Around the World Blog Hop

Scrappy disappearing 9 patch quilt in progress. Perhaps my next tutorial?

I've been anxious to start blogging again after taking some time off to focus on a family medical situation. When Karen of Badlands Quilts asked me to join the Around the World Blog Hop I knew this was my chance to jump back in. 

Karen and I met when the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild was just starting up. Karen has organized many of our group's challenges, block lotteries, and exchanges. Thanks to her efforts, I've sewn blocks I never would have tackled on my own. She's an intrepid quilter with an enormous range of techniques and styles. Do check out her blog if you aren't a follower/reader yet.

Wonky Stars quilt I made with the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild lottery blocks. Great idea, Karen.

And now to the questions...

1. What am I working on?

Basting! Everybody's favorite task, right? I have three quilts to baste, quilt, and bind. I absolutely positively will not start a new project until I tackle Mount Quilt Tops. Maybe.

I'm also working on warm, winter-friendly clothes for the kids. Here are some corduroy pants in progress for my 5 year old daughter. I used a bit of leftover bias quilt binding to face the inside of the front pockets for a fun little detail. 

FYI: the pants pattern is from Ottobre Design's Autumn 4/2012 issue. It's called "Forest Path." These pants are suitable for both boys and girls. I'll let you know how they turn out.

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I consider myself a modern quilter, but mostly I just love simplicity, bright colors, graphic prints, and contrast.

My "signature" style element seems to be teeny tiny sashing. Honestly, I love it so much that I have to actively avoid adding it to every quilt I make.

3. Why do I write/create what I do?

You know how it is. Sewing keeps me sane. It's tactile. It's useful. It's meditative. It's creative.

My Bella Roma quilt pattern - notice the tiny border.

When writing patterns and tutorials, I strive to create designs that are both accessible to new quilters but also appealing to seasoned sewists.

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

I like to start with graph paper and my trusty colored pencils. Once I come up with a design I like, I start making test blocks to determine scale. Finally, I use to EQ7 or iDraw to lay out the overall design.

I've discovered through trial and error that something I whip up on EQ or iDraw may look great on the screen, but looks like a hot mess when committed to fabric. For this reason, I always make lots of samples as I write patterns and tutorials. I typically make a minimum of three iterations of the same quilt or sewing project before I'm done. Do I get bored doing the same thing over and over again? Not really. The joy is in the process.

Tag - you're it!

Please check out Rebecca and Kristin as they join the Around the World Blog Hop on Monday, October 20th. These two talents are members of the Minneapolis Modern Quilt Guild.

Rebecca blogs at knittymama.com. As you can probably tell from the name, she frequently writes about knitting, and rightfully so. Rebecca is phenomenal with a pair of knitting needles, but she also does beautiful work with fabric. Her quilts are full of color and joy.

Kristin blogs at andchips.blogspot.com. She started sewing very recently, but you'd never know it. Kristin has a soft spot for softies, but she's an avid quilter as well. And talk about fearless with a needle and thread! Embroidery, paper piecing, applique? Yep, she does it all.


Happy sewing,
Annik

Buried Under a Pile of WIP's

Do you ever feel like you can't finish anything? That's how I've been feeling lately. My WIP pile is so large it's threatening to bury me alive. When I get stuck in one of these ruts I like to make (and finish) a really small project. Mug rug to the rescue!

I'm dying to finish up the Four's a Charm series, but I'm still getting to know my new sewing machine. Here she is. Isn't she a beauty?

It's been an adventure getting used to the thread cutter on the foot control, but I think I've got the hang of it now. I miss my 1/4" piecing foot on my Janome, but I'm sure the seam guide will start to feel second nature soon. So far I've pieced a placemat and a mug rug with the Juki. Then I did a straight line whole cloth quilt with one of my favorite fabric prints of all times. It's called "Around the World" by Alexander Henry. I found this piece in the remnants bin at Bolt in Portland, Oregon. I knew right away that I couldn't go home without it.

Last night I stayed up late meandering on this placemat -

This machine quilts so beautifully. The stitches are just so dang perfect!

This afternoon I practiced more complicated free motion stuff while my daughter napped. I clearly need some practice.

Please don't judge. I'm no expert.

I definitely see a few more mug rugs and placemats in my future before I hit the giant WIP pile.

If you need me, I'm buried under a pile of fabric.

Happy crafting,
-Annik

Another W.I.P. Wednesday

Let's start with a finished product, shall we? It always feels so good to complete a quilt.

An original design featuring "Swanky" prints by Moda. Backing is a Happier print by Riley Blake Designs

I opted to machine bind this quilt. While I prefer the look of a hand bound quilt, sometime you do what you gotta do. Have you ever used Wash Away Wonder Tape double sided adhesive tape? I love the stuff. I stuck my binding in place on the back side of the quilt, then snapped on my handy dandy Janome "S" foot and stitched in the ditch along the binding seam on the top side. It literally took less than five minutes to complete

Here's another WIP I'm working on -

I picked this up panel along with a bundle of coordinating fat quarters at the Robert Kaufman Sample Spree table at Spring 2010 Quilt Market. I added the midnight blue Carolina Chambray border and dotty cornerstones just to give it a little something extra. Sadly, Treadle Yard Goods, informed me that Robert Kaufman has essentially discontinued the vast majority of Carolina Chambray. Stock up if you see any because it's absolutely wonderful.

Now that the quilting is done I hope to get the binding on before the end of the day, children permitting.

Here's my last sneak peek. It's Sherbet Pips!

Please let my package full of backing and binding arrive today. I've been waiting ever so patiently.

Happy sewing,
Annik