What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Some pictures of what I've been working on around Christmas - XXX Annika Continue reading →

2021 Was a very full year for us. In January we received the keys to our new house. In March a complete renovation started (removing walls, kitchen and bathroom etcetera). This of course meant we had to shop for lots … Continue reading →

A third post with Winding Ways quilt designs! XXX Annika Continue reading →

More Inklingoable Winding Ways quilt designs. This time combined with Inklingo Sunflowers. Continue reading →

Well, another Easter, and still in the pandemic. Who would have thought this last year? A lot has changed for us in the meantime, and at the same time, very little. And none of it has helped my creativity. So, … Continue reading →

A cute baby or kid's quilt with piglets, designed by me. XXX Annika Continue reading →

Christmas Quilts, both pieced and applique, designed by me. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2021! XXX Annika Continue reading →

SOARING STITCHES: CREATIVITY SNIPPETS FOR QUILTERS

By Patricia Belyea

When we’re beginners, we ARE beginners. That’s not a negative thing. Instead it’s a badge of honor because we got started! It’s a big step to move from wanting to do something to actually doing it.

My mentor Maurine Noble mentioned that lots of novices came to her wanting to make king-sized quilts for their beds. From Maurine’s point of view, the first project was a make-or-break affair. If the initial enterprise failed, the person would never return to quiltmaking.

So where does our dearly departed ...

It was a great pleasure to see that there was the making of a bag on this semester’s schedule. We love a lot the bag making in Greece. And I love especially Annie’s Unrein patterns. When I was asked about the pattern I wanted to make, I chose this bag that actually is not a bag, but a whole suitcase. I had made this bag in the past several times, but I wanted to see the most of the materials that Annie has in her shop. Therefore I asked for this pattern, that proved to be very wise ...

It was a great pleasure to see that there was the making of a bag on this semester’s schedule. We love a lot the bag making in Greece. And I love especially Annie’s Unrein patterns. When I was asked about the pattern I wanted to make, I chose this bag that actually is not a bag, but a whole suitcase. I had made this bag in the past several times, but I wanted to see the most of the materials that Annie has in her shop. Therefore I asked for this pattern, that proved to be very wise ...

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA  This story started in mid-May when I soaked packets of Japanese indigo seeds from Elizabeth Merrill and Grand Prismatic Seed in warm water. The next day I dropped 200 seeds, using tweezers, into little soil pods.

Those seeds were babied with heating pads, grow lights, and moisture covers. Once they became sprouts and their early leaves differentiated, I transplanted the seedlings into 3 1/2″ pots.

They stayed in a holding pattern until Michael and I had the irrigation ready in the front field. (Getting the irrigation to the field took bushwacking through a woodland ...

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA  Over a year and a half ago, I started writing a book about creativity for quilters. Many early mornings, with a coffee in hand, I scratched out my thoughts about how to make a quilt. Once the manuscript coalesced, I hired one of the top book designers in the country to take on my project and I began discussions with printers about producing my book.

It was a radical change in direction when I decided that my book would not be a book. Instead I’ve chosen to publish each mini-chapter as a blog post ...

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA  I was completely taken by Bird By Bird at the 2014 Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK. Winning first-place in the traditional category, the 74″ x 74″ quilt was like something out of a candy shop—sweet as could be with delectable colors, rickrack trim around delightful details, and a scalloped edge.

Who could create a quilt like that? The answer is Philippa Naylor—a quilter with great style, a love of color, and the highest technical abilities

Years ago I read Philippa’s first book, Quilting in the Limelight, and became familiar with her ...

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA  Koinobori decorate the landscape of Japan from April to early May, culminating in the celebration of Children’s Day on May 5. Typically hung off a pole, a set of carp streamers represents a whole family. On top is a big black fish for the father; then a rmedium-sized red or pink fish for the mother; and smaller fish below for the children.

I love the way koinobori playfully dance in the wind like koi swimming in a stream. This summer I decided to make koinobori with traditional Japanese yukata cottons and contrasting solid cottons ...

More progress on the shirts quilt - the circle quilting is finished! XXX Annika Continue reading →

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA  I challenged myself to make a baby quilt using just one yard of yukata cotton and stitched with the Aurifil Como Blue Color Builder thread set.

Yukata cotton measures 14″ to 16″ wide. That means that one yard of this special Japanese textile is less than one third of a yard of standard quilting cotton.

For my one yard, I chose an indigo and white geometric yukata cotton in the hemp pattern. With the unfinished blocks measuring 6.5″, I cut ten blocks out of one yard.

The veins in hemp leaves are stylized in ...

Just an update with a picture from an actual quilt I am working on. XXX Annika Continue reading →

By Patricia Belyea

WAUCONDA WA  On April 13, Jane Sassaman wrote this Instagram post: I have put together a few textile treasure boxes. These are 7 pound layer cakes representing 20 years of my fabric designs for FreeSpirit. Each box is unique and has the equivalent of 20 yards of fabric in fat quarter to half yard cuts. This is an archeological dig through a colorful collection of Sassaman design history. 

For $140, I bought a box of Jane’s goodies. At $7 a yard, it seemed like a brilliant thing to do.

I asked Jane what it was like ...

By Joe Cunningham

SAN FRANCISCO When I started making quilts 40 years ago I learned that there were certain techniques, certain color combinations and certain ways of construction that together constituted “traditional” quiltmaking. The way I understood it was more or less as a set of rules to follow. My mentor, Mary Schafer, dismissed art quilts as a peculiar innovation that was devoid of interest because of their lack of ...

Editor Note: I asked Allison Aller what makes her happy. Allie had lots to say about this topic! PB

By Allison Aller, guest blogger

WASHOUGAL WA  What makes me happy has always been right here at home: I’m a quilter, writer, and gardener—all home-based pursuits.

I began quilting in 1972, studied design in college, and then steadily worked at my sewing machine as an at-home mom for years. I created for my family, my friends, for the sheer bliss of it, but alone and in a vacuum. 

Then, hooray! Blogging began! I began posting about my crazy quilting ...