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Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Welcome Fall with Free Quilt Patterns!

Welcome Fall (in advance!) Yes, we know it's not September yet... but it's never too early for quilt makers!  Here are some FREE patterns to consider.

p.s. Check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, collectible items, and jewelry! For continuous free quilt patterns, please visit us on Twitter !

Little Leaves Garland, free pattern at Art Gallery Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


Maple Leaf pillow, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download)

Maple Leaf quilt, free pattern at Tilda's World (CLICK for PDF download)

Autumn Falls Runner at Robert Kaufman Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)

Hello Autumn mini quilt by Pat Sloan (CLICK for PDF download)

Octoberama Leaf quilt, free block pattern at Birch Fabrics (CLICK for PDF download)


For MORE free patterns, check out our recently updated FREE PATTERN DAY (CLICK HERE):


Image credits: All images are copyrighted by their owners. Please respect their generosity in sharing their free patterns, and the restrictions they have placed on the use of these designs. Complete information can be found at the designers' websites provided in the links.


Friday, July 26, 2024

It's Modern Quilt Month! (5)

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the fifth of FIVE posts. As The Modern Quilt Guild says, modern quilts often use bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space. Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter

Raspberry Jazz, made by Pamela Dunlap, quilted by Jean Shute

Equilateral triangle blocks of warm reds and oranges, offset by black and white and gray, create a modern look for a quilt that is both visually and comfortably warm. Pattern source: based on Sheila Christensen's Caravan design in her book, Quilts with an Angle


Looking for Mr. Wright, made by Caroline Ellermann and Mary Huff, quilted by Mary Huff.  


This original quilt design was inspired by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Caroline Ellermann and Mary Huff say, "With our "nephew" in architectural school, we decided to make him a quilt he could relate to." The strong black lines and color blocks remind us of a stained glass window.  The quilting echoes some of Wright's themes as well (shown below).


Midnight Blues, made and quilted by Pamela Dunlap


Various blues paired with a black, night sky batik make for a starry quilt that seems to shimmer.  Pamela Dunlap says, "It was fun delving into my stash of fabrics to make this quilt." This quilt design looks complex but gives a beautiful result!  Pattern source: Sheila Christensen's "Hampton Ladies", Quick and Easy Triangle Block Tool book


Knot Today by Kathie Miller, quilted by Kim Votava.  


Kathie Miller says, "Graphic and geometric - this pattern just called my name.  Add to that a chance to use part of my batik scraps and this fun quilt became reality.  Kim [Votava] added her special quilting touches to bring everything together." [Pattern source: "Knot Today" by Angeles Jaso Tucker for It's So Emma.] We love Kathie Miller's fabric choices and Kim Votava's quilting designs!


Look Ma, No Stitches, made and quilted by Christine Nelson


 Christine Nelson says, "I enjoyed using a variety of fabrics in this quilt.   The pleated log cabin technique makes the stitching invisible on the front.  Measuring the strips carefully as you place them before stitching is important." Pattern source: Lynne Wilson's Pleated Log Cabin.  The centers of blocks have fascinating fussy cut motifs.


Big Hexies - Mostly Marcia by Janet Pugh.

Pattern source: Modern Quilts Unlimited, issue #19. Janet Pugh says, "Sarah Thomas used vertical rows of half hexies, [so] no set-in piecing is required.  I used nearly all fabrics designed by Marcia Derse.  Each piece uses a 4-sided half hexagon template.  Easy Peasy!"


 Note: For MORE hexagon designs, check out our Free Pattern Day for Hexagon Quilts (CLICK HERE):


Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show.


Tuesday, July 23, 2024

It's Modern Quilt Month! (4)

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the fourth of FIVE posts. According to The Modern Quilt Guild, modern quilts often use bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space. Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter

What Do You Call an Ugly Quilt, made by Mimi Pollow, quilted by Quality Quilterz

We really enjoyed this quilt, with its bright, complementary colors and big shapes... We're not sure how - or why - it earned its title!

In any case, Mimi Pollow says, "Once I started piecing this quilt, I realized that it did not start with colors and strips, but shapes. I had to search the pattern picture to discover the shape and color of each piece." Mimi credits the following modern quilt pattern: "Seren" by Michael Caputo from Patchwork Paper.


 Desert Rain,
made and quilted by Sherrie Spangler

Here is a lovely piece of fabric art, with soft colors and wavy lines resembling rain.  Sherrie Spangler says, "Streamers of desert rain touched by sunset inspired this quilt. I painted and stamped all of the fabric, incorporating animal, human and wind petroglyph designs.  Gold glimmers in the sun breaking through the rain." 

Crazy Diamonds, made and quilted by Ann Adams

We love hexagons! There are some great fussy cut pieces along with precision piecing and fun, Tula Pink prints. Ann Adams says, "I constructed each diamond using hexagons, triangles, half hexagons, and jewels.  Each diamond uses its own color family with Tula Pink lineworks fabrics. It is hand pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted using the English paper pieced technique."

 Winds of Change by Saralee Schneck

 
This lovely quilt refers to changes in the weather, observed as increases in fires and violent storms. The pattern source was Currents - a contemporary applique pattern by Barbara Shapel.  Saralee Schneck says that she turned the (early 2000) pattern sideways to reflect the prevailing winds circling our planet from West to East. The polar ice caps (North and South) were represented in crushed velvet.
 

Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show.

Friday, July 19, 2024

It's Modern Quilt Month! (3)

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the third of FIVE posts. According to The Modern Quilt Guild, modern quilts often use bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space. Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter

Garden Gone Wild, made and quilted by Sherrie Spangler

Splashy colors represent an exuberant untamed flower garden, with quilting lines adding a wind blown feeling. Sherrie Spangler says, "I painted much of the fabric, including sheer silk for color depth.  Feathers, yarn and beads scattered across the surface add to the wildness." The raw edges also add to the soft look of this quilt.


 Ripples in a Crayola Sea, made by Mimi Pollow, quilted by Quality Quilterz

Mimi Pollow says, "This quilt was started on a quilting cruise. Yes, it is from a kit, but it was far from easy.  In fact, it took me almost a year to finish." Pattern source: Strippy Double Diamond by Carol Morrissey.  


 Woven Wonder, made and quilted by Jana Knutson.

What a fantastic woven-look quilt! Jana Knutson says, "Only 400 squares to match up points! One and done pattern but it was fun." Pattern source: Over and Down Under by Bonnie Sullivan (available at many sources). 


It All Comes Together by Peter Adams, quilted by Kathy Harris

A graphic contemporary look was achieved with this two-color quilt. Pattern source: Modern 180 (Deb Tucker's Studio).  Peter Adams says, "This quilt was created following the Modern 180 Tumbling Triangles pattern, which uses the Studio 180 V-block tool. A V-block unit contains a centered triangle.  I was intrigued that the triangles appear to be suspended and in a free-fall motion."


 Image credits: Photos were taken by Quilt Inspiration at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show.


Wednesday, July 17, 2024

It's Modern Quilt Month! (2)

We're celebrating Modern Quilt Month at Q.I. This is the second of FIVE posts. According to The Modern Quilt Guild, modern quilts often use bold colors and prints, high contrast, graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, and/or expansive negative space. Enjoy!

Also check out our E-Bay shop for great bargains on quilt patterns, books, fabric and jewelry items !
You can also visit us on Twitter

Silk Parquetry Impression #2, made and quilted by Joyce Kaiser. 


 Original design.  This piece was created using a grab bag of silk strips from "Leilani Arts".  The raw edge strips were sewn to batik units onto a muslin foundation using Holoshimmer or gold thread. Beading of opposite corners [was] added to enhance the silk rectangles.

Gamma, made and quilted by Maria Barr

This quilt seems to vibrate with motion! Maria Barr says, "[This is] such a cool optical illusion, I almost changed the name to "Warp Speed Ahead"! Pattern source: Devon Iott (Miss Make). 


 Gridlock, made and quilted by Karen G. Fisher 


This quilt appears to glow from within, thanks to the creation of intricate dark-to-light gradients.  Karen G. Fisher says, "Gridlock combines all six "grids" I've designed over several years (five of them are in my book*): Triple Sudoku, Matrix, Miriam's Grid, Triaxial, Graduated, and Herringbone." *Pattern source: Karen Fisher's own book, titled "Easy Grid Quilts".

Embellishing, a controlled color palette, and fussy cutting control the chaos. Above, you can see large beaded spirals; other parts of the quilt (shown below) are embellished with metallic buttons and gold trim. Southwestern design fabrics add to the intricate textures. 

Cool Porte Cochere, made and quilted by Kathy Kutansky

Here is an original quilt showcasing fabrics created through surface design! Kathy Kutansky says, "This spring I took a week long Zoom workshop with Pat Pauly.  Using screens, rubbings and direct painting, I created most of these prints. It's really fun to work with these unusual fabrics."



 Kites over Cabin at Night, made by Russ Beasley, quilted by Kris Neifeld.  


This original black and white quilt is the essence of modern design, forming a tessellation. Russ Beasley only used black & white solids because he "loves simplicity".  He says, "I saw a similar picture on Google Art and thought it would be a great quilt. I configured a template for the kite and the square.  I concluded that partial seams [were] the only way to go. I then decided the rows would need to be constructed from the center out also with partial seams."  

The photo below shows the "kites" that make up the design.  Check out the perfect piecing!


Image credits and awards: Photos were taken at the 2024 Tucson Quilters Guild show. Silk Parquetry Impression #2 won 1st Place in the Art Abstract category, plus a Judge's Choice award. Gridlock won 1st place in the One Person - Large Pieced category. Kites over Cabin at Night won 2nd place in the Modern Quilt category. Cool Porte Cochere won an Honorable Mention.