it begins.
One-half is sewn at a time to look like this.
With two halves sewn together, this is what you get,
and this,
and this. They all look great. It's obvious that Autumn and Christmas are upon us, isn't it? Class time is fun for this pattern as you have the opportunity to see the way various fabric choices look together.
Click here to purchase this unique pattern and join in the fun.
Blessings,
Karri
