Ketchikan Quilt Pattern Release

I am pleased to share with you the Ketchikan Quilt pattern today. It has been a long time in the making! This queen sized quilt is the largest I have ever created, and the pattern, while easy to make, was quite involved to write. Each foundation pieced block is 22 inches, with a couple of setting blocks to make the sashing more distinctive. The thirteen page pattern includes fabric requirements, cutting and piecing instructions, printable foundation templates, a construction diagram, and a coloring sheet of the block to play with your own color placement.

Paper pieced blocks are perfect for scraps, as the pieces are generally small. They are also great for fussy cuts. I included some cute fussy cut centers for the stars. I made each block with different scraps but kept my palette to black, white, and grey. The large expanse of white background is meant to invoke the snowy expanse of the northern frontier, which was the inspiration for the quilt. It makes me think of stars and arrows, two critical means of survival.

I love how the feel of the quilt completely changes with different uses of fabric and color. My pattern tester, Kelly, chose a colorful print for the background and coordinating prints for the stars, arrows, chevrons, and stripes. It is so fun and cheerful.

Alissa worked with a woven background and an ombre solid. This gives the block a lot of depth and subtlety. Love it.

You can find the pattern in my Craftsy store, and I would love to see your version of the #ketchikanquilt

Paper Boat Mini

When my friend told me her nursery has a nautical theme, I was all too happy to revisit this paper boat pattern. I love the pastel fabrics for a baby's room, and it looks so sweet in the snow we got just in time for Christmas.

This mini just needed a couple of triangles on either corner to hold a small dowel rod for hanging, and it's on its way to little Lewis.

Introducing the Chromascope Quilt

I'm excited to share a new quilt design and pattern with you today. The Chromascope Quilt is a modern variation on a kaleidoscope block, featuring a rainbow of stars set against a trellised grey and white background. Careful color placement creates a diagonal gradation of color and value. The best part about this quilt, aside from the opportunity for color play and use of scraps, is that it can be pieced from a single foundation template.

The eight page, full color, pattern includes fabric requirements, cutting instructions, piecing directions, foundation template, construction diagram, and coloring page. You can find the pattern for the 50" x 60" Chromascope Quilt for sale in my Craftsy shop.

Nervous about paper piecing or creating all those points? I've created a detailed tutorial for piecing the 10" Chromascope block, with step by step photos. You can find the free tutorial over on one of my favorite sewing sites, Sew Mama Sew. I walk you through the process, give you rough cut sizes for each fabric piece, and share tips for precision piecing.

 

The design is such a fun opportunity to play with scraps and think about color. I used some of my favorite prints. I'd love to see your Chromascope blocks and quilts. Tag your photos #chromascopequilt or #chromascopeblock to share yours with the online sewing community.

The gorgeous cover and pattern layout were put together by my friend and fellow quilter, Trish Koch, a photographer and graphic designer. Local peeps, she's a genius at portrait photography, and fellow quilters, she's available for graphic design work.



Free Pumpkin Patterns

To celebrate fall, I'm giving away my pumpkin block pattern in my Craftsy shop. The free pattern includes the paper piecing templates for both the 6 x 6 single pumpkin block, and this cute 12 x 12 block featuring a group of three pumpkins.

The single pumpkin block is perfect for beginners. Those more confident with paper piecing will have fun making the more challenging block with three pumpkins.

The pattern includes the templates alone. For detailed instructions and tutorials on paper piecing, check out some of the following links:

Beginning Paper Piecing by Ellison Lane or her video
How to Paper Piece on the Craftsy blog
Paper piecing video by Crafty Gemini

Tiny Icecream Dress and Top

I have the world's cutest, funniest, little niece (and nephew for that matter, but this gift isn't for him). I was to spend some time with her this summer, and I could see my window quickly closing to make things for her to wear before her opinions may overrule. So, I made this sweet Icecream Dress in a tiny size 2T, pattern by Oliver and S, using shot cotton and an Anna Maria Horner print.

The pattern is so well written. I haven't done any garment sewing since high school (a long time ago folks!), but the instructions were easy to follow. I love the sweet little details like the notched pocked and the button closure, but my favorite aspect of this pattern is the clever construction. There are no exposed seams and no raw edges if you use French seams. I feel great knowing it will stand up in the wash, because my niece is a very busy girl. She will be getting all sorts of things on this dress.

I also made a top from the same pattern. This was even quicker to make. The bunny print from Cotton and Steel is so adorable.

Back to quilting soon.

30 Quilts for 30 Years - a Bloghop and Giveaway

I am excited to share a new quilt with you.  I made this quilt, Floating Prisms, for Robert Kaufman as a part of their 30 Quilts for 30 Years celebrations.  As part of the celebration, you get to see 30 quilts made by 30 different designers, using Kona solids.

My quilt was inspired by an image of an art installation of hanging origami cubes.  I love how the light hits them and how it illuminates different angles of each cube, as they twist and face different directions.  I tried to create the illusion of depth with specific color placement in each paper pieced block. 

I used 20 different Kona solids. Aren't they gorgeous?

The quilt is 60 x 72 and I'm excited to say that Robert Kaufman is offering it as a free download on their website. All of the color names and fabric requirements, along with the paper piecing templates and detailed instructions are included.  I explain how to place the colors in each block to achieve a 3D effect.  And here's a tip: I colored the templates as a visual cue to help keep my color placement on point.

This fun blog hop continues until December 3rd, with giveaways at each stop and a huge prize at the end. Each post features a different lovely quilt in the series.

Week 1:
Saturday, November 1st: Johanna Masko
Sunday, November 2nd: Alyssa of Aria Lane
Monday, November 3rd: Dorie of Tumblingblocks
Tuesday, November 4th: Megan of Canoe Ridge Creations
Wednesday, November 5th: Daniela of Cozy Quilt Designs
Thursday, November 6th: Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts
Friday, November 7th: Anita Grossman Solomon
Saturday, November 8th: Debbie of Esch House Quilts

Week 2:
Sunday, November 9th: Alex of Teaginny
Monday, November 10th: Darlene Zimmerman
Tuesday, November 11th: Nichole Ramirez
Wednesday, November 12th: Rita Hodge of Red Pepper Quilts
Thursday, November 13th: Lee of Freshly Pieced
Friday, November 14th: Julie of Jaybird Quilts
Saturday, November 15th: Latifah of The Quilt Engineer

Week 3:
Sunday. November 16th: Elizabeth Hartman
Monday, November 17th: Erica of Kitchen Table Quilting
Tuesday, November 18th: Karrie of Freckled Whimsy
Wednesday, November 19th: Valori Wells
Thursday, November 20th: Marilyn of Quilt Moments
Friday, November 21st: Cortney Heimerl
Saturday, November 22nd: Shayla and Kristy of Sassafras Lane Designs

Week 4:
Sunday, November 23rd: Shea of Empty Bobbin Sewing
Monday, November 24th: Carrie Strine
Tuesday, November 25th: Rachel of Stitched in Color
Wednesday, November 26th: Liz of Lady Harvatine
Saturday, November 29th: Carolyn Friedlander

Week 5:
Sunday, November 30th: Elizabeth of Don’t Call Me Betsy
Monday, December 1st: Emily of Carolina Patchworks
Tuesday, December 2nd: Ken Kaufman
Wednesday, December 3rd: Grand Finale!

Be sure to check out Carolyn Friedlander's blog on November 29th to see my personal favorite of the bunch.  Isn't it stunning?

And finally, Robert Kaufman is offering a free charm pack to one of you.  These are the new 2014 colors!  Leave a comment for a chance to win.  You can say whatever you like, but perhaps you'd like to share your favorite Kona color.  Mine is Silver.  I will choose a winner the morning of Monday November 10th.  This giveaway IS open to international readers (yay Robert Kaufman!), and be sure I have away to contact you. GIVEAWAY now closed.

Board Shorts Quilt

I'm excited to share some photos of a quilt of mine that appears in Stitch magazine. You can find the pattern for Board Shorts in the summer issue. It's a very simple quilt pattern, quick to piece, and perfect for beginners.

This twin sized quilt (70" x 87.5") was inspired by the striped board shorts surfers wear.  The Boys of Summer section of the magazine has some nice beachy, masculine projects including mine. 

I love the summery color palette.  All Kona cottons, I found all the colors I needed at Marmalade fabrics.  Thanks again to Tammy for letting me come over and try out a zillion combinations.  I love how she labels the Kona color names. So handy!

The quilting was done by Tia Curtis in an all over design.

The quilt is perfect for a twin bed, dorm room, or picnic blanket.  It is available now in my etsy shop.

 

Waves Baby Quilt, PDF Pattern

Thank you for your patience waiting for the pattern for the Waves Baby Quilt.  It is now available as a PDF for instant download in my etsy shop or in my new Craftsy shop.

The 10 page pattern has full color diagrams, detailed instructions, helpful tips, and full sized templates.  The quilt pairs quarter circle blocks with easy to cut rectangles and squares.  It goes together very quickly, especially once you've cut the curved blocks. 

 

The quilt works perfectly for a boy or a girl, depending on the color you choose. The design is bold and graphic, but simple enough to work well with a variety of nursery decors.  I can't wait to see your Waves quilts.  You can tag them #wavesbabyquilt on Instagram or upload them to my flickr group.

Chevron Baby Quilt

Shades of coral and aqua were the starting point for this spring baby quilt.  I also wanted to play with the traditional tumbling blocks pattern.  My stitch and flip version eliminates y seams and templates in favor of easy to cut squares and rectangles.  

 The use of solids and straight line quilting make it clean and modern.  Create depth with careful use of value and placement of colors, much like what was traditionally done in the tumbling blocks pattern.

I bound the quilt with a pale gray and backed it with a cute camera print.

 

You can find the pattern for this 40" x 50" quilt in the Spring 2014 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited.  Single issues can be purchased here or found at your local craft store newsstand.

The test version I made of the quilt provides an interesting contrast to the final version.  The two quilts show just what a difference quilting makes in an overall design.  Even though the pattern of the two quilts is the same and the colors are very similar, the free motion quilting designs on the test quilt give it a much more traditional feel than the one quilted with plain, straight lines. 

 

 I backed this quilt with a fun, multicolor Hello print and bound it with a coral print by Violet Craft. I like the whimsical touch that comes from adding prints to a mostly solids quilt.

 

You can find this version of the Chevron Baby Quilt in my esty shop.