KT Winner & 20 Years of KTQ BOM - Block #6

KT Winner

Congrats to our winner this week of the Through the Years charm pack and mini charm pack.

Karenjo -These day, it's even better to get something in the mail, UPS, FedEx☺️

Looks like you've been staying busy. I love your Spool Quilt and would sew love to win the charm/mini pack.

We'll be receiving the new Through the Years fabric and precuts this week, so watch for more giveaways next week.

20 Years of KTQ - Block #6 - Log Cabin

If you love a good log cabin block, I can't wait to show you some of the projects for my new Christmas line in June, Sweet Holly. Stay tuned for sneak peeks in the coming weeks.

For today, lets talk about Block #6 of 20 Years of KTQ. How are you coming along with the quilt?  As we've been making blocks, I've had a few calls about corrections. Nothing major, mostly math errors on my part. They're posted on the website ktquilts.com under Tips & Techniques. No corrections for this block.

Here is Kathy's Log Cabin block. It uses a mix of fabrics from the Milestones Layer Cake and the KT Favorites Fat Quarters. Obviously, for a 12 1/2" block, the last couple of rows have to be cut from the fat quarters. 

My main tip for piecing log cabin blocks, or any blocks with strips, is to measure after each round of strips is sewn. It's easier to adjust your seam width then than come up with a block that's too small. 

Press carefully, always toward the outside of the block, after each strip is added. Use the long straight side of your iron for less rippling and stretching. Spray sizing or Best Press is a must for a flat, square block.

Sweet Holly

What the heck, I can't wait! Here's one of the quilts from Sweet Holly featuring a log cabin block cut from a charm pack, Cabin Sweet Cabin. Traditionally pieced log cabin blocks are embellished with an applique similar to the signature fabric from this collection with candy canes, holly leaves, a sweet bow and button berries. It's a quick project to enjoy throughout the holiday season. Available June 2020. Watch here for fabric arrival and specials.

 

 

Winner & Giveaway

KT Winner

Congratulations to this week's winner of my new Star Cluster pattern.

lou -I hope to finish some of my UFOs; there are several projects calling to me. Also I need to work on our taxes, getting information organized to go to our tax preparer. I really like your "Star-Cluster" quilt. This is a great idea! Thanks for sharing this. 

Lou, please email your shipping address to lynne@ktquilts.com. Let us know if you want a printed copy or digital PDF of the pattern. Robert will happily take care of it.

I'm glad to hear many of you are excited to join me for the Star Cluster quilt-a-long in April. We're still waiting on the new Through the Years fabric, but it should be arriving this week. Always so fun to see the UPS truck back up to the door with loads of goodies from Moda. As soon as it arrives, Joy will be cutting kits for Star Cluster plus kits for Sew What, fat quarters, fat eighths, etc.

Here's my adorable little spool quilt, Sew What, pieced with a Through the Years charm pack.

I have one started - just for me - as soon as I'm done with my market checklist. Yes, even though Spring Quilt Market has been cancelled, we're all rushing to meet deadlines for the Moda playbook (catalog), designing quilts, writing patterns and sending kits to our quilters. No doubt there will be lots of quilt-talk going on in mid-May, even if we can't get together in Pittsburgh. Watch for peeks of my new line, Bittersweet Lane, and the quilts we're making with it.

To celebrate the new Through the Years fabric collection arriving SOON, I'm giving away a Through the Years charm pack and mini charm. How much fun could you sew with that? Comment to win. See you next Tuesday.

Star Cluster Quilt-a-Long

Stay Home & Sew

That's my mantra right now. We stocked up at the grocery store and are prepared for a couple weeks of no social contact. Although Robert and I just in our 60's, I'm more concerned about getting the virus and passing it on to my 86-yr-old Mom unknowingly. The healthier I am, the better prepared I am to care for her. Let's all watch out for each other.

The KT Quilt Shop is closed to walk-in customers as of today, March 17. Please feel free to call the store, place your order, and Robert will set it outside the door if you have a local quilting emergency. Otherwise, our website is always open and we'll continue to ship whatever you need to make your stay at home more fun and productive. After all, you can only clean so much.

Star Cluster Quilt-a-Long

If we're going to be stuck at home, let's have a quilt-a-long! My new Star Cluster quilt is one of my favorites. I love the assorted sizes of churn dash and star blocks and the scrappiness of the Through the Years fabric. We'll make one block a week for 6 weeks. That ensures we can cut kits after the fabric arrives later this month and ship them to you in time to start. There's no charge for the Quilt-a-Long, just follow along on my blog each Tuesday beginning April 21st. If you choose to use your stash, patterns are available at ktquilts.com as printed patterns to ship, or as a printable PDF. If you've already purchased the Star Cluster pattern, find corrections HERE. 

Want to win this pattern? Comment about your stay-at-home sewing plans to win.

20 Years of KTQ BOM

Block #5 - Garden Spinner

Correction: The last purple fabric swatch in the first row is 9611-16 9612-16 from the Milestones' Layer Cake.

I love the look of half square triangles (HST), but had trouble when I first started quilting getting them to come out perfectly square and measure the right size. I've tried several different triangle papers in the past, but I don't like to peel the paper when I'm done. I feel like I get the same results by adding an 1/8" onto the cut size, sewing a scant 1/4" seam allowance, pressing the seams open and trimming. My favorite ruler to trim HST? Quilter's Select. Their rulers are clear (no neon for me!) with thin black lines that are easy to see on dark or light fabrics. I also love the texture on the back that makes these rulers practically slip-proof as you're trimming along the right side and top of your HST. And now, they have little suction-cup handles so you can move the rulers even easier. They're great on the smaller square rulers when cutting HST.

Quilters Select 2 1/2" square + handle

Once you've made the HST for Garden Spinner, the next step is to sew them together with side triangles cut to the exact size. Always begin sewing from the 90 degree square corner of the triangles, not the points. Everything will work out much better. At this point, I like opposing seams for perfect intersections.

If you're having trouble getting the block to come out the correct size, check your seam allowances. If necessary, cut the A-purple and D-tan triangles a bit larger than it says and trim your block to size.

Have questions? Go to my Facebook page (20 Years of KTQ BOM) for more information and to share your blocks with other quilters sewing along. See you for Block #6 on March 30th.

KT Winners Part 3 & 4

I've really enjoyed reading all the comments on my 4 Part Series - A Week in the Life of a Designer. Feel free to ask questions anytime and I'll answer them here.

Now it's time to giveaway a couple patterns. Please reply to lynne@ktquilts.com with your mailing address if you're a winner. Robert will send your goodies right out.

The winner of the Cabin Sweet Cabin pattern for Part 3 is...
 PWhite - Oh my...what a fun job, and you do it so well! The storage drawers are to die for! The new line is definitely a winner.

Cabin Sweet Cabin charm pattern for Sweet Holly

The winner of the Star Cluster pattern from Part 4 is...
Karen in Ohio - Thank you for this information series on design. It has made me appreciate what you do and all that is required to be able to purchase your beautiful fabrics and patterns.

 

for Through the Years fabric collection

 

Don't tell Robert I told you, but we'll have the Star Cluster kits as our KT Special coming up soon!

 

KT & Friends Retreats Update

KT & Friends Retreats

Let me begin by shouting out a huge "Thank You" to everyone who has been so excited to register for our upcoming KT & Friends Retreats this summer. Our KT Event Coordinator, Kathy Limpic, and I are overwhelmed at the positive energy and outpouring of support for our events. Last year was our first big endeavor like this, so it means the world that you're coming back for more and told your friends about us. Would you like to receive information on all of our future retreats? Contact Kathy at krlimpic@gmail.com.

Bennington, Kansas Retreat

Our first KT & Friends Retreat in Bennington, KS last year was wonderful! Of course, those of who attended know that because YOU all made it so special. We had quilters from all over the country meeting and bonding over our mutual love of quilting. I'm delighted so many are returning this year. It will be fun to see my new/old friends again.

Our Bennington retreat this summer, June 17-20, was full with 100 quilters, but we've had a few disappointed ladies who've had to cancel. Work, family illness, husbands - they can all get in the way of our quilting fun. We hope they can try again next year, but in the meantime, we have a few openings for June 2020. If you've been dreaming about spending 4 days with Jenny Doan of Missouri Star, Barb Groves and Mary Jacobsen of Me & My Sister Designs, and me, this is your chance! I think we have some pretty cool projects lined up for you this year with our theme, Quilting the Seasons.

Barb & Mary always have such fun designs for us. This lap quilt is called Pom Poms and will surely brighten up your day! If you've never taken a class from these two ladies, you're in for a lot of laughter and good times. Don't they look mischevious?

My quilt is a Layer Cake project (lap 72"sq.) with classic little blocks nestled inside larger snowball blocks called Summer Sampler. I'll share my Layered Patchwork technique, but instructions are for traditional piecing, as well. You choose! We'll also make a fun Christmas table topper with my brand new Sweet Holly fabric collection. You'll be the first to see it in person.

Jenny is working on her quilt now, so we'll have a picture later this spring.
We're taking over our local high school, so come for some summer fun and Quilt the Seasons.

Appleton, WI Retreat

In August, we're heading north to cooler temperatures and Primitive Gatherings territory. Our Appleton, WI retreat is August 5-8 at the Red Lion Hotel. Rooms are available right down the hall from where you'll be sewing.

Your retreat fee includes kits for all 6 projects - plus lots of goodies. I will be teaching Summer Sampler. Barb & Mary are on board again with a sweet treat. Jenny will be cruisin' to Russia, so our good friend and fellow Moda designer, Lisa Bongean, will join us.

Here's Lisa's project for August, I Canoe, Can You? Her 66" square lap quilt is made with her yummy Moda flannels. It's the perfect time to start a quilt for fall and these big blocks will help you complete it in a flash. I can't wait to make this for our new porch. So snuggly! Lisa will also share her wool expertise with us while making an adorable small project.

Barb & Mary's Love Shack is so much fun to make - and they're delightful to learn from. They'll also be teaching one of their famous quick and easy fat quarter projects.

Need time to recharge? Learn something new? Meet new friends that enjoy quilting as much as you do? It's time, ladies. You deserve a retreat this year. We'd love to have you. Contact Kathy at krlimpic@gmail.com.

KT March Special

It's almost spring! Time to put away the winter blues and make something new for your home. How about a small project featuring Moda's mini charms? These adorable little precut 2 1/2" squares are so fun to play with. In fact, I have about a dozen ideas in my Crazy for Minis booklet. Many of the little quilts just take 1 or 2 mini charms, but out KT March Special is offering you 3 mini charms with our Crazy for Minis booklet for only $16 + Free Shipping (total value $32).

KT March Special

I used my Layered Patchwork technique to make quick work of stars, flying geese and more! By utilizing the pinked edges of the mini charms to layer and topstitch over a background square, we've reduced the number of seams, pressing, and chance for incorrect sized blocks. It also adds a fun, primitive touch I love. This is the perfect opportunity to try it!

Autumn Sky

Spring Geese

Summer Breeze

Playing with mini charms is a great way to create little quilts with big scrappy appeal. Order your Crazy for Minis booklet + 3 assorted KT mini charms today! Supplies are limited.