The good, the bad and the ugly from Stash Bandit

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

It has been quite a summer, friends.

I’ve experienced it all: the good, the bad and the ugly. It can be hard to know how much personal stuff to share. I do want you to know that my family has its ups and downs like everyone else. Lately there have been a lot of downs. Below is a video showing how I get in a little patchwork when things are rough.

If you’d like a bunch more ideas for using bricks, come to Sunday’s event: Beautiful Bricks.

It’s the next in my Scrappy Sundays with Stash Bandit series and I’ll share a bunch of things you can do with a simple rectangle. You won’t believe how versatile they are! Here’s a link to the $12 tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1997845618024?aff=oddtdtcreator

I had to cancel a guild event in Kansas City this week, something I have never done before. I felt horrible but it was unavoidable. They were gracious and kind. I was really grateful for that.

I hope you are sewing up a storm.

Scrappy Sundays with Stash Bandit: Surround Sound

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

Today I finished piecing the featured quilt for the next Scrappy Sunday session. It’s called Surround Sound and I hope you like it.

As so often happens with ideas, one thing led to another. There is the featured quilt, which I quite like, but then there are several more interesting designs that were inspired by it. Ticket holders will get them all!

Surround Sound by Diane Harris

I’ll be sharing how I make small, medium and large half-square triangles along with other methods so you can find the one that works best for you.

April’s Scrappy Sundays with Stash Bandit: 4/19

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

Please join me for the April edition of Scrappy Sundays with Stash Bandit, Sunday, 4/19 at 1 pm Central on Zoom. Tickets are $12 and the featured quilt is Wild Romp, a new design I’ve had in my back pocket for a while. It is throw size, roughly 55″ x 70″.

Wild Romp by Diane Harris, an EQ rendering

Each Scrappy Sunday session includes a quilt pattern plus my demos and tips for making it work with lots of different fabrics. This quilt is much easier to make than it looks—a real bonus!

Your ticket also includes a bonus scrappy quilt pattern because I want to give you a lot of bang for your buck. The bonus pattern will be a surprise. And there’s time to interact with me and others in attendance if you like.

Wild Romp in blues and golds

Each session is recorded so you can attend live or you can take in the recording for two weeks afterwards.

You can make Wild Romp less scrappy if you like this look better. Here’s another version:

I will have a supply list and yardage for the scrappy version (below)

in an email sometime after you get your ticket.

This quilt does take scraps that are a little bigger. You will need a variety of colored pieces that are about 6″ square. You don’t need to have the fabric or even cut anything before the Sunday session. I would wait to shop until you hear the tips because there are several important things to consider. And you might be able to just shop your stash!

This quilt is throw size, about 55″ x 70″. Throws are my favorite size because they don’t take me a year to make and they are easily quilted on a domestic machine. And they’re useful!

If this sounds good, reserve your seat right here.

And please invite your friends! Word of mouth is an important way of getting this info out. Thank you!

I will look forward to spending time with you on Sunday, April 19. We’ll all be in the comfort of our own homes!

Until then, happy quilting!

Quilters Paradise summit March 9 to 13

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

Next week I’m giving a talk on bricks during the Quilters Paradise summit and you’re invited.

The Quilters Paradise summit is a complimentary online event from March 9 to 13, in which 26 instructors will share on a variety of topics of interest to quilters. There’s a little something for everyone!

Framework is one of the first brick quilts I made. It started me on a journey and I see no end in sight.

There are so many things you can do with bricks! I’m going to tell you how I define a brick and what makes it special. You’ll get a handout that shows a boatload of brick ideas.

This gorgeous brick quilt by Marcia was part of show and tell when I visited a quilt guild in Houston. She started it during a Stash Bandit online workshop. It makes me so happy when people bring their quilts to share with me and others. It never fails to blow me away!

My Break of Dawn quilt design is based on bricks. There’s no end to the fun!

Let me tell you more about the Quilters Paradise summit.

This is a new style of event in the past several years. A group of instructors present material over a period of days and registrants can watch all of the talks at no charge for a limited time.

If attendees want to upgrade to a paid ticket, they get extended access to watch the talks and a bunch of bonus content. But it’s totally optional and you’ll get a lot out of it whether or not you choose to upgrade.

Sunday, March 8 is the last day to register for your free ticket.
Click right here to get it now! 

I can’t wait to share all the best info about bricks with you!

 

Threads Across Nebraska: Quilts, shopping, fun!

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

If you’re in or near Nebraska, I hope you’ll join me at Threads Across Nebraska in Kearney Friday and Saturday.

I’m very excited to have 30 of my quilts on exhibit during this event, hosted by Nebraska State Quilt Guild. And I’ll have more quilts in my vendor booth, something that is new for me. I might be in over my head with the vending but I trust that people will give me grace as I learn how to do it.

I’ll be doing a “walk-and-talk” through my exhibit at least once each day, likely around 10 each morning.

This is a casual stroll past the quilts, chatting about the quilts and sharing some of their stories. I’m looking forward to this a lot. I realized yesterday that I’m not nervous about this because it will just feel like talking about quilts with my friends. Nothing comes more naturally to me!

My quilts hung at Maine Quilts in July, and it was interesting to watch people analyze, enjoy or be inspired!

I had to leave out a few quilts that I wish I could have included but they’ll be in my booth so I hope you will stop by to see them. I’ll have a bunch of stuff for sale:

Featherweight sewing machines, vintage quilts and tops, Stash Bandit scrap bags, curated fat quarter bundles and several patterns of my designs.

Raspberry Limeade, a new quilt, pattern coming soon.
Quilted by Julie Lecher.

I’m also running a special for quilt guilds to which I can drive: Book a trunk show for $425 ($100 off) and a class for $500 ($200 off) and pay only one-way mileage (50% off) when you book by October 15! 

If this sounds good, be sure to get in touch soon and we’ll find a date that works for both of us. My 2026 is filling up fast so please don’t delay. I’d love to visit your group!

Lingering Effects by Diane Harris, quilted by Julie Lechner

If you’re not close enough to attend Threads, I’m putting together some exciting things for 2026 and I can’t wait to tell you all about them. Until then, quilt on!


So many scrappy ideas: New book!

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

Is there anything more fun than a brand new book that is packed with possibility? I think not.

Scrap Quilts from Crumbs, Strips & Strings by Emily Bailey is hot off the press and let me tell you, it’s a good one!

Click image to pre-order!

Emily has taken traditional patchwork shapes like hexies, Log Cabins, stars, braids and Nine Patches and turned them on their head by using up leftover bits and bobs.

I can’t say I wanted to make a Grandmother’s Flower Garden before…but now I do!! Look at the size of those scrappy hexagons. And the dark scrappy ground is marvelous.

And if I ever make a braid quilt, it’s going to be this one in the coolest colors of all.

How about a little improv to make some flowers? They’re the perfect place for those favorite tiny scraps you couldn’t bear to toss.

Of the 15 patterns inside, the cover quilt called Fireworks is one of my favorites. The dullness of the grays with the brightness of the colored strips makes my heart sing. I’m probably going to make this quilt!

You can preorder the book now right from Emily, or ask for it at your local quilt shop when it arrives mid-October. Official publication date is 10/14. Get a better look at the quilts in the video below.

Let’s have a giveaway! Leave a comment for your chance to win Scrap Quilts from Crumbs, Strips & Strings by Emily Bailey. I’ll choose a winner on Oct 15 and notify by email.

Quilt on,

Tango, StarQuar classes now open to all

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

I’ve just listed two upcoming classes and they’re open to everyone, everywhere.

Tango is a popular design that goes together quickly and easily and looks great in lots of fabric combinations. Simple piecing has rarely been this much fun!

Tango: Saturday, Oct 18, 2025, 10 to 2:30 Central
Online class
Tickets: $65
Get your ticket here

Tango by Diane Harris. Quilted by Julie Lechner.
Photo by Kristin Laing Photography.

Find the supply list for Tango right here.

Tango by Stephanie Lockhart.
Started in my online Tango workshop!

StarQuar Scrap Quilts: Saturday, Nov 15, 10 to 2:30 Central
Online class
Tickets: $65
Get your ticket here

StarQuar is a little unit I’ve been playing with for several years. I’ll show you how to make it from just one patch size and then together we’ll discover the myriad things you can do with it. It’s fun and addictive!

Star Silhouettes by Diane Harris.
Quilted by Julie Lechner.

StarQuar supply list

This workshop will help you to let go of using matching fabrics and to embrace a little clash. Your quilts can be unique, beautiful and exciting like never before! Let me show you how to create something brilliant with fabric you already own. StarQuar is the perfect playground!

Spot On by Diane Harris
Kitties in Windows by Diane Harris

I’ll look forward to seeing you in a workshop soon. I can’t wait to meet you!

A scrappy good time at Maine Quilts

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

Last week I traveled northeast for Maine Quilts and it did not disappoint.

Mainers remind me of Nebraskans: friendly, down-to-earth, truly good-hearted people. I loved them all.

Today I want to share my favorite quilts from the show, which had both judged and non-judged categories. One quilt that captured my attention was “Magic Pocean’s Salty Dogs.”

Magic Pocean’s Salty Dogs: Jennifer Smith. Quilted by Meliss Swanson. Design: Kinship by Angie Wilson @gnomeangel

Free quilt pattern: I Spy a Windmill

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

If you need a quick baby, toddler or donation quilt, here you go!

I love a Windmill block, and this scrappy I Spy version comes together quickly. The blocks finish at 16″ and the quilt is 52″ x 52″.

I Spy a Windmill by Diane Harris

It can be tricky to get novelty fabrics to play together nicely. I think a lot of I Spy quilts look pretty chaotic.