Tuesday, January 18, 2011

A New Year, A New Project

First of all, congratulations to Sarah for winning the Warm Memories scrap bag. It has magically turned into a fat 1/8 bundle since I can't find the pile of scraps I "put away" for the giveaway. I realized I had posted the wrong date (Jan. 23 instead of Jan. 16) - guess I just gained a week! So, we need another giveaway for this weeek. How about a KTQ tin with 4 mini (2 1/2" sq.) charm packs including Perennials, KT Favorites, Warm Memories and Summer's End? Each of the ladies on the cruise next week will get one, too, so you can pretend you're sailing with us to the Bahamas. Post here between now and Monday Jan. 24th (my Mom's 77th birthday) to win.

Now, for our latest project. One of my "plans" each January is to start a quilt I can work on throughout the year to finish by Christmas. Lois and I both loved making the KT Favorites BOM quilt, digging thru all the past KT fabrics. I actually cracked open a couple of fat quarter bundles I've been saving to steal the perfect piece for a block or two. In doing that, we decided I probably didn't need to save a fat quarter of everything I've ever designed - maybe a fat 1/8 would be just fine. So, we spent part of our sewing days taking 33 fat quarter bundles apart and cutting a fat 1/8 (for prosterity), a 5" x 22" strip, a 2 1/2" x 22" strip and a 1 1/2" x 22" strips. This would allow for alot of scrappy options later. But all those strips were calling to me - make a quilt, make a quilt. Yes! A quilt using all the fabric lines to date - one collection in each block to make a king size quilt for our bed. Lois was all for it! We both searched and searched over the holidays in magazines and books, trying to find the perfect block to showcase 40 prints from each line. Our favorite was Granny Squares by Lissa Alexander of Moda in the October 2010 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine based on a knitted afgan - gorgeous. But as any designer knows, if you're going to take that much time to make a quilt, it might as well be an original design to sell the pattern. I loved the idea of using 1" finished squares to use as many prints as possible in each block, but didn't want to have to use so much fabric in the sashings. After several attempts, we got the blocks worked out yesterday - and I love it! From each fabric collection of 40 - 1 1/2" x 22" strips, we can make 2 blocks - one light, one dark. With 36 blocks that finish 12" each, we'll be on our way to a wonderful memory of the first 10 years of KT fabric for Moda. Keep watching for peeks of our progress as the months roll by. We're planning to have the pattern out for fall market.

53 comments:

  1. Thank you for letting me pretend I am sailing to someplace warm! Looking forward to seeing how all the blocks turn out. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  2. Ohhhh...I can't wait to see peeks of the new project - it sounds incredible! Congratulations to Sarah, too! And thanks for the opportunity to "virtually" sail on the cruise with everyone (and the giveaway)! Happy birthday to your mom as well(mine is the day after hers)!
    Cheers!

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  3. I love your fabrics. Thanks for the chance to win some!

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  4. Just joined KT stash club, would love to win some to add to my stash, great pattern in January and can't wait to get the February baskets. Enjoy your cruise, I am sure your students will.

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  5. I can dream about the cruise and wish about it. Thank you for the opportunity to share a tin.
    Mary

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  6. I'd love to pretend I'm on your cruise if I win the tin. Thanks for the offer. Kathie L in Allentown

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  7. Your Bahamas cruise sounds enjoyable. Enjoy yourself with some fun in the sun. Thanks for another great giveaway.

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  8. I'm Sarah!! Thank you so much. I was so excited when I saw your e-mail! I also love the granny squares quilt and can't wait to see your version.
    Thanks again. Made my day!

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  9. I love those fabrics, on my wish list.
    Can't wait to see what you make for your Christmas quilt.
    I am going to do the same thing, but using hexagons. That way I can do hand sewing at night or on trips and have it done for next year. I am going to try diamonds on this one with red, green and tans.

    Debbie

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  10. Oh my gosh those blocks just say MAKE ME!! Love what you are doing here and wish I was cruising along with you all :( I need a cruise right about now! January blahs...hate'em!

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  11. Love the blocks on this new blog.
    I also wish I was going on the curise.

    Keep quilting
    Barb/VT

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  12. I will gladly accept the thought of sailing to the Bahamas with you, since we're supposed to get 7" of snow tomorrow. Love the blocks, can't wait to see more. Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

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  13. Have fun on your cruise! What a great time to get away. The blocks are lovely - looking forward to seeing more.

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  14. Lovely blocks! Enjoy the Caribbean - sounds like a lot of fun.

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  15. Thanks for the giveaway! Can't wait to see what's in KT Attic.

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  16. Love the quilt in your blog header. Enjoy reading your posts

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  17. I'd rather be ON the cruise than pretending, LOL, but I'm good at pretending. :-) Love the header blocks! Thanks for the fun!

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  18. Ah, I feel the warm gentle ocean breeze on my face!.... Oh, wait - that's the space heater turned on full blast. Wish I could go on that nice warm cruise. Sounds like fun! Would love to win the tin! HUGS... and stitches

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  19. I'm going on a virtual cruise too should I win your giveaway. Your new quilt design sounds wonderful (you are making one for each of you, right?) Would enjoy making a small min. with the tin should I win. Happy birthday to your mother. Mine turns 80 on Feb 11.

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  20. A cruise...I'm jealous. Well, if I can't go on a cruise, maybe I can win a tin!

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  21. OH GOODY!! I'll be on the cruise with you and canNOT WAIT!! It's ALMOST TIME!! Guess I shouldn't enter the giveaway but I'm gonna anyway! LOL CYA SOON!!

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  22. Wow what an incredible undertaking. This will be a wonderful quilt to see, and dream about. Thanks for inviting us along on the cruise, at least cyberly :-)

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  23. A cruise. I'm jealous. We are getting snow and sleet here. Have fun!

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  24. I would love to imagine that I'm on a cruise with you to the Bahamas. Especially after last night's ice storm!

    The new quilt design sounds wonderful and I can't wait to see progress pics. :-)

    Cynthia

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  25. I'd love to pretend that I'm on a cruise:) Your new quilt with strips from all your fabric lines sounds wonderful. Look forward to seeing blocks and your final quilt. Take care!

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  26. I would love to be on that cruise with you enjoying quilty friends and soaking in some sun. We are very cold here in Northern New England right now so that warm air would be just wonderful on my face.
    Can't wait to see your new quilt, it sounds great! Thanks for another chance to win.

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  27. Wish I was going on the cruise with you! The new blocks sound great.

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  28. Love the new block! A cruise sounds great, enjoy your trip!

    Thanks for the chance to win.

    Char S.

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  29. Gee, you wouldn't have to make it a Bahamas cruise! Anyplace above 0 would be an improvement and fine with me...doesn't have to be tropical :). Enjoy!

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  30. I wish I could be on that cruise, but I would be happy with some lovely KT fabric! Happy Birthday to your Mom.

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  31. Love the block. Thanks for another chance to win!

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  32. Love your idea for the scrappy quilt! Thanks so much for the chance to win and have a great time on your trip!

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  33. That would be great going on a cruise right now, since we are getting snow again. I'm taking the next few days off to work on a couple projects, so warm weather would be great.

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  34. Your new scrappy quilt sounds marvelous. Can't wait to see the finished product. Thanks for the chance to win some of your fabrics.

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  35. Lynne, Wish I was going cruising with you. Still enjoy thinking and looking at pics of Quilt Camo Orkila. Such fun! Now that my computer is up and running again will enjoy blogging with you. Hi to Robert and enjoy the cruise. Susan Butler

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  36. That is a really great way to have all your hard design work in one place to pet and play with!

    Thanks for the chance to win the squares kit!

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  37. Where do we find instructions for the raw edge applique hunters star? I love it and I also own that ruler for the hunters star and "it ain't so easy"! And thanks for the give-away. I hope I win!!!

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  38. I love your scrappy block and the fabrics, beautiful! Oh to be in the Bahamas,that would be great, too.

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  39. Enjoy the cruise while I watch snow fall outside my window. LOL Just love your blocks you two made. Can't wait to see the whole pattern later this year. Thanks for a chance at your giveaway, too.

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  40. Love the block, Lynne! It's the perfect thing to showcase 10 years of beautiful KTQ fabric. Love the light and dark versions which will be stunning set together in the quilt. I'll be watching your progress. You were so brave to cut into your fat quarter bundles. I don't know if I could!

    Bring some Bahama sunshine and warmth back home to the midwest please!

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  41. Yesterday I saw the perennial line ..... Love it! Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  42. We had our first ice storm today in Oklahoma
    Great fabric I like the dark fabric

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  43. I love the new blocks you've created. I will look forward to making them as one of my many future KT projects.

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  44. Wish I could join you, have a wonderful time!

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  45. A cruise sounds wonderful, especially looking out at the snow we have here. Thanks for the chance to win some of your great things!

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  46. Tell your mom Happy Birthday for me. I hope she is in good health (my mom is not so much right now), What mag is the granny square quilt in?

    Add me to your list of chances to win :)

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  47. Love the scrappy blocks! Thanks for providing the giveaway!

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  48. thank you for the chance to win some of your fabric......love them. Tell your mom happy
    birthday for me. She is 5 ahead of me...lol

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  49. Happy Birthday to your Mom -- Hope she is cruising with you. Would love to win the tin.

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  50. Hope you are enjoying your cruise! I cannot wait to see the new pattern-I have collected over 800 KT fabrics over the years and am waiting for just the right pattern for them!!

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  51. I love your blog and would love to win.
    Paula

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  52. A cruise sounds wonderful especially since we just got 8-10 inches of new snow this week. Hope you have a good time. Would love to win the tin with the mini charm packs and add to my KT stash.

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