Quilty Pleasures Blog

QM Shorts: Alzheimer’s Benefit Quilts

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Diane Harris

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative has been receiving small format art quilts called Priority: Alzheimer’s Quilts since 2006. They convert those quilts to cash for Alzheimer’s research through monthly online auctions, online sales, and at International Quilt Festival in Houston each fall. They are supported by quilters all over the world.

Change and Transition by Michele Bilyeu

The April online auction is currently underway. Have a look and see the nice variety up for sale, including the quilts shown here.

Little Logs by Ann Scott

AAQI has taken in 9968 quilts at the time of this writing.

Leftovers by Lori Loff

They are nearing a milestone of 10,000 quilts. If you’d like to make and donate a quilt, read the guidelines here.

Happy Daisy by Susan Cleveland

Most people know someone who has been affected by this illness.

Solar Eclipse by Nancy Lee Chong

Take a minute to read about all the ways you can help today. And thanks in advance from Quiltmaker and the AAQI.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Quiltmaker’s May/June Highlights

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Diane Harris

We got a blast of snow overnight here in Colorado, so we’re more excited than ever about the spring and summer mood of our brand new issue. May/June will be in subscriber’s mailboxes soon and on the newsstand by April 10. I’ll share some highlights with you over the next week.

Three quilts for sports lovers are included in this issue. Sonja Callaghan is back with whimsical foundation-pieced sneakers on I Love My All Stars.

14029 pattern img Quiltmakers May/June Highlights

I Love My All Stars, designed by Sonja Callaghan, sewn by Paula Stoddard, quilted by Donna Smith. Appears in Quiltmaker May/June '12.

Wouldn’t this be a great throw for any teen who loves to play? The 52″ x 59.5″ throw size is perfect, and the fabrics could be more masculine or more feminine, as you wish.

Skateboarding is wildly popular these days and we have a quilt to match. QM’s Graphic Designer Denise Starck came up with Kickflip in a twin size.

14030 pattern img Quiltmakers May/June Highlights

Kickflip, designed and made by Denise Starck. Fabric by Quilting Treasures plus scraps.

Use bold prints for some skateboards and add piecing to others.

I know my son would love this, even though he’s already 23, and I’m sure Denise’s 10-year-old son will latch right on to it also.

And if you’re traditionally All-American and have a baseball player, Batter Up might be just the ticket. It’s also sized for a twin bed, and was designed by Jocelyn Ueng.

QMMP 120600 BASEBALL 350 flat Quiltmakers May/June Highlights

Batter Up, designed by Jocelyn Ueng, sewn by Kimberly Jolly, quilted by Maggi Honeyman. Fabrics from Robert Kaufman.

Whatever sports your summer holds, we hope one of these designs will work for you!

* * * * *

More May/June highlights in the days to come, plus a new Scrap Squad quilt with fabulous results.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged batter up, i love my all stars, kickflip, may/june '12, sports quilt, sports quilts | 1 Comment

QM Scrap Squad: Jennifer’s Chain Reaction

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Diane Harris

The QM Scrap Squad is a select group of seven QM readers. They take one pattern from each regular issue of Quiltmaker and make their own scrappy versions to inspire you.

QM scrap squadB3 QM Scrap Squad: Jennifers Chain Reaction

The featured quilt from the March/April issue is Chain Reaction, a design by Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced. Here’s the original quilt made in Pear Tree fabrics by Thomas Knauer for Andover.

Today’s featured Scrap Squad member is Jennifer Stevens from Hays, Kansas. She blogs at craftsbyjennifer.blogspot.com. You’ll hear from Jennifer in her own words below.

* * * * *

Jennifer Stevens from Hays, Kansas

I am so excited to be part of the 2012 Scrap Squad!! This is such a great opportunity and at 29 years old, it is something I’m proud to participate in!

When I initially saw the Chain Reaction pattern, I fell in love with it. Taking a second look, I was a little scared of it! By the third look, I was ready to dive in.

I started this quilt using my batik scraps with a light purple background. I practiced on a few blocks (thankfully, and highly recommended!) and finished about 10 good blocks.

When I laid the pieces out, I hated it.

In tears, I decided on a completely different plan. Just above is the color scheme I came up with. Below are a few things I learned as I made my version of Chain Reaction.

My ruler with the 30 degree markings on it wasn’t long enough to make the complete cut.

Not to fear, my ruler with the 60 degree markings was, so you will see the fabric lined up on the 60 degree mark on my ruler in the pictures above.

I found when laying out the first piece on the 12″ strip, it was best to put it slightly toward the smaller side of the triangle, as above, to allow enough room when the piece is opened up.

In this second picture, always measure 1/4″ hangover from the dog-ears to allow it to be even after you sew it down.

When laying out the block to sew the final seam, be sure to mark the lines so the X will be straight when you open it up.

Final block!! When I started sewing blocks together, I was trimming the extra pieces as I went.

About halfway through, I decided it was easier and more accurate when I didn’t trim, but marked with a pencil instead. At the end I trimmed the blocks to 8½”.

This is the top before it was quilted. I made it wider than it is long because I want it use it on the back of the couch. The colors of the 12″ strips resemble an American flag.

This is the finished quilt. My mom does amazing longarm quilting and she put tiny stippling between the rows and outlined the strips.

I used all the extra 2½” strips from the blocks for my binding.

We used the embroidery machine to make the label.

* * * * *

A wonderfully creative idea from Jen, wasn’t it?! Who’d have guessed you could incorporate an American flag into this design? I love it. Nice work!

This wraps up the Chain Reaction Scrap Squad quilts. You’ll find the pattern for Chain Reaction in the March/April issue of QM.

Soon we’ll showcase the next design from the brand-new May/June issue of Quiltmaker. Stay tuned!

Posted in Scrap Squad | Tagged chain reaction, jennifer stevens, patriotic, Scrap Squad | 8 Comments

Production of Rayon; Sulky Giveaway

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Diane Harris

We’re excited to partner with Sulky for a five-part giveaway beginning this week. You’ll get to learn more about thread and you’ll have many chances to win a great 3-pack of Sulky Blendables. Today we’ll take a look at the production of Sulky rayon thread.

* * * * *

The wood from which Sulky rayon thread is made comes from Brazil. Year-round moderate growing temperatures deliver consistently uniform raw materials.

The process from greenhouse to plantation to harvest takes seven years. Three harvests can be taken from one planting.

The trees are chopped into uniform chips, then reduced to a slurry of nearly pure cellulose. The cellulose slurry of fibers is washed, bleached and transformed into an endless band of cellulose sheets. The sheets are cut and shipped to Germany.

At the plant in Germany, cellulose sheets are chopped and dissolved into liquid the consistency of honey.

The “liquid gold” is extruded into endless strands of fibers. This rayon filament yarn is spun into bundles and washed. Fibers are twisted and wound with precise stretch to increase tenacity. Then the yarn is shipped to Switzerland.

The yarn undergoes complex twisting, dying, drying and quality control processes in Switzerland and Austria before it is shipped back to Germany. And then…

Pretty amazing, isn’t it?! When I consider the seven years and everything else that’s involved, the price for a spool of rayon seems to me like quite a bargain! So now you know a bit more about how it’s made.

* * * * *

We’re pleased to partner with Sulky for giveaways while the brand-new May/June issue of Quiltmaker is on sale. Today we’ll choose four winners from folks who leave a comment below and answer this question by midnight Thursday, April 5: From what kind of trees does Sulky make its rayon thread? Each winner will receive a 3-pack of Sulky Blendables*—yum!

* These multicolor threads are a blend of different colors in the same range of tone and intensity, with random, subtle color changes every 2 1/2″ to 5″. They’re made of the highest quality, long-staple, 100% Egyptian cotton and come in 126 colors in both 12-wt. and 30-wt. snap-end spools. They’re ideal for quilting, thread lace, bobbin work, thread painting, red work and decorative embroidery.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Giveaways, rayon production, Sulky, thread | 453 Comments

Bobbin Blitz, Giveaway

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Diane Harris

Today, some tidbits about bobbins, or a “Bobbin Blitz.” And a giveaway!

il fullxfull.210147859 Bobbin Blitz, Giveaway

Tidbit #1: In a conversation with quilt friends recently, I discovered that not everyone approaches rewinding bobbins in just the same way. Of the 10 quilters there, about half said they rewind bobbins one at a time, whenever they run out of bobbin thread. The other half said they wind a lot of bobbins at once.

I always used to wind one bobbin at a time and rarely had any extras filled. But since that conversation I have started to wind (all at once) six or eight bobbins with neutral thread, and I like this system a lot better. It just feels more efficient.

Tidbit #2: I recently bought a vintage Bernina Record 830 on Craigslist. I was looking at the bobbins and I noticed I could see more than one color of thread on some of them. When I really started looking, almost all of the bobbins had been “overwound.”

In other words, you need a bobbin with a particular color of thread, but you don’t have an empty bobbin to wind. So you wind the color you need on top of a partially-filled bobbin you have lying around. Now you have a bobbin that’s “overwound.”

This was a new concept to me, so I was curious to see what was beneath the second layer of thread that I found. I kept unwinding…and kept unwinding…until, to my astonishment, I’d unwound all 10 layers of thread on this single bobbin!

You can see in the photo that they were all different colors and weights—there was even a section of pearl cotton! All of the 830′s bobbins had several layers of thread. I’m thinking that it’s asking for machine hiccups to use an overwound bobbin, especially if we’re talking about multiple layers of different threads.

Tidbit #3: Did you know you can buy extra bobbins for your machine? It’s easy, it’s inexpensive and it’s a time saver. Go ahead: get some extra bobbins! Do it!

Tidbit #4: There are cute little storage dealies for your bobbins. Check with your sewing machine dealer to see what’s available to fit your bobbins or try a generic version like these:

Tidbit #4: Have you ever caught the thread-end from a bobbin in the vacuum cleaner? I seem to do this regularly and I’m always amused by the happy little dance the bobbin does as the vacuum sucks up all of the thread. Unfortunately it means I have wasted that thread!

Tidbit#5: If you have extra bobbins, you can always make them into earrings!

Now I’m dying to know: do you overwind your bobbins, and do they cause your machine to hiccup? Leave a comment with your answer by midnight Wednesday, March 28 and I’ll pick a winner for some fun quilty goodness to include fabric, thread and quilt books! The winners have been chosen. Lindsay who left comment #23 and Patty who left comment #155 have been notified. Thanks for all the interesting bobbin thoughts you left. Great reading!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bobbins, Giveaways, overwinding | 249 Comments

Quilts From 100 Blocks Giveaway!!

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Diane Harris

We’re still very excited about our current newsstand special, Quilts from Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks. We had some giveaway issues that went unclaimed recently, so now you have another chance to win a copy! Leave a comment here by midnight Sunday, March 25 and we’ll choose six people to receive this issue. Tell us what you’ve been sewing on lately!

Posted in 100 Blocks | Tagged 100 Blocks, Giveaways, Quilts from 100 Blocks | 91 Comments

EQ7 Giveaway, Free Weekend at QNNtv.com

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Diane Harris

Just a friendly reminder in case you missed it last week. We’ve introduced a new feature called Creative Spark, and because it relates to Electric Quilt, we’re giving away one copy of EQ7 quilt design software courtesy of The Electric Quilt Company.

Please see this post and comment as instructed by midnight Monday, March 26.

Sneak Peek: Our sister quilt property QNNtv.com is hosting a free weekend! View hundreds of quilting videos completely free now through Sunday, March 25.

You’re invited to check out shows hosted by favorites Jodie Davis, Mark Lipinski, Patrick Lose, Fons & Porter and more. Hundreds of topics to tickle your fancy! No coupon code is needed but use this link for access: http://www.qnntv.com/freemarch/. Enjoy!

Posted in Freebies, Scrapbag | Tagged creative spark, Electric Quilt, eq7, qnntv.com | 3 Comments

QM Scrap Squad: Bonnie’s Chain Reaction

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Diane Harris

The QM Scrap Squad is a select group of seven QM readers. They take one pattern from each regular issue of Quiltmaker and make their own scrappy versions to inspire you.

QM scrap squadB3 QM Scrap Squad: Bonnies Chain Reaction The featured quilt from the March/April issue is Chain Reaction, a design by Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced. Here’s the original quilt made in Pear Tree fabrics by Thomas Knauer for Andover.

downsizedchain QM Scrap Squad: Bonnies Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction designed by Lee Heinrich. Fabric: Pear Tree by Thomas Knauer for Andover Fabrics. Appears in Quiltmaker March/April '12, No. 144.

Today’s featured Scrap Squad member is Bonnie Stapleton from Powhatan, Virginia. She blogs at institcheswithbonnie. You’ll hear from Bonnie in her own words below.


: Bonnie Stapleton from Powhatan, Virginia

* * * * *

I saw this plate at the Louvre on vacation one year. It was so old, but the colors were still so vivid.

I had been planning to use these colors for a quilt. When I saw Chain Reaction I knew this was the time. It helped that I’ve been gathering fabrics in these colors for a while.

I pulled a pile of teal/turquoise fabrics and pumpkins, rusts and oranges with a neutral background. After making a practice block, I decided I didn’t like the light background and instead went with teals for the background and pumpkins as the X’s.

I figured out several things from making these blocks. First, it’s so much easier to see the 30º line if it doesn’t have yellow over the line as most of my rulers do. (Of course I was working on the last three blocks when I realized I had another ruler that didn’t have that yellow overlay!)

Second, I did make a little guide to help make sure I placed the strips far enough down. Once I figured this out I didn’t have to rip. I squared up my blocks as I went along—I hate squaring up at the end.

When I ran out of the two teal fabrics I bought another piece. Note to self: Buy more than half yard pieces—no wonder I am always making scrap quilts!

What to do with the excess slices? I decided to sew them together and add them to the backing as “art.”

Some of the blocks went horizontally, some vertically. I used a variety of leftovers.

I loaded this quilt on to Ruthie, my longarm machine, and tried some freehand feathers. The only fabric I had enough of became the binding. Sometimes decisions are based on what is available.

Bonnie's finished Chain Reaction bathes in the sunlight for photography.

Here’s my finished quilt out in the sun.

* * * * *

What a beautiful piece, and what a departure from the other versions we’ve seen! There are at least two great lessons to take from Bonnie’s experience.

• Make a test block! This is so important.
• Sometimes a light background washes out a beautiful color scheme. Bonnie wisely eliminated the problem and used just her two main colors for background and X’s.

Another job well done by the talented 2012 Scrap Squad! Just one more Chain Reaction and then we’ll be on to the next project.

Posted in Scrap Squad, Uncategorized | Tagged bonnie stapleton, chain reaction, Scrap Squad | 12 Comments

QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Diane Harris

As part of its celebration of National Quilting Day, the International Quilt Study Center & Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska recently invited Quiltmaker to give a trunk show. I live within easy driving distance of the museum so I was delighted to be there on Saturday, March 17 for a day of festivities and fun coordinated by the Lincoln Quilters Guild.

QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum I’ve been to the museum a few times, but each new visit leaves me breathless. Saturday was no exception. There was a small exhibit entitled “Quilts of the Homesteading Era.” I especially loved the Thousand Pyramids quilt below.

pyramids QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Thousand Pyramids, possibly made in Pennsylvania, Circa 1980–1900, 73" x 74", IQSC 2003.003.0311E

“What’s In a Name?” was another exhibit that really tugged at my heartstrings. These quilts were so personal. It was like reading someone’s diary. Below is a quilt that made me cry.

harrisnames QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Harris Family Quilt made by Susa Hale Harris, Hunt County, Texas. IQSC 2006.054.0001

I’ll post more on this quilt another time.

The exhibit of quilts by Jean Ray Laury was an interesting look at a piece of women’s history.

She wrote a book called The Creative Woman’s Getting It All Together at Home Handbook in 1977 and said this: “There is a lot of sifting and stirring going on in kitchens today and not all of it goes into the muffins.” I love that! Below are some of Laury’s pieces I enjoyed.

laury1 QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Starfire by Jean Ray Laury, 1981. IQSC 1997.007.1031.

laury2 QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Cherry Wreath Quilt by Jean Ray Laury, appeared on the cover of Family Circle, February 1976.

laury3 QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

This Jean Ray Laury piece recorded an earthquake from 1983.

It’s quite a feeling to stand inches from quilts made by the hands of iconic figures like Jean Ray Laury. I recommend it!

art1111 QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Scrap Bag with St. Michael by Terrie Hancock Mangat, 2011, IQSC 2011.052.0001.

More well-known quilt artists were represented in the exhibit titled “A Tribute to Ardis James.” James collected quilts with her husband Robert, and their collection became the founding donation that sparked the establishment of the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997.

shie QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Ardis and Betty: Making Salsa - 2 of Wooden Spoons in the Kitchen Tarot, Made by Susan Shie, Dated 2011, IQSC 2011.063.0001.

After James’s death in 2011, 17 artists donated 26 studio art quilts to the IQSCM in her honor. A selection of quilts from this personal tribute comprises this exhibit in celebration of James’s life and her generous and affirming spirit.

white QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Butterflies with Tumbler Border by Joan White, IQSC2011.003.0019E.

Just when you think you’ve seen all there is to see at IQSCM—you find you have not. On third floor was an intriguing little exhibit of quilts by Joan White. Its title is “Second Time Around: Quilts Re-made by Joan White.” The sixteen small quilts were made from “found” textiles and unfinished blocks and quilts, as well as portions of finished work. I loved the chunky butterflies above.

There was more to see of course, but we’ll save some for another post. You can see more of each exhibit online. If you ever have a chance to visit this world-class facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, it is well worth the trip. Until you’re able to visit, be sure to visit the website at quiltstudy.org, where nearly 3000 quilts and their images are catalogued in an online searchable database. You won’t be disappointed.

Posted in Quilty Lifestyle, Scrapbag, Uncategorized | Tagged iqscm, national quilting day, quilt museum | 3 Comments

Creative Spark! EQ7 Giveaway!

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Diane Harris

Today I’m pleased to introduce Creative Spark, a new feature from Quiltmaker and The Electric Quilt Company. We’re so excited about this new idea—and to celebrate, we’re giving away one copy of EQ7 quilt design software courtesy of The Electric Quilt Company.

You’ll see Creative Spark in print and online for each regular issue of Quiltmaker. It’s a portfolio of ideas you can use to take a quilt project in a new, different or alternative direction. In the current (March/April) issue you’ll find Creative Spark on page 50 and online here.

If you use Electric Quilt’s quilt design software, Creative Spark’s quick tutorial will introduce you to expanded options for recoloring your quilts—EQ tools you might not find on your own. I’m probably an advanced beginner when it comes to EQ, but I learned so much from this issue’s Creative Spark. I’m excited to start using the coloring tools I discovered!

Can you believe the images above and below are of the same quilt design? Only the value and color placement have changed. That's what Creative Spark and EQ can do.

Variation 3 35818 Creative Spark! EQ7 Giveaway! If you don’t use EQ, you can still appreciate the recolored diagrams and take inspiration from all the possibilities. Can you believe the two images above are of the same quilt design? Only the value and color placement have changed. That’s what we’re talking about.

Since we’re giving away one copy of EQ7, maybe you’ll be visualizing all the possibilities for your own quilts very soon.

~~For your chance to win, please leave a comment and tell us why you’d be excited to win a copy of EQ7. Comments will be accepted through midnight Monday, March 26.~~ And please watch for Creative Spark in each issue of Quiltmaker! The winner is Sharon Finkenbine, comment #619. Congratulations, Sharon!!!

Posted in Uncategorized | 1,155 Comments

Quilty Pleasures Blog

QM Shorts: Alzheimer’s Benefit Quilts

Quiltmaker’s May/June Highlights

QM Scrap Squad: Jennifer’s Chain Reaction

Production of Rayon; Sulky Giveaway

Bobbin Blitz, Giveaway

Quilts From 100 Blocks Giveaway!!

EQ7 Giveaway, Free Weekend at QNNtv.com

QM Scrap Squad: Bonnie’s Chain Reaction

QM at International Quilt Study Center & Museum

Creative Spark! EQ7 Giveaway!

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