Moda Blockheads Week #13

Thank You

It's been a tough week. Your kind words of encouragement and support have helped a great deal. Heartfelt thanks to you all.

And now, back to my therapy - quilting.

Moda Blockheads Week #13

Question of the Week: What is the best tip you've ever learned?

Use the best quality tools available (advice from my Dad, who was in the lumber business for decades and has the tools to prove it) and, when it comes to 1/4" seams - consistency, consistency, consistency. These words of advice have served me well over the years. Consistent 1/4" seams come with practice. Who doesn't love that? All the more reason to sew, sew, sew.

Block #13 - Bowtie Quartet

Here are Kathy's & Joy's Bowtie Quartet blocks. Joy preferred a bit smaller "knot" for her bowtie opting for a 3/4" square (top right). I like both options!

Click below for my Layered Patchwork instructions.

Block 13 - Bowtie Quartet - Kansas Troubles Quilters

I've had several requests over the past few weeks for a traditionally pieced option for my blocks, too. Ask and ye shall receive! Click on the link below for traditional piecing instructions that use the connecting corner method for Bowtie Quartet.

Block #13 - Bowtie Quartet - Traditional Option

I also need to get caught up with last week's Layered Patchwork instructions for Carrie's Puzzled block. So fun to see all of your blocks on FB!
 Block 12 - Puzzled - Carrie Nelson 

Kathy's traditional block is on the left; Joy's LP block is on the right.

Visit all the designer's blogs to see what they're up to this week!

Betsy's Blog -  http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/

Lisa B's Blog - https://lisabongean.com/
 
Jan's Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/

Jo's Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/

Carrie's Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/
 

Moda Blockheads Week #12

I write this post with a heavy heart. After going to the Dr. for a presumed stomach virus just a week ago, my Dad passed away yesterday. Tests revealed a large cancerous mass in his stomach had spread. We had no clue. By the next day, his kidneys and other organs were affected and the diagnosis was grim. Hospice was helpful in making the transition home. Dad visibly relaxed, tucked into his own comfy bed. My siblings and I gathered to care for Dad and support my Mom through this difficult time. Within 24 hours, he was gone. What a blessing that his suffering was short and he died knowing he was surrounded by love.

He was my mentor, confidant and biggest supporter of KTQ. His shining examples of character, work ethic and honesty in business and life will live on within me and my family forever. He will be missed. I love you, Dad.

Thanks to everyone who have sent messages of condolence. Quilters are the best in good times and bad. Your support is appreciated.


Please visit the other designers blogs for information on this week's block. I'll see you all again next Wednesday. 

Betsy -  http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Lisa B -  https://lisabongean.com/
Jan -  http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Jo -  http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/
Carrie -  http://blog.modafabrics.com/

Let's Retreat Together!

KT Winner

Congratulations to our winner this week of the Gooseberry Sampler booklet -

Sally -I really enjoy the BOM quilts & I am currently doing the Moda Blockheads - thanks for the alternative patterns! I absolutely love your Gooseberry Sampler quilt and all of your Kansas Troubles fabric! I've made several quilts using various collections & I love that I can mix & match them. Thanks for doing the giveaways!

 

You're so welcome! Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting.

The Quilter's Lodge / KT Retreat

I'm so excited to visit The Quilter's Lodge and Thimbles & Thread Quilt Shop in Draper, Utah September 14-16. I'll be teaching 2 workshops, plus sharing my quilts in a trunk show one evening. I'll share all the ins and outs of my unique layered patchwork technique while we create a lap size sampler quilt, plus you'll quickly finish a small project featuring my KT Kut-ups precut fusible appliques. This will be so much fun!

Sherie has been a delight to work with and just sent pictures of the lodge and quilt shop. The rustic decor, the overflowing quilt shop - be still my heart!

Check out where we'll spend our days in the sewing room...

The sewing room at The Quilter's Lodge, Draper, UT.

 and the beautifully appointed bedrooms - I call dibs on this one  :). I'm sure your room is lovely, too.

Comfy, cozy bedrooms at The Quilter's Lodge, Draper, UT.

Click here to view more pictures of the Lodge and make a reservation.

To register for the KT retreat at Quilter's Lodge, click here.

Contact Sherie via email at sherie@quiltersloge.com with questions.  Or, call (801) 576-0420.

Here's more information from Quilter's Lodge.

Moda Blockheads Week #11

Most of the designer's participating in Moda Blockheads BOW will be in St. Louis for Spring Market as you read our posts this week. We'll leave you with a challenge to keep you busy until we return. ;)

Block 11 - Lisa's Star - Lisa Bongean

Find the instructions for Lisa's amazing star block on her blog HERE.

Kathy used the perfect red & tan from one of Lisa's Gatherings collections for her traditionally pieced block. Joy and I decided a layered patchwork version was unnecessary this week - for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I didn't have time to tackle the instructions. And, I decided this is one of those blocks that needs to be pieced for best results. Check out all of Lisa's great hints and tips, including her very handy Itty Bitty 1/8's rulers, to make this block simpler. 

Kathy's red/white Lisa's Star turned out beautifully!

 
 See all the block options at the links below. And be sure to join our Facebook group for dozens of inspiring photos each week.


Betsy -
Blog - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betsy.chutchian
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betsy_chutchian/

Lisa B -
Blog - https://lisabongean.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/primitivegatherings.quiltshop/ or https://www.facebook.com/lisa.bongean
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lisabongean/  or https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_quiltshop/  or  https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_ca/

Jan -
Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jan.patek.79?fref=nf
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jan_patek_quilts/

Jo -
Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jomortonquilts/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joquilts/

Moda -
Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/modafabrics/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modafabrics/

Moda Blockheads Week #10

Welcome to Week #10 of Moda Blockheads

Question-of-the-Week: If we peeked in your sewing room, what color fabric has taken over your stash?  

Red is a neutral in my home decorating and in my stash. All of my KT colors look better next to red. It's easy to blend across other designer's palettes for a super scrappy quilt, a patriotic quilt or something very merry for the holidays. Red - it's what's in my stash.

Block 10 - Basket and Flower by Jan Patek

We're already into double digits this week with another of Jan's adorable appliques. Seems basket are the theme lately (believe it or not, we didn't plan it). Go to Jan's blog to see her instructions HERE.

I'm sure Jan did a perfectly fabulous job of creating her basket & flower with needle turn applique. For those of us here at KTQ, fused/topstitched or wool/blanketstitched were our chosen options. (I tend to break out in a rash trying to needle turn applique.) Kathy and Joy had fun with each of their versions.

Wool w/BS (left); fused cotton w/topstitch (right)

As always, I hope you visit all the designers to see what their creative minds came up with this week.


Betsy -
Blog - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betsy.chutchian
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betsy_chutchian/

Lisa B -
Blog - https://lisabongean.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/primitivegatherings.quiltshop/ or https://www.facebook.com/lisa.bongean
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lisabongean/  or https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_quiltshop/  or  https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_ca/

Jan -
Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jan.patek.79?fref=nf
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jan_patek_quilts/

Jo -
Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jomortonquilts/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joquilts/

Moda -
Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/modafabrics/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modafabrics/

It's almost time for Christmas!

KT Winner

Congratulations to the winner of our 108" wide backing fabric giveaway:

 

Dondi Murdock - I give away almost all the quilts I make so I am always behind. My skills aren't so great at putting pieced backings in the perfect position so the wide backings are fabulous for me in time and positioning!

Dondi, call KTQ at 785-488-2120 to select your 108" backing. I think you'll find it's the quality you've come to expect from Moda.

Gooseberry Sampler

I'm delighted to share that we have a few kits left for our 6-month BOM Gooseberry Sampler quilt (84" x 100"). All of the blocks have "goose" in the name to fondly remember the pair of geese that nest at our pond each year - Goose in the Pond, Geese & Goslings, Goose Tracks and Flying Geese. You can make this very merry project one "chunk" at a time along with me beginning in mid-July. We'll send the fabric for the quilt top & binding, booklet & KT Kut-ups precut fusible appliques for the holly & berries for only $200 plus $20 total shipping. In addition, if you sign up now, you can pre-order the backing for your sampler quilt at the May Special price of only $12.75/yd. and not pay until December!

The Gooseberry Sampler booklet also includes instructions for a wall quilt, runner and lap quilt to decorate your home for the holidays. Comment here to win a Gooseberry Sampler booklet. Do you like block-of-the-month's? Why? Have you ever signed up for one? I'll see you in a couple weeks after market.

Moda Blockheads Week #9

Moda Blockheads Question-of-the-Week:

How often do you clean your machine? Or take it to a professional to have it cleaned? Does your machine(s) have a name? 
I try to clean my Bernina after a large project or any flannel quilt. Right now, after sewing for market for several weeks, it's a fuzzy mess! Lucky for me my husband took classes to clean/repair machines, so I have an in-house advantage. He'll be getting out his vacuum and brushes to give it a good once over right after market. I haven't named my machine officially, but some days, her name is MUD.

Moda Blockheads Week #9 - Jo Morton's Ohio Star 

It's Week #9 of Moda Blockheads with a classic Ohio Star by Jo Morton. Find the link to the instructions HERE.

Kathy made the Ohio Star in Jo's fabrics, traditionally pieced. Lovely job. The blues are so cool and inviting, like a summer day under a shade tree. Joy pieced her Ohio Star using my layered patchwork technique (LP) in a mix of KT fabrics with a fall look. Love 'em! Thanks to both of my ladies for their great work.

Joy eliminated 8 seams with LP (bottom block)

CLICK HERE for my layered patchwork instructions for Jo's Ohio Star.




Be sure to visit all the Blockheads this week to see what they're doing. Aren't you just lovin' Betsy's minis and all the block options!

Betsy -
Blog - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betsy.chutchian
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betsy_chutchian/

Lisa B -
Blog - https://lisabongean.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/primitivegatherings.quiltshop/ or https://www.facebook.com/lisa.bongean
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lisabongean/  or https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_quiltshop/  or  https://www.instagram.com/primitive_gatherings_ca/

Jan -
Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jan.patek.79?fref=nf
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jan_patek_quilts/

Jo -
Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jomortonquilts/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE&fref=nf
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/joquilts/

Moda -
Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/modafabrics/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/modafabrics/

KT May Special

108" Wide Quilt Backing

Do you have a couple quilt tops completed, ready to be quilted, but are procrastinating having to piece the backing? I love a pieced backing! When making the originals of my featured quilt for each fabric line, I ask my quilters to piece the backing with fabric from the collection. Most other quilts? We go for the easy fix - 108" wide quilt backing. It's the quickest way to send a quilt down the road to my machine quilter. And the best value.

Here's the breakdown: for a 72" x 84" lap quilt, you would need to buy 5 yards of 45" wide fabric and piece it lengthwise. That's about $55-60 for a quilt back. With 108" wide backing, your quilter can turn the lap quilt sideways, figuring the width plus 6" instead of the length. For this project, you would purchase 2 1/4 yds. (72" + 6") @ $17/yd. retail for a total of $38.25. Quite a savings! With our KT May Special, all backing fabric is 25% off for just $12.75 a yard. That is only $28.69 for backing for a lap size quilt! Woohoo! You save almost half over the cost of piecing 45" wide fabric.

Find KT 108" Wide Backing HERE.

In addition to saving money on your lap quilt backing, you'll have bonus leftovers perfect for a runner or two. By my estimate, that's free backing!

Here's a spectacular quilt from a KT fan ready to be quilted. She opted for 108" wide backing and saved a bundle. Her scrappy KT quilt is stunning in a picture. I'm sure it's even more amazing in person. Thanks for sharing!

The quilter who stopped by the store forgot to leave her name for me, but the pattern is "Oh My Gosh!" by Sue Garmen. Thanks for that info from several of you out there. 

She calls it the Oh My Gosh! quilt. I can see why!

Giveaway

Haven't tried 108" wide backing, or love it and want to win some? We're giving away a gift certificate for 1 yd. of KT 108" wide backing. Comment here to win. Winner posted May 8th.

Moda Blockheads

Don't miss our weekly Moda Blockheads Block-of-the-Week free patterns. Check here weekly for the link to the designer's blog for instructions to download and for my layered patchwork option. Join the FB group for dozens of inspiring pictures from our talented ladies. I'm having so much fun!