Author Archive

Last minute spots in Tango

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

If you’re free on Friday, Oct 7, there are spots available in a Tango workshop I’m teaching online.

I teach this one infrequently so it’s a nice opportunity if you want to make a quilt that’s fast, easy and attractive. You can see the supply list here.

This Tango in African fabrics was started in one of my workshops. I dubbed it Safari Tango. I failed to record the student’s name. If you made this, please send me email.

This quilt looks great in any fabrics or color recipe you can dream up. My students have done amazing things with it!

Betsy M’s Tango in aboriginal fabrics is dynamic.

Your background can be dark or light—it looks great either way.

Some yellow and gray blocks I made recently
for a new version of Tango

Not only will you learn to make this quilt design, we’ll talk a lot about color and contrast, value and scale, texture, mood and more. I love unlocking the secrets to these ideas for quilters!

Stephanie L’s Tango in Alison Glass fabrics

As you can see, there are myriad options for color choices. I am going to start a new Tango this week in Figo Fabrics that I got at Mangelsen’s in Omaha recently. They are delicious.

Tango by Diane Harris. Photo by Kristin Laing Photography.

This is my original Tango in bright, happy colors on white. I still love this quilt. Okay, here are the details of Friday’s class:

Time: 9:30 to 4:30 Eastern
Place: Zoom
Tickets: $65 (click here to register)
Experience: Priceless 😊

Thank you for reading! If you’ve taken Tango already, feel free to leave a comment with your feedback. Much appreciated!

Quilt on,

Numbers, numbers

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

I started quilting when I was 24 and expecting my first child. It was 1984.

There happens to be a well-known piece of literature entitled 1984, by the way. Maybe that vintage book cover will help you think back.

I’m inviting you to remember how quilting used to be.

When I started quilting, I didn’t belong to a quilt guild because there weren’t any nearby. I subscribed to only one quilting magazine because the others on the newsstand were questionable—the lines around the templates were very fat, and even I knew that those were problematic.

Old patterns = old friends

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

I’ve been sorting through piles of quilt patterns and more.

Some were purchased, others were pulled from magazines or outdated books. There are articles and ideas galore.

I go through the piles every few years in order to make room for other things. I’ve been making quilts and saving quilt-related “stuff” for almost 40 years.

Some patterns have consistently made the cut. Although I may have had something for a few decades, I’m still interested in making it should the opportunity arise. And who’s to say it won’t? Remember when we were suddenly locked up tight in 2020?

Scrap Quilt Secrets: #1

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

I’m making adorable scrappy quilt blocks along with AP&Q’s quilt-along.

The design is a great little block by Christa Watson and making the blocks is really entertaining.

One of my first few quilt blocks in the AP&Q quilt-along

I decided to omit a few of the seams in the background. I think it looks fine either way and I wanted to speed things up a little and eliminate some bulk.

One of the options for fewer seams

But what I really want to share today is something that caught my ear in the Facebook group for the quilt-along.

One person was saying that she’s spending time making each block look nice. She’s arranging and rearranging her patches deliberately to create combinations that please her. (Smart quilter!)

Be warned: Addictive.

And that’s where it went south. Because another quilter’s response floored me:

Say WHAT?!?

Now please understand: I hold no personal malice toward this quilter. But that approach for scrap quilts is absolutely wrong.

Let me repeat: Absolutely wrong.

You know how some quilts look like scrap vomit? That’s what happens when you don’t plan your scrap quilt.

Scrap quilts don’t take less planning. They require more!

You must be deliberate about making all those diverse fabrics work together.

You have to consider what elements could bring cohesion to all those varied prints.

It behooves you to audition and to change things up and to rethink one more time, over and over and over.

Four of my “planned” blocks

There were also comments that revealed a quilter’s experience and wisdom, like this one:

Amen. She is absolutely right.

I have had to make peace with the extra time and effort it takes to make a good scrappy quilt. It does require a lot more time and effort. But you know what?

Star Silhouettes by Diane Harris. Quilted by Julie Lechner.
Image: Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting®. ©2022 Meredith Operations Corporation. All rights reserved.

I think it’s worth it.

Quilt on,

Find the details for the American Patchwork & Quilting 2022 Quilt-Along here.

Does your quilt guild need a great program for ’23 or ’24? I’d love to share my quilts with you. Give me a call and Let’s Talk Quilts!

I love small quilts!

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

Small quilts don’t take up a lot of time or space. They quickly satisfy my need to create. They’re fun to use in my home as the seasons come and go. And they make great gifts. What’s not to love?!

I have been making small quilts ever since I started quilting in 1984. That’s 38 years. I have saved most of them, and they became my first trunk show for quilt guilds: One Hundred Small Quilts. I think your quilt guild would love it.

Fishing, but not with a worm.

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

The past few weeks have been a wild ride.

My son was hospitalized in Denver so I went there and spent time with him and his girlfriend, and that was delightful. It is always difficult to see him hit a rough patch but I have the best friends and family and they always support me well.

My son Skip and I enjoyed a hike in the mountains early one morning.

When I got home from Colorado, I was behind on many things so I scrambled and on Sunday, was beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

And then, it turned out to be a freight train, as they say.

Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts: Online!

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Open Classes for Everyone, Quilt Lifestyle, Trunk Shows

Get tickets early and SAVE on my most popular trunk show.

If you make quilts, you generate scraps. And you probably also collect fabric. How do you bring these treasures together into a beautiful quilt? Let me show you!

Big Cheese, designed and made by Diane Harris of Stash Bandit

Join me LIVE for my most popular trunk show, open to everyone, everywhere, on Monday, Sept 12, 2022 at 7:30 pm Central.

Early Bird Special: Tickets are reduced to $13 if you purchase by end of day on Friday, Aug 5. Tickets from Aug 6 on are $20.

Windows in Time, designed and made by Diane Harris of Stash Bandit
Quilted by Julie Lechner @beenquiltin

During the trunk show, we’ll examine quilts in many different styles to see why they work—and sometimes why they don’t. Whether you make traditional or modern or art quilts or a combination of these, you’ll find helpful insights to make your quilts sing.

Star Silhouettes, designed and sewn by Diane Harris. Quilted by Julie Lechner @beenquiltin.
Image: Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting®. ©2022 Meredith Operations Corporation. All rights reserved.

Discover why some scrap quilts are beautiful and some are a jumbly mess. Learn ways to bring diverse fabrics together. See how auditions make a difference in the final results!

Simple Four Patches in browns and brights, blocks by Diane Harris.
Inspired by Jolene Klassen at Blue Elephant Stitches.

Gather many ideas for starting with what you have and moving forward into glorious scrappy miracles. Leave matchy-matchy behind and embrace a little clash. Create quilts that SPARKLE!

Early Bird Special: Tickets are reduced to $13 if you purchase by end of day on Friday, Aug 5. Tickets from Aug 6 on are $20.

Day at the Beach quilt top by Diane Harris of Stash Bandit

Learn more about me here.

See more of my quilts here.

Learn more about booking an event!

Trip Around the Tulips top by Diane Harris

I hope to see you on Monday, Sept 12 for Make Extraordinary Scrap Quilts. Get your tickets now and save!

Quilt on!

Online events coming up

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Classes, How-tos and Ideas, Inspiration, Open Classes for Everyone

Scrap quilt BONANZA and binding by machine

Two online events are scheduled for August and I’d love to have you join me.

StarQuar Scrap Quilts

You may have seen my Star Silhouettes quilt on the cover of American Patchwork & Quilting this summer.

American Patchwork & Quilting’s cover photo, July/August issue 2022.
Image: Used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting®. ©2022 Meredith Operations Corporation. All rights reserved.

It’s based on a simple idea that leads to some pretty interesting quilts—a regular BONANZA of scraps. I’m teaching this concept in person and online soon. There are many quilt patterns to choose from (included), and the sewing is easy.

Limiting the palette yields interesting blocks.

Join me on Zoom Thursday, August 4 at 10 am for StarQuar Scrap Quilts to learn about this little unit and other helpful concepts for making dynamic scrappy quilts.

An EQ rendering of another idea for StarQuar units.

The full day class is $65. Get tickets here. Lots and lots of ideas. Your head will swim—in a good way!

Easy Quilt Binding by Machine

I’m happy to be sharing my machine binding technique again! This online workshop happens Saturday, August 27 from 11 to 3 Central. Register right here.

I bind my quilts by machine—have been for 25 years.

I’ve been using this method for about 25 years and it has stood the test of time. It’s fast, sturdy and beautiful. I think you’ll love it.

You’ll love binding by machine.

We’ll also cover other binding topics to beef up your skills for finishing. Binding doesn’t need to be a job you dread or put off. It can be done quickly and it can look great, too! A great investment of less than $40. Get your tickets to this online class right here.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Quilt on,

Upcoming Fun with Stash Bandit

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Classes, How-tos and Ideas, Open Classes for Everyone, Trunk Shows

Lots of online and in-person events are coming up!

Pine Burr Workshop

Last minute seats available in an online Pine Burr workshop on Friday, July 22 from 9 to 4 Central. A Texas guild is hosting and the class is open to people outside their group.

The start of a Pine Burr block.

This is a very old technique that I’ve adapted for the machine. It’s easy and relaxing and the results are stupendous. The full day class is $65.

Pine Burr can be spontaneous and free or more planned, as you see here.

These blocks are addictive and so much fun to make. I’ll show you several options and plenty of inspiration to get you rolling. Read more and reserve your spot right here.

Jingle Bells Trunk Show

Wolfe Country Quilt Show and Garden Walk

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

I’ve wanted to attend the Wolfe Country Quilt Show and Garden Walk for several years but something always came up. This time I planned ahead and my friend Mary and I went to Bennington, Nebraska on Saturday, July 16.

The red barn is the centerpiece of the Wolfe’s yard.

What we found was worth the three hour drive. So many quilts. Abundant flowers and a perfectly overcast day with no rain.

Antique iron beds displayed quilts.

We arrived early to beat the heat and were there for about two and a half hours. We bumped into many quilters and others we knew so the chatting stretched our time a little.

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