Monday, March 7, 2016

Bees 'n Blooms, Part 2

KT Winner

Congratulations to Jackie Papallo. She's the winner of our Bees 'n Blooms book and KT Melon Template.

I love applique. I admit, I always use fusible and do a raw edge applique. I really enjoy using a decorative machine stitch to finish off my pieces.

Please send your mailing address to Jamie at lynne@ktquilts.com. We'll send your goodies right out.

Bees 'n Blooms - Makin' Honey

One of the best parts of my job as a fabric designer is traveling to antique stores/shows to find vintage fabrics for the prints in my collections. It's a tough gig, but I suffer through! :). When I find an antique quilt with dozens of great prints, it's a real find. But when the quilt is something I fall madly in love with - SCORE! I'm drawn to vintage hexagon quilts, probably because I'll never English Paper Piece one - EVER - in my lifetime. So, I buy antique hex quilts to hang on the ladder in my sewing room for inspiration. This elongated hex called my name and made me ponder the possibility of piecing it with my layered patchwork technique. Hmmmm. The gray matter was in overdrive. Then, in the middle of an episode of Fixer Upper (don't you just love that show?), it hit me that this could be accomplished with simple rectangles and triangles. Holy Stitches! It might just work!

The inspiration Hexagon quilt.

My version of the honeycomb blocks using layered patchwork, Makin' Honey.

Makin' Honey Mini using a charm pack of Bees 'n Blooms.

By looking at the hexs as rows of large vertical rectangles with triangles stitched onto the corners, and alternating rows of smaller horizontal rectangles, it all came together. Here's what the back of the quilt looks like. So easy!



To celebrate Bees 'n Blooms and our Makin' Honey projects, we'll give away another Bees 'n Blooms book plus a pile of scraps to get you started making this quilt. Comment here about whatever strikes your fancy today. I'll be reading each and every comment.

A Mountain Quiltfest

Robert and I are heading south to Pigeon Forge, TN for a week of classes at A Mountain Quiltfest. I've heard so many good things about this show, I can't wait to check it out. If you're in the area, please stop by my classroom and say "Hi!" There might be a few spots left in the workshops if you want to hang out for a while.

48 comments:

  1. You are sew clever... wish my mind worked like yours.

    Thanks for a chance and thanks for sharing.

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  2. I love this little block. I made a tablecloth quilt and two table mats with it using a country church template from Country Threads. It was all hand pieced...took a lot longer than your great idea here!

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  3. Love the new way of doing hexies!! I have stayed away from them because they are intimidating but will certainly look forward to trying your way! Thanks as always for the give away

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  4. There is a lot of great hiking around Pigeon Forge if you have time to do some exploring.

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  5. Welcome to Tennessee, I live in Knoxville, just next door to PF and hope y'all enjoy our peaceful mountains. Looking forward to a chance to meet you that week. My sister and I always stay the week at the Christmas Inn. We are on a cancellation list for your dinner and trunk show. We don't want others to miss meeting you, but... we deep down really want to attend. Robin

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    1. I hope it works out - for both of us! Stop by my classroom some afternoon anyway.

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  6. Welcome to Tennessee, I live in Knoxville, just next door to PF and hope y'all enjoy our peaceful mountains. Looking forward to a chance to meet you that week. My sister and I always stay the week at the Christmas Inn. We are on a cancellation list for your dinner and trunk show. We don't want others to miss meeting you, but... we deep down really want to attend. Robin

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  7. Welcome to Tennessee, I live in Knoxville, just next door to PF and hope y'all enjoy our peaceful mountains. Looking forward to a chance to meet you that week. My sister and I always stay the week at the Christmas Inn. We are on a cancellation list for your dinner and trunk show. We don't want others to miss meeting you, but... we deep down really want to attend. Robin

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  8. As I went to sit down at church last Sunday, I noticed a flying insect that have a stinger on the bench. Those who saw wanted me to kill it, but I couldn't. I want to create a Makin Homey mini as a way to remember that without bees, we wouldn't have the sweetness of honey.

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  9. You will love the Quiltfest next week. I go every year with my best friend. We usually spend a couple days there. I will be sure to look for you!

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  10. Your hexie tops are so cute! I doubt, too, that I'll ever make a "real" one. Yours look so much easier, and I think I could follow the pattern. Have a great week in Pigeon Forge.

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  11. Your hexie tops are so cute! I doubt, too, that I'll ever make a "real" one. Yours look so much easier, and I think I could follow the pattern. Have a great week in Pigeon Forge.

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  12. Now this looks like it is right up my alley! I've tried English paper piecing and it isn't for me!! I can do this!!

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  13. I also will never paper piece a hexagon quilt. I love how you did yours those & I see one in my future.

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  14. can't do hand work like I use to. Arthritis(spelling?) anyway, your methods make things easy. Thanks!

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  15. I love the hexagon quilts also. I have made one all hand pieced but do not have it finished. I can't decide how to quilt it. Thanks for wonderful giveaway.

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  16. I like your honeycomb blocks and would like to try working with the. Thanks!

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  17. You are amazing Lynne! I can't wait to see you again this fall and drool over all of your beautiful quilts. I would love to try this pattern. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  18. I love your web site. I have been collecting scraps so I can make a quilt like this (not the same pattern) but the colors are dark, and deep they are starting to draw me in. I already have a one gallon bag with strips that are 4 x 8 inch being the biggest. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  19. This one is blowing my mind. I love to look at quilts and figure out how they are pieced before looking at the instructions. I can not figure this one out once I looked at the picture of the back. Really ? Easy ? If I never make this quilt I sure do want to know how ! But of course, it sure would be a wonderful stash busting project !

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  20. I really like the way you can simplify a quilt block and just make it seem do-able, even for someone like me. Love your scrappy hexagon quilts.

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  21. All I can say is WOW. What a great idea. I don't have the patience to make a hexie quilt the regular way, so this is just up my alley! One of my prize possessions is a flower garden quilt that my mother pieced and quilted. It's beautiful.

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  22. This looks like a great way to use up some scraps--love it!

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  23. Love your methods of making the difficult easy, just finished your MC Stitch with me, and I love it, thanks.

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  24. Love this idea especially since I am working on some English paper piecing. Excited to be heading to Dallas tomorrow to see family and enjoy some warmer temps. Enjoy your trip.

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  25. In the Pacific Northwest, Spring has been appearing early with lots of blooms; however, when in the garden pulling weeds yesterday, I did not see any bees. Perhaps it's still a bit cold for them to leave the hive. Love the layered quilt technique you use!!

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  26. I must have missed your directions for making the hexies. looks exciting!

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  27. I can't wait to try your technique for making hexies! I have carpal tunnel so badly that I'm afraid my hand piecing days are over. Thank you for being so creative!

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  28. I really enjoy your blog you have such great ideas. As a person who does longarm quilting for friends, I would like to stress the importance of measuring your quilt and cut your borders to that length instead of just sewing a strip on and them cutting it off each end. I have trouble with quilting the border without having tiny tucks. Just a thought. Thanks.

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  29. Once again you have inspired me to try your hexie method. I love all your collections and am looking forward to making this mini. Thanks for being my favorite designer and instructor.

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  30. I love the back of your little mini! I'm currently joining the scrap quilt challenge from 1/4 inch mark and this totally inspires me how to make my scrappy quilt!

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  31. I am loving me some hexies and these look wonderful and easy!! I need the book! Thanks for the chance!

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  32. I can't wait to read what your layered technique is. What a clever way to redesign and old fav.

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  33. I love your Makin' Honey Mini using a charm pack of Bees 'n Blooms. Love the colors and design. I've attended the quiltfest for the last few years and you will really enjoy it!!!

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  34. As always I love KT colors--so beautiful! I've been to Pigeon Forge when our daughter was playing tournament softball. Interesting and busy place.

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  35. This might be the way for me to actually make a hexie quilt. So many ideas from you this spring; I can't keep up,

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  36. I'm loving your blog. I am just getting back into quilting after a few years. Can't wait to get back to the machine and rebuild my stash. Thanks for your wonderful ideas.

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  37. I'm so glad there is a quilt designer like you that thinks outside the box! I'm not fond of paper piecing and such, and so your techniques come in handy! Have fun in TN. It's a gorgeous state!

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  38. What a great idea. I too love hexies but doubt I would stay with the project long enough to finish it. Maybe a mini but then I think of my Grandma's Flower garden, ongoing for longer than I can remember and quail at even starting. This would be magic. Thanks.

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  39. Have fun in TN - it sounds like a fun time. thank you!

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  40. Have fun in Pigeon Forge with your classes. I know that the lucky quilters are going to enjoy them. Love the honeycomb and can see one in my future.

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  41. Have fun in Pigeon Forge with your classes. I know that the lucky quilters are going to enjoy them. Love the honeycomb and can see one in my future.

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  42. Great Idea.Makes sense and looks good.

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  43. Would love to try the Makin' Honey layered patchwork project. Just used some of my Bees 'n Blooms collector club fabrics to make a crazy patch table runner project at our local guild meeting. Love the new fabric line! :o)

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  44. I just love the names of your fabrics, Sunflower Song, Bees N Blooms, etc.. I really like this new elongated hexagon. Looks like it would be fun to piece together to.

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  45. Love the Makin' Honey projects; I'd especially love to get some of your scraps :) Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

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