Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

This is a nod to all of the students who take a class and finish the project! Good for you!

This is a picture of the On Tour bag made by Beth L. – she took my class Jan. 22nd at Sew Creative in Beverly, MA. She finished the beautiful bag the next day for her sister! Great job, Beth!

Sew On, Girl!

Thanks for sharing! -Kris

Happy 2011 to you and your families! A new year, a clean slate, an uncut fat quarter – all brimming with possibilities! What will you quilt this year? Here’s a toast to letting your imagination soar and creating something a little different! Let’s have some quilting fun this year!

At left is a Tea Leaf Tote that I made – fun!  I decided to cut the overlays from all one color (black) and cut the bases from bright batik scraps, using a color wheel to guide me through the fabric choices. I started with warm on the bottom left and rotated around to cool on top right. What’s the best way to do this? Lay out your squares on a table and walk away from them so that you can get the visual effect of the colors with relation to each other (instead of focusing on the individual fabric). Move things around. Leave the room, come back, and determine if your layout works. Then go for it! The combination of black and brights will guarantee your success!

The photo on the right shows the back of the tote. Who says it has to be boring?

Hope you liked this tote!

Happy New Year and happy quilting!!

-Kris

An early God Jul to you! (Merry Christmas if you’re not swedish!) Here’s a little project based on Swedish Woven Paper Hearts that I used to make as a kid. Use your scraps and add a pocket on the back to use as a gift card holder! You can download instructions for the  Free Woven Heart Ornament  here.

Happy Sewing! -Kris

Thanksgiving – it’s a great time to thank the testers of the On Tour Bag!

First off, my mother Jean – she has made quite a few – so many on my previous post! So, thanks, Mom!

Next – MaryAnn M – she made this paisley beauty shown here right! MaryAnn is my “paisley” friend – so it was no surprise when  she decided to use a piece of fabric from her stash to make this beauty! What a great job ! And thanks so much for your input!

At left,  we have Rebecca D’s version – she made this for her grandson’s friend for her birthday! I love the “groovy” peace loving fabric, man! Rumor has it that Rebecca has also been working on a cordoroy version of this bag…hope to get a photo of that one soon!

I met Rebecca and her friend Donna and Donna’s daugther Angie one day while visiting in the Lake’s Region – they had a question about installing a zipper in the Weekender Duffle. I was on my way up there anyway (because they were so close to Keepsake). So I dropped in at the Bear’s Pine Woods Campground, where these quilters were hosting their own retreat, and we became quilting buds!

So, here is a picture that Rebecca sent me of the bags that Angie and Donna have made and here is the info that Rebecca sent along:

“Here is a picture of Donna and her daughter Angie! Angie’s friend Danielle (second from left),saw her Tour Bag and had to have one! Donna made Danielle a bag and then Donna’s sister Tammy (3rd from the left) saw all three bags and had to have one, so Donna made her one too!You’ve started an epidemic. Just before I took this picture Angie’s friend Trisha asked Donna if she would make her one and then Donna’s Aunt asked if she would make her one too!”

So there you have it! To Mom, MaryAnn, Becca, Donna and Angie – Thanks so much for testing!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!   -Kris

We’re back from Quilt Market in Houston and we had a wonderful time! Such a good time in fact, that it took quite a while to get back to this blog!

 My mom and I manned (womanned?) the booth from October 30th through November 1st . We met so many wonderful people! The Texans are wonderful hosts and we can’t wait to get back in 2011!

Our On Tour bag pattern was a hit! We made a few options for the booth and I wanted to show you a little of what we’ve done!  Our original version is shown at right. Nice big graphic prints really shine using this bag pattern! 

This pieced version of the On Tour Bag was made with Blank’s new Meadow Garden line by Yolanda Fundora. Yolanda could be spotted at Market wearing it!

I took some liberties with my bag design here and decided to make a pieced front. I had picked out an Earthlight Blender to go with the Meadow Garden which really made the brown and green tones pop.  If you’d like to make this pieced version of the bag – here are the pieces you’ll need (all from Blank Quilting):

• (1) 3 1/4″ x 15″ strip of 5997 Meadow Garden (Black)
• (2)1″ x 15″ strips of Splash BTR-3504
• (2) 2 3/4″ x 15″ strips of 6023 Earthlight (Amber)
•  (2) 6″ x 15″ strips of 5996 Meadow Garden (Black)
• Fold the 1″ strips in half lengthwise and press to make long narrow folded accents;
• Starting with the single 3 1/4″ strip of Meadow Garden, sew the accent strips to either side, matching right sides together;
• Add the 2 Earthlight strips to either side, then finish up with the remaining Meadow Garden strips;
• Using the pattern provided in the package, line up the center strip with the fold on pattern and cut out your front.
• Proceed according to the pattern.

How about our Vespa version at right? I have loved this Echino fabric forever – it has been sitting in my stash and what a match for the On Tour! It is so cute – I can’t wait to use it next summer! By the way, I used Fusible Fleece on the Main Outer portion of this bag, then used Decor Bond for the lining – just to add some Oomph!

Next week – a more in depth look at Grommet Installation!

Happy sewing!!  -Kris

Just thought I’d share a photo of Pat C’s version of the Star Diaper Tote! Isn’t this a cute interpretation? This is for her new grandson and she tells me that it held all kinds of goodies for the baby shower!

About Pat: I met Pat at Stitched in Stone in Kingston, NH. She is a talented quilter and sample maker! Thanks, Pat!

Also, if you entered the contest for the Quick Quilts magazine, Mary Jo was the winner! Thanks for commenting and I will have more freebies soon!! 

Happy Sewing….-Kris

Are you looking for sewing patterns for a new baby? My new book, Ready, Set, Go, Baby Necesssities to Sew will be available in August! This morning, I’d like to share some of the details with you!

Ready, Set, Go contains 16 projects that are perfect for your little pumpkin, along with pumpkin’s parents, grandparents and caregivers. The book was designed to appeal to the proficient sewing enthusiast as well as the beginning quilters.

Shown on the left is the Stroll and Go Tote, which is part of the Dad’s Day Out section. This is a stroller caddy that will hold all manner of baby’s needs, as well as a zippered pocket to hold Dad’s frequent coffee buyer’s card! So, if you have an active new Dad on your gift list, go ahead and buy that masculine fabric and whip up a tote, as well as a bottle cover, pacifier holder and don’t forget a coordinating changing pad, and he’ll be ready to go!

I hope I’ve sparked your interest in my new book…more previews starting soon!

Have yourself a merry little Christmas! -Kris

Here it is, December 1st….and I just want to remind all about our giveaway of one issue – make that two!! I am giving away two issues of the Winter issue of Quick Quilt Magazine. It has in it…. drum roll please…. a laptop bag project designed by me! If you comment, and I draw your name, you’ll receive it in the mail! I will be drawing this issue tomorrow December 2nd at 10:00 am. Comments, please!

Happy Thanksgiving to all and I hope you enjoy your family and friends on this special day!