Star Bright Sampler Tutorial Begins

The quilt is built by adding borders to a 24 1/2" square center.  The Winter Birds began in class will need to be trimmed to the 24 1/2" required size.  The center strips were originally cut to be 24 1/2" long.  However, when sewn together, the width will need to be adjusted.  Measure the width of the Winter Birds center.  It may be off by as much as 1".  Divide the amount to be adjusted in half and cut half from both sides.  For example, if 1" too wide, cut 1/2" off of both sides.  Center will now measure 24 1/2".  Set aside and we will begin the first border of rail blocks.

RAIL BLOCK BORDER

12 fat quarters are required for the Rail Block Border.  

Cut two strips 2 1/2" by the length of the fat quarter.  

Subcut strips at 6 1/2". 

Cut 5.  Put the scraps aside to use for the Log Cabin block in the next border.

Separate the strips to mix them up.

Randomly sew two strips together 20 times.  Do not yet press.

Add one strip to a pair.  Press seams in one direction.  This is the Rail Block.  Make 20.

That is enough for today.  In the next post in two weeks, we will put rows together and sew to center.

Star Bright Sampler Tutorial

Beginning Tuesday, November 11, 2025, I will begin posting instructions on incorporating our Winter Birds project into my Star Bright Sampler quilt.

I will guide you step-by-step through the cutting and sewing of each border. There are eight of them.  Feel free to consider the quilt completed as you reach the desired sized quilt.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via text.

Thank you for allowing me to guide you through our winter break. This gives me an opportunity to stay on track and get back into being on the computer.  

See you next week.

Completing the Old, Beginning the New...

My tree/sunset quilt is quilted.  Interestingly, I have not titled the piece.  I usually have it titled before it is finished.  Oh well, it will come to me.

The quilting was somewhat minimal which tends to be my style.  I prefer all to be balanced.  As such, the sunset panels were done with simple straight line border quilting and stitch-in-the-ditch inside the panels and around the suns.













The tree panel has stitching to create motion, both in the tree trunk and in the background. 












The gold symbols were inspired and stitched in metallic thread.  Because of their abstractness, they are able to reflect the opinion of the viewer.






To bring in more texture, needlework is being added as the "tails" of the kite-shaped leaves.  The idea is to brighten up the piece a bit and draw the eye to the leaves without overpowering the piece.  These details are time-consuming to stitch and are not yet done.

Once complete, I will have the art quilt stretched on a frame, rather than completing with a binding.  Because of the dimensional aspects (that are difficult to see here) incorporated, stretching it will assist in popping those details.

Now I am on to my newest inspiration:  a butterfly quilt.  Butterflies have been a part of my life in many artistic forms.  The first published Quilt Whimsy pattern had a butterfly in it.  This will be the first stand alone, detailed butterfly I have done.

This art quilt was inspired in a vision.  I began it by drawing a wing on freezer paper.  The wing size is 14" x 17".

As I have not done this style of quilt before, I was a bit befuddled as to how to create the intricate black filigree.  My solution is to trace this wing, and its mirror image, onto fusible interfacing as shown here.  The interfacing pattern will now be fused and stitched onto the black fabric.  Once stitched, I will then be able to cut the spaces out.

Wish me luck.  I will share when I move to the next step.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Unfinished Art Quilt Project in Completion Stage...

This tree (without the leaves) was constructed in a Ruth McDowell class in 2008.  I immediately knew how I wanted to finish it but had not been willing to put the time in, until now.

Luckily, the original fabrics and the majority of the fabrics for completion were kept together all these years.  Work  was begun by appliqueing the leaves.  The applique technique used was turning the edges under and machine stitching with invisible thread.

In the original design, a panel of waning sunsets was part of the vision.  As the construction of the individual sunsets was completed, they seemed to call for more detail.  

One morning while lying in bed, I envisioned these leaves surrounding this sun.  I found the idea interesting and went with it.  As the first one was finished, the two other surrounding designs fell into place.  All details are embroidered with some light beading.

The art quilt construction is complete.  The quilting and some additional needlework details in the works now.  I will post again soon, another unfinished project off my shelf.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Single-fold Binding for Art Quilts and Wall Hangings

My quilting journey began making lap quilts, bed quilts, quilts that are everyday usable quilts.  As such, I was taught how to make a double-fold binding.  It never occurred to me that there was any other style of binding.  So as I transitioned into art quilts, I continued using the style I was taught.  One day, through another quilt artist, I came upon what is called the single-fold binding.

I now questioned the use of the double-fold binding and became informed that double-fold binding is used for everyday quilts used as coverings because that makes them stronger; they hold up better to the tugging and pulling done to keep the quilt on our bodies.  Single-fold bindings on everyday quilts tend to fray when used often.

Art quilts hang on a wall.  As the purpose is to finish the quilt and add a design element, there is no need for the double-fold binding, unless it is used as a design element as I do for some quilts.  A single-fold binding uses less fabric and is easier to manipulate.

Here is how I make a single-fold binding.

Begin by cutting the binding strips 1 1/2" wide.  The inches needed to surround the quilt will remain the same.  Sew the strips together in your preferred way.  Fold one edge of the stripped binding over 1/4" and steam iron the entire length of the stripped binding.

The binding strip will look like this.

Place the raw edge of the strip onto the front side of the quilt.  I begin my binding approximately 1/3 from the bottom edge and leave a tail at the beginning of 8" to 10" to join when the binding comes around the quilt and meets.

When sewn to the front, turn over and hand sew to the back with the needle grabbing the folded over edge.  If you would like to machine sew both sides, begin by sewing the raw edge of the back and flipping the binding to the front and then sewing along the folded edge.

And here is the finished piece, all ready for shipping in plenty of time for my sister's birthday (boy, is that unusual :)  Thank goodness for this UFO. 

Please share if you have another style of binding to use.  I would love to increase my reservoir of binding types.

This is my Show & Tell.  I look forward to receiving any photos you would like to share for Show & Tell.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Art Quilt Free-Motion Quilting

This is another UFO I began a few years ago.  It is a beautiful pattern by Toni Whitney, Poppies.  I am generally not one to use fabric kits but her fabric choices are perfect for the quilt is a gift for my sister's birthday.  Shhh...it's a surprise (unless she reads this post :)  You can find this pattern, and many other beautiful Toni Whitney pattern designs, here.












I had done the hard part of the pattern of cutting out the fusible web pattern pieces.  I fused the pieces to the background and here it is ready to quilt.  I LOVE to quilt more than I like to piece.  Having been an embroiderer, I know it has to do with working with colored threads and the flowing lines. I am sharing my art quilting technique here.












Free-motion quilting can be a bit intimidating to the new quilter.  I find that the most intimidating factor is concern that a piece will be flat and square when completed.  I have a few preparation steps that help to ensure a beautifully quilted piece.  When the preparation is well done, I am only left with concentrating on the fun of stitching.  Yay!!!

I begin by cutting my backing fabric and batting approximately 4 inches larger than the quilt top.  When centered and basted, that allows for 2 inches larger on all sides of the quilt top.  I spray baste.  I cannot say enough with how much easier this is than working with safety pins.  I have been using Sullivan's Quilt Basting Spray for years and find it to be the best.  I have tried several others but none that I have tried compare.  Spray basting is easy to do with small wall-sized quilts.  I do recommend having cardboard or a plastic tablecloth (what I use) under the quilt to catch the overspray as it is very sticky.  I also spray lightly as not much is needed (and I get less overspray).

Now the fun part of selecting threads.  When I began quilting (and for many years) I was a thread snob and only used cotton thread.  I got over that to vary the colors and sheen that I desired.  I tend to match thread to fabric fairly closely.  For this quilt, I selected the two green cotton threads for the stems, the purple  60 wt. polyester thread for the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, and the shiny copper polyester for the poppies.  The copper thread is darker than I would normally select but I wanted some drama added to the flowers.

With thread in hand I could now begin quilting.  On smaller quilts, I baste the edges of my quilt as shown here.  This keeps the quilt from shifting and keeps it square.

I begin the quilting by doing stitch-in-the-ditch in the borders.  This anchors the quilt to again keep it from shifting.  The purple thread was used for both sides of the purple border as seen here.

The quilt is now well secured and the real fun can now begin.

Quilting order is determined by quilting pieces that are behind others first or back to front.  The stems in the back were quilted first and I progressed to the front stems.  All of my stitching is fairly close together.  Close stitches look more uniform to the eye, whether they actually are or not.

I also do my best to quilt all pieces that require the same thread color so that thread changing is limited.  With the stems done, I then quilted the poppies as they are in the forefront.

With the applique quilted, it was now time to decide on what design to quilt in the border.  The trick to having a quilt lie flat when quilted is to have the quilting balanced throughout the entire quilt.  This small border might have gotten away without some quilting, but I had concern that it would flair.  With chalk I drew some stems.  I didn't need much quilting and this is just enough.

The quilt is now quilted, trimmed, and ready for binding.  Have you heard of single-fold binding?  That is the binding style I will use for this quilt.  I will demonstrate that next.

As I close, I share this saying on this metal placard in my quilting room.  It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Virtual Show &Tell for Quilts

We quilters tend to be a group that shares - shares ideas, creativity, friendship, and open hearts. As we are in this time of social distancing, our ability to share physically is now nonexistent. We can, however, continue to share virtually.  Therefore, I am opening this site to Show and Tell.  Here is the first Show and Tell.

SHOW AND TELL

This is an English paper piecing quilt by Go Stars!  She comments:  I'm making a modern flower garden quilt.  Here is a picture of the rows I've finished.  I just need to add more grey and join them together.  My kitties had to check out my progress.

This is inspirational just in the knowledge that it is hand pieced.  I'm impressed.  I love the kitties, too!  If you would like to share your photos, please send them to my email.  I will post them using your first name, your state of residence and any comment.  If you would like feedback, please give me permission to insert your email address.  I will post as photos come in.  Like a quilt guild meeting, if I have something to post (the program) that will be at the top of the posting and Show and Tell will come next.  My experience is that we are a community of open hearts.  Let's share as the HUGE family we've always been to inspire all to smile and feel good during this time of isolation.

Love and blessings,
Karri

How old is our our stash?

I have to admit that I have been quilting for 20 years now and have a HUGE fabric stash with much of it older than five years old.  I don't know about you, but I have had a difficult time letting it go.  I tend to buy new fabric to make a new quilt rather than using what I have.  In my case, I generally remember where every piece of fabric was bought and that holds many memories.  So how long should we hold on to our fabric?  I am coming to the conclusion that seeing selvages with dates of 2002 and 2006 is a bit ridiculous.  It's time to begin using it up.  I put that idea into play when needing a backing for Stars All Around. 

Generally, laziness, or need for speed, keep me from piecing a back.  I would much rather purchase a wide backing fabric.  With this quilt back, I decided to get creative.  As I prefer for my backings to match in fabric style and colors, my first selection was the remaining fabric used on the quilt top.  Whew, one fabric no longer in my stash :)  Stripes I love to use for bindings but this stripe is from 2006 and the colors work.  Another fabric depleted from my stash.  With those two fabrics in hand, I determined the pattern, selected a few more fabrics from my stash, and a backing was created.


Now the quilt is nice to look at whether from the front or back sides.

Previously, I discussed that I now incorporate embroidery into my quilts.  That is has become my style.  Here are photos of the embroidery done on this quilt.  While it doesn't stand out, the needlework adds another dimension that flows with the piecing and allover quilting.

Do you have any interesting ways to use up stash?  If so, please share with comments below.

Love and blessings,
Karri

Meadow Breeze Mystery no longer a mystery...

While we’re on the subject of UFOs, this mystery, Meadow Breeze, designed by Pat Sloan in 2010, was completed last year. I chose to make the quilt with a cotton background and wool appliqué. Here is the end result.

While working on this project, I began to appreciate the love I had early in life for the magic of thread.  That love of thread and color began in grade school as I discovered and began to embroider.  As a young adult, I turned to cross-stitching.  Once my quilting began around the age of 40, the laid the needlework aside for the sewing machine.  Picking the needle back up and putting it in my hand let me know how much this was a part of my creativity.

Another revelation I had was about slowing down to enjoy that which I loved.  As this quilt was a mystery divided into sections, I took each block separately, sat down with it, and allowed it to speak to me.  By keeping focused on only the one block and seeing that as the end all for the moment, I relaxed and had fun.

I challenged myself to use as many stitches as possible.  Various threads were used including wool, silk, and cotton.  I added buttons and beads.  Perhaps my most favorite stitch is this beaded coral stitch, seen here using white beads, as taught by Sue Spargo and described in her book "Creative Stitching, Volume 2."  The book can be found here.

One other lesson I learned was to get out of my box of right and wrong when it comes to quilting.  Because the stitching was done by hand, I felt it necessary to hand quilt it as well.  That was not happening and it was sitting staring me in the face going nowhere.  I finally decided that if I didn't machine quilt the piece it would never get done.  So I went for it.  And I love it!  I was so surprised.  And the quilting took me all of five hours instead to weeks or months.

I am now beginning to incorporate hand stitching into my quilts.  This is now "my style."  What is your "style"?  Please share in the comments below and feel free to share photos to my email for posting if desired.

Love and blessings,
Karri