More Prairie Cactus

KT Winner

Congrats to:

DebMac-I really like the cactus flower projects-it's one of the patterns on my to do list.

You're the winner of our Prairie Cactus charm pack (as soon as I receive one!). Please send your mailing address to lynne@ktquilts.com. We'll send out your charm pack soon!

Thanks, ladies, for all your comments. It's just what I need in the morning to find my creative juice. Your support and enthusiasm are appreciated. 

  It's Almost Here!

I can feel it. The ground rumbling, the squeal of the brakes, the back door slamming. Wahoo! The UPS guy in brown shorts is here with boxes and boxes of Prairie Christmas precuts and bolts of fabric! Almost. Any day now we'll be receiving our new Christmas line for 2016. It's time to start thinking about your holiday quilting list. We're hoping you'll love what we've created for you this year.

As promised last week, here are more of the projects from our new Prairie Cactus book. With our new KT Diamond Templates, you can cut perfect diamond shapes from 2 1/2" Jelly Roll strips, 1 1/2" Honey Bun strips, yardage or scraps. By simply sewing the larger diamonds together end-to-end and alternating the pieced strips with a stripe background strip, you can stitch up this delightful lap quilt we call Candy Stripe. Doesn't it make you think of peppermint sticks and all sorts of Christmas candies? A KT Prairie Cactus Jelly Roll and 2 fabrics is all you need! How about this easy quilt in Me and My Sister brights? Can you see it?

Candy Stripe lap quilt (66" x 78")

We've reimagined one of our quilts that appeared in American Patchwork & Quilting magazine a few years ago as shining Christmas stars. A traditional Hunter's Star block is simplified with KT's Layered Patchwork Technique.

Cactus Stars lap quilt (66" x 78")

I cut the small 1 1/2" diamonds with our template off-grain, so none of the straight edges of the diamonds were on the straight grain of fabric. Not true 45 degree bias, but it works to prevent raveling of the exposed edges. Position the diamond on the corner of a triangle; glue the points in place with a Sewline glue pen (my favorite). Stitch about 1/8" from the cut edges of the diamond, as shown. Sew 2 triangles together for a layered bias square, then sew 4 layered bias squares together for the basic Cactus Stars block. Easy peasy!

Cactus Star block

The original Rustic Stars quilt is also offered as a bonus in the Prairie Cactus book and shows how fun it can be in non-Christmas prints. We chose 4 lights and 4 darks for a planned scrappy look featuring a Honey Bun for even easier cutting of the 1 1/2" diamonds. Kits are available soon for all the Prairie Cactus projects.

Rustic Stars lap quilt (68" x 80")

 For a quick and easy coordinate for your holiday home, make an extra 18" block for a classic pillow cover. I chose just 3 fabrics, but you could certainly utilize your scraps from any of the Prairie Cactus projects.

Prairie Cactus Pillow (18" square)

Do you visit our ktquilts.com website? Have you seen the fabric swatch charts I share for each fabric collection? Just print and save for easy reference for all your KT fabric shopping needs. Call KTQ (785-488-2120) and visit with Jamie or Robert or Joy anytime to order KT yardage ($10.50/yd everyday). We always encourage you to shop your local quilt store first, but we're here as back up if you need us.

Comment this week on your Christmas stitching plans to win a Prairie Cactus book. You'll be on your way to sewing up the holidays before 4th of July fireworks are done!