Beginning next week is a class featuring the Dancing Stars Cotton Theory quilt.
This is a beginner Cotton Theory quilt and uses both of the two main joining methods – the Highway and the One Way. It’s 52″ x 52″ so it would make a nice baby quilt, lap, or throw. If you live locally, and would like to join us, please email me (lanarussel@gmail.com) for current openings and project materials list. Classes are on the first Monday and Wednesday of every month in my home studio. I have room for 6 in each session. Dates for this project are June 1 and 6, July 6 and 11, August 1 and 3, and September 7 and 12. Mondays are 1:00 pm – 4 pm, Wednesdays are either 9:00 am – noon or 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm. Cost is $10 per 3 hour session. Pattern is $12.
This is an easy one to cut out; I was able to get all pieces cut out, labeled, sandwiched, and pressed in one day. Lots of same sized pieces makes it super easy. I’m ready to sew!
If you come in June with all pieces cut and labeled, we can get right to the quilting because you piece and quilt at the same time!! If you are unable to get it cut out before then, please bring a mat and rotary cutter, so you won’t have to wait for the cutting table.
Hope you can join us to learn this fun way to quilt!
Last week I was able to finish a Quilt of Valor for my father, who is 95 and served in WWII. It is based on an Accuquilt pattern, Celebration Table Runner. I modified the pattern not only to make it quilt size, but also to construct it using the Cotton Theory method. Finished size is 60″ x 70.”
Dad’s Quilt of Valor frontDad’s Quilt of Valor back
I will be able to present it to him on Valentine’s Day. Can’t wait! He has NO idea!!
I upgraded from an Accuquilt Go to an Accuquilt GO Big recently and am loving it! I am appreciating the speed and accuracy of the cuts.
Interested in seeing a tutorial of just how a Cotton Theory Quilt is assembled, step by step? Here we go…
Step One -cut and label front pieces according to the directions. This is Bossa Nova.Cut and label back piecesCut and label batting pieces. Hobbs 80/20 batting is recommended. Cotton Theory makes great use of batting scraps.Piece the blocks as usualSteam quilt sandwiches front and back. The poly in the 80/20 batting adheres to the cotton fiber in the quilt pieces reducing the need for pinning. In this case the back piece is 3/4″ larger all the way around to allow for the 1″ seam allowance.Quilt pieces as desiredAll pieces quilted – crosshatching, outlined, straight line quilting using wobble stitch
Sew pieces together using 1″ seam allowancesFor One Way finish, cut one side’s seam allowance to 1/4″Seam allowance trimmed to 1/4″Double fold 1″ seam allowance over the 1/4″ seam allowance and decorative stitch
Since the quilt is reversible, the label goes on the binding.The binding is sewn on to the back side first and then decorative stitched on the front. side.
Completed Bossa Nova front. When you are finished, it’s already quilted!!Bossa Nova back
Hope this helps you understand the process a little better. Please don’t hesitate to comment and ask if you have any questions.
Hello! Super busy week, but managed a finish: my Bossa Nova cotton theory quilt. I wanted to complete this so I could have a complete step by step tutorial ready for my Cotton Theory quilting presentation for the south side Indianapolis quilt guild Thursday. I’ll post the same tutorial here in its entirety very soon, but next week is Houston! YAY! First time for me! I look forward to reporting on that experience, too! But, first things, first – my finished Bossa Nova…
Bossa Nova
I loved meeting the ladies from the south side guild!! What a fun group! Super friendly! My husband even commented that they were as friendly as Airstreamers! We meet the nicest people camping and now that he is helping me set up for my presentations, he will see first hand how friendly quilters are. We enjoyed meeting and talking with them so much that we both forgot to take pictures! Next time…
This summer the Indiana State Museum had a quilt exhibit entitled 19 Stars. Here’s their description of the exhibit:
“Indiana is the 19th state to join the Union; the state flag depicts nineteen stars. In anticipation of the state’s Bicentennial, this exhibit presents 19 historic star-patterned quilts selected from the Indiana State Museum’s collection along with 19 contemporary star-themed quilts created by some of Indiana’s outstanding quilters.
Stars were favored patterns in the 19th and 20th centuries and appear in many variations. The historic quilts in this exhibit span a hundred and fifty years of Indiana quilt-making, from the 1830s to the 1980s. In contrast, most of the contemporary works were created specifically for this exhibit, and incorporate the star theme in any number of ways, from overt to illusory. The artists’ techniques vary widely, from traditional piecework and appliqué to improvisational collage, layering, or richly textural thread painting.”
The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis, of which I am a member, thought it would be nice to have some members sit outside the exhibit quilting and available to answer any questions visitors might have about quilting or our guild. My friend, Bev, and I enjoyed this so much the first time we did this that we signed up for double duty. Here I am working on a Cotton Theory Charity Quilt.
My friends’ nephew went to China to teach English. While there he fell in love and got married. My friends visited China this summer to meet the new family members and wanted to take some gifts along for the newlyweds, Mom and Dad (in laws), and grandmothers. We decided placemats and table toppers would be easy to pack, so I used my PJ’s In the HoopHoliday Hostess pattern and made these.
Table TopperPlacematsTable TopperReverse side of one of the Table Toppers
I love this pattern. It’s amazing how it all gets sewn together while in the hoop on your embroidery machine.
Here are the recipients in China:
Newlyweds
Bride’s mom and dad
Thanks, Kim and Eric, for giving me the opportunity to make these gifts for your new family members in China. I’m so happy you had a wonderful trip. It’s good to have you back home.
A couple of weeks ago, Eleanor Burn’s sister, Pat Knoechel, spoke to our quilt guild. I was simply amazed at how similar their voice and manerisms are. It’s really uncanny. She is just as funny, too. They are not similar in appearance, however. I would never have guessed from just seeing her that they are sisters.
We enjoyed the many beautiful quilts she shared with us.
She graciously autographed patterns and books afterwards. A delightful presentation!
I joined the Turning Twenty Mystery Quilt Block of the Month last week and after I found out it was going to be stars, decided I would make this in red, white, and blue and donate it to Quilts of Valor. The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The Quilt Guild of Indianapolis recently had a presentation by this organization that was quite moving. Very impressive! I volunteered to be a presenter after hearing about what they do. Anyway, here’s my progress:
I love the confetti background!
My neice just gave birth to a 9 lb 10 oz bouncing baby boy, so I’ve started this quilt for Caleb.I cut half square triangles with my Accuquilt Go – so easy and quick! On the design wall…That’s my weekly recap! Take care til next week!
Last weekend I spent a lovely time with my bestie since age 8, Cheryl. Every summer we meet up at The Cornerstone Inn, a B&B in Nashville, IN, bring our sewing machines, projects, and wine, and have a wonderful time catching up with each other! The Cornerstone Inn is not your typical Bed and Breakfast. The hot breakfasts are buffet style with several choices every morning. Delicious fresh fruit is always in abundance. Homemade goodies are available starting at 4 pm and desserts in the evening from 7:30 – 10:00 pm. With all this available we find we only need to eat a late lunch /early dinner out each day. They are so accommodating that they have let us peek in each room to see which ones work best for us to set up our machines and sew. And if the chapel isn’t being used the weekend we are there, they let us set up in there and give us the key! The chapel is about 15 x 20 with it’s own bathroom. Couldn’t ask for more.
I decided to spend some time sewing a couple projects for myself for a change:
Trapezoid Tote by Indygo Junction
Austrailian fabric for the Trapeziod Tote
Beatle Bag by Abbey Lane Quilts
Fabric selection from my stash for Beatle Bag
We spent A LOT of our weekend perusing the 430 classes being offered at the Houston Quilt Festival because that’s our next trip together!! We are SO excited! Cheryl is retiring at the end of August and I’ve just been retired for a year, so this is our retirement trip together. Neither of us has ever been so we want to make the most of it. We wanted to take some classes together, but not be tied to feeling like we had to do that because of our different interests. We registered on Wednesday, the first day registration was open, and are both thrilled with our choices. Can’t wait!
I did make good progress on my projects over the weekend. I finished the Trapezoid Tote and made headway on my Beatle Bag.
Trapezoid Tote
Happy inside!
Exterior of Beatle Bag so far
Interior of Beatle Bag so far
handle, pincushion, and binding
In order to finish the Beatle Bag, I need to find a 2″ metal ring for the front of the bag. I wish they would have included this with the pattern, as they did the plastic zippered compartments. I have had a terrible time trying to find one. I have been to JoAnns, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Menards, and my local quilt shops. One of the quilt shops had a dark wooden one, but I think this bag is begging for a silver one.
It was a fabulous week with much chatting, planning, and sewing!
Take Care til next week and thanks for following me!
This is a beginner Cotton Theory quilt and uses both of the two main joining methods – the Highway and the One Way. It’s 52″ x 52″ so it would make a nice baby quilt, lap, or throw. If you live locally, and would like to join us, please email me (lanarussel@gmail.com) for current openings and project materials list. Classes are on the first Monday and Wednesday of every month in my home studio. I have room for 6 in each session. Dates for this project are June 1 and 6, July 6 and 11, August 1 and 3, and September 7 and 12. Mondays are 1:00 pm – 4 pm, Wednesdays are either 9:00 am – noon or 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm. Cost is $10 per 3 hour session. Pattern is $12.
