Snag a seat: Playtime with your quilt scraps = victory

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

Learn to use your leftovers to make beautiful stars and so much more!

There are seats in a StarQuar Scrap Quilts workshop on Zoom Saturday, Feb 24 from 9 to 3 Central, and I’d love to have you grab one! The cost for the workshop is $65 and you can sew from the comfort of home. A guild in Massachusetts is opening the class to those outside of their membership, so no matter where you live, you’re invited in for a day of fun, playful adventure. Click here to learn more or register.

Learn how I manage my scraps, how I cut quickly and efficiently and how I make unique and beautiful quilts from unlikely fabrics.

StarQuars play in a big block.

I’ll share all my best tips and tricks with you in this one day workshop. You’ll be invited to go way beyond stars, too. StarQuars become all sorts of interesting things when you unleash your imagination!

Kitties in Windows by Diane Harris

It is so much fun to see how beautifully your scraps can play together. We’ll talk about color, value, contrast, scale and more.

Scrappy StarQuars quilt by Diane Harris

If you’re in the mood for a scrappy adventure with like-minded makers, don’t delay. Grab yourself a spot in this workshop by getting a ticket on Eventbrite now!

This workshop will not be recorded.

See the supply list right here.

I can’t wait to meet you!

Quilt on,

Bask in winter warmth: Quilt Cruise Hawaii

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

It’s one of my favorite places, and you’re invited to join me there next January!

I’m beyond excited to extend a warm welcome to Quilt Bee at Sea: Hawaii 2025. Join me and World of Quilts Travel as we set sail on Holland America’s the Koningsdam Jan. 11 to 28, 2025.

Maui sunset, photo by Diane Harris

Of the places I’ve been, Hawaii is one of my all-time favorites. It is truly magical. And that’s why I’m so enthused about this trip! And when you add in all the fun times of quilting together, teaching and learning and making new friends, I can hardly stand it.

Maui blossom, photo by Diane Harris

And I’m a flower gardener, so the tropical varieties of the South Pacific are endlessly fascinating. There’s a new blossom everywhere you look.

Holland America’s the Koningsdam

Holland America has a great reputation, and the Koningsdam is one of its loveliest ships.

I will teach Log Jam on the Quilt Bee at Sea.

We’ll depart from San Diego and our days at sea will be for classes. Once we’re in Hawaii we’ll simply enjoy the islands. And while we cruise back home, we’ll learn in classes once again.

If you’d rather simply sit and sew – we have you covered with a dedicated sewing space just for you! Bring your UFOs and join our exclusive Quilt ’til You Wilt marathon group. You get to choose how you cruise! The other (amazing) instructors will be Debbie Maddy and Dana Woodard.

I will teach “StarQuar Scrap Quilts” on the Quilt Bee at Sea.

Quilt cruises are a wonderful opportunity to travel with quilting friends and to make new pals who share your passion. The camaraderie is second to none; many quilters develop lifelong friendships on similar cruises.

Sea turtles on Maui, photo by Diane Harris

Non-quilters are welcome, so consider bringing a companion or your family. There will be something for every interest on board and in port. There are no additional charges for non-quilters who travel along.

Too excited to keep reading? Go to the cruise page now!

Fascinating plant life is abundant. Photo by Diane Harris.

The 2024 cruise sold out quickly. Don’t wait too long to book—I don’t want to sail away without you!

Read reviews from past participants:

Click here to check it out on World of Quilts Travel today!

~ Aloha ~

UFO Bonanza in Omaha

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

Wouldn’t it be great if someone could jumpstart a UFO (or two) for you? How helpful would it be to have a coach and a cheerleader to tackle your UnFinished Objects?

Let it be me! Join me at Mangelsen’s in Omaha on Monday, Dec 4 and get revved about your UFOs once more.

No matter what stopped your progress, bring your quilting UFOs to this unique work session and get started again. Maybe the instructions were bad. Perhaps the technique was beyond your skills. Or somehow you simply lost your sew-jo.

Whatever the problem, we’ll brainstorm solutions together and start moving toward a finish. This workshop is fun and inspiring, and you’re bound to leave jazzed up about your projects once more. 

Workshop runs from 10 to 4 and is $65.

Learn more or register here

A UFO I reimagined and finished during the pandemic

Sometimes a person with “fresh eyes” can see things in a UFO that you cannot. I can’t tell you how much fun it is to embrace whatever people bring to class and solve the issues in a creative way—together!

This house quilt was a UFO because the sashing I originally planned didn’t work with the scrappy reds I’d embraced along the way. When you’re alone in your sewing space, this kind of situation can be discouraging and overwhelming.

But when you have an experienced quilting and UFO veteran at your side?

It becomes an inspiring adventure into creative problem solving.

Join me at Mangelsen’s in Omaha on Monday, Dec 4 for all the fun. I can’t wait to see what UFOs you bring me!!

Learn more or register today for the UFO Bonanza.

Have a great and creative week!

Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit

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

Here’s an invitation for you: Please join me for a complimentary event focused on practical ideas for managing your scraps.

It takes place next week, Nov 6 to 9, online. There is no charge to listen to a curated set of presenters offering strategies, tips and ideas for scraps and scrap quilts. I’m sharing two different presentations.

The first is “Save Fabric, Save Time: Techniques for Scrap Management.”

It’s a 29-minute talk with my best tips for not getting under the pile with your leftovers.

Cope and Hope by Diane Harris. Quilted by Julie Lechner.

My second talk is a 43-minute look at how you can “Beef Up Your Backgrounds.”

This is a topic I’ve learned so much about in the past few years. Once I discovered how to make scrappy backgrounds, my quilts improved drastically. I’m sharing my best tips for how to take your quilts to the next level by jazzing up the backgrounds. Such a simple idea but oh so valuable!

Spinster by Diane Harris. Photo by Mellisa Karlin Mahoney.
Used with permission.

Some of the other topics include creating designs with coordinated scraps, artful creations from tiny scraps, the magic numbers method and the art of controlled scrappiness. There are many more, truly something for everyone. There’s nothing to lose, it’s totally free to listen and it happens Nov 6 to 9.

Tango by Diane Harris of Stash Bandit

Full disclosure: You’ll be offered the opportunity to upgrade your ticket for a fee. With that fee you can have early access, longer access, and a host of bonus materials. But it’s not necessary if you don’t want to upgrade. There is tons of free material with your complimentary ticket. I just don’t want you to feel blindsided when the upgrade offer comes.

Click here to sign up for the Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit and get your free ticket!

I will see you there!

Quilt on,

Color Class: Boost Your Quilts to New Heights

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

It can be done—I can help you wrap your mind and your creative dreams around these basic ideas. They’re essential for making successful quilts, scrappy or not.

Join me next week on Thursday, Oct 5 from 11 to 5 Central on Zoom for my popular “Color, Contrast & Cohesion” hands-on workshop.

Attend live or watch the recording! Totally convenient.

Framework by Diane Harris
Click here for a basic tutorial!

Choose from several patterns (included) and use the simple piecing to work out the ideas in a practical way. I’ll come ready, willing and able to help you!

I Spy a Milk Cow by Diane Harris

This workshop is a crowd pleaser because you’re learning each step of the way. Why do some fabrics look great together up close, but die tragically when you stand back?

Just Bricks by Diane Harris

What does value mean in the context of quilt making? How can you tell what a fabric’s value really is? Can the value change?

The Brick Block baby quilt by Diane Harris

What does value have to do with contrast? What is the difference? Are they even connected? And how can you use the fabric you already own to make unique and beautiful quilts that are truly inspired?

All of this and more in
Color, Contrast & Cohesion

Tickets for this full-day class are just $55 on Eventbrite. Click here to learn more or reserve your place!

I would love the chance to walk with you into a fearless creative journey where you combine fabrics with ease and confidence to create amazing quilts you’ll be proud of. Join me next week and get started!!!

I can’t wait!

Tango at Mangelsen’s Sept 29

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

Bringing a scrappy adventure to Omaha! Join me, won’t you?!

Tango is a quilt that looks good in so many “outfits.” And the piecing is fast, fun and easy, leaving you free to think through fabric choices and let the prints do almost all the work!

Tango by Diane Harris. Photo by Kristin Laing Photography.

This is my original Tango quilt made in brights and whites, with quite a few dullards thrown in for balance. But your Tango can look completely different!

Color, Contrast & Cohesion Online

Written by Diane Harris on . Posted in Blog, Classes, Open Classes for Everyone

Join me for a workshop designed to elevate your quilts to new heights

Attend live OR watch the recording at your convenience!

Color, Contrast & Cohesion with me, Diane Harris of Stash Bandit happens Thursday, Oct 5 from 11 to 5 Central on Zoom.

The three C’s—Color, Contrast and Cohesion—can make or break your quilt! Learn to control them with practical exercises as you begin a simply pieced scrap quilt. Choose from several designs!

Tilting Windmills by Diane Harris

Learn why color is the least important of the three C’s. Discover ways to unify diverse fabrics and wrap your mind around the way value and contrast work together.

Zoom and Omaha workshops open

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

There are three upcoming classes. Please come!

Hand Look Binding by Machine on Zoom

Monday, April 17, 11 to 1 Central, $35 on Zoom (recording available after live event)

Get a ticket now!

See the supply list here

I’ve been binding my quilts by machine for 25 years and they’ve stood the test of time. Come and see how you can bind quilts quickly and beautifully on your machine.

Tango

Saturday, April 22, 9 to 4 Pacific, 11 to 6 Central via Zoom, $75 (non-member price)

Register for Tango

There are seats open in this class sponsored by East Bay Heritage Quilters. Come and get started on this beautiful quilt that looks great in any fabric genre. So much fun!!!

Tango created in EQ8

Tango by Stephanie Lockhart

Tango by Diane Harris. Photo by Kristin Laing Photography.

Register for Tango

Walking Foot Quilting at Mangelsen’s in Omaha, NE

Live session, Friday, April 14, 10 to 4, $55

Get more info or register now

Serpentine stitch with a walking foot on Asterisk, a Karen Griska design.

You can quilt your own projects if you know just a few simple tricks for your sewing machine and its walking foot attachment. Join me and I’ll show you how!

Get more info or register now.

I hope to see you soon!

Quilt on,

The Joy of Beginners

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

I taught a small group of beginning quiltmakers recently. Oh what fun!

I came up with a new design that I hoped would teach a variety of skills without being too difficult while still being attractive. I wanted something that would lend itself to whatever color scheme a beginner could imagine.

One of the options for beginners

My first idea was this nine block quilt with two kinds of stars. But I was teaching this at Mangelsen’s in Omaha and we only had two sessions on the calendar—one full day and one half day, with a couple of weeks for sewing at home in between.

As I developed the class, I thought maybe a quilt of this size might overwhelm some beginners, so I designed a smaller option with just four blocks.

A smaller option for beginners

You don’t know exactly how a class will go until you teach it for the first time. As it turned out, some people chose the small quilt but several wanted a bigger project. I was so glad I had both available.

This simple block is a good one for beginners. It forces them to test and adjust the seam allowance. If they’re off by 1/8″ on each seam, the block will be 5/8″ too small in one direction. People are surprised by how skinny (“scant”) the seam allowance needs to be.

An alternate color plan

A red, white and blue quilt wouldn’t appeal to everyone,

so I presented an alternate coloring. People embraced the idea and some beautiful color schemes emerged in class.

Friendship Star quilt block

Friendship Star seemed like a good block for beginners to learn half-square triangles and the basic idea of sewing patches into rows before sewing the rows together.

A wonky improvisational star quilt block

I also decided to give them a taste of improvisational patchwork with an easy wonky star block. The results were fascinating, as students did this work at home after trying it quickly in class.

Rita’s wonky star

I loved Rita’s wonky star, above. You need only to suggest a shape, and a viewer’s eye will fill in the rest. Even though all of her points are not pointed, the star is still evident. Our minds fill in whatever is missing.

D. is all smiles with her first quilt project

Dorothy had different star points on her wonky creation. Hers are very small and that’s just fine, too. Our eyes still know it’s a star.

Rita and her project

Everyone got pretty far on their projects and I was really pleased with how well they did.

Teri and her project

They were really brave to try walking foot quilting in class. We used gently waving lines as our starting point.

Deb and her project

Deb has experience as a quilter so she quilted straight lines using painter’s tape to guide her. Aren’t her colors pretty?

Ann made a larger quilt.

Ann is not a beginner but she came with her daughter Denise, who is. Ann’s patriotic quilt is a little larger so she can use it as a throw at home. She made 12 blocks and I love how she moved the values around for different effects.

Denise and her first quilt.

Denise made really brave choices all along the way, and I think her results are wonderful. This is a happy quilt!

You can imagine how much fun it is for a teacher to introduce students to the joy of making quilts. And when it’s for the first time, my gosh, it doesn’t get much better than that!

If you’re local, I think we will put Learn to Quilt on the schedule at Mangelsen’s again in the fall. If you’re from anywhere else in the world and you’d like a beginning class online, please let me know in the comments. I’d be happy to consider doing a workshop on Zoom.

Quilt on,

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,