Author Archive

The Brick Block: Join me and learn!

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Classes, How-tos and Ideas, Quilt Lifestyle

I’m excited to offer a new class on a simple design called The Brick Block. It will be held live on Friday, June 25, but if you can’t attend live you can take in the recording and you won’t miss a thing!

The Brick Block baby quilt by Diane Harris, EQ rendering

This beginner-friendly block has so many possibilities that more experienced makers can enjoy it, too. And while you don’t need a teacher to make the block, I am going to unlock many secrets about fabric choices for you—ideas that you’ll be able to apply to all your future quilt projects.

You can make it scrappy, or coordinated, or scrappy coordinated! You can make the blocks big or small or somewhere in between. You can make a few blocks or dozens. And I will show you how to make any combination work so that your quilt is smashing!

Best of all, as long as you have a bit of a stash (that is, fabrics on hand that you love), you can make this project from the fabrics you already own. And the pattern is included in the price of the class.

Sound good?

Here are the details:

Friday, June 25, 9 to 11 AM CDT
You will register in advance
Attend live or watch at your convenience for 30 days
Unlimited repeats for 30 days
$20 covers pattern, class, handouts and
follow-up show & tell

Here are a few more things you can do with The Brick Block:

Scrappy with limited palette

You could make a patriotic quilt with scrappy or more planned fabrics.

Scrappy in sherbet colors

You could make a baby quilt with batting or without, in which case you’d be making more of a receiving blanket.

The Brick Block in a barn raising setting

You can use just one background as shown above in the barn raising setting. You may not want to make all of these decisions before the class, but if you come and see all the possibilities, I think you’ll quickly narrow it down. Then you can shop your stash, and if you need to purchase something, you know it won’t go to waste.

Scrappy Bricks by Diane Harris

You can even go completely scrappy like I did with Scrappy Bricks. I’ll show you how to make this work!

I will also help you improve your piecing accuracy with a couple of easy tricks. 😊

Register now; space is limited.

Just $20 to equip you with many ideas you can use in this and future quilts!

I can’t wait to meet you.

Let’s see what’s hiding in your stash!

A few more details:

Check out the supply list here.

When and how I host the followup show & tell depends on a few things but as soon as I know, I will email all who registered.

This class is beginner-friendly but fun for anyone who wants to expand their skills with color and fabric selection!

Still have questions? Email me: diane@stashbandit.net

Another idea!

Sunday Sew-In Coming Up

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Complimentary, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

Today I decided to stop analyzing and just get some events scheduled. The first one is coming up on Sunday, June 6. We had so much fun learning together during Scrap Quilt Secrets so I created a Sunday Sew-In. We’ll hang out and sew on Zoom, and I’ll share a block pattern plus some scrappy tips.

I’ll share a few quilts that are not in any of my trunk shows and you’ll get to see what I’m currently working on. If you want to, you can share what you’re working on, too!

You’ll need a ticket and they’re priced right at just $5. Get your ticket on Eventbrite now!

Out with the old, in with the new

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I might be hard on ironing boards.

It became apparent recently that my old and trusty Shirtmaster had to be retired.

I bought it 15 or 20 years ago from a woman named Ellen who had a business in Colorado. Ellen had provided ironing boards for the classrooms during QuiltNebraska (the annual meeting of Nebraska State Quilt Guild). When the event ended, they were for sale at a discount.

Quilts by Accident

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

A lot of the quilts I make start off by accident. That’s what happened with the Daydream sampler from Quilter’s World.

Daydream sampler from Quilter’s World,
designed and made by Carolyn Beam; quilted by Donna Smith.

I do a monthly Facebook Live for Quilter’s World.** I brainstorm a few topic ideas for each one, and together we settle on that month’s focus. A few months back, I thought it would be fun to show how I would make the Daydream sampler with lots and lots of different fabrics.

Mother’s Day Baggage

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

I have Mother’s Day baggage. It’s not that I had a bad mother. On the contrary, I had a great one. She was amazing in so many ways. Her name was Doris.

My mom and my daughter, 1986

I miss her and I think of her fondly today, so that isn’t the problem at all.

My baggage stems from many years in ultra-conservative fundamentalist or evangelical churches and their practices surrounding this holiday (which I think Hallmark invented as a way to make money, but that’s another issue).

Scrappy Backgrounds: What I’ve Learned

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Quilt Lifestyle

When I started making scrap quilts, that is, quilts with lots and lots of different fabrics, I thought that I still needed one big chunk of background fabric. I’d see the materials list and it would look something like this:

Sometimes it would require even more background fabric. Think 3 or 4 or 5 yards. I’d scurry off to the quilt store (which in my case means driving almost an hour) to buy the background.

Wild Goose Chase Handout

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Complimentary, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration

Hi, if you’re here for the Quilter’s World/Annie’s Catalog Wild Goose Chase handout, welcome!

Here’s a link to the math for making 2.5″ x 4.5″ Flying Geese three different ways as shown on the FB Live on Thursday, April 8.

Get the Wild Goose Chase Handout here.

Watch the recording:

Watch the video recording of Wild Goose Chase: Three ways to make Flying Geese with Diane Harris of Stash Bandit.

Check out the Quilter’s World FB page for other video tutorials I’ve done in the past. And if you’re into other kinds of crafts, too, Annie’s Catalog is chock-full of great ideas.

Giveaway #6 at Stash Bandit

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Giveaways, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration

There’s been a resurgence of interest in cross stitch. Have you noticed? I have a special place in my heart for cross stitch because when I married in 1981, my new sister-in-law Ruth Ann introduced me to it. I was a fanatical stitcher for decades. I still have many samplers in my home, and recently my daughter asked if she could have one. I think she considers it part of her heritage!

Now a number a quilt designers are also designing cross stitch patterns, including It’s Sew Emma (Fat Quarter Shop’s house brand) and Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet.

Giveaway #5 at Stash Bandit

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Giveaways, Quilt Lifestyle

We’re up to the fifth giveaway of 10. I’m going to try and get all the rest of the giveaways posted within the next 10 days so stop back often to leave your comments on all of them for a chance to win.

Today’s giveaway features a variety of really cool stuff! The Fat Quarter Shop is one of my favorite businesses and I’m a big fan of their products of all kinds. A while back they purchased the Triangles on a Roll business and it’s a marriage made in heaven!

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