quilt club: reverse inset circiles

First, let's talk about that title. Reverse inset circles. It sounds extremely daunting, and let me tell ya, it felt extremely daunting when I opened the study guide. I've seen quilts with circles or curves in them before and just could not wrap my mind around how you can sew two pieces of fabric together, fold them over, and get a curve. It defies the laws of nature. 

But it's actually possible. And it's not so hard. You just need a little patience and a little Elmer's glue. Seeeee?!

It's so gloriously 1980's that I can barely contain myself. Remember Todd and Margo's house in Christmas Vacation? Yeah, this would totally have been at home there.

"Then why is the carpet all wet, Todd?"
"I don't know Margo!"

We had a smaller group this month because of graduations and end of school stuff and spring and life. And not everyone brought inset circles, because we're relaxed at modern quilt club and that's how we roll. But the quilts that everyone brought were amazing.

This post could alternatively be called "quilt club: awkward talking faces." I have no hopes of a career as a photo journalist. I do not have that gift that the paparazzi have of catching celebrities talking and NOT capturing weird faces. Sorry guys.

Shannon made this super cute West Park tote bag. You can read about it on her blog to get info on the pattern and her process.

quilt club is back, y'all

Quilt club has been on hiatus since last fall when our patron store closed its doors (insert sad face). But, happy day, we are up and running again at a new location. Which means more pretty pictures of quilts up in here (up in here).

The group got together in April to catch up on life and show off what we've been working on since we last met. The group's consensus was that without the monthly group meeting, we weren't quilting as much as we would like. Hello, accountability.

Even still, there were lots of great quilts to see. My apologies, I left my nice camera at home, so these were just snapped with my iPhone. I'll do better next time.

paper piecing: I now know what the fox says

I've been seeing the most adorable fox, cat, and owl quilt blocks gracing my Instagram feed lately. And I wanted one. BAD. Only I didn't know how to do it. But then our quilt club assignment this last month was to try paper piecing, which I did not in any way understand.

Turns out, that's how you make those intricate blocks. Who knew.

Oh wait, everyone but me knew.

At any rate, paper piecing basically means that you print your pattern on paper, arrange your fabric on it very strategically, and then sew right on top of the paper along the lines. No math skills or intricate fabric cutting required. 

Check out the image below. This is the back of that fox block.

You absolutely have to watch several You Tube videos to figure this technique out. You're basically sewing a mirror image of what you want your block to look like, which kind of hurts my brain. I found this video tutorial to be helpful. There are many different methods; you just have to find the one that makes sense for you.

Using a plaid fabric was not my most brilliant choice. Trying to match the plaid pattern when you're mirroring objects is challenging to say the least. But it mostly worked out.

I made this pattern myself because I'm cheap a designer who has to figure out everything for myself. The good news though is that you can buy this pattern along with instructions on how to assemble it into a quilt here. These are the gorgeous blocks that inspired me to take the plunge. The fox with the glasses, it slays me.

And paper piecing isn't just for furry creatures. There's lots of modern and traditional geometric patterns that this technique is great for.

Quilt Club met last night to look at everyone's work, buuuuuut I had to leave early to go tuck in babies, so I don't have photos. So sorry! But I'm sure they were awesome.

6 quilt club blocks down for my ROYGBIV sampler quilt. It's going to be a hot mess, but I love it. 

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quilt club: strip quilting

Quilt club at City Craft did not disappoint again this month. Our homework assignment was "strip quilting" which is to say taking strips of fabric and sewing them together. A simple technique dating back to pioneer days. It's fantastic place for a beginner to start. 

We have to talk about Kristi from Initial K Studio's quilt. It uses all 32 Kona solids from their latest release. You can read more about how she created it here. She named it "cascade" which is basically perfect.

Angela created a throw pillow using a log cabin technique. Learn how to do this in last month's study guide (see month #5).

I'm totally going to rat her out on the back of the pillow (right photo). She cut the fabric too small - been there - so she added a strip of fabric. It was still to small. So she cut it and added another strip. And another one. All of us agreed that the back was now cooler than the front and passed a motion to change the back to the front and front to the back. The motion carried.

Belinda is continuing with a monochromatic block each month. That quilt is going to be amazing when all 12 are complete. I wish I had the self control to do monochromatic quilt. But I don't. Color forever!

Charlotte brought a yummy fall paletted quilt top.

Cynthia did the log cabin homework plus a low volume (quilter slang for really light colors with tone on tone patterns) table runner.

I love everything about these blocks that Elizabeth created. She used metallic fabrics like Cotton + Steel to create these epic blocks. Oh my gosh, I want the quilt she makes with these in my life. Callie and Charlotte did a particularly nice job of showing off the blocks. Well done, ladies.

Jeana comes from the world of apparel sewing and quilting is a new hobby for her. She is taking scraps leftover from outfits to put together a throw quilt as a gift. I won't say for who, lest I ruin the surprise. Watch out, with all of that satin fabric, this quilt is going to be sexy.

Shannon is a brave soul. This quilt top used to be a completely different pattern; it was based off of a bobbin or spool of thread or something....At any rate, she hated it, so she got out her rotary cutter and hacked it to pieces and reassembled it into this beauty. She is woman, hear her ROAR. I asked if she burned her bra after that. She did.

Susan used 2 fat quarter bundles cut into strips to create this diamond quilt. A lot of bold, bright colors become more controlled when put together in this pattern. She says it's a bit too much pink for her usual taste. Pfft. Like there can ever be too much pink.

Another strip quilt from Susan using a 1930's color palette.

Hey, it's me! I used the study guide log cabin tutorial and modified it just a bit for my block on the left. I have TONS of vintage yellow fabrics from my Grandmommy's stash, but I sort of kind of hate yellow. Mustard is great, but everything else makes me nauseous. Until now. I freaking LOVE this quilt block. So much that I might just hack up all of my yellow and make more blocks and see if I can make an entire yellow quilt. It's like a little ray of sunshine.

The strip quilt on the right is another modified log cabin quilt that I shared more about in this post. It will be done in approximately 7 years.

The following are not strip quilts, but awesome all the same and completely necessary to share.

Angela shared this quilt top with us at our half square triangles quilt club meeting (and I nearly passed out because I loved it so much). She decided it wasn't large enough as-is for her 6' tall gift recipient (again, no spoilers here), so she added the blue and white triangles around the perimeter. That extra contrast totes makes this quilt. 

Yes, I said totes.

And this is the back. Check out that blue ombre. Purrrrrrr.

Martha must have spent a bazillion hours making this. I thinks she said it was more than 1,000 individual pieces of fabric. I admire her patience. You will never (NE-VER) see me make something this complicated. Go Martha!

This is about 1/3 of a quilt top that Martha is working on. All of the pieces are needle turn pieced. I literally had no idea what that was until 4 seconds ago when I googled it. Again, so much patience.

Charlotte's Michael Miller award winning quilt.

Oh, Belinda. After she saw my Birch Feather River quilt, she was inspired to make one of her own using the same fabric bundle, plus some solids. WELL DONE. Also, way to totally show me up. I guess I forgive you.

Great stuff this month. Next month we're working on Paper Piecing, which I've never done before. And I had to leave early last night so I missed Michael's demo. Not that I'm nervous. I got this.....

Here's the study guide (month #6) if you want to figure this out as you go along with me.

A reminder - anyone in the Dallas area is welcome to attend, even if you don't have a quilt to show. It's a fun time and you should check it out. The next meeting is Wednesday, November 19, 2014 at 6:30 PM. Would love to see you there. (pssst...there's wine and a 10% discount).

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quilt club: modern quilting

quilt club: modern quilting

This month's City Craft Quilt Club assignment was a bit daunting: create a modern quilt (or quilt block). It's the equivalent of saying create "modern cuisine." It can be taken a multitude of different ways. Modern quilts usually have solid, bold colors. But they might be neutrals. And they might have some patterned fabric. Or all patterned fabric. And have mostly straight lines. But maybe curved lines. Whatever.

Basically, don't make it look like an old lady made it in the mid-80's.

Here are all the different liberties that our quilt club members took with this challenge. Enjoy.

Michael blew us all away (again) with his 60's modern inspiration on the bottom.

Shannon's diamond quilt was a girl's best friend (see what I did there?)

And this quilt was a hoot (I can't stop myself...send help)

All the new Kona solids in one quilt. Swoon.

Kristi at Initial K Studio showed off some new lovelies currently available in her shop

This one is my favorite.

Or maybe this one.

My block was kind of an epic fail. But it was SO pretty in my head. Oh well. Live and learn.

I made up for it with this beauty. Tutorial coming next week!

Literally, I want everything Angela makes. Ev-uh-ry-thing.

My sister-in-law Meredith made her first quilt top. Holy moly!
My first quilt was not nearly this nice. I will never show you a picture of it ever. Probably.

Susan rocked this modern square quilt.

Oh my gosh. This is exquisite. All paper piecing. 22 (?) different fabrics. It makes my head hurt. So impressive.

Happy block!

This hand quilted fairy quilt by Callie is out of this world.

Modern quilted mobile by Elizabeth. Award for most creative.

Martha's block.

Nicole's block.

And Nicole's bag.

Momma City Craft's modern goodies.

Tres Modrian.

These Moda blocks from the Modern Quilt Kit are AMAZING!
It's part of a kit you can buy at City Craft here. 

More Moda. All of these go together to make one giant quilt. I think it's for a Paul Bunyan sized fella.

And more Moda.

Working with curves.

Next month we're working on strip quilts. You should totally strip with us. 



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