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.