Endings and Beginnings

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a lovely holiday with family and friends. Robert and I spent a very quiet, very calm Christmas Day at home alone watching a marathon of movies and baking cookies. It's time well spent recharging for the arrival of chaos at our house very soon. Santa is coming on Saturday when the kids/grankids are ready after hectic holiday schedules to relax and spend the night upstairs at the retreat space. I finally dragged the Christmas tree out today, wrapped some presents and hummed a carol or two while trying to figure out the last minute grocery list. Everyone's pitching in for an eat-all-night buffet full of our favorites. 

KT Winner

Congrats to Nancy E (quilt4fun1@gmail.com) for commenting. You're the winner of the KT Christmas bundle. Please send your address and we'll get it packed up for you.

Endings

It's been quite a year here at KTQ - new store front, new Bernina dealers, KT retreats reopening and lots of new quilting friends. In just a few months, we've rearranged/expanded the store 3 times, moved my office twice and built a wall upstairs in the retreat space. Jamie Swanson, our general-all-around cleaning/maintenance/building/painting diva, has spent the last couple weeks leading the charge to get this place back to shipshape before New Year's. She's sucked up gallons of sheetrock dust, sanded and painted walls & ceilings, ripped up carpet and moved a ton of furniture/bookcases from upstairs to downstairs and back again. Now, I'm finally moving into my NEW office, sorting thru piles of quilting books, magazines and vintage fabric swatches, trying to organize my life for the new year. The fun part is about to begin, bringing in some of my favorite things to decorate my very own space. We're installing a shelf about a foot down from the ceiling all around the room to hold the fat 1/8 bundles of fabric from each of my collections and assorted sewing needfuls.

Beginnings

2014 is full of new adventures - Pam Buda and I are off to St. Augustine, Fl for a week long quilting retreat in January, then to Mackinaw Island in September. I'm partnering up with Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. for a 3-day retreat the end of March in Salina, KS with more in the works. I'm also delighted to be included in the all-star list of quilters speaking at the Nancy's Notions Sewing Weekend in May. As for what's coming in fabric next year, we're stitching up quilts for KT's 2014 Christmas line, Holly Wishes, I just edited a new line of fabric for Spring Market (Paisley Park), and I'm digging thru old quilts for inspiration for next fall's new collection. As the year unfolds, I can share more fun surprises, but for now, let's just say it's gonna be another busy one, for sure! I hope you can take some time and join me along the way.

Watch here for the ten finalists'quilts from The Old Country Store KT Quilt Contest on New Year's Day along with a great giveaway to kick off 2014. Enjoy the rest of your year!

Let's Celebrate the Holidays!

Holiday Open House at KT Bernina

Join us this Saturday, Dec.14th, for specials on KT Christmas fabrics, patterns, kits (25% off) and decor (40% off). We'll be there from 10am to 3pm to share a cookie and jolly holiday smiles. See you then!

KT Winner

Congratulations to Paula A. - you're the winner of the Bees Knees pattern & ruler. I hope you enjoy the fast & easy layered patchwork technique for a simple but really cool quilt. Please email your mailing address to lynne@ktquilts.com. I wasn't sure about the Honeycomb hexagons at first, but have found them to be great fun to play with. We'll have more fun with Honeycombs in our new book this spring! See if first here!

Christmas Magic

Our Blog Blowout for December is a magical trio of Christmas patterns just for you - or a quilting friend. It's not too late to make a small quilt or pillow topper for that hard-to-buy-for special person in your life.

Holiday Ties uses easy 4-patch piecing to create bow ties with just a little
layered patchwork square stitched on top while you're quilting!

Our December Star pillow topper is great for the holidays but wonderful in any colorway to match your
home decor for all year enjoyment. 14" square to button diagonally over an 18" covered pillow.

Christmas J-O-Y begins with just 3 Layer Cake squares for the ornaments and their trim utilizing the
pinked edge as a design element. It's a quick project anyone on your list is sure to love.

All 3 Christmas patterns are just $9.99 total on the KT webstore at this link: Christmas-Trio-of-Bonus-Patterns. Offer expires December 24th.

Oh My! We Have a Giveaway!

I totally forgot to include the fat 1/8 bundle of KT Christmas fabrics from over the years. 40 different prints from more than half a dozen Christmas lines - too fun! Comment here for a chance to win by December 20th.

Thanks so much to all of you who follow my blog, send words of support & encouragement and enjoy quilting as much as I do. I love to travel and meet quilters all over the country. Hope to see you sometime soon! Or, come visit us at the KT Retreat! Check availability on our website at KT Retreats.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year to you all!
Lynne

KT's Layered Patchwork

The Bees Knees

Think it's too late to make a quilt for someone special on your Christmas list? Not with our Layered Patchwork technique! Check out this video from Quilt Market taken by Fat Quarter Shop to see how easy it can be.      Fat Quarter Shop Designer Tidbits - Kansas Troubles Quilters

Here's our newest pattern, The Bees Knees, layering a Honeycomb (Moda's new hexagon precut) with a Layer Cake in 2 ways. First, Sweet as Honey...

Sweet as Honey is a 66" x 75" lap quilt featuring a KT Layer Cake, Honeycomb
plus 2 fabrics for borders - less than $100!

              Check out how easy it is to layer, stitch, cut & sew your way to a lap size quilt in a day!

The top row shows how to layer & cut for the Sweet as Honey quilt.
The bottom row is a sample block from The Bee's Knees - so simple!
Our KT Honeycomb Ruler is (shown bottom right) makes both quilts even faster!

The Bee's Knees lap quilt 66" x 74" features a Layer Cake, Honeycomb,
2 tan fat quarters & border fabric - done! 

Comment by Nov. 31st to win a KT Honeycomb Ruler & The Bee's Knees pattern! Share your plans for Thanksgiving - or your perfect Thanksgiving ever.

Happy Turkey Day to All!
Lynne

Old Country Store Contest

Giveaway Winner

The winner of our KT Favorites II Layer Cake & Eye of the Storm pattern is ledamewood (Comment #30). Thanks to everyone who shared their Halloween stories. We just received the precuts for KT Fav II at the store and should be getting the yardage in just a couple weeks. Watch for it in your local quilt shop! Good news, Bad news.  I love that this line will be a basic for KT - it will be available for a couple years to the quilt shops to coordinate with all KT lines. That's the good news. The bad news is, if you're hoping to snag a KT Fav II precut from charm to mini charm, Layer Cake to Jelly Roll, Honeybun to Honeycomb, now is your only chance. The precuts are only made once when the fabric is originally printed, so don't delay! Two of each should work!

Kansas Troubles Quilt Contest at The Old Country Store

The Old Country Store in Lancaster Co., PA is selecting the winner of the Kansas Troubles Quilters quilt contest this week! Don't miss your chance to vote for your favorite. The quilts are truly wonderful - each and every one a treasure - the workmanship is awesome and ya gotta love the fabric choices! Go to Kansas Troubles Quilt Contest to see the quilts & vote before Thursday. I can't wait to see who wins all the awesome prizes! A big Thank-You to Jan Mast & her staff at The Old Country Store for taking such good care of my quilts this year. Wish I'd been able to stop in again. It's a great store and the area is so much fun!

Shopping in Illinois

My buddy, Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts, along with Tara Lynn Darr (author of Simply Charming & Cozy Quilts fame) & Docia Fuller (former owner of The Quilt Merchant), all met me in Arthur/Arcola, IL last weekend for a couple days of girlfriend time while we antique shopped at some of the best Early American antiques around. I found a few new treasures that could show up as KT fabric in the future.

Notice a trend here? I happen to love mid-1800's fabrics to reproduce for KTQ. Yum!

I've always wanted a lightning rod arrow with the stained glass. This one came with a stand so I can display it inside, safe from the Kansas winds. A shoe last with a handmade bird/strawberry emery, star pincushion and needle keep with the sizes stitched into it are some of the other needful things I acquired on this trip. 

More giveaways next week. Stay tuned!

Market Recap

Happy Halloween!

In our little burg, the entire grade school visits the downtown merchants on Halloween morning dressed in their spooky attire. We love it! Instead of candy, we gave out orange and black friendship bracelets, rubber jump-y spiders and googly-eyes stickers. Too fun!

Tokens of Friendship

We're home again after Fall Quilt Market in Houston. Moda showed our new Token of Friendship fabric collection and we displayed the projects made from that line - a sweet little autograph quilt called Best Friends (on the end of the table) and a large king quilt with a handful of options named Tokens of Friendship (on the left wall).

From this angle, you can see our ktquilts.com sign embellished with buttons, buckles, safety pins and
a zipper that I made for Moda's Schoolhouse, Spell it Out. Watch for the spring designer blog hop
 for lots of free patterns and giveaways. 

To the right is the Eye of the Storm, Windmills on the Plains and KT Shining Stars, all made with precuts from the
KT Favorites II collection, due in quilt shops in December. On the take are the 2 Honeycomb lap quilt featuring a
Layer Cake and Honeycomb using our layered patchwork method and our new KT Honeycomb ruler. 

Here are the Fat Quarter Shop girls visitng about the new tutorial video we shot at market showing my layered patchwork technique. Watch for it at fatquartershop.com. The quilt behind me is the Tokens of Friendship
king quilt. The basket wall quilt and star runner plus 2 pillow toppers, a lap quilt and more are included in
this booklet. Available in March 2014. 

Workshops in Illinois

I'm unpacking and repacking for a week in IL visiting the Hands All Around Quilt Guild in Normal, IL next week on Wednesday & Thursday, Nov. 6 & 7th, then on to Canton, IL to the Piecers of the Heartland Quilt Guild for workshops on Sunday/Monday, Nov. 10 & 11th, and their guild meeting on Monday night. If you're in the area, please join us!

Giveaway

I have a KT Favorites Layer Cake & Eye of the Storm pattern to share this week if you comment on your Halloween fun. Winner will be announced on Nov. 13th.

Let the frantic piecing begin!

Weekend in Dansville, NY

I just returned from a 3-day teaching event at Material Rewards Quilt Shop in Dansville, NY. I arrived Thursday late afternoon to gorgeous weather and owner, Marti Wilson's, smiling face. We lugged suitcases full of quilts back to the shop for a Pheasant Feathers workshop during the day and a trunk show/lecture with a fabulous dessert bar on Friday night. (I always eat salad for about a week before going to Material Rewards because of the dessert buffet. It's legendary!) Saturday was a full day of class piecing Icicle Stars and on Sunday, the ladies whipped up 3 small projects from my Loose Change book. I sampled fresh-out-of-the-garden fare from the Wilson garden including a delicious, savory kale pie - who knew? Thanks to Terri & Marti and their staff and all the quilters who attended the classes who made me feel so very welcome in NY. 

Market Madness

In less than 3 weeks, we need to piece a king & lap quilt, runner, 2 pillow toppers, wall quilt & charm quilt using the just received Tokens of Friendship fabric collection. Here's a sneak peek of my new favorite fabrics.

Token of Friendship - available in your local quilt shop March 2014

I'm so excited to play with some applique on some of these pieces. Watch over the next few weeks to see how it all comes out.

Blog Blowout

Robert says it's time to make room for all the new patterns coming out this fall so we're offering another huge discount on a KT pattern, Starry Moon. The runner is a spin-off of the Harvest Moon quilt project from last fall's fabric line of the same name. Simple construction with our layered patchwork technique means you can sew it up in an afternoon and decorate with it this fall.

The pattern is bargain priced at $1.85 + $3.15 standard postage for a total of $5.00! Order it before next Tuesday, October 15th before this deal blows away. 

See you next week!

Lynne

Size Matters Blog Hop Winners

Size Matters Blog Hop Winners

Thanks to everyone who commented over the past couple days. It's been great fun to follow all of the Moda designers and see what they're up to now. I can't wait to see what you'll do with all the great blocks!

The KT Winners are:

Sweet Pea Fat Quarter Bundle - 

LZ commented, "I have one of your quilt designs on one of my beds upstairs. Cozy and durable and a pleasure to make using your raw-edge applique technique. I agree, precuts are a great way to make a wonderful scrap quilt.

Sweet Pea Layer Cake, Charm, Mini Charm - 

Shannon commented, "Oh yes, I agree that precuts have become my favorite for sure. :) Through the Year is on my list! I have some (not enough, though--LOL) KT stashed that I want to use, and I could use it with Loose Change and with Through the Year. Bye for now!"

Sweet Pea Jelly Roll - 

Beverly Stigge (a fellow Kansas quilter!) commented, "Always adding interesting techniques...layered patchwork! I too love the Fall colors...rust and pumpkin comes to my mind's eye. Looking forward to adding your lovey vines to my borders."

Please email your shipping address to lynne@ktquilts.com and we'll send your goodies right out!

Hope to see you all Wednesday for my regularly scheduled blog post. 

Size Matters Moda Blog Hop

KT Winner

First of all, congratulations to andsewon who commented last week to win a huge pile of Icicle Stars scraps. Please send your mailing address and we'll box it up right away. Thanks to everyone who stops by my blog and comments. I'd love to visit with each of you! Our KT Retreat schedule for 2014 is on the website now at ktquilts.com. Gather a bunch of friends and come see us!

Size Matters

It was perfect timing this week when UPS dropped off several boxes of my newest fabric precuts for Sweet Pea. I always enjoy sewing with the rich, warm browns, pumpkins, golds, greens, reds and blues of autumn groups. There are already a couple of favorites on my hoarding list. Can you pick them out?

The first thing that hit me when I heard the theme of the blog hop was PRECUTS - I admit I'm slightly addicted. What better way to start a project than with a perfectly coordinated group of prints cut into the exact sizes you need? Is bigger better? With a Layer Cake and a charm pack, you can have a lap size quilt in a day - really! Love a smaller project? A charm and mini charm whip up into a wall quilt or table topper in half the time. What a quick and easy way to stitch for everyone on your list for the holidays! Need a juvenile or novelty print quilt? Pick precuts and you'll have no unblendable leftovers in your stash. I've actually expanded my precut shopping to include several other designers now since I don't have to decide how much fabric to buy. Just a couple precuts and yardage for borders and I'm good to go! Check out our Loose Change book and rulers for over a dozen ideas to see just how Size Matters.

When our marketing genuis, Lissa & crew, at Moda unveiled the theme of this fall's blog hop, I wanted to select a traditional block that could be transformed with my layered patchwork technique. (If I couldn't use precuts, I could certainly make it simpler.) The rules required us to begin with 3", 6" and 12" blocks so they all play nicely together. Once I took the work out of piecing the little triangles, it was all play! I began with (4) 6" blocks in the center. Simply piece a traditional bias square (or half square triangle), then layer a square that's been cut on the bias on the tan corner; stitch about 1/8" from the bias edges and shazam! Your block is done! The squares that are layered on top are cut on the bias so the edges will gently fray but not unravel. Precuts work perfectly for this technique since the pinked edges prevent raveling.  (This would be the perfect fit for a mini charm square using a finished 5" bias square as the background.)

Simply piece a bias square, layer a square on top & stitch!

Create (4) 6" blocks for the center and surround them with (20) 3" blocks for a zigzag-gy border. It's a great way to use leftover scraps from a quilt project for a coordinating moment in your home decor.

Size Matters Pillow featuring Sweet Pea fabric collection. Double Take Stars, behind the pillow, is a new KT Stash pattern for October usng a Sweet Pea charm pack and mini charm.
Go to Size Matters Pillow to download the free pattern for this project.
Instructions for traditional piecing are also included.

My 18" block would also be very cool multiplied in a lap quilt. An assortment of fat quarters - or a pile of scraps - would make an awesome guy quilt for the holidays. Add a couple borders to make this 54" x 72" quilt even snugglier.

Comment here by Monday, Sept. 16th for a chance to win one of three Sweet Pea prizes - a fat quarter bundle, Layer Cake/charm/mini charm trio or a Jelly Roll. We might even throw in one of the new patterns for Sweet Pea - Through the Year featuring a Jelly Roll, or the Lil' Sweet Pea Charm pattern.

Jelly Roll project with 4 seasonal button-on toppers to change through the year.
Through the Year at ktquilts.com 

Whimsical floral is surrounded by a "charm"-ing layered patchwork border.
Lil' Sweet Pea at kquilts.com 

Visit  Cosmo Cricket and Comfort Stitching today for more bloggin' goodies!

Get Ready to Hop!

Moda Designer's Size Matters Blog Hop

September 4th is the first day of Moda's Size Matters Blog Hop. Start with Laundry Basket Quilts, French General, and Zen Chic tomorrow, then hop on over to Bunny Hill, Basic Grey, and Sweetwater on Thursday, Sept. 5th. Friday features more awesome Moda designers - Jan Patek, Pat Sloan and Pieces From My Heart.  Take a break over the weekend, then come on hoppin' back to another week of designers blocks, new fabric collections and patterns and great prizes! Watch for KTQ on Sat. Sept. 14th.

Another Wednesday Blog Blowout!

Thanks to everyone who took advantage of our first ever Blog Blowout special last week - Red Hots. Congrats to Deb from CO (comment #2) - you're the winner of the red/tan scraps. Comment before Wed. Sept. 11th to win this pile of leftover squares from Icicle Kisses - there's a ton!

Cattails Runner

This week's special pattern will have you wishing for cooler weather and ready for fall - Cattail Runner. I love it through Thanksgiving as a backdrop for bouquets of sunflowers, gourds and mini pumpkins. Order before Wed. Sept 11th. The pattern is only $1.85 + $3.15 postage for a total of only $5.00!!! Now's the time to order that KT pattern you've had your eye on - the shipping is paid for up to 3 patterns.
See you at the Hop!

It's a Red Hot August!

Welcome to KT's first ever Blog Blowout!

Stop by our blog site monthly - or more often if the mood strikes - for once-in-a-blue-moon blowout specials on KT books, patterns & more! To celebrate the end of a long, hot summer, our Red Hots pattern is the perfect choice. My layered patchwork technique makes a traditional quilt block fast & easy in any color combo you choose.

We simply layer a small red triangle on each large tan triangle, and a small tan triangle on each large red triangle, then stitch 1/8" away from the bias edge. Sew a red and tan layered triangle together to create a basic half square triangle unit, then piece 4 units together to create the pinwheel block. Easy peasy!

Go to Red Hots to purchase this pattern for only $1.85 plus $3.15 shipping for a total of $5.00! Today thru Monday, September 2 at 10pm. Comment here by Wednesday, Sept. 4th to win a scrap bag of KT reds & tans to get you started.

Don't forget Moda's Designer Blog Hop Sept. 4 thru 16! Check out KTQ on Sept. 14th for a look at the new Sweet Pea collection coming to your favorite quilt shop soon.

KT Winner

Congratulations to knitnoid - you're the winner of the Sweet Pea fabric scraps. Robert is pretty sure he can stuff it all into a priority envelope, so send us your address and be on the lookout! Thanks to everyone who commented about their grankids. Glad I'm not the only one out there who feels like a "bad" gramma revelling in the quiet after they leave. We'll have a couple of them for Labor Day weekend, then miss'em like crazy until the holidays.

Trip to Texas

I spent last weekend in the lovely town of Fredericksburg, TX, a couple hours west of Austin. Their downtown is delightful with shops, restaurants, beer gardens and more fun for tourists. There are loads of winerys -32, if that's your drink -and peaches galore. What a yummy stop! The ladies of the Veriens Quilt Guild were so welcoming - we had a great time at the Icicle Stars class.

My historic accommodations - an 1800's log cabin. So cool! The local quilt shop, One Quilt Place, has moved right down the road from Bev's stone house (across the driveway) and their lovely guest log home. Thanks so much for the most comfortable night's sleep ever on the road!

The original structure housed the bedroom/sitting room with stairs to a loft bedroom.
A small kitchen and spa-like bathroom were added for 21st century comfort. 

On Monday, I travelled down the road to Kerrville, Tx for the Hill Country Quilt Guild program and a Mini Table Treats workshop. (The only picture I took didn't come out well, so unfortunately, no proof that I was working.) The ladies there are represented grandly in Houston this year by several outstanding quilting groups and individuals that have been juried into the show. Congratulations to all of you! I loved seeing the quilts. 

KT Bernina Quilt Shop

Seems Robert is rearranging and expanding the store every time I go in. I think he's got it the way he wants it for now - otherwise, all of my good junk will be shoved right out the back door! I'll have him post a picture soon. 

Check back on Wednesday for our first super special deal!

Just a Lil' Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea is Coming!

The grankids have returned to their respective homes after a hectic week-before-school-and-all-the-summer-day-camps-are-closed play date with Gramma and Grampa. Always fun to see them and hear what's new, always great to see them go and have my quiet, simple life back. Anyway, I was able to do some sorting with Aleece while she was here scrounging through my piles of scraps leftover from various projects. She has learned to hand stitch and can't get enough of it - clipped & snipped doll clothes designed without a pattern, buttons and beads for embellishment, snaps (a new skill) sewn on with care and ribbon ties for belts and apron strings. Pretty cool stuff even if I am the Gramma. But I digress. Lois, my dear piecer, bags and tags most of the scraps she brings back, but there are always a few piles that grow as we sew. To announce the impending delivery of Sweet Pea next month, I've assembled a bundle of scraps for one lucky quilter. Comment here by next Wednesday to win!

Sweet Pea scraps

This collection is anchored with a delightful floral print in warm fall tones (it even has pea pods!), smaller prints with leaves and flowers, a geometric dotted dot I adore, and a tone-on-tone that works with absolutely everything! Love, love, love it! Watch over the next couple weeks for the new projects featuring Sweet Pea fabrics & precuts.

Stop by each week on Wednesdays, beginning August 28th, for my blog post and our new weekly special. Our newest employee, Linda Van Ness, is cleaning out the storage room and wants to move patterns, books and fabric. Each week, we'll feature a KT product at drastically discounted prices on our website to share the overflow and make Linda happy. :) 

And don't forget about the Moda Designer Blog Hop to see all the latest designer's collections for fall. 

News from The Old Country Store & Museum in PA

The Old Country Store in Intercourse, PA

I'm delighted to report that the KT event at The Old Country Store & Museum was a huge hit among attendees. So wish I could have been there to meet everyone. New KT fabrics were unveiled and treats inspired by my Butterfly Garden quilt were enjoyed by all.

Jan Mast shared with me that the KT Quilt Contest is still open to anyone wishing to participate. Do you have a quilt made exclusively of KT fabrics or a stash full of KT fabrics just begging to be stitched into a quilt? Now is the time to cash in!

The deadline for entering is October 15, 2013, so there’s still time!

The entry must be made exclusively of KT goods (from their stash, from their local fabric store, from us…any KT collection or mix of KT goods is fine!)

        
Entries may NOT exceed 60” x 60” (think small wall quilts, not bed-size quilts!)

       
Entries must be submitted online at www.KansasTroubles.com (contest rules can also be found there).

       
There are two terrific prizes!  ($500 cash, 50-yard Moda shopping spree, autographed KT books)  Prizes are awarded to the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice winners.  (Smaller prizes for the ten finalists.)

 The two winning quilts (People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice) will hang in the 2014 Quilt Museum exhibit! How cool is that!?!

I can't wait to see all the quilts submitted! Best of luck to all of you!

In honor of The Old Country Store & Museum's display of KT quilts this year, we're giving away a selection of some of the patterns - 

Butterfly Garden

Snow

Hearts to You

Comment here by Monday, Aug. 12th for a chance to win all 3! 


Mark your calendar now for Moda's Designer Blog Hop beginning Sept. 4.

Catching Up

KT Winner

Congrats to Karen in Breezy Point - you're the winner of the Just For You gift bag pattern. Hope you're staying cool up there in Minnesota!

A Long Week

Right after the last blog post, Robert's Dad was transfered to Hospice for his final days. After a very long struggle with heart disease and kidney failure, he passed last weekend. The days following were full of family decisions for Robert. I took over the store so he could focus on what he needed to do. Today, everyone has gone back to work and their normal lives and we're trying to catch up with the business at hand. It's always sad to lose a loved one, but also a relief that he's no longer suffering. Keep Robert in your prayers. Thanks.

The Old Country Store & Museum

Because of all the uncertainty of the past couple weeks, I felt I needed to cancel my trip to The Old Country Store Quilt Museum on Tuesday, July 30th. I hope all of you still attend this fabulous event and enjoy it for me. Jan Mast and her staff have put together a day of fun and surprises that are worth the drive to Intercourse, PA. There's still time to enter their Kansas Troubles quilt contest. Send pictures!

Material Rewards

The other half of my trip east was to Material Rewards Quilt Shop in Danville, NY. Marty & Teri agreed to move my program and workshops to September 26-28th. I'll be teaching Icicle Stars, Pheasant Feathers and a couple of projects out of Loose Change. I understand there's a waiting list for the workshops, but I'd love for you to join us Friday night for a trunk show of all the latest KT quilts and yummy desserts!

See you all on Monday for another KT giveaway!

Great Girlfriend Getaway to Florida

St. Augustine Florida Retreat

It's hot, hot, hot here in Kansas and I'm already looking forward to the cooler days to come this winter. Partly because this January will bring another opportunity for my buddy, Pam Buda, Heartspun Quilts, and I to spend a week together, sharing our love of quilts with fellow quilters. Join us as we experience a bit of fun in the sun this winter in historic St. Augustine, Florida. In addition to a lovely motel on the beach and workshops with Pam and me, St. Augustine is a delightful destination for shopping and sight-seeing. Bring your girlfriends and have a quilting party with us!

Chasing Grankids

It's a busy week with grankids coming and going - Aleece is staying all week, Rowan is here Monday thru Wednesday, then Delainey comes Friday & Saturday as we take Aleece home to KC and visit the American Girl Store. Having one grankid at a time makes for leisurely quiet conversations and cuddling in front of the TV, but when there are two or more together, the laughter never stops. I love listening in on their late night whisperings about their friends, parents, and life in general. It's a unique perspective as a granparent - one I cherish. So, all week, I'm trying to work early and play all afternoon, but there's a long list of to-do's at the shop. The kids have volunteered to carry boxes upstairs to earn some money for snacks at the swimming pool this afternoon. They better go early as it's supposed to hit 105 here today. I can't send them home scorched! 

KT Winner

Congrats to deblong of Ulysses, KS. You're the winner of our trilogy of patriotic patterns. Please send your mailing address to lynne@ktquilts.com to claim your prize. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions of fabulous fireworks displays. I'm making my list...

KT Web Store

I'm adding new kits to the webstore every day - Icicle Stars, Skipping Stones, Signs of Fall and several Mini Table Treats to name a few. Go to ktquilts.com to see all of our books, patterns, precuts and kits. I'm learning more about our website this summer and will be introducing new features as I can. What would you like to see on our website?

Just For You Gift Bag

Our new pattern this month for KT Stash Society is a gift bag for the holidays. How special to "wrap" a present in a quilted bag that can be used all year through. It's a great size (12"x14"x2") for carrying all your necessities - a tablet, books, magazines, paperwork. Adjustable tie straps make it very versatile. Our layered patchwork technique makes it fast & easier enough to make several!

Comment this week about oneof your favorite KT projects - past, present or future - to win a Just For You Gift Bag pattern.  Talk to you soon!

Happy Birthday America!

KT Winner

Congratulations to Kathy in GA - you're the winner of last week's KT giveaway. I really appreciate all your help in suggesting themes for new Mini Table Treats. Watch this fall for a few new designs.

Sweet Pea

Thanks for all the positive comments on the Through the Year wall quilt with button-ons. I've had several emails inquiring about when the fabric & pattern would be ready. Ship date for fabric is October, so I guess I better have the pattern done before then, as well.  Watch here for giveaways. To be the first on your block to have a piece of Sweet Pea - or any KT collection - sign up for our KT Collector's Club. You'll receive (6) fat quarters, a mini charm and a pattern from our KT Stash Society series about a month before the fabric hits the shops for just $25 - including shipping! Email me at the shop at lynne@ktquilts.com to sign up.

Fireworks

Ok, if you've known me very long, I'm sure you've heard the story of my birth day on July 5th. My Dad tells that during the family's fireworks display on the 4th, my Mom went into labor and he had to quit shooting off fireworks to take her to the hospital. Such a sacrifice! For years I heard that the whole town was lighting up the sky just to celebrate my birthday. Finding out that wasn't the case was like finding out about Santa. Oh well, I still LOVE fireworks. I have a bucket list started on some of the best fireworks displays in the country that I want to experience before I've had too many more birthdays. Any suggestions? Comment here and win a few of my favorite red/tan/blue patterns.

A Wave to Old Glory  features layered patchwork for easy wavy stripes.

Picnic Plaid is simply pieced 9-patches with a red plaid bias strip  stitched
on as you quilt through all the layers.  Fast & easy for picnic fun.

One of 3 seasonal variations in our Frayed Edges, Too booklet that's all plaids cut on the bias
with no batting for the softest, cuddliest throw ever!

Exciting week at KT Bernina Quilt Shop & Emporium

Last week was an exciting time at at KT Bernina.  I crashed Lynne's quilt program,  welcomed a busload of 52 enthusiastic quilters from Grand Island, NE, and ten more from Wakefield, KS.  In my spare time I was able to service a serger and a couple sewing machines and set up some new displays for the store.

Silver Needles Quilt Guild

Lynne was invited by Silver Needles to do her quilt presentation and, of course, I was needed to hold up the quilts for all to see.  Since I had a captive audience I jumped at the chance to promote KT Bernina Quilt Shop and Emporium.  I brought along the Bernina 550 QE sewing machine and showcased the 710 sewing machine with the Bernina Stitch Regulator.  It was fun watching thequilter's try out freemotion BSR quilting.  

A flock of wool bird pincushons landed at the store.

Harvest table with needful things

Welcoming the Grand Island Quilters

Bernina University

Looking forward to an entertaining and educational conference attending Bernina U in San Francisco,CA this weekend.  Planning to take advantage of the many classes and presentations showcasing what's new and exciting with Bernina. Stay tuned for a recap of my adventure!

Sneak Peek

KT Winner

Congratulations to Laurie from TX. You're the winner of the Icicle Stars booklet. Thanks to you and everyone for commenting. I enjoyed hearing about all of your favorite summer adventures - at home and travelling. I love anywhere near the water where it's cooler than Kansas. No vacation for me this summer, though. The store is keeping us busy and the grankids are coming and going over the next few weeks. At least it's a good excuse to go to the pool and eat ice cream!

Sneak Peek

KT's newest fabric line, Sweet Pea, debuted at Spring Market in Portland. Here's a first look. For our fall collection, we have rich shades of green, pumpkin, brown, navy, red, gold & tan. The tan with multi-colored dots is my absolute favorite print in this line - I'll be using that as a background ALOT! Really like the navy medium print - it also comes in red, green and tan tone-on-tones.

The project for Sweet Pea is Through the Year. It continues our theme from the Changing Seasons HB runner that offers 14" quilted squares to button on for the seasons. Mix and match any of our toppers to button on a pillow, the runner or our new wall quilt. With the double churn dash background, it's great on it's own, too!

44" sq. wall quilt with buttons

Fall Harvest Topper 14" sq.

Happy Birthday America topper 14" sq.

Joy of the Season topper 14" sq.

Bloomin' Basket topper 14" sq.

I'm always looking for suggestions for additonal toppers for pillows, the runner and wall quilt. What motif would you like to decorate your home? Comment here to win a bag full of scrap strips & squares leftover from these projects. Be the first on your block to own some Sweet Pea!