20 Years of KTQ BOM Week #14

Week #14 - Prairie Pinwheels

Our block this week is a variation of a double pinwheel block. I usually see this made with half square triangles, but I think utilizing rectangles with connecting corners makes it simpler and easier to piece. There's less cutting, no trimming to size and fewer seams.

I like the connecting corner method because you can adjust the diagonal stitching line on the C & D squares, if needed, to make the resulting triangle a perfect 90degree corner. Always finger press the square toward the corner as a test before trimming the seam to 1/4".

Select a tan background for all four blocks. I chose a tan tone-on-tone so the print would blend from one block to the next when sewn together in a row.

In addition, pick (2) coordinating darks, plus a tan print for each block. I selected a green for the B-rectangles for each block to have color consistency from one block to the next.

After adding the C & D squares on each end of the dark A & B rectangles, as indicated, you will have four of each matching DAD and CBD units. Sew the two units together to create a quarter of the block. When stitching and pressing, the most important seam on this block is the corner where the B and C seams are pressed open. This point will create the center point of the pinwheel. This seam, in particular, needs to be square and flat.

When the four identical quarters of the block are sewn together, the tan center fabric creates a secondary pinwheel in the center surrounded by the two dark pinwheels. I pin on both sides of the B/C seam before stitching to ensure the fabric doesn't move.

Make (4) Prairie Pinwheels for Section #4 of the quilt.

A pinwheel block is an easy way to add movement in a quilt without a lot of fancy piecing.

See you on August 15th for the next block in our series.

If you have time, check out my 3-day virtual retreat on the KT & Friends Retreat Facebook page. I posted (3) 45-minute workshop videos for the Bittersweet Sampler quilt and the other projects in our KT Retreat Box (KT July Special). You'll get a preview of the two new booklets coming out next week - All 'Round the Seasons with (6) Mini Table Treats and Stick a Pin in It with a dozen pincushions that are my version of seasonal fun. Even if you don't make the quilt, there are lots of piecing tips, Aurifil thread information and more!

Stay tuned for news about our Pincushion-a-Month Club and the new Mini Table Treat for the Seasons Club on August 1st.

20 Years of KTQ Week #13

Week #13 - Plum Star

I am tickled when a design plan comes together so star points floats. It gives a little extra breathing room when piecing, so you don't have to worry about cutting off the points. Plum Star is one of those great blocks. We'll add squares for the star points, center and corner blocks using the Connecting Corners method to create triangles. Refer to the HST & CC page included in your first shipment for more information. It's also available for download in the June 30th post.

The basics for Connecting Corners are:

1. Draw a line diagonally on the wrong side of the square. I like a fine line white chalk marker to mark on the wrong side of dark fabrics.

2. Sew on the edge of the drawn line that is closer to the corner you'll be pressing toward. This allows a thread's width for the fold for perfect corners.

3. Press toward the corner to check if the 90degree angles match up. If the triangle you press toward the corner is short or long, it can distort the size of the unit and make sewing units together more challenging. Adjust your stitching line if you're not happy with the results.

4. Trim the background triangle and the bottom triangle of the square for less bulk.

5. Press seam open. Use sizing to set the seams.

Make sure the star points and center snowball triangles overlap 3/8" to accommodate your 1/4" seam allowance.

Plum Star units

And here's the final Plum Star block, finishing 12 1/2" square.

I'd like to make a lap quilt with this block, too. Hmmmm, if I start with a Layer Cake for scrappiness and change out the center, the possibilities are endless! Watch for my version in an upcoming KT pattern.

Thanks for following along on my 20-year journey. See you July 30th.

Sweet Holly Scraps Winner

KT Winner

Congratulations to :

kupton52 - A Tisket, A Tasket....I would dance with joy if I could win this basket. It's one of the great mysteries of Life---why someone else's scraps are soooo appealing! Thank you so much for the chance to win. Scraps are great but KT scraps are the BOMB!

You're the winner of this week's basket of Sweet Holly scraps! I'd like to see that dance, now, please. :)

Thanks to everyone who commented. I'm still sorting and cleaning, getting ready to move into my new studio next month. Watch for updates.

Never fear, if you didn't win the scrap giveaway this week, it's not too late to order some Sweet Holly for yourself. Find the prints that are still available HERE.

KT Winner & Giveaway

KT Winner

Congratulations to the winner of our Cabin Sweet Cabin charm digital pattern and Christmas Cabin Honey Bun digital pattern. The goods go to:

Nancy L - I just ordered my first honey bun for a pineapple quilt, also a first. I love Kansas Troubles fabric and would love to make these quilts.

Nancy, please send your email address to lynne@ktquilts.com. Robert will send the PDF patterns to you ASAP.

Christmas is Going Fast!

Joy is cutting kits for our new Sweet Holly Christmas projects as fast as she can. We're running out of some of the fabrics already, so if you're interested in any of these kits, please order now. We'll have to start substituting borders later this week.

Christmas Cabin lap quilt

Christmas Cabin starts with a Honey Bun for easy cutting and piecing. The star of the show is the candy cane print for the block center. So sweet!

Shine Bright - Christmas lap quilt

A Jelly Roll makes Shine Bright so easy to piece. The sparkling stars make the Christmas prints shine.

Evergreen lap quilt

Evergreen is perfect for the holidays - and all winter long -  with a forest of trees surrounding a sky full of shining stars. A Sweet Holly Layer Cake offers plenty of Christmas scrappiness.

Comment for a chance to win this basket full of Sweet Holly scraps. Giveaway ends Friday, July 10th.

KT July Special

KT & Friends Retreat Box

I walked around a couple weeks ago feeling a bit down, then realized it was supposed to be the week of our KT & Friends Retreat here in Bennington. All of us at KTQ were so looking forward to hosting our quilters again. We're blessed that many of the ladies opted to roll their deposit over to next year and purchase the kits for the projects I was going to teach. It gives me hope that we'll be quilting up a storm next June.

One thing we can do now is offer our KT & Friends Retreat projects as our July Special. Both of the Kansas Troubles' workshop projects, plus a few extras, are included in the Retreat Box. It's a retail value of over $200 for only $165 with Free Shipping.

Here are the goodies included in the Retreat Box ...

Bittersweet Sampler 63" lap quilt kit + booklet (includes Pumpkin Sampler pattern)

Sweet Holly Mini Table Treat 17" round kit w/batting & backing + booklet with 5

more seasonal MTT in a Christmas tin

Star Spangled pincushion kit + Stick a Pin in It booklet with 11 more pincushions

3 spools of Aurifil 50wt. thread

Kansas Troubles' logo tin with a KT Mini Charm

Bundle of KT strips & scraps

We offered this box full of KT wonderfulness to all of the quilters who were attending one of our retreats this summer, either in Bennington, Kansas or Appleton, Wisconsin. We have a stack left just waiting for a good home.

When you purchase the KT Retreat Box, you will be invited to my online quilt-a-long for the Bittersweet Sampler July 21-23. I'll post several times each day and respond to any questions.

Here is a closer shot of the projects and booklets included in the KT Retreat Box.

Find the KT July Special - KT Retreat Box - HERE. Or, call the KT Quilt Shop to order 785-488-2120.

Thanks for everyone who has supported KTQ through this difficult time. The store is open for business by appointment. Robert will welcome you into the store as long as you wear a mask safely and follow social distancing guidelines.

20 Years of KTQ BOM Week #12

Week #12 - Spools

This week's block is one of my new favorites. I've used it in the BOM, on a pincushion and charm quilt. It's a fun block to piece. The only tricky part? The tiny connecting corners on the top and bottom of the spool. If you use the connecting corners guide in the BOM instructions, there's nothing tricky about it. It's all about precise marking, stitching and pressing.

Here's the page I've included with several of my patterns, including the BOM, on how I cut & piece half square triangles (HST) and connecting corners (CC). Find the printable version HERE.

Here are the Basics -

1. Mark the diagonal line carefully from point to point. The smaller the square, the more important it is to mark accurately.

2. Stitch on the drawn line; fold square toward corner to test for accuracy. If the triangle point is a bit short (doesn't match up to the background rectangle corner), stitch a thread's width inside the drawn line toward the corner for a better fit.

3. Trim the background and square seam allowances to 1/4". Press seams open for less bulk.

4. Assemble the spool block.

That's all there is to it! For more scrappy spool inspiration, I pieced 1/4" strips for the "thread" center in a couple of other projects. Sew What is a charm quilt that features scrappy spools and a single tomato pincushion for fun.

Sew What - Find it HERE

If you have the 20 Years of KTQ BOM pattern packet, you should be receiving the bonus pattern A Few Little Extras with the Spool Pincushion and two pillows.

A Few Little Extras - Find it HERE

And finally, introducing a new KT booklet, Stick a Pin in It, with a dozen adorable seasonal pincushions, coming in July.

Stick a Pin in It - Coming Soon

This booklet includes the tomato pincushion, a strippy flag, pumpkin, flying geese, flower, basket, star, candy cane Christmas and this spool pincushion, inspired by the original spool block in the BOM quilt. Each one takes about an hour to make and are great bowl fillers or gifts for sewing friends. Watch for Stick a Pin in It right here in a couple weeks.

All Wound Up Pincushion in Stick a Pin in It Booklet

See you on July 15th for the next 20 Years of KTQ BOM block. Happy Summer!

Sweet Holly is HERE!

The store is full of our Sweet Holly fabric and precuts - and they're going fast! Be sure to order your fabric or kits soon before it's all gone. Find it HERE.

If you're in our KT Collector's Club, you've received your Sweet Holly fat quarters, mini charm and charm pattern, Cabin Sweet Cabin.  Robert has been busy cutting kits for this sweet quilt with traditional log cabin blocks and a few candy cane appliques.

Cabin Sweet Cabin charm quilt

Shine Bright (on the wall, left) was our June Special. It's a fun and easy Jelly Roll quilt for the holidays. The Evergreen lap quilt (right) shines with a forest of trees surrounding a starry center (lap quilt 68" sq.). The runner is on the mantel, and the pillow is tucked on the chair with my Christmas Cabin quilt. Christmas Cabin uses a Honey Bun (1 1/2" strips) for easy cutting and piecing.

Below the mantel is one of our tried and true quilts, Twisted, in Christmas attire. Layered Patchwork and our KT Wedge Template make this quilt a breeze to make. Perfect for the kids in your life - young or old.

Comment to win a PDF digital patterns of Cabin Sweet Cabin and Christmas Cabin. Do you like to piece with Honey Buns?