This series will help to expand your color skills so you can make more beautiful, more interesting and more successful quilts.
If there were a Patchwork Bible, it would contain a book on color, and one of the unshakeable truths would be this:
My small quilt group issued a half-square quilt challenge earlier this year. The rules were pretty simple: The finished quilt should be about 24″ x 24″ and feature mainly half-square triangles. If you’re a new to quilting, that’s a commonly-used shape and it looks like this:
A square is cut in half on the diagonal, and the two resulting triangles are called half-square triangles, often abbreviated as HST.
I love teaching quilters. A day in the classroom with like-minded souls brings out the best in me. We learn, we laugh and we have fun.
I love teaching quilters. This was one of QM’s Block Party events.
But occasionally a student will say something that baffles me. It’s usually about combining quilt fabrics. Let me give you a little background.
Welcome to Stash Bandit, online home of Diane Harris. I was a Quiltmaker editor for 11 years (one of the best jobs ever); now I’m giving energetic trunk shows and inspiring classes to quilt groups. My ideas and how-tos live here on Stash Bandit. I’m glad you’ve chosen to visit during the 100 Blocks Blog Tour.
It will always be a thrill for me to see one of my quilts on the cover of a magazine. I don’t know if other designers feel the same, but it’s very exciting for this one.
Quiltmaker named the design “Can You Find It?” It’s bright and colorful and it’s easy to make.
Funny thing: I was never the least bit interested in making I Spy quilts. And then I had a grand baby! Now I have two little guys, and the ideas for I Spy designs just won’t quit.
If you haven’t picked up a copy of Quiltmaker’ May/June issue, look for it on newsstands now. It’s also available from Quiltmaker in paper or electronic forms.
It’s giveaway time on Stash Bandit! Becca bag designed by Joan Hawley; made by Diane Harris of Stash Bandit.
Let’s have a giveaway to celebrate. It will include a copy of the issue, a stack of 4.5″ novelty patches (more than enough to make this quilt), a cute zippered Becca bag, some quilt magnets I make and other quilt happiness. I think you’ll like the package that arrives on your doorstep! There will be three winners.
To enter, leave a comment before midnight Wednesday 4/26 telling me which part of quiltmaking confounds you. Your answers will become topics for my how-tos.
Thanks for visiting Stash Bandit. I’m glad you’re here!
The winners have been chosen and emailed: Diane, Helen and Carole. Thanks for being here and for participating!
You can use 10″ squares—precuts or cut-by-you from stash—to create an easy quilt while you learn about combining fabrics boldly. I discovered this recently by accident when I mis-cut for a project that turned into a dead end. Meet The Accidental Quilt.
It’s very simple, but you can make it interesting by combining fabrics in unexpected ways. It doesn’t take a lot of fabric or a lot of time. It can be a great charity quilt, a baby quilt or a dorm room quilt. Perfect for the car or the camper.
I wish I’d been the first to say it.
I don’t know who was the first to say it, but if there were a Patchwork Bible, this statement would equate to Genesis 1:1.
The most creative quilts evolve through experimentation. My most recent “I Spy” quilt is a good example.
Can You Find It? by Diane Harris. Photo by Mellisa Karlin Mahoney. Used with permission.
My idea was simple: Use a novelty print at the center of a Churn Dash quilt block. I made a test block to begin.
Improvisational piecing is putting together a quilt top without a preconceived plan for exactly how it will look. It’s a way of working from intuition, with a sense of adventure and a willingness to explore unknown territory. It’s probably the most fun you will ever have.
And we’re off! This is the first unit I made. The fabrics do not “match.”
Yesterday, on the morning of my website launch, I had an idea. What if I spent the day sewing improvisational units and then posted them on social media thoughout the day, as the quilt progressed? I decided to go for it.
1. Shorten your stitch length to 2.0 mm, or about 13 stitches per inch. The default stitch length on computerized machines is usually too long for piecing. Learn more about stitch length.
Stitch length of 2.0 or 13 stitches per inch is preferable for piecing.
2. Instead of focusing on the width of your quarter-inch seam allowance, focus on the finished size of your patches, which is what really matters. Learn more about piecing accurately.
Look near the top: The strip section on the right doesn’t match the pinwheel section on the left. If I had measured the sections instead of the seam allowance, I’d have had better results.
3. Use a presser foot with visibility. Check with your sewing machine dealer to see all the options. If you sew on an older machine, there may be add-ons from other brands that will fit.
Use a presser foot that gives you plenty of visibility like these.
4. Keep your rotary cutter blade sharp. If you’re missing threads, it’s time to change. Keep the cost down by buying multi-packs. Some people report good luck with rotary carpet blades from places like Harbor Freight.
A sharp blade means accurate cuts.
5. Use only one brand of ruler. Using several different brands of rulers means decreased accuracy because their cuts can vary.
Use only one brand of ruler. Different brands make different cuts, which means decreased accuracy.
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