Sunday, February 19, 2017

Thistle Farm Preview #2

KT Winner

Dang, dang, double dang! I tried to shortcut this week's post by starting with last week's to cut/paste and totally lost it all! In the process, I lost all of your comments, too, so I can't select a winner this week. Pleeeaaase excuse my techo-ignorance. Comment again below and I'll give away the Thistle Farm charm pack along with this week's giveaway.

Blockheads

Only a couple more weeks to prepare for our Moda Blockheads Block-of-the-Week. It's time to gather your fabrics - order a KT Starter Pack, check out the other Moda designers' starter pack options and dig into your scraps for the perfect complimentary pieces for our 6" blocks. Please comment with any questions you have and I'll reply through the weekly Wednesday posts.

Thistle Farm

I have friends who trace and cut out tumbler blocks by hand while watching TV or traveling in the car, accumulating blocks for a future quilt project. I thought, there has to be an easier way make a scrappy tumbler quilt. Of course there is with my layered patchwork technique! I've simplified a traditional tumbler block and used it to create these darling thistle flowers in our Thistle Farm booklet.

First, I cut a square plus 2 rectangles for each flower. The rectangles are cut diagonally, as shown, to create 2 triangles each.



Then, I layered a purple triangle (one from each cut rectangle) on a tan background on either side of the flower square. Topstitch 1/8" from the bias edge of each purple triangle, sew the parts together and you have a super easy thistle flower.




Blocks for Thistlewood table topper, below.


The leaves are made with our small KT Diamond Template, which happens to be the February Special (all KT Templates 25% off). The spiky thistle tops are created while quilting with zigzag stitching in matching Aurifil thread - Purple #2570, Gold #2335, Red #2460, Green #5013. I'm thinking it might be a good time for a sale on purple (all) thread! Watch for our March Special in a few weeks.

Here are the Thistle Farm projects using these blocks:

Thistle Farm 70"x88" lap quilt - start with a Jelly Roll

Thistledown 40" sq. table topper - center utilizes a charm pack

Milk Thistle Runner 22"z50" - charm pack easy
Next week, I'll share the tumbler quilts included in the Thistle Farm booklet using this technique.

Comment this week with any questions you may have about the upcoming Moda Blockheads Block-of-the-Week series beginning March 8th. Or, anything else you have on your mind. You could win a Thistle Farm booklet this week. See you Wednesday!


75 comments:

  1. Best thistle patch I have ever seen!!

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  2. I love thistle flowers. Their purple color is lovely! But I also love that their fuzz, when the flower goes to seed, is used by hummingbirds to help create those teeny, tiny nests! After I learned this, I never pull up thistles from my gardens!

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  3. What a cute runner. I agree the thistles are nicer than the ones I encounter in the garden.

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  4. I love thistle flowers and this will be a perfect gift to make for my friend who is of Scottish descent.

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  5. Love Thistle Flowers! Thank You for sharing!
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  6. I'm so excited to start the Moda Blocks! My fabric came in the mail today! It starts on my birthday, so I won't forget!

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  7. Cute thistle flowers! There are some that bloom across the tracks from the metro I catch on the way home. They draw the prettiest birds when they are in bloom!
    Sandy A

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  8. Do we need the starter packs from each designer? Love the idea of block heads. I hope I get my plate emptied in time to participate! Thanks for your hard work in organizing the sew along.

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    1. The Starter Packs are not required. It's a fun way to gather a sampling of the designer's fabrics to mix together in the blocks. Use your stash, add some more! Post your blocks on FB with #modablockheads. We'd love to see them.

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  9. I received the KT starter pack for the Blockheads. The fabric patterns/colors are wonderful. I'm ready to start!

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  10. I've been waiting for Thistle Farm to arrive in the stores. The fabric is wonderful and just love the name!

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  11. My starter pack came yesterday and I LOVE every single piece of fabric in that pack! Thanks! Can't wait for March 8th!

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  12. Love the thistle would love to see that then the snow we got...lol.. happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  13. Love the thistle would love to see that then the snow we got...lol.. happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  14. Happy Anniversary. You celebrated just like my husband and I would celebrate. Love those quiet nights at home. Thanks for the cute giveaway.

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  15. Those thistles would be welcomed in my home - as long as they stay out of the yard. Love the purple fabrics in the new line.

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  16. I am so excited about the blockheads - but where do I find the time!

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  17. I am looking forward to the blockheads starting. I think this is going to be fun.

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  18. You had me at "thistle". They are so pretty, but oh so stickery. My husband works hard to keep them out of the pastures, and I understand why, but it's still hard to chop them out. They still grow along roadsides and in woodlands. The blackheads sounds like a great project for my KT fabric stash.

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  19. Do you have to have to purchase the diamond template for this pattern, or can we make the project with paper templates? Thank you for the inspiration!

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    1. Janie,
      I always include the drawn template for the project in the pattern. The templates are optional. Thanks for your question.

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  20. Love thistles and the beautiful colors your fabrics!

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  21. The BOTW series sounds like great fun! I can't wait to start! Thank you for sharing your quilting wisdom with us!!!

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  22. Looking forward to the Blockheads - I've told my guild about it!
    basaran.family@rogers.com

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  23. Those thistles are pretty cute, although I have to admit I'm not so crazy about them popping up in my garden! Happy Valentine's Day!

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  24. Thank you for creating something so different with the Thistles. Looking forward to March 8!

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  25. as usual, I love the colors and would love the thistle farm charm group. Pick me, Pick me!!

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  26. Luv the thistles and how they almost look easy to stitch. Want to be part of new block o month but not sure yet what colors, your's look the best sew hope you get more gathered and happy anniversary, thanks sew for chance to win!

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  27. I like the name "Blockheads." It reminds me of Charlie Brown!

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  28. What a cute idea! I love the Thistle Patch design. Happy anniversary to you and Robert!

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  29. What a cute and creative pattern using your new Thistle fabric line. Looking forward to the Moda Blockhead project. The name reminds me of my childhood and my brothers!

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  30. Happy Anniversary! 30 years that's amazing! Can't wait for your 'Blockheads' to release the first pattern I know it'll be fantastic:-)

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  31. Happy Anniversary to you! Our 25th is on March 7th. Can't wait for my fabric to arrive and am really looking forward to this fun Blockhead sew along. The Thistle pattern is darling!

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  32. Congratulations on your anniversary. We just celebrated our 25th, we simply went out to eat breakfast, then spent some time at two cemetery's looking and taking pictures. I know weird, but we are simple people who just like to spend time together, just like you said. Now both our birthdays are this month. Thanks for all the fun.

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  33. Love thistles, what a great theme for a fabric line. Can't wait to see it!!

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  34. I'm anxious for Blockhead to begin! Your thistles are adorable.

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  35. What a cute idea! I just never think of thistles as flowers unless it is in connection with Scotland.

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  36. Your thistle patch runner is very cute.

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  37. Beautiful! I always love your projects. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  38. I look forward to the BOW. Will there be setting ideas?

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  39. Hi Lynne, I just love the thistles! I think the use of the zig zag to make the tops is brilliant! I'm wondering for us overseas folks if it will be hard to participate in Blockheads (getting our packages on time to participate, etc.). We have an APO address, so it'still USPS, but once it's out of USPS and into the hands of the MPS (Military), our packages can take a while to arrive if not sent Priority. Thank you for your blog, and answering all of our questions! You're a blessing to the quilting community. :)

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  40. Looking forward to Blockheads starting.. Do we have subscribe to all the blogs or is just one okay for getting all the patterns?

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    1. It's easiest to subscribe to each designer's blogs (see Wednesdays post)but I'll have links to each designer of the week right here, too.

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  41. I am calling Jamie today to order my starter kit. I think my friend and I are going to do it together. I need the diamond templates too..... Are the other designers offering a stater pack as well? This should be fun, fun, fun!

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  42. Love the thistles and looking forward to the block of the week!

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  43. Thank You for your Creativity!!!!

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  44. My question last week was, do we need a starter kit from each designer? Love your new fabric. I am contemplating a scrappy quilt using my KT collection. Just waiting till I get works in progress finished so I don't have too many projects going at a time.

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    1. Starter Packs are not required to participate. It's just a fun way to gather a bit of everyone's fabrics. All patterns are free to download on the designer's blogs.

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  45. I'm following the blogs of all the Moda designers in the Blockheads BOW so I don't miss a thing! I really like all of the Thistle Farm designs too!

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  46. The thistles are always such a beautiful color. Of course we spend hours each year eradicating them from our pastures--bittersweet for me, because they are so pretty--still, I understand. I love your thistle farm--I can keep those on our farm!

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  47. Your thistles are lovely--much more so than the ones I pull out of our garden every year. I can't wait for the Blockheads BOW!

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  48. Love the names you come up with each fabric line. It must be hard to decide on a name for each. I really like the Thistle block. It looks so easy to make.

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  49. I cannot wait for the Blockheads Bow I know it will turn out Beautiful!

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  50. Thistles are so pretty but such a pain unless they are pieced and quilted. In that case they are wonderful. I'm looking forward to the Blockheads BOM and seeing what fun designs everyone is going to present.

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  51. I really like your thistles - unlike the ones we get in our pasture. Will there be appliqué, layered piecing and regular piecing in the Blickheads BOM?

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  52. Thistle Farm - how pretty!! Thanks!!

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  53. I'm so ready for the Blockhead BOW! I received my fabric and am now waiting patiently. It starts on my birthday, so I will have a super fun day! I can't wait for Thistle farms!

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  54. I do like the Thistle Runner. I am looking to making the Blockheads BOW. I love the darker color fabrics.

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  55. Just got my KT starter pack for Blockheads. There are wonderful fabrics in it! I'm super excited about this BOW. I hope I can keep up.

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  56. I like all the thistle projects from your Thistle Farm book. Especially like them better than the thistles we used to get in our yard. Pretty to look at, but also invasive and great at reproducing. Looking forward to the Blockhead BOW.

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  57. Just found this and LOVE the Thistle Runner ... have a good friend in Scotland who would LOVE something in their national flower ;-) Linda Canends@Hotmail.com

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  58. Your project is beautiful! Sorry about techy burp, I think lots of folks can relate, I know I can.

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  59. Who hasn't had a techno bump like that! Was there screaming involved? Love ❤️ your Thistle flowers.

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  60. What a clever idea for making your thistle flowers. They look amazing in your quilt designs. Count me in! Thanks

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  61. Your thistles are much gentler than the ones I had to pull as a kid in our pastures. Clever and fun piecing

    Jane Modjeski

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  62. How long will the block instructions be available? Will they be posted the entire time or be taken down each week?

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  63. LOVE the way you created your thistle blocks!!! You're a genius when it comes to creating quilts! :D

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  64. I really enjoyed your thistle blocks.They look better then the snow I"m looking at...lol

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  65. I really enjoyed your thistle blocks.They look better then the snow I"m looking at...lol

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  66. You are a genius. Love how you can simplify such an awesome block.

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  67. This is so beautiful! Now I want to make some!

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