String Workshop Sample X

I have been working steadily on samples for two new fall workshops. Earlier, I showed you these blue and white string blocks in progress.  I decided 48 of these 8" blocks would be enough for a lap quilt.

Polly and I pondered how to set them together, and it suddenly struck us that using the same layout as for my son's Log Cabin "X" quilt would be perfect. String blocks are SO much less work than log cabins, with no seam matching or need to keep the block true; the foundation paper does that for you.

When I opened the folder of pictures of the log cabin quilt, I had a smile over how much Polly has grown since we made that first X quilt.  She looks so scrawny!

Here's the log cabin version:

 Here are the string blocks in the same layout (although the quilt is turned sideways in the photo).

This is the string quilt on top of the log cabin.  The blocks for the latter were 12" instead of 8". 

I think this is a great way to show off the power of the lowly string block;  it imitates a log cabin nicely, and works beautifully in traditional settings such as barn raising, or straight furrows. There are a couple of spots left in this Beginner String Quilt Workshop to be held Wednesday October 12 during the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival. Just email if you would like a spot saved.

Although I am not big on plain borders, I may add one to this lap quilt, just to flesh it out a bit. It will be feather quilted, as per the original.

Fibre Arts Festival 2016 Workshops

The fabrics from my last post were sewn into this cushion, as sample for a class on Curved Strip-Piecing which I will be teaching during the 2016 Fibre Arts Festival.

In this class, we will take strip-piecing to a whole new level by adding free-form curves to the patchwork. We will cut the curves in the fabric free hand with a rotary cutter – no templates or rulers required – and then easily stitch the pieces together using cues from the fabric. Thread embellishment will be added after stitching. This technique can be used in a variety of projects, such as a landscape background, or in patchwork projects. Our project for the day will be a 14" cushion, as shown above. The class will be held Friday, October 14,2016, from 9 am to 3 pm, here in Amherst, Nova Scotia. For more information, you can check out this page on my website:

http://karenneary.ca/workshops_2016.htm

For the Festival, I am also offering a Beginner String Quilting class. This fun and informal class is appropriate both for beginners wanting to learn patchwork skills, and for more experienced quilters looking for ideas to use up leftover scraps. Sewing leftover "strings" of fabric produces charming, traditional quilts in the manner of our frugal grandmothers.Instruction will be provided on how to sew string blocks for use in quilts, or smaller projects such as placemats, aprons, or bags. 

This class will be held on Wednesday, October 12 from 9 am to 3 pm. You can find more information and register online here.

Snow Day

We woke up to this...

...so I am playing with the gorgeous fabrics I got yesterday at Mrs Pugsley's Emporium.It's a collection from Hoffman called Clarabelle, in the Mist/Silver colourway.  It has a lovely silver sheen.

This piece of Mirror Ball Dot from my stash (on the far right) may find its way in there too if the piece needs another dark. We'll see after we start to join the strips.

I am alone in the sewing room this morning; my partner, Polly, has tired herself out and had to go back to bed.  When the wind blows hard, Polly zooms around the house non-stop like she is possessed. It catches up with her every few hours!

New York, New York

Last year as part of a fund-raiser for the N.S. Fibre Arts Festival, Polly and I made and donated this quilt called, New York, New York.

It appeared on the cover of Quilter's Connection magazine, with instructions inside.  However, because of space requirements, the foundations and templates were printed at a reduced size so it was necessary to get them enlarged at a copy shop. The pattern is now available with all the pieces at full size so you can get started right away.

I confess it's one of my all time favourite quilts - bold, bright, and full of life.  It's pieced from gorgeous hand-dyed  Hoffman 1895 Bali watercolours, and heavily quilted with wild and crazy feathers.

Polly liked it too.

It's available from my website, pattern # 615.