Índex per May/June 2018 a Modern Patchwork

I LIVE IN A SLEEPY LITTLE NEW ENGLAND TOWN PERCHED ON THE CONNECTICUT SHORELINE at the halfway point between New York and Boston. Living in this idyllic location has its perks. Just a 15-minute drive on the interstate and I’m at the world-class Yale Art Museum. Ten minutes in the opposite direction sits a gorgeous state park with miles of beaches and trails to explore. And, if I strap on a pair of muck boots, I can hike from my front door to an Audubon sanctuary and watch the birds. I am lucky indeed. When my family moved here 15 years ago, I didn’t really know what to expect. Although I grew up in Maine, this was a new place for me. I was sure all of the homes would…

CREATE YOUR OWN IMPROV QUILTS: MODERN QUILTING WITH NO RULES & NO RULERS Rayna Gillman Rayna Gillman showcases her modern, free-spirited aesthetic in this inspirational book. We love her comparison of retro fabrics with modern prints, and the use of them in her work. She also opens up a discussion of batiks—favored by many—and how to evaluate them for use in modern improv. Rayna’s designs often start with a photo, which she examines for color, value, pattern, and more. Engaging in her creative process is easy as she takes the reader stepby-step through her internal monologue. With the encouragment and guidance of this book, you can forget the rules—and the quilt police—and just make art. $27.95 • C&T Publishing • ctpub.com EDGY EMBROIDERY: TRANSFORM CONVENTIONAL STITCHES INTO 25 UNCONVENTIONAL DESIGNS…

Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) are a staple in the modern quilter’s toolbox. This time-saving method helps you make 8 HSTs at a time—quickly and accurately. 1. Using a ruler, draw diagonal lines on the lighter square from the upper left to lower right and from the upper right to the lower left. 2. Draw center vertical and horizontal lines 3. With right sides together, pair a dark square with the marked light square. 4. Stitch ¼ " on each side of the diagonal lines only. 5. Cut along the drawn diagonal lines, and again at the center vertical and horizontal line, creating 8 HSTs. 6. Press the seam allowances either open or toward the darker fabric. Trim the dog ears. 7. Voilà! You now have 8 HST blocks to use in…

Row upon row of heart-shaped sunglasses inspired this quilt—made with row upon row of Flying Geese blocks. Suitable in most any color palette, this warm, sunny version is sure to please. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Press seams open unless otherwise noted. From each fat quarter of yellow, orange, and pink, cut: —2 (6" × 20") strips. From the strips, cut 4 (6") A squares. From each gray fat eighth, cut: —6 (1" × 20") strips. From the strips, cut 120 (1") B squares. From white, cut: —1 (6" × 40") strip. From the strip, cut 5 (6") A squares. —2 (60" × 40") strips parallel to the selvedge. From the 1 strip, cut: — 1 (23" × 60") C sashing strip. — 2 (6 ½ " ×…

The inspiration for this quilt design was Gina’s husband, Scott, and his love of colorful candy. The ombré fabric and Quarter Log Cabin blocks made them both think of a candy rainbow. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Keep like colors together and label pieces as they are cut. From each of 39 precut 2 ½ " strips, cut: — 1 (2 ½ " × 3 ½ ") B rectangle. — 2 (2 ½ " × 5 ½ ") C rectangles. — 2 (2 ½ " × 7 ½ ") D rectangles. — 1 (2 ½ " × 9 ½ ") E rectangle. Each precut strip makes 1 block. NOTE: If using fat quarters, each will make 2 blocks. Cut 2½ " strips, and then cut double the number of…

Half-Square Triangle blocks (HSTs) are some of the most versatile blocks we use in quilting, but the bias-edge seam makes them a bit of a challenge. This quick method for making two identical HST blocks at once eliminates the need to sew along a cut bias edge—you get more blocks with less fuss. 1. Cut 2 squares 7⁄8" larger than the desired finished size of your block. 2. Using a ruler, draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the lighter square from the upper left to the lower right corner. 3. With right sides facing, pair a dark square with the marked light square. 4. Stitch ¼ " on each side of the drawn line. 5. Cut along the drawn line, creating 2 HSTs. 6. Press the seam…

Riva Ridge is a modern version of the traditional Thousand Pyramids. Made of four sizes of equilateral triangles, the design was inspired by Gary Andrew Clarke’s painting, “Variation on Max Bill.” CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Templates are on page 75. Trace onto template material. Cut out and label the templates. Press seams open whenever possible. PLANNING Cut the strip needed for the largest template. After cutting the necessary pieces from that strip, cut the remainder of the narrower strips and cut the smaller templates from the those strips. Continue cutting strips and templates in descending sizes. Use the Nesting Diagrams for the most efficient use of fabric. Label pieces as they are cut. Cutting Chart *NOTE: When using a solid fabric with no wrong side, cut 2 A.…

Dry, unbearably hot, yet still beautiful and serene. Inspired by palm springs, this mini quilt is symbolic of a cactus … resilient and sturdy, just like the stitches that hold together our quilts. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Border strips are exact length needed. You may want to make them longer to allow for piecing variations. Label pieces as they are cut. Paper-piecing pattern is on page 86. From green, cut: — 2 (4") squares. From gray, cut: — 3 (4") squares. From black, cut: — 7 (4") squares. From cream, cut: — 2 (4" × 40") strips. From the strips, cut 12 (4") squares. Using the Cutting Diagram, cut the squares into modified triangles for the sections 2 and 3 of each paper-piecing pattern. NOTE: This project uses…

This contemporary geometric quilt uses Half-Square Triangle and Quarter-Square Triangle blocks to create interesting angles and shapes—giving the appearance of a modern stained glass window. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Press all fabric with spray starch before cutting to reduce bias stretch. Border strips are exact length needed. You may want to make them longer to allow for piecing variations. Label pieces as they are cut. From C, G, H, Q, T, and W, cut 1 of template 1. From F and R, cut 2 of template 1. From M and X, cut 3 of template 1. From L, cut 5 of template 1. From B, E, and V, cut 1 of template 2. From J, O, and BB, cut 1 (10") square. Cut the square in half…

”Isee a lot of parallels between design and writing,” says modern quilter Andrea Tsang Jackson. “When you’re writing an essay you have a thesis, you have a point you want to make, and everything you do in that piece of writing is going to point to that thesis in order to support it. That’s the way I approach design. There’s a big idea and whatever you do—whether it’s the quilting or the piecing or the colors that you’re choosing—is supporting this larger idea.” Andrea’s bold, vibrant quilts are more than just pretty designs, they’re infused with meaning. Growing up in Ottawa, Canada, the daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong, her mother had a special interest in the arts. She sewed holiday dresses for Andrea and her sister each year and…

True story. I asked a handful of respected and experienced quilters to give some sage advice to beginners. Experienced quilters are always happy to share tips and tricks to make your quilting better. I totally expected to hear things about ¼ " seam allowances, bias edges, and pattern selection. What I got was something entirely different. Suzy Williams, Sam Hunter, Mandy Leins, Suzanne Paquette, and Tara Faughnan all lent their voices and opinions to this conversation. If we all could have been in the same room, I can only imagine the energy and laughter our decades—or even centuries—of experience would have brought to the sewing table! You can read about seam allowances, pressing, and binding anywhere. Instead, listen to these experts dish the real truth all beginners need to know…

What is double gauze? Although double gauze can be described as soft, drapable, or lightweight, it is the construction of the fabric that provides the name. Simply put, double gauze is two layers of an open-weave fabric (gauze) held together with tiny, regularly spaced stitches which are barely visible on the surface. This construction allows for the airy feeling of the cloth—the two layers of fabric work as one. Although each of the layers is very loose, with two layers the fabric loses much of its transparency while still maintaining a light, ethereal quality. Most double gauze available in quilt shops and online is made from cotton. What are people making from it? Go into any baby boutique and you are sure to be surrounded by dresses, carriage blankets, and…

Inspired by the mountains near her home, Kate started this quilt as an exercise in transparency—interpreting some parts of the mountains covered in snow and other parts obscured by white clouds. For maximum effect, six distinct gray values are used, ranging from very light to very dark. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Templates are on page 51. Trace onto template material. Cut out and label the templates. Refer to Cutting Diagrams for most efficient use of fabric. The template A cutting instructions are for creating the quilt as shown in solid or yarn-dyed fabrics, which are the same on both sides. If you are using a fabric with right and wrong sides, reverse the template for half of the A triangles. From white, cut: — 2 (12 ½ " ×…

Inspired by interlocking floor tiles, Melanie asks and invites questions about the relationships between shapes in this quilt. Where do they fit? How do the colors change depending on their placement? One simple block makes these intriguing shapes with a modern geometric design. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Border strips are exact length needed. You may want to make them longer to allow for piecing variations. Label pieces as they are cut. Press toward the darker fabric. From each of white and dark gray, cut: — 4 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. From strips, cut: — 16 (2 ½ " × 6 ½ ") A rectangles. — 12 (2 ½ ") B squares. From light gray, cut: — 5 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. From strips,…

This quilt is inspired by traditional Drunkard’s Path and Medallion quilts. With bold colors and large-scale pieces, it radiates a modern, graphic feel. Since the design is inspired by the classic Canadian Broadcasting Corporation logo from the 1970s, Brigit calls it Broadcast. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Label pieces as they are cut. Templates are on page 70. Trace onto template material. Cut out and label the templates. Follow the Nesting Diagrams for efficient fabric cutting. The Clammy 8" ruler can be used in place of the printed templates. From blue, cut: — 7 (6 ½ " × 40") strips. From strips, cut 46 template D. — 2 (5" × 40") strips. From the strips, cut 24 template E. — 2 (5" × 40") strips. From the strips, cut 12…

Each improv Log Cabin-style block in this quilt adds depth and movement by using different values. Instead of the expected solid fabric to set off the block, the two different background colors boost the modern feel and give the quilt a checkerboard look. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. The Log Cabin-style blocks are made using improvisational piecing. Suggested fabric widths and strip quantities are listed—but it’s improv, so your needs may vary slightly. Trim strips as the blocks are created. From yellow, cut: — 2 (2 ½ ") squares. From dark blue, cut: — 1 (2 ½ ") square. From each of light orange and medium blue, cut: — 2 (2 ½ " × 20") strips. From each of medium orange, light blue, and pale blue, cut: —…

1. The shapes on paper piecing blocks are numbered. 2. Using fabric pieces that are larger than the numbered areas, place fabric 1 on the unprinted side of the paper, right side up. 3. Position fabric 2 on top of fabric 1, right sides facing and edges aligned. Make sure the edges of fabric 2 will extend at least ¼ " beyond the printed lines when pressed back into place. 4. With the paper on top, stitch directly on the pattern line between pieces 1 and 2, extending the stitching into the seam allowances at the end of the seams. 5. Press fabric 2 back. Fold the paper back along the stitched line and trim the seam allowance. 6. Continue to add pieces in numerical order. 7. Trim the excess…

Recently I had the honor and pleasure to be asked to join the panel of judges for QuiltCon 2018. I knew it would be an incredible learning experience, and for those of us that love nothing more than to geek out on all things quilt related, I relished the idea of spending three to four days talking about nothing but quilts! Traditionally quilts are judged on the perfection of technique over the maker’s creativity—complexity of quilting and piecing over simplicity, balance over imbalance—and I find that disappointing. The ‘standard’ seems to be about how well we conform rather than how well we break all the rules. As a maker, I have always felt that design is the most important attribute of a quilt. QuiltCon is different from other national shows…

5 helpful tips shared by our experts 1 Sewing machine maintenance matters Change your needle with every 8 hours of sewing, use the oil that comes with the machine, clean the lint regularly, and take it in for scheduled tune ups. 2 Do your best Even in improv work you want consistent seam allowances, pressing, and squaring up of blocks. 3 Relax about your quilting stitches Your quilting stitches will generally disappear on quilts made with heavily patterned fabric, so don’t stress too much about the quilting. 4 Leave your mark for future quilt owners Labels are important. It seems like a tedious step when you are ready to enjoy your quilts, but it is important to capture the story with the quilt so it is never lost. 5 Give…

Dash is the perfect blend of interesting and simple in a quilt. There are endless arrangements that can be made with the pieces—Amy hopes you have as much fun as she did exploring the possibilities! CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. During construction, press seams open. From white, cut: —27 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. From pale pink, cut: —15 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. From navy, cut: —15 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. —7 (2 ¼ " × 40") strips for binding. From peach, cut: —9 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. From mustard, cut: —6 (2 ½ " × 40") strips. QUILT ASSEMBLY 1. Using 6 strips in 2 colors (3 of each color) make the following 12 ½ "-wide strip sets. —5 white/pale…

A well-made binding will protect the edges of your quilt, add to the overall design, and make it last longer. The following technique is for creating a French-fold binding, also known as a double-fold binding. PREPARE THE BINDING 1. Measure the perimeter of your quilt and add approximately 24". The additional length will accommodate the mitered corners and the finished ends of the binding, and give you a few inches to spare. 2. Cut enough 2 ¼ "-wide strips to equal the desired length. 3. Join the strips together using diagonal seams. To do this, place two strips, right sides together at right angles. The area where the strips overlap forms a square. Sew diagonally across the square. Trim the excess fabric ¼ " from the seam line and press…

At a distance, this quilt reads as a large-scale, graphic Half-Square Triangle. A closer look reveals the seemingly complex construction to be an illusion. This quilt is crafted using basic Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) and strips of a single width. The fabrics help create the magic—from a single fat quarter collection, light to dark values of warm and cool colors create a glow as they radiate from the center. PLANNING 1. Divide the fat quarters into 11 warm and 11 cool colors. 2. Arrange each group from light to dark values. 3. Set aside the darkest warm and cool fat quarters for binding. Do not cut these into strips until instructed. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. From each fat quarter, cut: — 7 (21⁄8" × 21") strips. — 1…

Curved piecing is ubiquitous in modern quilts, but some quilters ignore it because they’ve avoided learning how to sew curves. Like many things, piecing curves takes a little practice. With these tips, you’ll soon be creating smooth curved seams like a pro! NOTE: These illustrations show the Drunkard’s Path block but these tips are true for all blocks with curved pieces. 1. Cut a convex quarter circle piece and a concave L-shaped piece from contrasting fabrics. Fold each piece in half. Finger press at the curved centers. 2. With right sides together and the L-shaped piece on top, align press marks and pin in the center of the block. 3. Pin the outside edges together with the straight edges matching. 4. You might find it necessary to add more pins…

Playing with shapes and varying their scale inspires Jen Sorenson. In this quilt, parallelograms are within other parallelograms at both full scale and at half size to create interest and depth. The end result is reminiscent of sunset on the granite mountaintops of Jen’s home state of New Hampshire. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Cut from the strips as you paper piece. Handle all cut bias edges carefully to avoid stretching. From mustard, cut: — 2 (2" × 20") strips. From each of light pink and medium pink, cut: — 2 (1 ½ " × 40") strips. — 1 (2 ¼ " × 40") strip. From each of light blue, dusty blue, and dusty purple, cut: — 3 (1 ¼ " × 40") strips. — 1 (2" ×…

Interstices are the areas between things, including negative space in a design—space that receives a lot of emphasis in modern quilting. Strips inserted into pieced blocks makes this quilt look complex, and yet is straightforward to construct. CUTTING Measurements include ¼ " seam allowances. Label pieces as they are cut. Sashing strips are exact length needed. You may want to make them longer to allow for piecing variations. From white, cut: — 7 (11¾ " × 40") strips. From the strips, cut 20 (11¾ ") squares. Cut each square diagonally in both directions to make 80 A triangles. — 5 (7 7⁄8" × 40") strips. From the strips, cut 24 (77⁄8") B squares. — 7 (3 ½ " × 40") strips for horizontal sashing. — 10 (2 ¼ " ×…