Moda Blockheads II

Block #42 - Around the Corner by Carrie Nelson

A square in a square in a square in a square in a 9-patch in a 9-patch. That would be a great name for this block! Carrie offers us a chance to practice adding triangles to all four sides of a square and see if it is still square. An accurate 1/4" seam allowance and careful pressing go a long way to making this block perfectly perfect.

Find the instructions for Around the Corner HERE.

I'm using the red/tan/blues from my new KT Favorites III fabric collection for my Blockheads II blocks. Loving how it's turning out! I'll be showing more of the fabrics and projects soon.

See what everyone else is doing this week:

On Meadowlark Pond - Coming Soon!

KT's newest fabric collection, On Meadowlark Pond, is coming soon to a quilt shop near you. We're looking for a mid-February arrival of bolts and precuts with a colorful breath of spring in KT's freshest colors yet.

Click HERE to download the chart of prints and fabric numbers. To read this SKU chart, the print number is on the left side with the color number across the top. If you're looking for the main print for On Meadowlark Pond in black, it's #9590-19 (print#-color#). Print and keep for a handy wish list.

The featured project for this collection is Meadowlark's Song. One of Robert's collections is bird feeders, so we are never without the songs of nature around our yard. The meadowlark's melody is a favorite. Traditional piecing and strategic color placement create a dynamic quilt that sings spring every day in your home. Patterns & kits are available as soon as fabric arrives.

Win a Meadowlark's Song pattern by commenting here.

Thanks to everyone who follows along with my blog. I love hearing from you and appreciate your input. What do you want to see from Kansas Troubles in the future? What's your favorite KT fabric or pattern? Where's your favorite place to buy KTQ?

Looking forward to Sunshine

KT Winner

 Congratulations to this week's winner:

Angelia Lanouette - Oh my, you have been very busy! I grew up in New Hampshire and I am very familiar with the beautiful beaches of Maine. Ogunquit and Kennebunk are some of our favorites. Further up the coast is Bar Harbor and the absolutely beautiful Acadia National Park where you can be the first to see sunrise from top of Cadillac Mountain...the highest point on the US east coast. I think I need to check out the Elephant's Trunk flea market on our way home from our yearly trip to NH to visit family. :)

I'd love to hear any tips or tricks you have for keeping your sewing room organized. I've promised myself I'm not moving anything into my new studio unless it really is part of my productive work process (or fun inspirational decor :). Anyone else have a problem with collecting charms/fat quarters/mini charms just because they're so darn cute? Now, I have to collect cute containers to store them in, too! Oh well, the best laid plans...

2019 Begins with a Road Trip - Heading South

Robert and I are off to several locations for trunk shows & workshops the first 10 days of February. We'll start at The Cherry Pit Quilt Shop in Sevierville, TN on Jan.31-Feb1. The trunk show is Thursday evening with a workshop featuring Pumpkin Seeds on Friday. I think Jan has a few openings for both, so be sure to call for reservations. I'd love to meet you! The Cherry Pit - 865-453-4062.

We have the whole weekend to play and plan to celebrate our 32nd anniversary (Feb.13) while we're gone. The weather has been so cold and snowy in Kansas, we're tickled to be heading to warmer temperatures. Just sitting outside will be a treat!

On Feb. 5 & 6th, we'll be visiting The Villages Quilt Guild. Trunk show is at the guild meeting Tuesday evening with a workshop on my 30-Something lap quilt on Wednesday. Still a couple spots available for the workshop and always room for more at the guild meeting. We'd love to see you there!

We travel down the road to Country Roads Quilt Guild in Ocala, FL on Thursday evening for a trunk show at their guild meeting. I'll teach a simple way to piece the traditional Hunter's Star block featuring a Honey Bun and our KT Diamond Template for a Rustic Stars lap quilt in the workshop on Friday. Contact the guild at www.crq.com for more information.

While I'm gone, comment to win a Pumpkin Seeds booklet AND a Prairie Cactus booklet. Do you like to take classes? Does your guild offer classes?

Would you like me to come to your guild to teach? I'm filling up my 2020-21 calendar quickly. Please contact me for information on KT workshops/trunk shows.

Moda Blockheads II

Correction

After glancing at my phone this morning to check this blog post, I had this feeling that something about my Ribbon Star didn't look quite right. While computer generating the block, I had turned all the half squares. I like the "new" design, too, but don't let it confuse you. This is the correct block. It really does look like a star. The instructions are correct. Happy Wednesday!

Block #40 - Ribbon Star by Lynne Hagmeier

I can't believe we're on the last round of 13 designers & blocks counting down to 52. I'll have to find something new to look forward to on Wednesdays.

Ribbon Star is my last block for the Blockheads II series. I chose this block because it looks difficult, but is simple to piece. The story of my quilting life. With four star points, I deviated from my strict red/tan/navy color scheme for this project and incorporated a little green, too. The fabrics used here are from my new On Meadowlark Pond collection, due in quilt shops next month. Follow my blog for all the new quilts & patterns arriving soon.

Click HERE for the instructions to Ribbon Star. 

Thanks to everyone for following us through another year of Moda Blockheads. I can't wait to see the quilts on Facebook. Check out the other 12 designers' blocks this week.

A Look Back at 2018, Part #2

KT Winner

 cthoss January 7, 2019 at 6:21 PM

My year of quilting is usually accomplished in clumps. During the school year, I have a lot less time to quilt, but the in the summer, I tend to binge sew. This summer, I completed quite a few WIPs. The start to this school year was most challenging when I switched grade levels after 2 weeks. The craziness continued until Thanksgiving, when I was able to finally sew again. Over the holidays, I was able to complete 2 small projects. I have 2 KT layer cakes and one jellyroll waiting to be quilted; hopefully I can squeeze in some quilting on the weekends. If not, I can aim for Spring Break. Thanks for the chance to win! 

  

Congratulations! Teachers deserve our support and I'm happy to support your habit, cthoss, with a box of KT scraps. Please email me at lynne@ktquilts.com with your shipping information. Robert will send your box right out.

 I enjoyed reading all of your sewing highlights from last year. I can so relate to many of you, trying to find time to sew just for fun while life - jobs, family, health - gets in the way. I'm blessed with good health, a job I love even when it's crazy busy and a family who supports my unconventional schedule. Let's all raise a fat quarter to a new year of finishing the old and starting some exciting new projects, too.  

 

2018 in Review, Part #2

Last week, I shared a bit about how the first half of last year shaped up with travel, fabric collections and quilts.  By the second half of the year, we gained momentum and the year seemed to finish in a flash.

July was cool and rainy, all the way to Maine for the annual state quilt show. My grandaughter, Aleece, accompanied me on a 12 day trek from Kansas to Maine, stopping along the way at some interesting places. We both loved Casey, IL, home of BIG things - the largest rocking chair, tree house, mailbox, wooden shoes, golf tee, pencil, birdcage and knitting needles, to name a few.

Aleece in a giant birdcage.

We stopped in Lancaster County, PA to visit quilt shops, bakeries and all things Amish during a couple days of torrential rain and flooding.

After arriving in Maine, we spent two glorious days in sunshine on the beach in Ogunquit. The beach was a treasure trove of sea shells, unlike the ones we usually gather in Florida. Rows of quaint little shops and eateries captured out attention after we washed off the sand.

On to the Maine Quilt Show. I taught 5 classes in 4 days with some of the nicest KT fans (stalkers?) from more than a dozen states and Canada. Thank you for a lovely weekend.

Our main goal on the way home was to stop at the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in CT, featured on one of our favorite shows, Flea Market Flip. Aleece loves to find old junk and transform into unique decor for her room. Truly a chip off gramma's block. We didn't find alot, but had a great time hunting for treasure at several stops on the way home.

August was spent quietly at home to unpack, regroup and finish up the projects for my fall collection, Nature's Glory. Pumpkin Seeds is a reboot of an oldie from KT Stash Society, reworked to include instructions for my Layered Patchwork technique.

Pumpkin Seeds booklet with 3 projects.

September was busy traveling again, first to Appleton, WI to visit the Darting Needles Quilt Guild, then to San Diego for an Eternity Quilt Event with Diane Erikson. Jenny Doan and I shared workshops with 130 quilters for 3 days in sunny California. Not a bad place to get away for work. I taught a version of Fresh Cut Flowers called Fresh From My Garden.  I was able to alter the original quilt enough to focus more on piecing techniques with a few less appliques. The ladies loved it!

October was full of preparations for Fall International Quilt Market in Houston. I showed my new fabric collection, On Meadowlark Pond (due in stores next month) and several quilts featuring my classic spring palette of KT fabrics. I'll show each quilt individually soon with lots of giveaways, but here's a look at my booth at market. On Meadowlark Pond (LC) hanging in the background, Bird Watching (JR) quilt on the right in two colorways, Meadowlark Baskets (charm quilt) hanging on the bird cage holder to the left, and projects from my book Cozy Quilts & Comforts on the chair and table.

On Meadowlark Pond at Fall Market

I was thrilled to be included in the American Patchwork & Quilting's 25th Anniversary celebration at market. They had a wonderful display of cover quilts from the past 25 years. My Rustic Stars quilt made the cut. I love that the diamonds for the star points are stitched on top using my Layered Patchwork technique with a Honey Bun and our KT Diamond template. It's a fun quilt to make in any colorway.

KT's Rustic Stars quilt featured in APQ 25th Anniversary display.

The year ended with more remodeling than quilting going on. If you follow my blog, you saw we tore out the walls of what used to be my office at the store to make room for more fabric and displays. Boxes and boxes of stuff are now stored in my sewing room - until my new studio is ready. I dug through a few more boxes looking for a particular item (that is not wanting to be found) and came across these chunks from Nature's Glory. They're more than a Layer Cake, so not really in the scrap catergory, but it all needs to go. Comment to win this Nature's Glory pack before I am swallowed up by boxes, please! Next week, stay tuned for a look at KTQ in 2019.

KT & Friends II - Hamilton, MO

KT & Friends Retreat II

Have you heard? I'm throwing a party with two of my favorite designer friends - actually three - Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Co, and Barb & Mary of Me & My Sister Designs. They're three of the most innovative and energetic ladies I know. And you're invited!

The first ever KT & Friends Retreat is June 19-22, 2019, at the home of Kansas Troubles Quilters in Bennington, Kansas. We're sold out for June 2019, but contact our Retreat Coordinator below to be on our email list for info on future events.

While at Fall Market in Houston last October, I shared the good news about the June retreat selling out in a matter of weeks with my three designer friends, and they unanimously said, "Let's do another one!" In brainstorming ideas for venues, Jenny suggested coming to her hometown of Hamilton, Missouri where all the magic of Missouri Star Quilt Company happens. After coordinating our calendars (which was something of a miracle), we settled on October 2-5, 2019 for a second retreat this year.

Our 3-day retreat will be held at the new Hamilton Inn and Retreat Center. You'll enjoy a new state-of-the-art quilting space with individual sewing tables, irons & cutting mats for every 8 quilters, and great lighting. In addition, each designer will teach a lap quilt and a small project, plus share their quilts and stories in a trunk show. All fabric, thread and patterns for workshops are provided, plus lots of goodies. Continental breakfast & evening meals are included; lunch on your own. Retreat cost is $695 per quilter. Lodging is available in Hamilton at an additional cost. See our registration form HERE.

For more information, contact Kathy Limpic, Retreat Coordinator at krlimpic@gmail.com or call 816-377-9699.

Moda Blockheads II

Block #39 - Bordered Granny by Corey Yoder

Don't you just looove half square triangles? If so, you're in luck this week. You can make 60 of them for Corey's block. The payoff? A big and beautiful 24" square that will be a feature in the quilt. I just received my new KT Favorites 2019 collection, so many of the prints in this block are from this line, available at your local quilt shop in May. I can't wait!

Here's the LINK to Corey's blog for instructions to Block #39 - Bordered Granny.

A Look Back at 2018

2018 in Review, Part #1

I enjoy reading other designers' blogs this month, listing all the wonderful things they made last year. Day to day, it doesn't seem I finish as much as I actually do. After looking back over the past year, I feel pretty good about what the KTQ team accomplished.

I spend more time on the computer - designing, scheduling events, social media and paperwork - than I do sewing. One of my resolutions this year (like last year) is to spend more time playing with fabric. I'm so thankful for my piecers/quilters (especially Kathy Limpic), our knowledgeable employee, Joy Johnson, at the store and, my husband Robert, who wears several hats for the business, including bookkeeper, shipping, managing the store and coordinating retreats. It wouldn't all get done without teamwork.

January is pretty quiet at the store so it gives us the opportunity to do inventory and maintenance (mostly Robert). While I was putting the finishing touches on the project & instructions for two quilting cruises, Robert and Joy were cutting & packaging 200+ kits and goodie bags.

Through the Year Again

January also brought boxes of my new book, Cozy Quilts & Comforts. I had been working on the 18+ projects for this book most of 2016-17, so it was a pleasure to have it officially premiere at market late last year. Thanks so much to Jennifer Keltner and everyone at Martingale for putting together a collection of projects I love in such a beautiful way. 

Cozy Quilts & Comforts

 
February & March found us at sea for 2 weeks of quilting classes with 100 quilters each week. I shared my simplified Layered Patchwork technique for this updated Through the Year Again wall quilt. It features four button-on quilted squares to change up for the seasons. So fun and easy with our precut fusible appliques, KT Kut-ups. We sailed the Eastern Caribbean on water as smooth as glass, then the Western Caribbean with bumpy waters and missed ports. But did we care? Nope, we're below deck sewing!

FYI: Jenny and I have a few spaces left on our quilting cruise this year. We don't have another cruise planned next year, so get on board now. For March 16-23, 2019 Quilting Cruise, contact Lenore Deck at cruiselady@tampabay.rr.com or call 352-270-8658 for more information.

By the time we arrived back at home, my Fresh Cut Flowers fabric collection was already at the store, piled in dozens of Moda boxes. We offered a 6-month Block-of-the-Month program to piece and embellish our delightful Fresh Cut Flowers quilt in lap or king sizes. All of the flowers are KT Kut-ups precut fusible appliques for instant satisfaction.

Fresh Cut Flowers

The charm quilt for Fresh Cut Flowers is a favorite of mine, U-Pick Flowers. So quick to piece.
Love the mason jar of freshly picked wildflowers with button accents!

U-Pick Flowers

If you need a quick Jelly Roll project perfect for the guy in your life, choose one of the settings from Windmills & Fence Posts. The men in my family love and appreciate my quilts, but when asked what quilts they like best, I get alot of "fairly neutral", "graphic vs. flowers" and "flannel".

Windmill & Fence Posts - quick Jelly Roll lap & king quilts

April brought a trip to Dayton, Ohio to the One Stop Shop Hop. Such a great concept - dozens of quilt shops all come to one location for the weekend, instead of quilters running from store to store. I taught a couple classes and shared my story & quilts in a trunk show. I met some lovely ladies in Ohio and hope to return to visit again.

May brings Mother's Day, Graduations and Spring International Quilt Market. This year, Portland, OR was our host. I was not able to attend market, so I enjoyed staying home to work on the next fabric collection, Country Road Flannels.

June brought those soft, yummy Country Road Flannels to the store. As a bonus, we also have Country Road Flannel 108" wide backing to coordinate with this collection, which just happens to be our KT Special this month. Here are a couple projects from that line.

Country Road quilts featuring Layer Cakes

Flannel Days, Starry Nights - 5 seasonal colorways, easy lap quilt

Tune in for my review the rest of 2018 in a couple days. In the meantime, yet another box of scraps is waiting for a new owner. Comment on your quilting year for a chance to win.

Moda Blockheads II

Block #38 - Anchor Point by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings

Lisa's framed double star is fun to piece in any color combo. I chose to make the corners of the gold star (4-A's) the same color as the C's for a little bit different look. There are so many ways to play with this block. Use your imagination and post your block on Facebook.  

Find Lisa's instructions for Anchor Point on her blog HERE.  

 

KT January Special

KT Winner

Congratulations to the winner this week of a box of assorted flannel scraps:
Love the new space! We are planning a trip this spring that includes a stop at your shop! I can't wait. And a chance to win some flannel scraps is awesome!
Thanks for all you do to keep our projects so exciting!
Nancy
eddnancy@msn.com

Please send your mailing address to lynne@ktquilts.com and we'll ship it right out.

Thanks to everyone who commented. I enjoy reading each and every one. Glad to hear so many of you have survived remodeling projects. Stay tuned for updates on the new quilt studio. The weather is finally cooperating this week, so the concrete truck is coming soon!

Watch later this week for another Clean Sweep Giveaway.

KT January Special

As we begin the new year, how many of us have resolved to finish old projects? I have a few of my own that need to be quilted. That requires backing, so we have a deal for you this month.

All KT 108" wide backing - cotton or flannel - is on sale for only $16/yd. plus FREE SHIPPING! Click HERE to order. 

Keep in mind all of our fabric is sold by the 1/2 yard on our website. That means you'll see the 108" backing is $8 for each 1/2 yard. Do the math for your quilt and order accordingly, or call the store for with questions. Robert is at the store Thursday & Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm thru the winter until March 5th. Call 785-488-2120. (He's a mere mortal man, but he has the backing figurin' down to a science. :)