the Man's Quilt

Most of us have a special partner, that we like to spoil every now and then. We especially like to show them just how much we love them too. In the quilting world, that is usually our men! They support us with our color and design choices. They forgive us we we spend too much time behind the sewing machine. Don't they deserve to be appreciated too, especially with their own quilt? Of course, they do!!

Shortly after I got married, I started working on a quilt for my husband using plaids and a very bland solid wheat fabric. I found a pattern in an Australian magazine and wanted to recreate it. The pattern looked simple enough, and it was no doubt a "man's quilt" which you don't typically see. As things go, the project got put on hold, because it was more complicated than I was capable of. Pressing became a nightmare. And the solid wheat fabric no longer appealed to me. It was looking too "country." The project got put on hold!

This is the original block. Today, I would only make two separate blocks - a flying geese and parallelogram with sew and flip in the corners. It would look better, be easier to sew and more accurate! (The original HST are still tucked away carefully waiting for another day as well as four full-sized finished blocks.)

Flash forward - our 10 year anniversary was approaching (quickly). I wanted to finish my quilt for my husband who was feeling neglected all these years, because he never received his own quilt. I redesigned the quilt using the original plaid fabrics and added the solid color brown and a hint of pistachio.

I worked on the quilt on the side for a couple of months being careful not to show my husband. Our anniversary came and went. No quilt was ready. When I heard that our local quilt shop owner was ready to start taking orders on her long arm quilting machine, I jumped right on it. I took the quilt top, a very nice and warm cotton batting and an over sized backing that I had tucked away somewhere in my stash to Ms. Sabine Feldmann of Quilt Oase. She is my guru...the quilt goddess galore. She knows everything! I showed her the top, and she knew exactly what to do. We agreed that an allover quilt design would fit the top perfectly. And here it is:

Isn't it gorgeous? Sabine used a variegated thread which shows up perfectly over the brown and pistachio colors. She used a nice big swirly that allows the quilt to lay comfortably when in use, because this is my husbands new sofa blankie! It is long enough for him and is a proud 2,10cm long! The blanket, not my husband. ;-) I wanted to get it finished quickly, but still chose to hand-stitch the binding closed! I used bigger stitches, but it was worth the extra time.

He was kind enough to model for me too; that's him behind the blanket!

He has been enjoying the quilt in the evenings for a while now. He truly enjoys it and has mentioned several times that he loves the geometric shapes mixed in with the roundness of the swirlies. He asked if I hated it, because of the brown and dark colors. No I don't! It is not my typical color palette, true, but I love this quilt. I love the simplicity and scrappy feel. I am so happy this one is staying with us too! And, I don't think it looks one bit country either!

You can see more pictures of the quilt here on flickr. You can also see some of the WIP going on with it. I saved all of the pictures so it would totally be a surprise.

If you would like to have your quilt long arm quilted, or you live in southern Germany and don't know of a local long arm quilter, look up Sabine Feldmann. She is the hottest new artist on the long arm machine! She also runs a full service quilt shop with classes on everything!

http://www.quilt-oase.com/

Happy sewing and quilting!

trying something new - a mini plus quilt challenge

I recently had the honor of making a quilt for a new quilt exchange partner, the darling Julianne in California, and the assignment was trying something new. I pulled out my Mini-Mosaic Quilts from Paula Doyle that I had in my library since it was hot off the press.

The book showed me how to use an older technique and sparked new possibilities for a very popular design in mini! What is cool about this technique is that you adhere one and a half inch squares to paper or fusible web and sew everything in strips. Your points always match! (Just make sure you sew in opposites directions when you sew the strips. If you don't, your final patchwork will be bowed in one direction. My logical sense allowed me to accept this advice without trying it out. ;-)

I really loved sewing this and kept going! I made a matching mug rug using one inch squares. They finished up to 1/2"! Is that not cool?? My hubby actually said he wanted one for the office! And since you use the fusible web, you don't have to use additional batting!

Here are a few pictures from the process. It is a great way to use up scraps; I used a 6" charm pack!

Don't you just love those night photos? I was determined to get it done that night! If you have a chance to try this technique, go for it. It will enhance your mini quilt possibilities!

Here is my challenge to you...
I challenge you to use this book or technique to make a mini plus quilt. It can be any size you want but those pluses should be no larger than 3 inches square or each segment no larger than one inch finished. Make your quilt and send me a photo of your completed quilt by March 14 (1pm, German time)! I will upload all photos and pick a winner on March 15, 2014. You have one month! The winner will receive....a lovely new charm pack. I will ship internationally. If you will be participating, leave a comment in the comments section of this post. If you a Google+ member, you may be a "no-reply blogger" so leave your email address as well. If you need a badge, grab the one below by clicking on it with a right click and copying the graphic address and insert into your page.

 I look forward to seeing some really lovely mini plus quilts ladies and gentlemen!! Knock my socks off!

Happy patching!
-Karen

my projects to finish in 2014

Are you getting organized in 2014? I am trying too. I photographed some of my projects to show myself what I need to finish up. If I have a list, I might actually start checking things off. I like to have all of my projects tucked away neatly in the drawers - out of site. But, out of site means out of mind. Here are most of my projects that I want to finish this year.

1.  My easypatchwork Sampler: it consists of twelve different more difficult blocks. I started this in one of quilting groups. Most of the blocks are spin-offs of theirs but are 12" instead of 40cm. That was just going to be too big of a quilt for me. And since I am not a quilter, I didn't want to take it on. I think I have six blocks finished. I really want to get this one finished this year. I will probably simplify some of the blocks. The sashing and sashing blocks are already cut. The binding already made.

2.  Helga's Cathedral Window Pillowcase and Table Runner: Somehow I don't even want to start this one knowing that it is going to challenge me. I have very little experience with cathedral windows and have no great desire to make a pillow full nor a matching table runner full of them using just two colors. I like it bright. Oh, this is for my mother-in-law; a special request.

3. Hospice Quilt - Rainbow over the Pacific:I started this quilt after my dad died. I had a jelly roll of rainbow batiks and wanted it to go quickly. I just had to sew to make myself feel better. I still have a lot of days like this. Sabine Feldmann helped me pick out the turquoise fabric to make it bright and cheery. It will be donated to the Hospice Facility of Winston-Salem, N.C. It is going to be so pretty in the end and comfort many people there.

4. The Dotty Nine Patch: Can you see a recurring color here? Turquoise? I loved the color over the last two years. I can't stop of using it. I originally started making this one for a magazine, but I highly doubt it will ever get published. I am such a procrastinator and I don't know if I would sew the pattern together again. It will make a nice wall hanging one day.

5. Chevron Color: Oh, and another project I started and lost interest. Sometimes I like to sew on foundation papers and sometimes not. When it becomes fiddle "Arbeit", I just don't want to anymore! One day I will get back to it. It really isn't very big; I think finished size should be around a sheet of office paper. This would have been a good one for the Kona Cotton Challenge.

6. Block Lotto QAL 2014: This one is going to be very pretty. This is one that my daughter and I are making together. It is going to be very bright and cheery and around for many days to come. I picked up the fabric fall of 2013 at a quilt shop when I was visited my mother in Asheville. The yellow and turquoise are gradients.

7. Nina's Choice: these very lovely fabrics I picked out with my niece, Nina. She really liked them and asked me to make a quilt from them. I am still thinking about a pattern. I found the matching owl fabric and thought it could go with the other three. My niece is still in elementary school, so it also has to grow with her yet be appropriate for her age.

8. Retro Table Runner with Curves: I started this one to learn a new technique. There are a lot of rounded curves which are made by sewing an additional piece of fabric into the block. Why did I never finish this one? The colors are great and the quilting was easy!

9. The Mariner's Compass: this was started two or three years ago when I wanted to learn how to make a mariner's compass. I had these really bright fabrics that I wanted to use. I managed to finish the foundation piecing...yeah!!! just not the quilting. I could jump on a long arm (rent) and practice a little. Oh, that sounds like a really good idea. Get some practice quilting.

10. A Cardinal in Winter: Oh, how I love cardinals. This one is also really, really old. I miss seeing the cardinals in winter, so I had to make this one. I thought it would look good with the blue framing, but I don't agree with that idea today. It is missing a cute little eye as well. This could be a quick finish and a pretty wall hanging for winter.

11. The Underground Railroad Sampler: has everyone made one of these?? I think this was one of my first samplers. It is using the smaller sized blocks too. This could have been sewn onto foundation paper, but it probably wouldn't have gotten finished. It just needs to be quilted and I bought all of the coordinating threads to do it. Again, in the to-do-drawer.

 

12. My hubby's Anniversary Plaid: This one is fairly new!! It has to get done the beginning of this year, before our terrific ten! It is not made from old shirts but from homespun plaids. I want to use a flannel for the backing and it has to be big enough to cover his from head to toe.

13. 3xo: I practiced this shape before I sewed OHO together. There is actually a technique where you don't have to pin the fabrics together when you sew the curves. This only works when you have non-stretchy good quality quilting fabric. This would make a nice table runner for anyone. Maybe I will finish and give away. Sounds great to me!

14. Sew Kitschy! A new project that will finish in the year 2014!

And there are a couple other projects, but I haven't even started them, so they are not going here until I at least have the fabric picked out. I hope you enjoyed my little show and tell. If you have project to-do-list yourself, I would love to hear about it. Maybe you can help me get more organized!! Please leave a tip or trick behind which can help all of us. Enjoy your weekend. No more blogging for me next week. I want to sew!

Sewingly yours,
Karen

weekend retreat

This past weekend was my long awaited weekend retreat at the Quilt Oase in Nersingen. And oh, how the weekend was enjoyed. Five other ladies from our quilting group joined up to do a little sewing and lots of laughing. It is such a great way to relax and get some things accomplished and learn from the guru herself - Sabine Feldmann. She has so many tips and tricks up her sleeve, you never walk away from her without learning something new.

I first met Sabine over six years ago, when I took a patchwork class through our local community college. I knew then that she was and is extremely knowledgeable and masters her craft. She is a wizard in math -- an artist in designing -- and a master storyteller. I think she knows every technique there is to know in the patchwork scene. She is MY patchwork guru. Thank you, Sabine and ladies, for such a great weekend. I am looking forward to it again in January on our exclusive quilting retreat! Don't forget to visit Sabine's shop and participate in one of her courses. She also speaks English if your German isn't perfect. And, she told us a little secret that is going to make lots of patchworkers go wild!!

Our patchwork group is displaying and selling items at the Christmas Market in Nersingen beginning tomorrow. Please support our patchwork group and stop by. There will be so many lovely, handmade items to choose from.

Katrin, who also sewed this weekend, brought in lots of self-made goodies and most of them were snapped up before they even hit the market stands. You can visit her site and see what she worked on here.

What did I work on over the weekend? My updated plaid quilt! A couple of weeks ago I asked for some advice from you all about making a more up-to-date plaid quilt for my husband. I originally wanted to make a 60° triangle quilt, log-cabin-style. I didn't have enough plaids though, and we agreed it was going to be just a little too busy. I opted for a softer pattern (for a MAN) with lots and lots of plaids. This is a little sneak peek of what I am working on.

I wanted to get a little further, but my fabric ran out and didn't have anymore in stock. I will continue on it in January at our group's exclusive quilting retreat (in a castle...yeahh).

quilting retreat

It has been a while since I really had the chance to sew for myself without interruptions. So, I signed myself up for a quilting weekend at the Quilt Oase to rejuvenate my vitals and relax with the girls.

What to work on? I have a stack of woven plaids that have been with me for about a good ten years. I started a project for my husband using half-square triangles - HST and a tan neutral color. I found the pattern in an Australian Country Patchwork magazine and thought it was really great (at that time). Needless to say, I never completed the project and the patches are still in a metal tin somewhere in the basement. I still want to finish up a quilt for my hubby incorporating plaids, especially since we will be celebrating our tenth anniversary this year. How to make a modern quilt for a man using plaids?

I have been asking myself this question for about a month or two now. I have been looking high and low for patterns. I want to do something with 60° triangles to get more experience but don't want a typical country quilt. This one caught my attention by Jaybird Quilts? I can't exactly see who made it, but saw it referenced once.

I thought this could be a down and dirty pattern to cleanse and go quickly. Should I do it, or should I try to come up with something else? It states that the triangles are sewn on paper log cabin style. Do I really need the paper? Can't I just sew strips onto a pre-cut center triangle? I need advice. Does anyone have any?

MODERN PLAID QUILT IDEAS ANYONE?