Thursday, March 17, 2011

Charming Thursday IV - Quilt Connection

Kansas/Oregon Quilt Connection was the 4th in my Quilter's Journal series of quilts/stories and my 4th fabric collection for Moda. One of my favorite prints is the large maple leaf tone-on-tone that is now part of our KT Favorites line as 108" wide backing in several colors. I enjoy piecing the back of a quilt to match/coordinate with the front, but that doesn't happen very often anymore given time restraints. Do you like/use wide backing for your quilts? If you haven't tried,you're missing out. You don't have to figure out how to piece the back and, at just $16/yd., it's a bargain! Check it out on our website at ktquilts.com.

Included in Quilt Connection are about 10 bonus projects using the blocks from the quilt - the quilt on the Murphy bed and the runner are 2 of them. The pillow is from Perennials.

Lois and I just returned from our trip to Glen Carbon, IL's TNT Quilt Guild - what a warm, energetic group of women. We enjoyed meeting them all and appreciated their invitation to visit their guild. I also met Carol, the owner of Sweet Annie's quilt shop in Troy, who evidently has a corner of her store dedicated to KT and isn't in a big hurry to sell it! We had a little discussion about the merits of that philosophy as a retailer, but she insisted selling it wasn't a priority, just having it all was satisfaction enough. Ya gotta love it! My goal is to get quilters into her shop so she will start sharing her booty through our KT Stash Society. Visit Carol's shop if you're in the area and convince her to share her KT fabrics with you, too.

We also did a little antique shopping along the way. Check back for some an update on some of the goodies we found.
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37 comments:

  1. krisgrayMarch 17, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    I hope to visit Sweet Annie's next weekend for the local shop hop. Maybe she have a booth at the local quilt show this weekend.

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  2. WendyMarch 17, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    I really like to use wide backings on my quilt and glad to hear ktquilts.com has them. Thank you :) I sure hope that if you're ever in the Western Montana/ Eastern Washington area I find out so I can hear you teach ... your patterns and designs are wonderful and what a really neat history of quilt patterns you have!

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  3. All8March 17, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    I prefer wide backings. They make it easier on me because it's one less thing to worry about. Can't wait to see pictures of your new antiques.

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  4. BeckyjeanMarch 17, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    I use to prefer the wide backing on my quilts. I love anything that makes quilting a little easier, and wide backing is one thing that makes quilting easier for me.

    Can't wait to see the new goodies you found at the antique shop.

    Have a wonderful day~Becky

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  5. MaryMarch 17, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    The Quilt Connection charm pack looks yummy. I do like wide backs. So much easier to deal with than piecing stuff together to make it fit. Sounds like you had a fun trip.

    Best wishes,
    Mary

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  6. Kathy ... aka NanaMarch 17, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    Sweet Annie's is my mostest favoritest quilt shop. Doesn't hurt that it's just 5 minutes from my house. It was where I was introduced to KT fabrics! ;-)

    I insist on wide fabrics for my quilt backings. I hand quilt, and I don't want to have to deal with seams on the backing.

    Enjoyed your quilts Tuesday night ... so glad that I've found your blog and your website!

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  7. MichaelMarch 17, 2011 at 12:14 PM

    Such beautiful fabric (as usual)!

    I'm really new to quilting (beyond simple rag quilting), so I've never used a wide backing fabric, but I can definitely see how it could make life a lot easier. (Something to keep in mind for future projects.)

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  8. Sandie @ crazy'boutquiltsMarch 17, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Love wide backings! Sometimes I still like to piece the back though, ;-) Can't wait to see your newest antiques!

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  9. MaryMarch 17, 2011 at 1:33 PM

    I love the wide backings. A lot of my friends like to piece their leftovers from a quilt into the back, which is okay, but I just like to have it all in one piece. Besides, I like to have those leftover scraps to play with.

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  10. Elaine S.March 17, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    I haven't used any wide backing fabric, but I have many yards of your fabric to piece for backing.....:). Thanks for all your hard work!

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  11. SarahMarch 17, 2011 at 2:40 PM

    I'm going to have to start using the wide backing - so much easier than trying to piece the back and have it line up properly with the front while I quilt.
    I love the purple quilt on the bed!

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  12. Me and My StitchesMarch 17, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    The wide backings are nice, and there a lot more to choose from now than there used to be.

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  13. AnnetteMarch 17, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    I've used the wide backings a few times, they are definitely easier than piecing! And I am totally in love with that As the Wind Blows purple quilt!

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  14. ShelleyMarch 17, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    lol! I love that the shop owner wasn't in a hurry to sell those fabrics!! I can totally relate..I often take a second or two each day just to "caress" the bolts in our shop!

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  15. Nancy EMarch 17, 2011 at 5:21 PM

    I love using the KT wide backings. I am so glad you did leaf prints as wide backings. They are great!

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  16. vtquilterMarch 17, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    I am ready to win the next Thursday drawing. The luck of the Irish did not work this week.
    Always need more KT Fabric.

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  17. Marcia W.March 17, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    I like to use wide backings for my bed quilts to make it easier to hand quilt. If cannot find fabric that "goes" with the top, then default to wide good quality muslin. Thanks for a charming Thursday.

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  18. cannewaMarch 17, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    I haven't tried wide backing yet but plan on trying it on the KT BOM

    Char S.

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  19. BarbaraMarch 17, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    I will be ordering some backing as soon as I get some of these tops finished up! Thanks for the reminder!

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  20. mommarasMarch 17, 2011 at 11:11 PM

    I will remember the wide backing the next time I make another quilt with KT fabrics. I am in the process of putting together a quilt Yellow Brick Road out of batiks and am going to use the wide backing for the first time. I also got alot of the Perennials at a quilt shop in Fort Myers on Friday Love Love Love it

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  21. Amanda DicksonMarch 18, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    All of you quilts are so nice!

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  22. LadybugMarch 18, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    I love the idea of wide backing and have used it in the past but the lack of selection in my area usually means I piece my backs.

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  23. quiltpixMarch 18, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    Our TNT guild in Glen Carbon loved seeing your quilts and hearing about them. Thank you for coming! Of course, the next day, some friends and I went to Sweet Annie's to load up on KT goodies. :-)

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  24. LisaMarch 18, 2011 at 3:58 PM

    I prefer wide backing to make it easier for my quilter. I'm one who doesn't enjoy piecing the backing.

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  25. phartubatechMarch 18, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    My husband and i both enjoy quilting and prefer to use the wide backing when ever we can. But you are right, it is hard to find and not available in many colors. We're glad to see some of our favorite quilt shops starting to carry more of it. Glad to hear you are promoting it.

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  26. BillieBee (billiemick)March 19, 2011 at 12:10 AM

    I prefer wide backing.

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  27. Brenda AndersonMarch 19, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    I use wide backing on all quilts which are twin size or larger. It's a great time saver. My local quilt shop has a great selection of wide backing, including KT fabrics

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  28. CynMarch 19, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Beautiful fabrics!

    The quilt shop owner doesn't want the fabric to sell to quickly? Now that's a compliment!

    Cynthia

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  29. SherrillMarch 19, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    I have never used wide backings. I usually look for fab when it's on sale big time and just buy enough to cover most of my backing needs. I have LOTS in the stash and should piece some of my backs to use it up!! LOL

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  30. GwenMarch 19, 2011 at 10:25 PM

    I haven't tried the wide backing yet.. but I can certainly see where it would be very nice to have!
    I love rummaging around in antique shops too-- a new-found enjoyment! I never realized that antique shops had SO much neat stuff!!! :-)

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  31. Diane HMarch 20, 2011 at 8:39 AM

    Love all the antique treasures. Haven't tried wide backings but I'm sure they would be a pleasure to use.

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  32. AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Wide backings are wonderful on a longarm for sure!
    Oh goodness...love antiques...no ifs, buts or maybes about it!

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  33. Kathy BMarch 20, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    Wide backing was a real gift to quilters. I have also used it for my tops. Just have to watch the quality.

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  34. CoriMarch 20, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Wide backing, I think it looks better and it saves time. Love the new look. Sunflowers are my favorite flowers

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  35. AnonymousMarch 20, 2011 at 6:59 PM

    To bad you didn't get a chance to go toCALICO MOON in Lebanon IL. t
    They have a great selection of your fabrics as well as a great selection of antique sewing notions. They carry wool and rug hooking supplies too. check out Shopcalicomoon.com

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  36. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    I have at least one wide backing that I bought, but haven't used...yet. I'm sure once I do I'm likely to be 'hooked'. Love the story of the snow/skunk!

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  37. AnneSeptember 11, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    I am about to try wide backing. I have seen some quite creative pieced backings, but the wide fabric offers a simpler, yet elegant, option.

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