Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Makin' Honey from Bees 'n Blooms

KT Winner

Congrats to Carol Feye, you're the winner of a Bees 'n Blooms booklet. Please email your mailing address to Jamie at lynne@ktquilts.com. She'll send it out as soon as they're done in late Feb/early March. I'd love to see a picture of your hanging ornaments! Sounds very cool.

Vintage Hexs Made Easy

My love affair with quilts began many years ago when I slept under my Gramma's quilts. She only made three, as was the custom (and her Mother's requirement) for her hope chest. Her real love was rug hooking. I was lucky enough to receive one of the quilts she made as a young woman when I married. I loved that quilt - a double wedding ring with cheddar yellow background and scrappy 30's prints. We used it on our bed, washed it and loved it practically to death over the years. I took my first quilting class to reproduce the vintage quilts I was drawn to, but couldn't afford to purchase as a new wife/mom/student. My mission was to make new quilts that looked and felt like Gramma's. I was fortunate to take quilting classes from a shop owner that collected vintage quilts and totally got it. The traditional patterns and earthy fabrics she chose recreated the look I adored. Over the years, I've adapted and simplified those traditional blocks with my Layered Patchwork technique so I can make more vintage inspired quilts for everyone in my family. One of the latest challenges was this elongated hexagon quilt that I found at an antique show a couple years ago. It's been hanging in my studio ever since, whispering to me that there has to be a way....


After many unsuccessful attempts, the light bulb finally went on and I saw this design in it's simplest form - rectangles and triangles. The revelation was this isn't made as a single block, but in parts laid out in horizontal rows. By layering/topstitching triangles over the corners of large rectangles for one row and sewing matching skinny rectangles together in the alternating row, it creates the elongated hex I was craving. No inset seams and no raveling since the triangles are cut with the bias edge exposed. Hallelujah!


 The finished quilt made with a Layer CakeTM is modeled below by my grandaughter, Aleece. I'm totally in love with BOTH of them!

The mini version featuring a charm pack...
The pattern is called Makin' Honey because that's what bees do in their honeycomb. Both of these sizes plus a runner are included in the Bees 'n Blooms booklet (retail $15.95, available March 2016). My next project is to cut pieces from over 400 different KT fabrics to have a true charm hex quilt.

To receive a Bees 'n Blooms scrap bundle, comment here. Would you like to try this layered patchwork technique?



59 comments:

  1. Thank you for the opportunity to win, ofcourse I would try out this technique, love to learn new sewing techniques.
    Greetings,
    Sylvia

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  2. What a unique way to make elongated hexies. I usually paper piece, but I'd definitely give this a try. Thanks for the chance to win. Love your fabrics!

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  3. Yes, this layered pattern has definitely caught my attention. Thanks for a chance to win.

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  4. I'm always game for trying something new. Good luck on cutting from so many different fabrics for the charm quilt. Lots of work, but it will be awesome!

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  5. Wow, that makes it look so easy! It would be well worth a try. Thanks you for a chance to win!

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  6. I love this! I have tried your layered patchwork, great idea.

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  7. What a revelation you had! This makes it look easy.

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  8. This is a brilliant way to make this quilt - great idea!

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  9. Oh yes, I'd LOVE to try this new technique! You are so clever. :)

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  10. I would love to make this quilt. It would be beautiful in KTQ fabric !!

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  11. I would love to try this technique. Thanks for a chance.

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  12. Always willing to try something new.

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  13. I would love to try your new technique. I love both of your quilts. Like you my favourite quilts are those based on the old vintage styles.

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  14. This is great! Thanks for the opportunity for scraps.
    staceysrus at hotmail dot com

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  15. Another clever and creative way to make quilting piecing easier! Thank you, Lynne!

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  16. I love this quilt and would love to try your piecing method!

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  17. I've pieced many projects with your fabrics but haven't tried the layered technique yet. I'd love to give it go!

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  18. that is genius! I cant wait to try that technique - thanks so much

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  19. I have never tried your layered method but it looks like it would be quick and easy. I'd love it give it a go!

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  20. YES! I love to try new methods.

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  21. I'm always ready to try something new. This looks like a great way to use your layered method to make hexies. And thanks for the giveaway.

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  22. I would love to try this new technique!

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  23. What a beautiful, traditional-looking quilt! And, yes, I'd love to learn this technique!

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  24. Your quilts are beautiful! Your new technique looks like it would be so much easie, I would like to learn it.

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  25. Cannot wait to try this! I am absolutely obsessed with all of your fabric - cannot get enough!! It talks to my heart every time I see it <3 Thank you!!

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  26. I would love to try this method! Working on my first hexi project, I am thinking your method would be somewhat easier without all the seams!

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  27. Kansas Troubles is one of my favorite fabric lines, I love those earthy tones. I would be very interested in trying the hex technique! lots of bang for the buck! Jeannine aka j9knits

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  28. I'm definitely intrigued and would love to try this technique! I admit, I was hesitant at first but you've got me wanting to try; I love your "Makin' Honey"!

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  29. I would love to try this interesting technique. Thanks for a chance.

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  30. Your hexi quilts look lovely, this is something I'd definitely like to try my hand at (maybe the small version first)!

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  31. I would love to try it and I love the elongated hexi design-so clever!

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  32. What a good idea! Makes it look so much easier, would love to give it a try, thanks for the chance.

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  33. I do EPP when I travel or have to wait for long periods in a doctor's office. Your new technique is a welcome change-up to get the same results while trying to wear out my sewing machine all these many years. I love how you think. Thank you for this opportunity.

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  34. Would love to try this technique! Thanks for chance to win.

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  35. I love hexagons. I would love to try this technique.
    Tina

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  36. I love to try new patterns, and this is at the top of the list !!! Thank you !!!

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  37. I am in LOVE! Not only would I like to try this method of layered quilting, I am definitely going to be Makin' Honey! This is pure genius Lynne!

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  38. Would love to give it a try and I love the colors - so rich and vibrant.

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  39. Would love to give it a try and I love the colors - so rich and vibrant.

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  40. Yes, I love EEP, but this would be an awesome time saver--very clever!! I love the quilt!

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  41. For sure I would love trying this. I was just dreaming on a design that would look great in layered patch work.

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  42. My goal this year is to stretch my quilting techniques. This would be a great one and something I'd like to try. Thanks

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  43. Love the colors and would enjoy the scraps. I'm always interested in learning new things!

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  44. Congrats on figuring this one out!! I too took up quilting to replace the quilts my husband's mother made. They were used and washed often and starting to get holes in them. I wanted to learn how to quilt so I could make some to replace the ones we love so much before they became shreds. I never realized how quilting would change my life and introduce me to the wonderful ladies who have become my dear friends. As a new quilter I was always drawn to these fabrics that looked so warm and inviting. Every time I took a closer look I learned they were Kansas Troubles fabrics!

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  45. Thank you for figuring out the technique. I looked at the quilt and thought about how very difficult it looked. Your method makes it look much easier than I thought it would be. I would like to give it a go. I am always up for something new.

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  46. I would definitely like to make your Makin' Honey mini quilt and look forward to March so I can purchase the booklet.

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  47. I would love to try this. Would you have a class?
    Sharon@rainbowtel.net

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  48. Of course I would try this! Love your fabrics and the quilts you make to go with them!

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  49. The technique sounds simple enough and it looks great! Love the mini!

    Charlotte

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  50. I love it when a light bulb moment occurs. Would love a scrap bundle - love your fabric lines.

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  51. Would love to try this technique. A local beekeeper keeps bees on our property and so we now have some wonderful honey. This quilt would be a great gift to him.

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  52. Love Hexis and Bees and Blooms would make a lovely quilt.

    diremmer@gmail.com

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  53. Yes, I'd love to try this technique. It looks like it would be particularly good to use with small or mini quilts.

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  54. I love mini quilts and hexies. I'd be happy to try your technique. Your quilts are gorgeous.
    Have a nice week end.
    Ghislaine

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  55. Yes, I plan to try this in the new year.

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  56. have taken a course with you- love the technique and have made several of your patterns

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  57. I would love to learn this technique. I have two older KT kits that I don't want to open, but I better get them out for this technique. Thanks & happy holidays to you & yours.

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