Daily Blog

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The Monkey Wrench Quilt block is fun, bold, and distinctive, but you need to make it straight. In this tutorial, Alex shows you how to get it right. Learn to make the Monkey Wrench Quilt block or add this quilt block to the pattern and have a wonderful wall hanging when the class ends. This block is part of the Sequoia Sampler Remix pattern that Alex has been demonstrating. You can purchase the pattern below.

She has tips and tricks in this LIVE quilt tutorial. BUT you don't have to be there LIVE, it's all recorded (it's just more fun LIVE so you can chat).

Alex is LIVE on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 10am PST, 1pm EST, & 6pm London time.     

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Alex talks with Amanda Murphy about her new book, The Ultimate Guide to Rulerwork Quilting.

In their talk, Amanda shares some machine quilting tips, including: 

1. How to hold a ruler. (It's different for domestic vs. longarm)
2. Should you keep going or stop a lot?
3. Why you want to turn off hover mode.
4. There are 3 different ruler heights. What are they?

Alex enjoyed her talk with Amanda Murphy and so will you.

Watch Amanda here at TQS in Show 1312: Just in Time! Perfect Projects for the Holidays.

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Becky calls this her Baby Bullseye even though it still measures 40" x 40".

It can be found in Bullseye Quilts from Vintage to Modern: Paper Piece Stunning Projects. Though the results look complicated, expert teacher Becky walks you through how to tackle the construction, so you won’t believe how simply and easily they go together.

Learn more about Bullseye quilts with Becky Goldsmith in Show 2401: BOM 2019 - Sizzle.

BabyBullseyebyBeckyGoldsmith - 36 Pieces Non-Rotating

BabyBullseyebyBeckyGoldsmith - 100 Pieces Non-Rotating

BabyBullseyebyBeckyGoldsmith - 289 Pieces Non-Rotating

BabyBullseyebyBeckyGoldsmith - 36 Pieces Rotating

BabyBullseyebyBeckyGoldsmith - 100 Pieces Rotating

BabyBullseyebyBeckyGoldsmith - 289 Pieces Rotating

Original Photo: Mary Kay Davis

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 Simply Color: Orange by Vanessa Christenson. Image courtesy of V and Co.com.

As we continue our study of color, we begin with Monochromatic: the first of Five Color Plans found in nature. Monochromatic literally means 'containing or using only on color.' The Monochromatic color plan creates a sense of simplicity, calm, harmony and relaxation. It can also read as very sophisticated. Considered the most difficult of the five plans, understanding and working in a Monochromatic color family takes discipline and real focus. Let's say that you love the color orange and want to make a quilt in this color plan. Staying within the orange range means that no other color or neighboring color such as yellow-orange or orange-red may be used in your quilt.

On the surface this might sound simple, because you have a huge fabric stash, and orange is one of the largest collections within your stash. But, when you look at the Essential Color Wheel (below) it quickly becomes evident why most quilters avoid this plan. Do you notice how few options there are for using just orange in the wedge? Not so easy now, is it?

The trick to keeping a quilt from becoming visually flat is to use as WIDE a range of Tints, Tones, Shades and pure Orange as possible. Hand-dyed fabrics, with their subtle nuances, offer the quilter the widest range when it comes to working in a monochromatic plan. The old addage, "If five fabrics are good, then ten are even better", is a good thing to remember when building a fabric grouping.

To keep your quilts from looking flat or boring, let the Ultimate 3-in-1 Color Tool do the work for you when culling fabric from your stash or at a quilt shop. Each of the twenty-four pages features not only the pure color, but also the tints, shades and tones of that pure family. So all you need to do is hold the card up to the fabric you are considering to determine if it fits within your monochromatic plan. Think in terms of quantity.

Blue Blade by Grace Errea (Show 1303: Discover the Rewards of "Value-Based" Quilting)

 Easy Monochromatic color plan tips:

• Use a wide range of tones, tints and shades included with the focus color to keep the overall impression from appearing boring.
• Hand dyed fabrics give you the most range within a color family.
• Add visual interest with a variety of textured prints (dots, stripes, swirls, organic shapes, etc.).

Let's look at a number of excellent monochromatic color plan examples:

   
Wish Upon A Star by Cindy Needham. (Show 202 & Show 1606). Quilted Elegance by Rami Kim (Show 607).

The Value of Violet by Margaret Solomon Gunn. (Image TheQuiltShow.com)       Prairie Silk by Agnes Stadler, Ann Stadler, Ann Solinski,    Debbie Wanzer, Elizabeth Richards, Katie Cox. (Image from QuiltCon.com)

Sunny Disposition (Image courtesy of Laurie Ceesay).  Honeycomb (Image courtesy of Kelly D. Young).

    
  In The Act by Elaine Quehl.                                   Crop Circles by Debbie Jeske (Image courtesy of Debbie Jeske).
   

Shape Study 26 by Erin Wilson. (Image courtesy of Erin Wilson)

Plus Mob by Valori Wells (Show 405 & Show 2605) [Image courtesy of Valori Wells].   
 

 
Homage by Debbie Jeske with Bee Sewcial (Image courtesy of Debbie Jeske).        Romancing Red by Michelle Jackson (Show 1002).

Practice Exercises:

1. Pull fabric from your stash to create one Monochromatic color plan, as in the example by Grace Errea above.
2. Using your collected fabrics, build any one (or both) of the blocks provided. To keep the focus on the monochromatic plan, simply paste the fabric pieces onto your worksheet.

Click here to download Monochromatic Exercise Block One .pdf file.

Click here to download Monochromatic Exercise Block Two .pdf file.

Click here for more topics related to The Art of Quilt Design program.

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If you have been a part of my world for a while, you will know all about the wonderful group of sisters who have been coming to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for years. They originally came with their mothers and then after her passing, continued the tradition. They were one of the special feature groups at the 2019 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. Getting together with them is one of the highlights of my quilt show week...but alas, this year we will be missing each other. I was so happy to receive a photo via text that Robin's (one of the sisters) son Aaron painted of the Three Sisters (mountains) with quilts on display...absolutely beautiful! I am looking forward to the 2021 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show!!!! And to meeting up with the Twisted Sisters.

 

 

Quilts have throughout history represented comfort, resourcefulness, heritage, and safety. And, they have been know to carry secrets and stories between their layers. Depending on what is going on in our world, quilters have used this art form to make a statement or share thoughts. As with all art there can be an overt message or a hidden message. I have been known to include hidden words quilted into the design that maybe the receiver may discover or not. This history was presented again when I visited The Stitchin Post. They opened a couple of days ago under strict COVID guidelines and for limited hours. Putting on my mask and gloves I headed over to remember the smell and feel of fabric. I was going to look for a piece of backing fabric and certainly didn't intend to do any "unintentional" shopping...if you know what I mean, lol. But, as I walked in the door I got a message and a bit of love hanging front and center.

 

 

Hugs...I needed one so bad...I wanted to give a hug to complete strangers just to remember what it felt like! And so, although I didn't intend to, I bought the pattern because I know this pattern carries a message that we all need to pass on!

 

 

Stay tuned and travel along with us on Quilt Roadies.

Click here for Anna's blog.

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Like a Girl is an improv quilt that was made to encourage a positive attitude in girls. The group that made this quilt wanted to make a statement, and we love the words of encouragement they chose to do just that.

Like a Girl by Lorna Costantini of the Niagara Modern Quilt Guild and others won Judge's Choice, Group & Bee Quilts, sponsored by Modern Quilt Guild, at QuiltCon 2020.

Pieced With: Stephanie Baisley, Jennifer Dyck, Effie Faubert, Dorothy Holdenmeyer, Heather Salter, and Tara McInerney

Quilted By: Machine quilted by Dorothy Holdenmeyer. Handed quilted by Lorna Costantini

Photos by Mary Kay Davis

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The Traditional approach to the Square in a Square quilt block will be taught by Alex LIVE today. She has some tips and tricks for you. The lesson is for everyone, but if you want to learn and have a wonderful wall hanging when you are done, download the PDF from the store below.

Alex is LIVE on Wednesday May 13 at 10am PST, 1pm Est, & 6pm London time.

To chat, click here. 

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Can you pick out Alex in this quilt?

Here is Grandmother's Legacy by Gail E. Thomas. It was hand painted front and back on batik fabric, stenciled, has threadwork and free-motion quilting, hand embroidery, and beadwork in crystals, glass, silver, and pearls. Gails says it was, "A joy to work on."

Gail's quilt won First Place in the Pictorial Quilt category at the NQA Quilt Show in Columbus, Ohio in 2009.

Click here to see the quilt and learn more about it.

Grandmother's Legacy - 35 Pieces Non-Rotating

Grandmother's Legacy - 99 Pieces Non-Rotating

Grandmother's Legacy - 300 Pieces Non-Rotating

Grandmother's Legacy - 99 Pieces Rotating

Grandmother's Legacy - 300 Pieces Rotating

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Kristie Jarchow and the Lincoln Modern Quilt Guild were inspired by "Japandi, a mix of the Japenese design aesthetic of wabi-sabi: finding beauty in the imperfect and the Scandi aesthetic of hygge: intentional intimacy or comfort."

Japandi by Kristie Jarchow of the Lincoln Modern Quilt Guild and others won Third Place, Group & Bee Quilts, sponsored by Modern Quilt Guild, at QuiltCon 2020.

Pieced With: Liz Thanel, Jennifer VanDyke, Judy Crockett and Phyllis Higley

Photos by Mary Kay Davis