Circle in a Square: Reverse appliqué with pre-cut strips

Sometimes things work better if you "do it in reverse." With appliqué, anyway.

Close-up of the quilting on the Reverse Appliqué class project.

This week I rolled out a new quilting class [you saw a sneak peek of the project here] on Reverse Appliqué. Have you tried this technique?

"Circle in a Square" table runner.
Reverse Appliqué class.

I taught "Circle in Square table runner" at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop to a crazy-fun group of quilters that call themselves "Squirrels." The Squirrels have lots of energy, are eager to learn, laugh easily and bring chocolate cookie bars to class. What more could one ask?

Talking about strips sets and the reverse appliqué block.

We used the "Circle in a Square" pattern by my friend, Janice Pope, of Anything But Boring as the jumping off point for the class project, a table runner. Incidentally, all of the Squirrels used strips or yardage from fabric collections by Blank Quilting Corporation. (Way to go, Squirrels!)

Here is Helen Marie's mix of metallic jewel tones from the Spring Bouquet strip set.

Reverse appliqué quilt blocks using Spring Bouquet strips by Blank Quilting Corp.

Linda's contrast fabric was the hunter green panel from the Radiant collection.

Reverse applique blocks using hunter green Radiant by RaNae Merrill
for Blank Quilting Corporation.

Susan embellished her block with decorative top stitching. Her strip set was the green Color Story (20 strip package) from Blank Quilting. The delicate picot edge stitching mimics the tiny twinkling stars in one of the fabrics.

Decorative stitching enhances this quilt block. 

 Cheryl used one of Blank Quilting's Sumatra batiks for the contrast fabric in her blocks.

Preparing the block for reverse appliqué.

After working though one block, the Squirrels agreed that reverse appliqué was "a cool technique!" 

In the class, we also discussed design possibilities for strip-piecing the blocks, block layouts, and applications for using the reverse appliqué technique. Each student completed two or three appliqué blocks for their "Circle in a Square" table runners in class, so the projects are well on their way to the finish line.

Finished quilt blocks.

At one of the Squirrel's request, I offered ideas for quilting the table runner and used my quilt (below), a variation of the Circle in a Square pattern, as inspiration. The "Pralines and Cream" Fabrications strip set [Blank Quilting Corp.] and Eclipse turkey red solid was used for this quilt.

"Circle in a Square"

One of Blank Quilting's flannel wide backings (color: putty) was used on the back of this quilt. The quilting stitches sink right into this backing—leaving a soft-sculpted surface texture. This quilt was also the impetus for a new, intermediate level, free-motion quilting class called "Fillers, Spillers and Thrillers." (Stay tuned for more about this class.)

Flannel 108" wide backing.

Thanks to all the Squirrels for coming out to Pins and Needles for my new Reverse Appliqué quilting class. I had a great time and hope you did, too!

Reverse Appliqué students (from left): Susan, Cheryl,
Helen Marie, Linda and me at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop.

Score! Gingher embroidery scissors

Winner, winner, chicken dinner... I won these scissors—made by Gingher.

Gingher embroidery scissors. A perfect tool for doing reverse appliqué.

I attended the "Charity Quilt Auction and Christmas Open House" event at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop last month. The following week, I got a call from Stacy, the shop's owner, saying I had won a door prize. Yahoo! Last Friday, I picked it up—this fabulous pair of 4" embroidery scissors, made by one of the premiere manufacturers of cutting tools for needlework of all kinds, Gingher.

What a nice surprise. And so fun to crack open a box and use a shiny new sewing tool. This little gem is perfect for doing reverse appliqué (a new quilting class I'm working on!). The photo above is a sneak peek of the project. It uses pre-cut 2.5" strips. (I am the Strip Queen, after all.) Open… sort… sew… easy.

Thank you, Stacy and Pins and Needles Quilt Shop. I love my new Gingher scissors!

There's nothing like an on-site quilting class at YLS

Over the last several days I was surrounded by walls of colorful fabrics and threads, beautifully stitched and quilted fabric pieces, the hum of sewing machines, and above all, convivial and inquisitive quilters eager to hang out with like-minded stitching enthusiasts and add a new tip or technique to their quilting repertoire.

Intro to Free-motion Quilting class at MidSouth Sewing, Knoxville, TN.

Yes, you can peruse books, watch YouTube videos, and post questions to on-line message boards, but there's nothing like the experience of attending on-site quilting classes at YLS [your local quilt shop]!
Here are a few of the many reasons:

• You get questions answered on the spot. 
• Someone is there to troubleshoot and help you. 
• Fabrics, notions, tools are readily accessible if you need or have forgotten something. 
• You learn from the teacher as well as other students in class—in addition to making new friends who share your passion.

Free-motion quilting students at MidSouth Sewing, Knoxville, TN.

Your local quilt shop owners and staff are knowledgeable, supportive, encouraging and dedicated to helping YOU be successful in your quilting, sewing and embroidery projects. They seek out fabrics, equipment, supplies and educational opportunities so their customers can learn, grow and continue to enjoy quilting, sewing and embroidery.

This week I was fortunate to be part of the educational offerings at both MidSouth Sewing in Knoxville, TN, and Pins and Needles Quilt Shop in Chattanooga, TN.

Student free-motion work. 

Karen, the owner of MidSouth Sewing in Knoxville, TN, invited me to teach my Intro to Free-motion Quilting and Paper Piecing the Celebration Tree classes at her shop.

Piece by Numbers: the Celebration Tree class at MidSouth Sewing, Knoxville, TN.

Thank you to Karen, Carolyn, Kathy, Kathy (there are two Kathys) and the rest of the staff at MidSouth for coordinating the class logistics, classroom set-up and for being lovely and gracious hostesses during my visit!

Paper piecing examples and patterns were on hand in the classroom.

Karen also hosted a Fabric Party at her shop that featured the newest fabric collections from Blank Quilting Corp. and StudioE Fabrics.

A preview of upcoming fabric collections from Blank Quilting Corp
and StudioE Fabrics at MidSouth Sewing.

MidSouth customers previewed the new fabric lines and filled out their "Fabric Wish Lists" with choices from upcoming fabric collections, Fabrications pre-cut 2.5" strips, 5"charm collections, as well as popular blender fabrics and 108" wide backings.

Store customers previewed upcoming fabric lines.

Sample quilt tops, wearable art, tote bags and patterns showcased the fabrics and provided inspiration.

Sample quilt tops, tote bags and garments showcase current Blank Quilting Corp fabric lines
and popular pre-cut 2.5" fabric strips and 5" charm squares.

On Saturday, Pins and Needles Quilt Shop in Chattanooga was near capacity with two quilting classes—my Intro to Free-motion Quilting as well as a hand quilting class. 

Free-motion quilting students at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop, Chattanooga, TN.

Thank you to Stacy, the shop owner at Pins and Needles, for inviting me to teach Intro to Free-Motion Quilting—one of my favorite classes. Stacy always goes these extra mile for her customers. This time we were treated to a plate of delicious cookie bars… pecans, almonds, chocolate chips and other chewy morsels on a Oreo cookie crust. A perfect complement to free-motion, wouldn't you say??

Students working on free-motion designs.

Student samplers from my Intro to Free-motion Quilting class.

Along with having the opportunity to share my passion for quiltmaking, I meet a lot of quilters and make many new friends through teaching my classes. Here are some of my new quilting friends from this past week.

Class attendees from Intro to Free-motion Quilting, MidSouth Sewing, Knoxville, TN.

Class attendees Intro to Paper Piecing: the Celebration Tree
MidSouth Sewing, Knoxville, TN.

Many students comment on the take-aways they get from my classes. Here are a few of them:

• I didn't know I could combine different quilting designs on one quilt. Now I have some ideas.
• The explanation of thread and needle sizes was very helpful.
• I now have more ideas/designs I can use for meander quilting.
• I picked up some new tips for paper piecing.
• I'm glad you covered the other steps in the quiltmaking process. This was very informative and helpful.
• Great handouts!

A bonus for me when teaching out of town is sampling the local restaurant fare that my hostesses recommend. To accompany my pork Tacos Mexicanos (be sure to get the homemade, fresh guacamole), I didn't dare buck the "Wednesday night tradition" [per Kathy at MidSouth] of having a margarita at El Charro's in Knoxville.

The Tomato Head restaurant, The Gallery Shopping Center, Knoxville.

I also enjoyed revisiting The Tomato Head restaurant—this time at The Gallery Shopping Center location. The enticing homemade cupcakes in the glass case at the entrance where swirled high with lush frosting. The pasta salad I had for dinner had lots of fresh vegetables. However, even the small size of the salad was very filling, so my dinner companion and I passed on dessert this time. The whimsical fish-themed bottle-cap artwork on the walls was an added delight.

Thanks again to all my new friends who came out to join me in class! Visit your local quilt shop (YLS) and let the owner and staff know what classes and topics are of interest to you. And, leave a comment for me as well! We will connect and I hope to see you again very soon.

Intro to Free-motion Quilting classes

Good morning, Glories! This is a close-up of my quilt, "Sidewalk Surprise." It's free-motion quilted. Did you know YOU CAN DO THIS on your HOME SEWING MACHINE? Yep, you absolutely can!

Intro to Free-Motion Quilting class.
You can do this on your home sewing machine!

When I show people this quilt, they are amazed that the quilting was done on a home sewing machine and not a big, long-arm, computerized quilting machine. Believe it. It was. Really… on a domestic sewing machine. [I use a Janome 6500.]

Wanna learn how? I've got three "Intro to Free-motion Quilting" classes [using your home sewing machine] coming up in October and November.

Dimensional appliqué and free-motion quilting: leaves and background fills

October 23-24, I'll be in Knoxville, TN at MidSouth Sewing. The "Intro to Free-motion Quilting on your home sewing machine" is on Thursday and on Friday, we'll be working on the Celebration Tree in my "Intro to Paper Piecing" class. Call [865] 249-6381 to register for these classes.

On Saturday, October 25, I'll be teaching "Intro to Free-motion Quilting on your home sewing machine" at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop in Chattanooga, TN. Call [423] 668-8734.

On Saturday, November 1, I'll be at Chattanooga Sewing for an "Intro to Free-motion Quilting on your home sewing machine" class. Call [423] 899-3664.

Below (left) is a close-up of the free-motion quilting on the back of Sidewalk Surprise. On the right is the Celebration Tree, the project in the Intro to Paper Piecing class. 

Both of these classes are geared for the BEGINNER! No prior free-motion quilting experience or paper piecing experience is necessary. In the free-motion class, I take you from Step 1 down this exciting and liberating path to getting your quilt tops quilted using your home sewing machine. I know you have a holiday project or two you need to get finished. 

Left: detail of free-motion quilting
Right: "Celebration Tree," Intro to Paper Piecing class

Please join me! I would like to meet you, spend time with you in class, and inspire you to finish those holiday projects and gifts. Call one of these great shops TODAY and sign up for a class.

Binding Clinic this weekend

There are lots of options for finishing the edges of your quilts. What's a tried-and-true method? What's a quick method? What do I do if my corners are rounded? How do I miter the corners?

Come and get these and your other burning binding questions answered this Saturday!

Binding Clinic this Saturday!

I'll be teaching a Binding Clinic this Saturday, August 2, at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop. We'll cover the popular double fold binding method and a few other variations on this theme, as well as how to miter the corners and make that ubiquitous invisible join.

Call today to sign up for class! Learn several cool binding techniques and take advantage of the Pins and Needles anniversary celebration. It will be a great day—special sales throughout the store, food, fun and laughter… and they are giving away a Quilters Retreat (with a special incentive if you take the Binding Class).

It will be a binding experience! "Join" me.

Collaborating on the TN Row by Row Experience

Hooty Owl in the Pumpkin Patch
Free-motion quilting by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

This year, Tennessee quilt shops will be participating in the national Row by Row Experience. What is the Row by Row Experience, you ask? It's a nation-wide Quilt Shop Hop (and even some shops in Canada!), where quilters travel to participating quilt shops and receive free "row" patterns that they combine to make a row quilt. They can also win prizes. The Hop kicks off tomorrow, July 1!

In my travels as a fabric rep, I heard about this program over a year ago and thought it would be a fun event. I was excited to hear that the Tennessee shops are participating this year. The 2014 Row by Row theme is "Sew a Season."

One of the Chattanooga quilt shops, Pins and Needles, asked if I would help draft the design of their row pattern. How cool is that?!? Stacy, the shop's owner, chose to illustrate Fall—her favorite season.

Detail: Pins and Needles Quilt Shop row.

The design, drafting and creation of Stacy's vision for her Fall row quilt was a collaborative effort. The "Row Team" consisted of the fabulous pattern designer, Maria Flora, who wrote the pattern from her studio in Arkansas; I drafted the paper pieced barn; a local quilter, Debi, did the appliqué; Stacy did the other piecing and assembly. Then, I was thrilled when Stacy asked if I would free-motion quilt it. So here it is. What an amazing collaboration on an adorable row pattern! It turned out so cute, don't you think? (You should see it in person… and you can... stop by to pick up the pattern!)

Pins and Needles Quilt Shop 2014 Row by Row Experience row.

This row has it all: piecing, appliqué, and the red barn is paper pieced!

If you want to get a jump start on making this row, I'll be teaching "Paper Piecing the Red Barn" on July 1 and again on August 13.

"The Red Barn" Intro to Paper Piecing class: July 1 or August 13.

Stacy has kits available at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop for the row itself, and with a finishing kit (including the two borders, backing and binding!) if you want to make it as a table runner/wall hanging.

So, are you ready to hop???
The Row by Row Experience officially starts Tuesday, July 1. See the Row by Row web site for details, shops and how you can win fabric and prizes. Visit YLS (your local quilt shops) for patterns, kits and extra projects (I hear several shops have great things in store). Then hit the road to collect more.

There are even two Tennessee Row by Row BUS TRIPS planned that will leave out of Chattanooga heading east and north. Contact Pins and Needles for info about the Bus. Get quilting!

Appliqué colorful Spring blooms that last year 'round

Want to enjoy a garden filled with bright, cheery Spring blooms without getting dirt under your fingernails? Here is a solution… Appliqué it!

Beginning Appliqué class: "Fantasy Garden"

This whimsical little quilt is a beginner level class project for my Beginning Appliqué class. I'll be teaching this class—both hand and machine methods—this coming Monday, April 7 at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop. Won't you come out and join me in the garden?

Because if you don't have this in your yard…

Quince and forsythia blooms.

or these...

Daffodils and hyacinths. 

you can create and grow these lovelies! And they will bloom all year 'round… (I promise!)

Applique flowers will grow anywhere!

Use this lime Candy Dots backing fabric by Blank Quilting and your garden will always be green and perky.

Free-motion quilting (back view).
Candy Dots wide backing (color: lime) by Blank Quilting.

If you want to learn how to do free-motion quilting with your home sewing machine, check my class calendar for upcoming classes.

Beginning Applique class.

Quilting is in the air

Hand quilted Holly Leaf quilt for auction.

There's nothing like blustery, 30- and 40-degree temperatures to get you in the mood for quilts and quilting. I spent most of the day yesterday at the Open House and Charity Quilt Auction at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop demonstrating free-motion quilting. Here (left) is one of the top bid-drawers, a hand-quilted holly leaf bed quilt—very graphic with all solid fabrics and a contemporary red and yellow-green color palette.

I understand the bidding process is still going—due to late night news clips on Channels 3 and 12—so go to the Facebook page and email a bid before it's too late. Proceeds benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree and Make a Wish. Also among the quilts in the auction was a vintage Dresden Plate quilt top.

Antique quilt top and hand-quilted bed quilt are items in the Charity Quilt Auction.

There were lots of door prizes and special holiday sales on fabric. Quilting classes for 2014 are scheduled and there was a discount for early registrations.

Patterns for the Honeybell tote bag (left top) and quilt are available.
The Kaleidoscope runner is an upcoming class. 

The shop was decked in holiday finery and hot and cold refreshments were served. 

The handmade tree ornaments caused such a buzz, that the shop is taking orders for them.

Holiday decorations made by the shop owner and staff.

My demonstration table was right next to the cookies. (Oh well, someone had to be in that space, right?!)

Hot and cold refreshments were served.

And, the piping hot wassail hit the spot!

Quilting at sunset

Free-motion quilting at sunset.

One of the beautiful aspects of quilting—the actual stitching through the three layers of the quilt sandwich—is the dimension it creates. The quilting transforms a two-dimensional quilt top into a three-dimensional bas relief fabric sculpture.

I recently completed the custom free-motion quilting on this quilt for Stacy at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop. This picture was taken as the sun was streaming through my studio windows about an hour prior to sundown—or before the sun disappeared behind one of Chattanooga's mountain ridges. The low angle lighting highlights the dimension and texture created by the quilting stitches.

I'll be at the Pins and Needles Open House and Charity Quilt Auction this Saturday, November 23, doing a demonstration of free-motion quilting. I hear there will be door prizes, a retreat give-away, refreshments, demonstrations and a 10% discount on all sales at the Open House. Stop in, say hello and make a bid on one (or three or five!) of the auction quilts. The proceeds will benefit the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.

Oh, and Stacy will have this quilt on display, too. Be sure to ask her what part her husband played in the creation of this quilt. Here are a few close-ups.

Free-motion quilting: feathers and curly vines.

One of the blocks from this 6-month BOM (block of the month) project.

Inner and outer border (detail).

Center of the quilt.

Quilting stats: 
Three colors of Aurifil 50 wt. cotton (top threads); Bottom Line 60 wt. poly (bobbin); 5 bobbins. Quilt top: 66" x 66" (before quilting).