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.

Two Baby Quilts

There has been a quilt rattling around in my head for a bit, and the time feels right to translate it into fabric. It involves a fair bit of complex piecing and before I start sewing, I like to give it one last "go over" in my head, start to finish, to simplify the patchwork as much as possible. This process is made much easier if there is an actual quilt under my needle; even a very simple one helps me sort out the logic of the seams I will be sewing.  To this end,  I've stitched up two  baby quilts this week.

This one is just squares of flannelette, backed  and bound with flannelette, to keep it soft and cuddly. I used a 50 weight Aurifil thread for both the piecing and quilting, in a pale yellow. 

First, all seams were ditched, and then an overall diagonal grid was stitched in a serpentine stitch, with the walking foot. The blocks are only 6", so I didn't mark anything - just eyeballed the line from corner to corner.

Baby quilts need just enough quilting to keep them sturdy, not enough to make them stiff.

The second is made from pink and rose string blocks. Because there are so many seams, string blocks have a tendency to be a bit flat and stiff, so it was extra important to keep the quilting "fluffy". After stitching in the ditch between the blocks, I free motion quilted a small flower in the centre of each - no echoing, no stippling, just the flower.  I chose an Aurifil 50 weight in a variegated rose shade, which blended perfectly with the colours in the blocks. 

I have a personal bias against directional quilts (I can picture OCD  me disturbing a sleeping baby because his quilt was put on upside down!), So that there was no up or down, I flipped the flowers vertically, end to end, in every other block.

I used a cute little stencil from Mrs. P's so that my flowers would be uniform.

This one was also backed in flannelette.

I love making string blocks; they are quick to do and produce lovely, old-fashioned looking quilts.  If you've never tried one, I will be teaching a beginner class in October using string blocks, here in Amherst, N.S. Please email (karen at karenneary.ca) if you'd like to reserve a spot.  
The quilt in my head is still there;  I am fudging about the size it should be, so there may be several more small quilts before that one is ready to be born.  Baby quilts are an appropriate choice of project, I think. :)

N.S. Fibre Arts Festival 2015

It's been just awesome to receive so many emails asking whether I am doing a workshop for Fibre Arts Festival this year.  I am not.  However, I will be part of the Zonta Bazaar on Saturday, the closing day of the festival.
It's been a few years since I did any real vending at shows so it feels as if I am starting all over figuring out the logistics of setting up a workable booth in short order.  One thing I do recall is that it's important to have more than just books, patterns, and thread so that the non-quilting customers aren't left out.  To this end, I have been spending spare moments making zippered pouches out of my stash fabrics.  It's been a lot of fun to say the least.

The fabrics are all top-line quilting cottons, and each pouch is lined with a coordinating print or solid from the same line.

In addition to toiletries, gadgets, or what-have-you, these bags are the perfect size to carry a small knitting project, like a pair of socks.

I had this Robert Kaufman daisy print in four different colourways, and matched the lining and zippers to each. I had a lot of fun making these!

The bags are stiffened with heavy weight interfacing and feature a flat bottom, so they stand up on their own.  They are fully washable.

The countdown to the Fibre Arts Festival is on, only about a month away now, and I will continue to sew more bags in my spare moments. The Zonta Bazaar is being held Saturday, October 17 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Col. James Layton Ralston Armoury, 36 Acadia Street in Amherst. (that's right downtown and very easy to find).  Hope to see you there!

Feather Quilting Workshop

The 6th annual Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival is now a fond memory.  Class participants in my Beginner Free Motion Feathers class came from such places as Antigonish, Northport, Saulnierville, Moncton, Sackville,Springhill, Truro, Parrsboro, PEI...and even two from Amherst!  Our two Island gals especially had a lot of free motion experience under their belts and they really flew with the feathers (ahem...)... but for everyone, there was marked improvement in the stitching of the feather plumes between the start and end of the day. Folks went home pleased with their renewed  quilting confidence.

Sitting and stitching hours on end as you try to do your best work makes for an intense day, but the smiles stayed intact to the end. It's a privilege to spend time with such enthusiastic quilters dedicated to learning and improving their skills.

 Leave it to Joan to do something this beautiful on her feathered wreath:

Thanks to all for a great workshop.  It's both humbling and gratifying to have students return year after year and I appreciate your support immensely.   l look forward to meeting up with all my quilting friends for next year's festival - mark your calendars!

First Finish - And It's A Beauty!

No surprise, it's Joan, and look at this - she's even got it all quilted and bound.  (Look at those feathers! )

Skip on over to Joan's blog Ouvrages d'une Acadienne to see a picture of the entire quilt.  It's BEAUTIFUL, Joan!

Roundabout Again Workshop

Here are some pictures of my Saturday workshop, part of the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival.
Many of the quilters shown here have been coming for the past several years, making this an annual destination.  Most average about a 6 hour car ride, with the ones from Ontario logging substantially more hours.

Tina and Sheila have both attended for several years.

This year, 7 members of La Guilde Acadienne de Clare were in attendance.  Here you see Joan and Elaine busily working away.  There are more pictures of the workshop on Joan's blog.

Mary and I have corresponded for many years so it was wonderful to finally meet up.

We welcomed a few new faces as well;  here's Helen from Havre Boucher, N.S.  In the background are Elaine, Joan and Simone.

Brenda from Truro is working on making continuous bias binding to finish her project.



Gaile, Tina, Sheila, Jean and Amanda showing off their blocks

(that one in the middle always has to be different *-)

The colours and fabrics chosen by the participants were all so varied, I can't wait to see the finished projects.  I've had emails from a couple of folks who hurried home to finish their blocks so hopefully it won't be long before we see some results. It was an absolutely wonderful day.  I am always humbled by how generous quilters are in sharing their talents.  Mark your calendars, and we'll do it all again next year: October 15 - 19, 2013. 

More Festival Windows

Since all thumbs are fingers but not all fingers are thumbs (wait for it...you'll get the analogy...!) I am posting some pictures here as well as on the Festival blog.  Here are more store windows in downtown Amherst, decked out for the Fibre Arts Festival. 

These 3D hooked pieces by Pauline Verstraten in the window at Dayle's are so well done.  I love the sheep!

Polly also has a pumpkin hooked from wool.  Love it!

A beautiful quilt in fall colours by Barb Hood.

These displays are all part of the downtown Fibre Walk.  You can purchase a Passport for $5.00 with a map to all the displays and information about each artist.  There is a ballot on the Passport for your chance to win these prizes:

Passports are available at Festival Headquarters;  it's a lot of fun!