Cozy Quilts and Comforts Sneak Peek - Day 5

Oh my goodness! What a whirlwind at market - showing the quilts from my new book, Cozy Quilts and Comforts, demo-ing my Layered Patchwork technique, signing books, and visiting with all the good people from Martingale who have made it possible. A million thanks to Karen Johnson at Martingale who has helped me navigate the marketing world for this book.
 

Preorder your copy TODAY!

 

One of today's featured quilts is Skipping Stones. Simple red and tan squares are layered with our KT Melon and little corner squares to mimic curved piecing. Topstitch red on tan, and tan on red, then sew squares together in rows to create a visually stunning quilt without the stress. So easy! I also share my pillow topper that utilizes extra blocks and makes them into a design statement for your home to coordinate with your quilts. So Martha Stewart-y!

Need a simple quilt for that someone on your list that doesn't really "get it"? Let's say, a brother-in-law who you love dearly, but who doesn't really get that all that fabric in your stash isn't free and that your time is valuable. Not all quilts cost $29.95. Layer a pinked Jelly Roll strip across a background square to fake a pieced rail fence block in a flash. Sew squares together in rows for an easy, but graphic quilt worthy of anyone on your list. 

Only one more Sneak Peek before books are available for real. Watch for a giveaway later in the week.

Cozy Quilts and Comforts Sneak Peek - Day 4

 It's almost time! November is just around the corner and so is the release of my new book, Cozy Quilts and Comforts, published by Martingale. As I've mentioned before, the staff at Martingale did an outstanding job of creating a beautiful, quality book that embodies the Kansas Troubles' style. Thanks to all of you, especially Jennifer Keltner, for her vision of seeing the KT Retreat space as a backdrop for the book. (And thank you for photo-shopping out the dust bunnies.)

Checkerboard Garden was first published in American Patchwork & Quilting magazine several years ago. It is one of my favoritist (is that a word?) quilts. It was so fun assembling a quilt with an assortment of scraps to make the garden path in the center. Usually, I'm working with 40 prints in a fabric collection, so it's always fun to go rogue and play with all of my stash in one project. The simple raw edge applique flowers feature button centers and are just wonky enough to be charming.

Like Checkerboard Garden? Or any of the other quilts so far in the Sneak Peeks? Let me know your favorites and you could win a signed copy of Cozy Quilts and Comforts - just as soon as I have some to give away!

Blockheads Week #34

Block #34 - Jan's House

 Wouldn't you love to visit Jan Patek's house to see all her gorgeous quilts and primitives??? I know she has an open house each year. I need to add that to my bucket list. This week, she's sharing her home with in the form of a block. Kathy used fusible applique with cotton fabrics (left). Joy's block features wool applique for her version of Jan's House. The diagonal plaid for the roof is perfect!

Click HERE to find the instructions for Jan's House on her blog. And don't forget to check out her videos for a neat method of needle turn applique.

Question of the Week: With Market on the horizon, what is the best part about going to market? What is the worst part about it - or is there a worst part?

Easy question. No hesitation. Seeing all the other designers is the best part. I feel as though I know them thru their social media posts and quilt designs. It's so fun to chat in person at market. (And the Moda party is great, too.) The worst part? The harried preparations in the weeks leading up to market when you only have a few weeks to make/quilt/bind/photograph/print brochures/plan a booth. A time commonly referred to as "market mania". A time when our loved ones recognize the glazed-over look in our eyes, the middle of the night list-making, and the last minute "I just need one more small project for the booth" insanity. Robert seems to do alot of yard work this time of year. Hmmmmm....
As crazy as it is, I always look forward to market.

Check in with these lovely ladies this week to see what they're up to and how their market prep is progressing.

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

Lisa's 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/

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

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

Cozy Quilts and Comforts Sneak Peek - Day 3

We're on our way to International Quilt Market in Houston and the anticipation is building. I'm sharing the quilts from my new book, Cozy Quilts and Comforts, with the quilt shop owners at market in a trunk show during Schoolhouse. They'll be able to see the quilts close-up and fondle to their hearts' content. I wish you could all be there, too! Instead, I'll share another project or two with you today.

Preorder your copy NOW!

Can you believe this quilt is made with 4-patches? Seriously. There are dozens of simple 4-patches in KT darks and tans sewn together in rows. The magic happens when you layer our KT Diamond in a single blue print over the seams to create this wonderful Kaliedescope quilt. Looks like you've worked for days, but it goes together in a weekend!

To make it even simpler, for the mini quilt, all the 4-patches are made with just two KT tan fabrics. The navy mini diamonds are fused on top after the quilt is completed, then topstitched as you're quilting. Who knew fast & easy could look so cool?

We still have a few days to go until the book is released at market. Watch for another giveaway soon!

Cozy Quilts and Comforts Sneak Peek - Day 2

We're on a countdown to November when my new book, Cozy Quilts and Comforts will be released by Martingale. I can't wait to go to market to hold the freshly printed pages in my hands. The color photos are beautiful and make our primitive KT Retreat space shine like a new penny.

Preorder your copy NOW!

This week's sneak peek is all about Stars - a Galaxy of Stars and Spinning Stars. Who doesn't love star quilts?

Our original Gallery of Stars featured Moda's precuts - a Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Pack plus border made the quilt on the wall using traditional piecing methods. For such a simple quilt, it really shines. My Layered Patchwork version on the bed has raw edge gold star points for faster, easier piecing. We still used a Jelly Roll and Charm pack, but opted for an assortment of KT tans for the large squares. Totally different look, still shining bright!

One of the other star projects is Shining Stars. By adding layered triangles to the corners of background squares, it creates a whirling, scrappy pinwheel star that's sure to please. A mini table runner option is also included in the book. Did you have a child-sized ironing board and iron when you were a kid? Who knew we'd love them just as much as adults? (Believe it or not, the green iron actually had an electrical cord to plug in and heat up the iron. I cut the cord off when the grandaughter figured out what a plug-in was when she was about 2 years old. How did we survive?)

Comment this week to win a signed copy of my book, Cozy Quilts and Comforts. I can't wait for you to see it!

Blockheads Week #33

Block #33 - Starz by Jo Morton

This week Jo designed a delightful star block with lots of energy. It looks like an exploding star to me. Love it! Kathy interpreted the traditional block in Jo's blues (left) while Joy went bolder with gold and navy KT fabrics. Find the links for traditional piecing and Layered Patchwork below.

Click HERE for Jo's blog and the pattern for Starz.

Click HERE for my Layered Patchwork option of Starz.

Question of the Week:  It's fall, Halloween is less than two weeks away and Christmas is in two months. Do you make seasonal quilts? When do you start making them? 

I love to decorate for the seasons - at home, at the store and at the retreat center. That's alot of pumpkins and holly! As for making seasonal quilts, I often coordinate the seasons with my fabric collections. My fall line comes out in September or October, but I'm sewing quilts in April to show at Spring Market. They're ready in plenty of time for all decorating. Christmas hits the stores in June, so I'm making those projects around Thanksgiving. I'm getting in the mood for Christmas, so it works out beautifully. But, just because I've made those seasonal quilts doesn't mean I'm able to take them home and cuddle with them. It could be 2-3 years before they're "retired" from traveling in trunk shows and hanging in the store so I can enjoy them at home. It's been long enough now I have a good assortment of seasonal quilts to display and decorate with in every space. I've been looking all over for a fall table topper I love and realized the daughter "borrowed" it last year. Oh well, time to make another quilt!

Here are the links to my other Blockheads buddies. Check them out!

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/

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

 

Cozy Quilts & Comforts Sneak Peek -Day 1

I'm soooo excited to share with you my new book, Cozy Quilts and Comforts, published by Martingale. It's my first collaboration with them for an "all projects KT" book and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. The crew at Martingale were all so helpful and supportive in this process and worked with me to see this book through my eyes - even to the point of coming to the KT Retreat to take pictures of the quilts! It's amazing how someone else can see the "coolness" of items you live with everyday and make them special for a photo. That's a BIG "Thank you" to master mind and visionary, Jennifer Keltner.

Preorder your copy NOW!

Over the next couple of weeks, before the book is officially released in November, I'll be sharing some of the projects included in the book. Many are traditionally pieced, but I've also included my Layered Patchwork method for simplifying piecing, as a bonus. I hope you enjoy the sneak peek of Cozy Quilts and Comforts. Watch for it at your local quilt shop and online at ktquilts.com.

It's only fitting to begin with my favorite quilt block, Kansas Troubles. I love the little charm quilt,  but have always wanted a red/tan/blue scrappy KT quilt, since my birthday is July 5th. A little gift to me! My talented KT piecer and friend, Kathy Limpic, made this wonderful lap quilt using a multitude of fabrics from several KT fabric collections. Love, love it!

Watch for more sneak peeks from Cozy Quilts and Comforts and a chance to win a signed copy for your own quilting library.

Blockheads Week #32

 

 

Block #32 - Dutchman's Puzzle by Betsy Chutchian

I read on Facebook (a freaked out reindeer relayed the news) there are only 10 more Wednesdays until Christmas. Yikes! Time to begin thinking about starting a list - maybe. Instead of thinking about how far behind I am already, I will bask in the knowledge that I'm caught up with my Blockhead blocks and almost ready for Market. One. Thing. At. A. Time. Breathe.

Betsy brought us a fun flying geese variation this week. So easy to make either traditionally or using my Layered Patchwork technique. Kathy used a more controlled color palette of yellows and blues for the traditional block, while Joy made it KT scrappy for her Layered Patchwork option.

Click HERE for the pattern - Dutchman's Puzzle on Betsy's blog. 

Click HERE for my Layered Patchwork option.

 

Question of the Week - When you went from making quilts for yourself and began doing it as a business, is there anything you wish you'd known ahead of time? Or was ignorance truly bliss?

I took my first quilting class, began working in a quilt shop parttime and started my business making small quilts all within a year. Truly, ignorance was the rule of the day. Robert was the one who supported and encouraged me to go big or go home - from making small quilts for craft shows, to selling quilt patterns to quilt shops, to going to Quilt Market, to partnering with Moda to design fabric. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. It's the best job I didn't know I wanted and I wouldn't go back for anything! I want to genuinely thank all of you KT fans out there. You're the reason I'm still standing/quilting and loving every minute of it.

Ironically, when I took a break to make a glass of ice tea, this was what I saw outside my window - 6 geese stopping by the pond to check out the bird feeders on their way south. Lovin' the country life!

In case you missed it, here's the KT Layered Patchwork (LP) conversion chart for flying geese. Enjoy!

Be sure to visit all the other designers this week. There's always something interesting happening with the Blockheads. 

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/

Blockheads Week #31

Blockheads Week #31 - Dot Dash - Lynne Hagmeier

I love a simple churn dash block but sometimes find my points fighting each other when I sew the blocks together. Solution? Have the block triangles float within the background so it creates it's own sashing, allowing each churn dash to shine with perfect points.

Kathy made her block traditionally with the connecting corner method (right). Joy used Layered Patchwork for a quick and easy Dot Dash block  (left). Two options, both super easy and fun to make!

Click HERE for the link for both traditional piecing and layered patchwork instructions for Dot Dash. Note there are 2 pages of instructions - layered patchwork, then traditional.

Question of the Week -Is there something quilt-related on your "bucket list"? A quilt you'd like to make, a show you'd like to see, a quilter you'd like to meet, etc.

I've been trying to free up my schedule for several years to go to Sisters, OR for their one day quilt show. It just hasn't been in the cards - so far. I've also wanted to go to Quilters Take Manhattan in NYC every since it's first year. Guess I need to block those dates off on my calendar and Just. Do. It. 

As far as a quilt on my bucket list - who can count them all? There are so many beautiful quilts out there, many by my fellow Blockheads, that I've purchased the kits for as I see them, hoping to one day find the time to play. Again, I need to make time to Just. Do. It.

What do you have on your bucket list that you just need to set aside the time to do?

Here's a favorite little quilt using this week's churn dash block. I started with 13 dark & 13 light Layer Cake 10" squares. Each light/dark pair of squares made a dark block and a light block. So fast, so fun, so easy!

25 Yard Dash (25 churn dash blocks)