new project for Moda Bake Shop

I've been working on a great new project for Moda Bake Shop using one 10" Layer Cake. I submitted my design back in Sept/October and was completely floored when they contacted me. They actually said my pattern was good enough for their site. I even got to pick out the fabric that I wanted for the new improved lap quilt. I couldn't resist to pick the new fabric line from Kate Spain, my favorite designer, that comes out in January.

So here is a little sneaky peaky of "prairie Traditions" for Moda Bake Shop. It should be "premiering" in December 2012 or January 2013.

Honey Honey by Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics

All you need for the quilt top

If you would like to make this pattern, I would love to see your finished quilt. Please post them on flickr under prairie Traditions. Or send me a jpeg, and I will post on my website. 

I am looking forward to writing more patterns for you in 2013! :-)

Bis dann und schöne Grüße
Karen

service your sewing machine

Right before we went on vacation this past year, my husband suggested to me that I have my sewing machine serviced while we were away. It never really dawned on me that I should have my machine "serviced." 

There wasn't anything wrong with the machine, but I had noticed a few months earlier that the thread was starting to stick a little and not produce even stitches. I cleaned out the machine myself, but you can never really get into all of those tiny places. I have a Pfaff 2034 which collects a lot of thread in the area where the light is. While I was doing my own cleaning, I thought I should ask my husband if he had some type of keyboard cleaner to clean it out, so I was happy when he suggested having my sewing machine professionally serviced.

My good German husband, who always thinks about these things, set up the appointment and even dropped it off for me. My husband told me my machine would go missing for jsut one week and not to panic, but I didn't even notice that it was gone!

I picked up my machine after we returned from vacation and got settled back home. I saw that the service man had tested it out with several different stitches on a nice thick pieced of folded denim and the tension was perfectly aligned again. He scolded me and said I should oil it once in a while. Okay, I thought you never had to oil these newer machines...that's what they told me when I bought it?!?! As an avid sewing, I pledged to myself to oil my bobbin area when the stitches are slightly off or when it starts to get a little exhausted from my vigorous workouts.

And, it doesn't cost the world to have it serviced. I paid 55€. Considering the price of the machine and how long I have had it, I thought it completely reasonable. I love my machine and don't see that I am going to part with it for a long time. One great thing about it is the dual voltage which I have never used, but being practical person as I am, I thought about it when I bought it. ;-)

TradMod for Lilli

This past week I finished up the top to a children's quilt and am really pleased with the results. My customer wanted to recycle the baby clothes from her daughter's first year into a bed quilt. We worked intensively together and came up up with with a bright and simple traditional pattern using "Apple of My Eye" from the Quilted Fish for Riley Blake Designs. I added a little "Sugar and Spice" for the binding and inner border.

 I really enjoyed working with Beate. At first I showed her very subdued pastel colors but was thrilled when she steered me back to my favorite color palette of red and turquoise! Riley Blake Designs has really fantastic fabric for children's quilts and you can basically mix and match fabric lines.

I fussy cut motifs from onesies and mostly jersey fabrics. I backed them with iron-on stabilizer which keeps the fabric from stretching when you sew it into another block.

The backing is made of cuddly flannel. Quite fitting to the apple theme is Debbie Mumms' Love U flannel from Moda. The entire quilt measures about 160 x 180 cm.

It is simply adorable!

I thought it only fitting to give this special blanket the full service, so I arranged for B. Heitland to quilt it for me. I strongly believe that Brigitte is one of the best long arm quilters here in Germany!! I can't wait to get it back and see her amazing quilting creativity.

I will post the finished quilt when everything in finished.