A lot of the quilts I make start off by accident. That’s what happened with the Daydream sampler from Quilter’s World.
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.
One thing we’ve talked about in Scrap Quilt Secrets is the Plus and X Block. It became popular a few years back when a Japanese quilter named Setsuko Inagawa entered a quilt with this block into the Tokyo show, and a quilter named Jan Burgwinkle took photos and posted them on flickr. People went wild and soon there were Plus and X quilts popping up everywhere.
I made mine in the first few years of the frenzy and I didn’t pay any attention to value. Here’s what I mean.
Stash Bandit is celebrating with 10 days of giveaways and this is Day 2!
I recently finished piecing a throw-size version of a quilt called Maisy Daisy, which I ran across in a back issue of McCall’s Quilting. Its scrappy deliciousness called to me.
Then I made the exciting discovery that McCall’s put the pattern online at no charge, so if you like it, be sure to grab it here.
The quilt was designed by Maho Schwartz. I made just 12 blocks but the original has more. Totally up to you!
I’ve been playing with some scrap quilt ideas and there’s nothing I love more. The only problem is that one idea leads to another, and then to another and so on. I have started five new quilts in the past two weeks (ridiculous, I know).
All of this is in preparation for a new class I’m teaching on January 2 from 10 am to 1 pm CST:
This class is open to anyone, anywhere and will take place on Zoom. I’ve learned the ropes, had some successes and feel confident enough to do it now! Prepare for inspiration!
Included with the class will be a number of easy AMAZING quilt patterns suitable for scraps. You will want to have some fat quarters or yardage available as well, but the idea is that you’ll have many options for using up leftovers and making dynamic scrap quilts from the fabric you already own!
I will also share a bunch of my best tips, tricks and secrets to making a scrap quilt work. We will cover the ideas of value, contrast, scale, vibrance, mood, genre and more.
We’ll look at some quilts that do NOT work so that we can begin to understand what DOES work.
If you wish to be seen during class, you can turn your video on. But if you wish not to be seen, that is fine, too! My experience has been that people chat and laugh and enjoy being together during a virtual sewing session in much the same way they would in a live class. Turns out this is really enjoyable and FUN! Who knew?!
I’m using the new Zoom Beta platform called OnZoom, which I am really excited about. One of its limitations is that an OnZoom session can only be created 30 days before the event. This means that registration for Stash Busting Fun in 2021 will open around Dec. 3. I will publicize it on my social media and in my newsletter. Here are links to those:
Sign up for the newsletter (very occasional)
Check out my Instagram @stashbanditquilting
We’re going to have a great time and you’re going to leave inspired to sew up a ton of the fabric, kits and supplies you already paid for!
Keep on stitchin’,
I’m excited to offer something brand new! Open enrollment classes are pre-scheduled and presented live to anyone, anywhere. Now you don’t have to wait for me to do a Zoom class with your guild, and the best part? You can sew from the comfort of your own space.
None of us is happy about the pandemic, but one bit of silver lining is taking a class without leaving home. It is a luxury to have all of your fabric and supplies at your fingertips. My students are loving it!
Each class will be presented at a particular time. You can browse through the list and if there’s a topic you like at a time that works, you just click through to OnZoom to register and pay.
Once you have registered and paid, you’ll get an email with a link to the supply list. From there, I’ll be sure you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare, and you can always email me with questions: diane@stashbandit.net
Right now I’m writing the supply lists and handouts, making step-outs and shooting samples as needed. When a class is four weeks away, I can list it with OnZoom.
If you’re not familiar with OnZoom, it’s a new feature that Zoom is rolling out whereby clients can offer paid events. I had to apply and it’s in beta, which means they’re still testing parts of it. So far I love it. As an attendee, I don’t think you’ll notice any differences between the Zoom you’re used to and OnZoom.
I have two classes open for registration:
and
Stash Bandit Briefs is something I’m super excited to offer. They are brief, concise little classes or lessons for just $10, and currently the pattern will be included.
You’ll find all the details of open enrollment as well as an ever-evolving list of offerings on the Open Enrollment page.
I designed a cute little block for this month’s Quilt Block Mania called Wreath & Chain. I have some other blocks that go with it to make a quilt with nice big areas for gorgeous machine quilting.
Each designer uses the same palette for cohesion. But when I actually made my block, I used Stash Bandit colors.
I designed a few different centers for the block including a tree and a house. Here’s what I imagine the quilt could look like if the alternate blocks were plain. Some of these blocks were eventually scrapped in favor of more successful designs.
I’m showing it scrappy. I love how varied scrappy backgrounds can look, and scrappy reds are not far behind. I’ve colored it in solids using EQ8 quilt design software but I’d probably make it with prints from my stash.
Here is my fabric version, sewn from my stash. I wish I had yards of that teal-green print. It is luscious.
Get the free instructions for my block right here!
Be sure to visit the other designers who have complimentary blocks posted during Quilt Block Mania! They are all linked below.
Here are two blocks that caught my eye.
If you’re on Instagram, check out #quiltblockmania to see many more great designs quickly, all with the theme of winter celebrations. Thank you for visiting Stash Bandit!
And here are links to all of the designers and their free blocks. Enjoy!
Christmas Wreath by Slice of Pi Quilts
Baby Sue’s First Christmas
Celebrate by Inquiring Quilter
Gifts at Always Expect Moore
Snowflakes by Blockofthemodotcom
Gifts of Friendship
Fireworks at duck creek mountain quilting
Christmas Star by Michelle Renee Hiatt
Adirondack Mountain Quilt Block
A Present from Penny
Candlelighting at Pretty Piney Quilts
Poinsettia from QuiltFabrication
Harbor Holidays at Blue Bear Quilts
Christmas Cracker at Perkins Dry Goods
Sparkling Spruce at Patti’s Patchwork
Jingle All the Way at Orange Blossom Quilt
Snowflakes & Candy Cane Trees at Quilt Moments
Tower of Gifts by Oh Kaye Quilting
Winter Memories by Carolyn Burgess
Holiday Block by Seams to Be Sew
Ticker Tape Tree at Devoted Quilter
Evergreen by True Blue Quilts
Merry and Bright at Around the Bobbin
Ski Vacation
I’ve been playing in EQ8 again and it seems the possibilities with Log Cabin never end. This started with a basic block I made for a Facebook Live with Annie’s Craft Store and Quilter’s World.
I liked the first few blocks so much that I just kept sewing. Right now I’m up to 24 blocks and I’m going to make at least that many more.
I often sew with just a vague idea of where a quilt is going. I want to let it take shape naturally. But this time I chose to decide up front how I would set the blocks. EQ8 let me explore the possibilities!
I don’t know if the arrangement above has an official name, but I’m calling mine Rickrack. I love rickrack!
I’m not sure about the setting above. It feels like my eye can’t quite understand what is going on. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t have a name that I know of.
This one has the blocks arranged into Pinwheels. Are you starting to understand what it’s easier to try out settings in EQ8 than to rearrange the blocks on your design wall a dozen times?
I really like this setting. It’s like the Rickrack setting a few photos back, but this time the strips of rickrack are oriented vertically. It’s like the mark on Harry Potter’s forehead!
If I had to name this one, I’d call it Girl’s Best Friend. Because you know, diamonds are just that!
Each time you recolor a block, EQ saves it for you. You can view the blocks one at a time, several at a time, or many at a time in the Project Sketchbook.
You can view the quilts you’ve created in the same way.
It has been my pleasure to partner with Electric Quilt Company these past few months to show you a little of what EQ8 can do.
Through Sept 30, use code EQ8STASHBANDIT for a nice 20% discount on everything on the EQ website. I know you’re going to love this power tool!
And I can’t wait to show you all my Log Cabin blocks very soon!
Earlier this month I hosted a Facebook Live for Quilter’s World and Annie’s Craft Store. We talked about making Log Cabins using Block 1 in the Awash with Color Mystery Sampler.
I made a couple of blocks and parts to help viewers understand the ideas I was sharing, and I liked them so much that I just kept on sewing. Then I decided to open up EQ8 design software and see what other possibilities lurked! I was not disappointed.
I have a new idea for a quilt I really want to make, and it happened in a very roundabout way. First let me show you a mockup of the quilt that I designed in EQ8 quilt design software.
I think it would such a great quilt to practice machine quilting on! The blocks are easy and forgiving, and you can use any type of fabrics and it will look great.
I think I will do something special with the border. Stay tuned for that. So here is how this quilt was conceived.
I finished a hawg this week. That’s my new term for a quilt you love and hate as you make it.
It wasn’t the quilt’s fault. I think it was a difficult project because of the bias edges on hundreds of small pieces and on a bunch of big pieces, too.