Water Lilies

The fabrics, Darjeeling by Rosanna Bowles plus Essentials, all from FreeSpirit, are bright and cheerful and using the AccuQuilt Go! Fabric Cutter made cutting the triangles fast and easy. I stepped out of my comfort zone with this design. Normally, I like my quilt designs to be symmetrical but with these fabrics I thought something playful might be fun. So I decided to cut into the triangles on 2 sides and insert white strips. Three-dimensional flowers scattered along these strips made the design complete! I love it!

We’re offering a kit for this pattern. And, the triangles have all been pre-cut for you. How convenient is that? You can whip this quilt up in no time! It would make a wonderful graduation gift or addition to your own home.

QM's newest Associate Editor, Paula Stoddard

We discovered Paula at a local quilt guild meeting and quickly determined she’d be a good fit for QM. Paula is one of our Associate Editors. I asked her a few questions recently.

Please tell us about your background in sewing, quilting and creativity:

I started quilting when I was pregnant with my youngest child, about 17 years ago. I took a few classes and quickly discovered that I liked making traditional quilts. Eventually I started tweaking patterns to fit my style.

Paula's quilt pattern on a Connecting Threads cover

I went to work for the Connecting Threads retail store, which led to longarm quilting, then designing. I started designing for real, and settled in with publishing quilt patterns and books for my own company, Pacific Patchwork. It was the perfect job for me while I was raising my family.

Paula's children some years back

Paula's kids more recently

What are some of your favorite fibers?

I’ve tried lots of different fibers – beads, bling, painting, etc., but I keep coming back to cottons, flannels and wool. I like adding buttons and beads to my quilts, but making artsy quilts is just not my thing—although I love looking at them. I just like warm and cozy quilts you can put on beds and snuggle under. I am addicted to embroidery floss.

Paula's stash of embroidery floss in various fibers

Here’s my block from Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks. I used cottons but it could easily be interpreted with wool applique.

Paula's block, "Flowers for Ewe," from QM's 100 Blocks Volume 2

How did your love affair with wool begin?

I had a friend who designed with wool and I fell in love with it. She is a big believer in all wool quilts—appliqueing wool on wool. But I found out that those quilts are really heavy and really expensive to make!

"Seasons" is a free pattern at Pacific Patchwork

So I started playing around with wool applique on flannel and cotton, and found I just love it.

The whimsy and fun that wool can add to a quilt is awesome. Wool colors and textures are just yummy, and I find a way to add wool to most of my quilts.

Describe your design process:

Sometimes I see something that sparks my interest—a picture, a tile floor, an interesting shape or image in a magazine, and I start doodling on the computer—I can’t draw with a pencil at all!  But, the start of most of my quilts comes from a quilt block that I find that I want to play with.

"Love is..." is a free pattern at Pacific Patchwork.

It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but my favorite bedtime reading material is block books. I think I have every block book that was ever written and they are all in a pile by my bed. I fall asleep thinking about blocks, how I can tweak them, turn them, stretch them, and add something with them to make a quilt. Often by the time I wake up in the morning I have an idea that I can start playing with.

What was the best idea you ever had?

Probably my “Here a Sheep, There a Sheep” quilt. It’s my best seller by far, and I still get emails and comments about it at quilt shows. And it’s my favorite quilt too. It started my whole “sheep thing.”

Any thoughts about going to work for Quiltmaker?

I am really excited to work for Quiltmaker. It’s like a dream job. I love the people that I work with, and the projects that we are working on, but most of all I love learning something new every day. I feel really lucky.

I understand you have some pets you’re really crazy about.

Yes I do! I have two Boston terriers. Oreo is 11 and he is the grumpy grandpa. Sami is 3 and he wants nothing more than to play with the grumpy grandpa.

I’m totally gaga over them. They are great snugglers and are happiest when they are each laying on either side of me under a quilt. They are so cute I can hardly stand it and I LOVE THEM.

As of 7 weeks ago, I have a new grandson. Parker Stephen Beam was born 10/24/10, bringing much joy to our entire family. He needed a stocking to go with the ones I made for the rest of his family.

Parker's stocking

Here are the instructions to make this quick stocking:

Materials:

You’ll need 4 different fabrics for the patches on the front. From each one, cut 3 – 4 1/2″ squares. From one of them, also cut a
2 1/2″ x 6″ rectangle for the toe and a 2″ x 7″ rectangle for the hanging loop.

You’ll also need:

• 3/8 yard for the lining and top of the stocking (under the cuff) – cut a
  3″ x 12 1/2″ rectangle across the selvage and save the rest for the lining
• fat eighth (9″ x 20″) for the cuff – cut a 7 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ rectangle
• fat quarter (18″ x 20″) for the back
• fat quarter of muslin*
• batting: 13″ x 20″*

* You’ll need these if you quilt the front like I did. You can also skip the quilting step if you choose.

I arranged my squares in diagonal rows by color for the stocking front. Sew the lining rectangle, squares and toe rectangle together as shown below.

Piecing for stocking front

If you’re going to quilt the stocking front, layer the muslin, batting and pieced stocking front. I quilted a casual wavy line over the seam lines.

Stocking Pattern

On a 12″ x 20″ sheet of paper, draw a 1″ grid. Following the grid lines, copy the stocking pattern above and cut out along the solid lines. Lay the stocking front on the backing fabric, wrong sides together. Position the stocking pattern on top, matching the top of the pattern to the top of the stocking front. Trace around the pattern and cut out the stocking. In the same way, cut out the stocking lining.

All seam allowances are 1/4″.  With wrong sides together, sew the stocking front to the back. Turn the stocking right side out. With right sides together, sew the lining front to the lining back. Insert the lining into the stocking.

I used an embroidery machine to add Parker’s name to the cuff. You can also hand embroider or use a pigma pen to add a name. To center a name on the cuff, fold the cuff rectangle into quarters and lightly press. Add a name to the top right quadrant of the cuff. With right sides together, join the 2 short sides of the cuff. Turn the cuff right side out and fold in half along the crease (the raw edges will be at the top).

To make the loop for hanging, fold the 2 long sides of the rectangle to the center and press. Fold again and stitch close to the folded edges. Fold in half. Matching raw edges, baste the loop to the inside of the lining on the right side.

Insert the cuff inside the stocking, matching raw edges and the seams on the right, with the right side of the cuff to the right side of the lining (the name side of the cuff will be facing the front of the stocking). Sew around the top of the stocking. Fold the cuff over the seam to the outside of the stocking.

Stockings on the mantel

What “quilty” decorations do you have in your house? Leave me a comment by Friday, 12/17 at noon MST, and I’ll randomly draw a name to receive a bundle of holiday fabric. The winner is commenter #15, Lisa. Thanks to everyone for your comments.

Hi there! I’m so excited to post my first post for Quiltmaker magazine! And what better way to start off, than with a free pattern in our Countdown to Christmas?

I thought it would be fun to share one of my favorite Christmas designs with you.

“Joy” measures 28″ x 28″, and is a combination of piecing and wool applique. Of course, you can do the applique with regular cotton fabrics and it would be just as cute. But if you’ve never tried wool applique, you should! It adds a fun twist to your quilting projects. But be careful, because you might just get addicted.

“Joy” is a free pattern available through the end of December, especially for you. I hope you enjoy it!

Please join us here for holiday inspirations every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we Countdown to Christmas.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and as my family says, “Get your Merry on!”

Paula

Quiltmaker is offering a free quilt pattern called It’s a Wrap for a limited time. It features gift-wrapped packages with name tags that can be personalized for your family or friends!

The newest issue of Quiltmaker (Sept/Oct, No. 135) features a finished quilt from this pattern by a reader, Anne Anderson from Pierre, South Dakota. Anne’s quilt looks great in reds, greens and golds (see page 9 of the magazine).

Another idea: make them into birthday presents! I can just imagine this quilt in little girl colors of pink and purple for a special birthday treat.

Or think even further out of the box: if you were to give your children or grandchildren lifelong “gifts,” what would they be? I think of things like faith, hope, love, honesty, creativity, liberty, roots, wings…the list could go on and on. How about putting those words onto the gift tags for a child or grandchild and making the quilt in colors he or she would love?

Don’t delay—the free offer is for a limited time. When the offer ends, the digital download will be available for purchase. We hope you’ll enjoy making this unique design, and we invite you to send us a photo of your finished quilt. You might turn up in Sew to Speak or Spotlight (our reader pages) in a future issue.

[update: the pattern is now available for purchase as a digital download at QuiltandSewShop.]

Coin Collecting

Her quilt did make the trip, however, as it accompanied June and me and made its temporary home in the booth of Sweetwater, designers of Pure for Moda Fabrics, the fabric line used to make Coin Collecting. I understand it was quite popular there! Check out this video filmed in the Sweetwater booth. Kits are also available for Coin Collecting.

Here’s a little update from Rachel.

Hey yall.
I’ve been a busy little bee since my last post here on the quilty pleasures blog.
Busy is good, right?!?!



First things first:
We’re pregnant.
That’s right…added Baby Griffith #4 to the mix.
Things could definitely get interesting once September rolls around.

I’ve been sketching like crazy.
I realize sketching is a little ol’ school, but I rather enjoy it.
{After I sketch things I move on to cooler, more high tech methods. Promise.}

Color Me Happy

On top of sketching…I’ve been sewing like crazy.
Here’s my Color Me Happy mix & match table runners.
{Designed especially for the Moda Bake Shop}

Coin Collecting

Oh & I’ve landed myself in a certain quilt magazine.
*hint, hint*
A huge thanks to Quiltmaker for letting a young, budding designer stretch her wings.

I’m SUPER excited to share my Coin Collecting quilt with yall.
{Appearing now in the July/August issue.}

Only time can tell what’s next.
And that can be both a good & a scarey thing.
I hope yall continue to follow along with me via my blog: p.s. i quilt

Rachel

Hi I’m Vickie Eapen of Spun Sugar Quilts. I’m a full-time dentist and part-time quilt designer. I’m married and have 2 beautiful daughters, age 3 and 9. I have been sewing since I was 8 years old and quilting for over 14. I have done many crafts in the past— crochet, knitting, cross stitch, sculpting, scrapbooking and others—but I continue to come back to quilting.
I began quilting while I was in dental school. I was treating patients all day, working at the local grocery store decorating cakes and still trying to find time for crafting. At the time crochet was my favorite past time. I have since given up crochet and found quilting instead. I wanted to make miniature quilts. What I didn’t know was how much more difficult a miniature could be versus a bed-sized quilt. Simply Quilts was a big help to me. I would tape the shows and watch Alex Anderson over and over again. That is how I learned how to quilt.
Looking back, I would say my first quilt was really made when I was about 11 years old. I recently found it while going through my old doll collection.  I used fabric for batting and knit and flannel scraps that my mom had given me. It’s an item that I really cherish and hope that I will be able to pass on my love for fabric and design to my daughters someday.

Vickie's first quilt

When I began quilting again 14 years ago, I chose a Log Cabin small quilt from Little Quilts All Through the House. It has a dark blue wonky border.

Vickie's Log Cabin

I didn’t know how to cut borders or any fabric correctly.  I cut everything with scissors because I didn’t understand how to use a rotary cutter.  Thank goodness for Simply Quilts to get me in the right direction.
I have come a long way in 14 years. After all that time and all the knowledge that I have gained, I still continue to learn—learning from books, magazines, bloggers and friends. Most recently I found a notion I can’t live without. I was binding a quilt while chatting with some quilting pals and my thread knotted up.  One gal said “try Thread Heaven”, and so I did. Having bound frustrated for years, with Thread Heaven I can actually say that I don’t dread binding anymore.
Quilting and blogging has really sent me down a path that I hadn’t expected. I have been blessed with the opportunity to design on Moda Bakeshop for over a year now.

Chocolate Stars

I create tutorials for Moda Bakeshop and on my blog. Through Moda and Moda Lissa I was introduced to many amazing people in the quilting industry. And that is how I came to know and design for Quiltmaker. Sprinkle of Sunshine in Quiltmaker’s Small Quilts is my first project for the magazine and I hope there will be many more to come.

Sprinkle of Sunshine

If you’d like to read more about my designing adventures, see my newest tutorials and connect with the me check out my blog. I look forward to meeting you.

Darlene Zimmerman

Spring is here! With summer not far behind! In celebration of spring I created the small quilt Bloomin’ 30s for Quiltmaker’s Small Quilts publication. Don’t you just love those sweet little blooms? You can accent the flowers with buttons, embroidery or tiny yo-yos in the centers.

Bloomin' 30s

My first quilts were small wall quilts. I didn’t have the time, money or expertise to attempt a large quilt at first, so I started making small quilts with my sewing scraps. Small quilts are fun to make for several reasons: 1) they don’t take very long to make and finish, 2) you can experiment with colors and fabric choices you’d be afraid to try with a large quilt, and 3) you can experiment with blocks, settings and border treatments on a small scale before committing time and money for a large quilt.

When I finally attempted my first large quilt, I did not realize the importance of accurate 1/4″ seams. As a result, the pieces didn’t fit together as they were supposed to, and alas! my blocks varied quite a bit in size. Somehow the quilt was put together and finished, and I didn’t let a few problems discourage me.

Over the last 18 years I have designed quite a few quilting tools with EZ Quilting by Wrights and Simplicity. Having learned everything I know about quilting the hard way (making mistakes), I try to design tools that take all the math out of quilting and make the cutting easier. The tools help me to be more creative as I can easily change the size of a block or unit just by changing the size of the strips I am using. The tools also help me cut accurately, as I love to piece miniature quilts with 1/2″ finished triangle-squares and other tiny units, using the same tools, seam allowance and techniques used in larger quilts.

To help others with the basics of quilting and finishing techniques, refer to my books Quilting: The Complete Guide and The Quilter’s Edge. You’ll find them easy to read and generously illustrated with step-by-step photos. Find these and my other products on my website.

Darlene Zimmerman

Beth

I asked Carrie to share some of her secrets with us. You can also follow Carrie’s activities on her blog.

Carrie and Rosie

Hello Quiltmaker Chicas!

I’m Carrie, the two-legged member of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. I know you’d rather hear from Rosie but I type better than she does so you’re stuck with me.

Like a lot of quilters, I started quilting after learning how to sew clothing. It’s so much easier! The quilt pieces and blocks are the size they are, and if they don’t fit each other, you can just make one smaller! That doesn’t work very well when you’re making something that actually has to fit a specific body. And if I wore some of the fabrics that I’ve put in a quilt, I think I would become a permanent fixture in a Fashion Faux Pas Hall of Shame.

In her quest to find out all of my deepest, darkest secrets, Carolyn has asked me to fess up about several things so here goes…

What is my biggest quilting disaster? It isn’t a question of whether I’ve had one, it’s which one would be considered the biggest. I’ve basted a quilt to the carpet… unintentionally, of course. I’ve been so busy sewing along that I’ve stitched, trimmed and pressed 100 “connector corners” on a rectangle going the wrong direction. I’ve sewn a pieced border on backwards. Three times. Same quilt. Same border. After the third time, it stayed that way. It was destiny.

My first quilt and my last quilt… I don’t have a picture of my latest quilt yet but here is a picture of my first quilt, it’s titled “Not Exactly”. In that, it isn’t exactly Amish even though it was inspired by the Amish quilts that were all the rage when I first started quilting.

Not Exactly

And just so you know, this is the quilt I basted to the carpet.

This is Three Barns, which is the most recent quilt that’s been published. And since I’m sure you’re wondering… the answer is 600. As in, 600 half-triangle squares are in the quilt.

Three Barns

What is my favorite notion? A seam ripper. I admit it, I couldn’t live without it. It isn’t sexy or trendy or exciting, but it’s reliable, versatile, and I’ve never made a quilt without using one. A lot. It’s a lifesaver.

My favorite tool or gadget is the Fit to be Geese Ruler by Open Gate Quilts. It is far and away my favorite way to make flying geese.

My top 3 “can’t live without them” quilt books? Three? Just three? That is so not possible so I’m going to bend the rules/request here a little and give you at least three books in a couple of different “I just made this up” categories.

In the Reference/Knowledge Category ~ any book by Sally Collins, any book by Harriet Hargrave, any book by Linda Jenkins and Becky Goldsmith, the Piece O’Cake ladies, and any book by Jinny Beyer. If you want to know how to do something and do it right, a book by one of these ladies is the first place I go to find out.

In the “Eye Candy” Category ~ every book by Barb and Alma, Blackbird Designs, every book by Kim Diehl, every book by Kaffe Fasset, every book by Jo Morton and every one of the Material Obsession books by Sarah Fielke and Kathy Doughty.

In the “I just need to have this book” Category ~ Scrap Basket Surprises by Kim Brackett is one of my most recent couldn’t-live-without-it books. It’s terrific, and so are the quilts!

And that’s all the news there is right now… except that I finally got a block made and I’m going to be in Quiltmaker’s 2^nd 100 Block Issue! And I’m sure there will be more after Spring Market next month. It is next month, isn’t it?

Next week? Are you sure about that?

Yikes! I’ve gotta go! Take care and have fun with the Small Quilts issue!

Leave a comment letting us know what your favorite book is in your own “made-up” category. We’ll pick a winner on Friday, May 14th for a copy of Quiltmaker’s Small Quilts.

Julie Herman

If you asked me 10 years ago what my creative “thing” would be in 10 years… quilting would have been the last thing I said!  I’ve always been artistic, but the quilting bug didn’t bite me until 8 years ago.  Prior to quilting, I painted, sculpted with clay, worked with beads, did graphic design and even a bit of needlepoint.  My mother has been sewing since well before I was born and so I naturally had no interest in doing the same thing as her!  Well eventually the quilting bug bit me and I’ve never looked back.  I always thought I was the first quilter in my family.  Recently I learned that I’m not upon the discovery of three quilts made in the 1930’s by my great great grandmother.

My style of quilting is all over the map.  I’ve made traditional to modern… detailed appliqué with hand quilting to simple and fast, no fuss.  Cornflower Fields is the largest quilt I’ve made.  At 96″x 96″ it may seem challenging but large pieces enable it to come together very quickly.  I normally start a design without color in mind but I worked backwards with this piece.  My goal was to come up with a bold design that would have a floating on-point appearance set within a standard grid.  All three borders were attached at one time using the same technique I show on my blog for mitering multiple borders. Mitering borders is much easier than most people think and gives a great finish to many quilts!

Unlike many quilters I love the math involved in quilting.  I find joy in calculating how big pieces should be cut and how much yardage will be needed for a project.  This skill comes in handy when working at a quilt shop, attending a show, or getting a phone call from quilter friends while they are in the middle of a project. Yes this has happened!  My background in design has also helped me tremendously. I attended Drexel University for design and had the pleasure of taking many great classes including one silkscreen class where I made a quilt as one of my projects out of custom fabric.

Blogging has been one of the best additions to my quilting life.  It has enabled me to share my work and meet a ton of new people.  In 2009 I was lucky to be able to design for the Moda Bake Shop, attend my first quilt market, as well as work and shop at 4 other shows.  I’ve got a lot planned for 2010 and I hope you’ll join along on my blog, where I post “WIPs”work-in-progresses, finished pieces, my weekly stash report, as well as all kinds of things!