Bias applique roundup (and giveaway winner!)

For my giveaway of The Appliqué Book, I asked entrants to share an aspect of appliqué they were interested in learning about. Several people mentioned bias appliqué, which has its own section in the book. We’ll get to the giveaway in a second, but I thought I’d show some of my projects using bias-tape appliqué to give you some ideas about how this versatile technique can be used.

Cordova table runner from my book, The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop

“La Fiesta” version of Grey Gardens

“La Costa” version of Grey Gardens

Cordova and my two Grey Gardens quilts use bias appliqué to make geometric patterns inspired by lowly concrete blocks. Deceptively easy to sew!

Helix table topper from The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop

Retro Ring Placemats from 50 Fat Quarter Makes

For these table linens, I played with intertwining the bias strips to make free-form shapes.

Woven Waves table runner

Then I went totally crazy with the weaving for this runner I designed for a webinar a while ago. If you missed the webinar during the Sewing Party, you can now download it from my website to learn how to design and construct your own woven bias runner.

Giveaway!

The winner of a free copy of The Appliqué Book is commenter number 28, Jodi - usairdoll, who was interested in learning about reverse appliqué (as many of you were). Congratulations Jodi—I’ll be in touch shortly. Thanks to all who entered!

Craftsy sale

One last note...now through Monday, March 28, Craftsy is offering 50% off all their classes! If you’re getting your feet wet with appliqué, you’ll learn to find the right technique for you in my class, Start Appliqué, on sale for $19.99. Or use my affiliate link to take your pick from a myriad of other classes in quilting, sewing, embroidery, and more!

The Appliqué Book Blog Tour

I’ve been looking forward to The Appliqué Book for a long time, ever since author Casey York and I chatted all things appliqué over lunch at a quilt show we taught at a couple years ago. I’m honored to be included among the appliqué quilters profiled in the book, and delighted to be one of today’s stops on the blog tour!

Casey’s previous book, Modern Appliqué Illusions, thoughtfully explores unconventional ways to use appliqué to build a sense of perspective into quilts. What I love about The Appliqué Book is that it shows there really is no such thing as “conventional” appliqué: instead, there’s an infinite variety of approaches. Rather than being forced into some one-size-fits all standard, the projects in this book show the individual methods used by the designer, making each project a kind of case study of what can be done with a particular working style.

“Felt and Linen Improv Coasters,” Betz White

The diversity of technique in appliqué is rivaled only by its plethora of aesthetic possibilities, and the designers featured each bring a unique eye to the book. I love the the free-form stitching and the mix of wool felt and linen in Betz White’s coasters, and equally love the strikingly geometric Sweet Pickles quilt by Latifah Saafir (those bias strips are fussy cut!). It’s especially impressive that there’s extensive instruction to go with the wide range of projects and techniques. I always encourage students in person and online and readers of my own appliqué book to explore lots of different ways of doing things, and The Appliqué Book offers just that.

“Sweet Pickles,” Latifah Saafir

If you’re looking for appliqué inspiration, order a copy of the book now (you can even get a signed copy from Casey). Or try your luck at winning one! To enter the giveaway for a copy of the book from C&T Publishing (hard copy to U.S. winners; e-book for others), leave a comment on this post telling an aspect of appliqué you’re interested in learning more about. Entries close at midnight, March 25 (Pacific Time); I’ll announce the randomly chosen winner on March 26. Make sure your comment or profile has your e-mail address! Giveaway has ended. Congratulations to winner Jodi - usairdoll!

And for even more appliqué ideas, visit each of the blogs on the tour:

Mon. March 14:
Casey York | http://studioloblog.wordpress.com
C&T Publishing | http://www.ctpub.com/blog/

Tues. March 15:
Jenna Brand | http://jennabrand.com/
Adrianne Ove/Pink Chalk | http://www.pinkchalkstudio.com/blog/

Wed. March 16:
Jenifer Dick | http://42quilts.com/
Pati Fried | https://seehowwesew.wordpress.com/

Thurs. March 17:
Shannon Brinkley | http://www.thebottletree.net/blog/
Bari J. | http://barijdesigns.com/blogs/blog

Fri. March 18:
Debbie Grifka | http://eschhousequilts.com/blog
Beth Vassalo | http://plumandjune.blogspot.com

Mon. March 21:
Latifah Saafir | http://www.latifahsaafirstudios.com/blog

Tues. March 22:
Lynn Harris | http://thelittleredhen.typepad.com
Kevin Kosbab | http://feeddog.blogspot.com ← you are here

Modern Quilts Unlimited | https://modernquilts.mqumag.com/category/blog

Web. March 23:
Allison Rosen | http://withinaquarterinch.com/
Cindy Lammon | http://hyacinthquiltdesigns.blogspot.com/

Thurs. March 24:
Rossie Hutchinson | http://www.rossiecrafts.com/blog
Generation Q | http://generationqmagazine.com/

Fri. March 25:
Betz White | http://betzwhite.com/blog
Casey York | http://studioloblog.wordpress.com

Giveaway: my new Craftsy class!

If you follow my Facebook page or have stopped by my freshly redesigned website, you may have already heard the exciting news: I’ve shot a class with Craftsy, and it’s coming out soon!

In the class, I walk you through preparing and sewing appliqué in several different ways, by hand and machine, and I share lots of tips for making appliqué easy and fun. For each technique, we’ll sew a pear quilt block I designed specifically to include all the things you’ll run into when appliquéing, like curves, corners, and overlapping pieces.

One of the great things about Craftsy classes is that you can ask the instructor questions, so if you run into any trouble spots, I’ll be there to help you out, and so will your fellow students. And then you can post photos of your work so we can all ooo and ahh over them!

The class launches in a couple weeks. Until then, enter here for a chance to win the class for free! And stay tuned for more details.
Congratulations to Craftsy member gtcoursey, winner of the free class! Thanks to everyone who entered. Click here to enroll in the class for 25% off!

Modern Appliqué Illusions blog tour (and giveaway!)

Welcome to everyone here for the Modern Appliqué Illusions Blog Tour! I enjoyed getting to know author Casey York over lunch at Quilting LIVE in Atlanta, right before the book debuted, and I’m pleased (but not surprised) to report that her book is equally enjoyable.

The illusions Casey explores in Modern Appliqué Illusions are those that lend a sense of perspective to the flat surface of a quilt. She explores the concept through lots of different techniques and approaches, which makes for plenty of inspiration.

Casey is absolutely the right person to present these ideas—her solid grounding in art history enriches and contextualizes the technique discussions. She interprets classic methods of perspective from Western art in fabric and thread rather than paint or ink, and I really enjoyed learning about the theoretical background while seeing the ideas put to use in quilts.

I was also struck that, though this is first and foremost a book about appliqué, Casey goes into detail about how she also uses quilting to enhance the appliquéd perspective effects. So often quilting instructions stop at “quilt as desired,” but Casey, for example, gives precise dimensions for how to plan the radiating quilting for Tunnel Vision (shown above) while explaining the underlying concepts so you can adapt them to your own designs.

The perspective-quilting techniques are easily achieved on a domestic machine, as Casey shows by quilting many of the book’s projects herself, which I always appreciate from quilt-book authors. In a quilt like River Bend, I love that the appliqué, fabric choices, and quilting all contribute to the overall composition as well as the sense of perspective, turning a relatively simple quilt into much more.

The general rule of thumb is that quilting shouldn’t cross over appliqués, but Casey’s quilt Ripples is a great example of why rules of thumb aren’t set in stone: she quilted concentric circles to suggest ripples on the surface of the water above the koi, which is a fantastic way to reinforce the sense of depth introduced by the appliquéd shadows.

That only scratches the surface of Casey’s ideas for bringing perspective into your appliqué, so make sure to check out the book for more! (You can get signed copies from Casey’s shop.) Or leave a comment below for a chance to win a free copy—just tell me what interests you most about appliqué, perspective, or both before the end of Monday, 11/17/2014, Pacific Time, and I’ll draw a winner at random. (The printed book giveaway is open to US addresses only, but non-US residents are welcome to enter for a chance to win an e-book copy.) Entries are closed. Congratulations to commenter number 3, Janie, the winner! I’ll be in touch by e-mail shortly.

Stop by Casey’s blog (she’s talking about her Grove quilt today, which has more interesting quilting to suggest rounded tree trunks) as well as the rest of the blogs on the tour—GenQ is up tomorrow!

• 11/10: C&T Publishing
• 11/11: Jenifer Dick/42 Quilts
• 11/12: Debbie Grifka/Esch House Quilts
• 11/13: Pink Chalk Studio
• 11/14: Shannon Brinkley/Bottle Tree
• 11/15: Pellon
• 11/16: Kevin Kosbab/Feed Dog Designs ← You are here
• 11/17: Generation Q Magazine 
• 11/18: Krista Robbins/Sew What's Cooking?
• 11/19: Fat Quarter Shop/Jolly Jabber
• 11/20: Violet Craft

Stitch ’n Swap Blog Party

Have you been following Generation Q’s Blog Party to celebrate the release of their new book? It’s Stitch ’n Swap: 25 Handmade Projects to Sew, Give and Receive, and I’m on today’s party circuit!

My contribution to the book was a pair of potholders made from a version of Rail Fence blocks that reminded me of parquet floors—hence the alliterative project title, Parquet Pot Holders.

Though they look quite different, both of the potholders were made from exactly the same block structure. In bare black and white, it looks like this:

Not much to it when stripped down, but there’re loads of ways to dress it up! I envisioned a swap or guild challenge in which participants would all use the same basic design and “color it in” with different fabrics to show the versatility of the block. To make sure it was doable, I challenged myself to come up with some other designs for the same potholder block. These are just solids, but the possibilities multiply even further when using stripes and other prints.

Make sure to check out GenQ for the rest of the blog party and to enter to win your very own copy of the book. Good luck, and happy swapping!

How does this giveaway work?

I'm so glad you asked. Comment on the original Generation Q Stitch 'N Swap post letting us know if you've ever participated in a swap and the coolest thing you've ever gotten in a swap. That's it!

All winners will be chosen from the Generation Q Magazine post Wednesday May 7th and posted Thursday May 8th.

Stitch ’n Swap: 25 Handmade Projects to Sew, Give and Receive
compiled by Jake Finch of Generation Q
$17.95
112 pages

Get a signed copy from GenQ

Quilter's Appliqué Workshop Blog Tour giveaway winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway—it’s been really interesting to hear what aspects of appliqué intrigue you, what’s held you back, and what you’re looking forward to in the book. I wish I could send you all a copy!

The randomly chosen winner is SIMPLESEW, who left this comment:

Its a weird I dont like to do the applique.. I am lazy, but I am a really good cross stitcher but I dont like to embroidery either, but love EPP..But I feel the same, they can play anything on TV and if I have thread in hand, I would be happy..

I hope the book will show her some ways to appliqué that will work for her.

Thanks again for all your entries, and for following along with the blog tour. And thanks especially to the hosts of each stop along the tour! If you missed any of them, they’re all linked up here on my blog, or right here on the book’s mini site. Orders for The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop are now shipping, so please check it out!

Blog Tour day 8: Quilting Daily

Today marks the end of the Quilter’s Applique Workshop Blog Tour and also the official publication date of the book! So it’s appropriate that today’s post is on the publisher’s Quilting Daily blog. Stop by for a handful of my appliqué tips.

Enter there for a chance to win a copy of the book—and there’s still time to enter for the tour’s grand prize! Thanks for your entries—the winner is announced here!

Blog Tour day 4: LoveBug Studios

Jump over to Ebony Love’s LoveBug Studios for a guest post on die cutting for appliqué. While you’re there, enter to win some wool charm squares!

And don’t forget to enter the grand-prize giveaway for the blog tour by commenting on the first day’s post. Thanks for your entries—the winner is announced here!

Blog Tour day 2: Cut to Pieces

Hop over to Angela Pingel’s blog for a review of The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop and a chance to win a copy!

The Quilter's Applique Workshop Blog Tour: Virtual trunk show

Yesterday I launched my new book The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop with a trunk show, book signing, and demo at the annual retreat held by my home guild, the Tuleburg Quilt Guild. After the relatively solitary process of putting the book together, it was a real treat to share the quilts with my friends and fellow quilters, and to hear what they made of them. So to kick off my blog tour, I thought I’d share a few pics from the event with you too.

Keep following the blog tour through the official publication date of February 28 to get more ideas for appliqué and hear more about The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop from these bloggers:

• February 20: Kevin Kosbab, Feed Dog
• February 21: Angela Pingel, Cut to Pieces
• February 22: Sew Mama Sew
• February 24: Ebony Love, LoveBug Studios
• February 25: Generation Q
• February 26: Heather Kosbab, Happy Appliquer
• February 27: Diane Gilleland, CraftyPod
• February 28: Quilting Daily

 Don’t forget to check out the grand-prize giveaway details at the end of this post!

Since my Fruit Market quilt got shipped to the publisher almost immediately after I got it back from the quilter, it was great to get it out into the light of day.

Speaking of the light of day, how’s this for dramatic lighting? The sun decided to act as a natural spotlight for Pineapple Rings.

Cover quilt Cobblestones got the spotlight treatment too.

Check out these treat boxes my super friend, cashier, and cheerleader Sandy made for the retreat using the Cobblestones blocks! Even better, they were filled with her homemade caramely, chocolatey shortbread.

My lovely assistants, Deborah and Sandy, with my Mod Flowers Table Runner. The runners were too small for them to hide their faces behind; I do believe there were some secrets whispered behind the larger quilts....

Counterbalance turned on its side reminded some audience members of snakes who’d gobbling up a rat, which I had to admit was a pretty fair assessment. So the quilt’s nickname will now be Well-Fed Snakes.

Garden Allotments was one of the crowd favorites—broderie perse is great with fairly large-scale prints like these florals.

Round the Block was another crowd pleaser, not that you’d know it from the faces we’re pulling.

Having a TED Talks moment.

One of our guild members is named Dessie. As I was unfurling this banner and only the left half was showing, one of our VPs was momentarily puzzled as to why I’d made a quilt that said “Feed Dessie”—was she hungry?? (The pattern for the full pieced alphabet is forthcoming, so you can spell out the name of whoever needs to be fed in your own guild.)

After lunch, I demonstrated needle-turn appliqué with freehand tree shapes as in the All Seasons Pillows peeking out to the left of me (a free pattern for the project is coming later in the blog tour). Not having a precise line to follow takes the stress out of needle-turning so you can focus instead on learning the process and hand movements. I was thrilled to see guild mates discovering (to their surprise) that the process was easy and fun! There’s really no need for all that “A-word” name-calling.

For the duration blog tour, enter to win the “grand prize” giveaway of a signed copy of the book, a stack of my other appliqué patterns, and my home-dec sewing DVD. Just tell me what intrigues you about appliqué in a comment on this post, whether you’re a beginner or an appliqué aficionado. Comments will be open through March 1, 11:59 pm Pacific Time, then a winner will be randomly chosen. (U.S. addresses only please; one entry per person.) Good luck, and make sure to check out all the other stops on the tour too! Thanks for your entries—the winner is announced here!

The Quilter’s Appliqué Workshop
By Kevin Kosbab
Interweave/F+W Media; $26.99
bit.ly/JFVK4U

Thanks JD for taking the retreat photos!

Alligator giveaway winners

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway for the Penguin & Fish Alligator pattern and Clothworks fabric! I’ve just drawn the numbers for the winners….

For the blog giveaway (no. 1, the Mother, wasn’t included ’cause her alligator recipient would be the same as mine), comment no. 5 belongs to KatieQ of Katie’s Salt Marsh Path!

I randomly assigned numbers to the Facebook likes and comments (one per person), and person no. 4 is Deborah Soares!

The winners have been notified—if either of you somehow didn’t get the e-mail, make sure to get in touch so I know where to ship to.

Thanks again to everyone who entered—it was lovely to hear from some old friends as well as new ones!

Christmas Catch-Up: Giveaway!

The problem with craft blogging during the holidays is that if we want to show our handmade presents, we run the risk of giving away the surprise—at least, that’s what I tell myself when I’m sewing up to the Christmas deadline and don’t have a chance to post.
So this year, I thought I’d turn the first week of the New Year into belated gift-giving for you, my dear readers, based on what I made for my family. Later in the week I’ll post some tutorials and patterns, but I thought I’d kick things off with a giveaway!

Middle Brother has a peculiar terror of alligators, so naturally an alligator stuffed toy was in order for his son. Alligators somehow came up at Spring Quilt Market when I was talking with a rep from Clothworks, who was kind enough to send me this pattern by Penguin & Fish as well as fabric from the A Closer Look line—perfect for scaly gator flesh. The pattern was put together very well, which I always admire as both a pattern designer and technical editor.

No, I’m not giving away the plush I just made for my nephew—that’d just be cruel. Susie from Clothworks actually sent me three copies of the pattern, so I’m giving one away here and one on my Facebook page, each along with fabric for the main pieces.

Just leave a comment here between now and the end of Saturday (1/4/2014, 11:59 pm Pacific time) to enter. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on Sunday. You can also enter the giveaway (with a slightly different set of fabrics) on Facebook by commenting or liking the post there; the winner there will also be random, but I’ll make sure the same person doesn’t win both. Good luck! The giveaway has ended and winners have been posted. Thanks for entering!

Peacocks on Parade giveaway winner

Congratulations to Kim West of A Peach in Stitches—Kim, you should have got an e-mail with a code to get your pattern. Thanks to all who entered and shared their thoughts on PDF patterns. There’s clearly a lot of potential in digital pattern publishing, but also some challenges.

Kim’s comment brings up an excellent point about using PDF patterns:

I like them, but if I could get an app to be able to annotate them, I would probably like them better. I like to write notes on my patterns to let me know where I left off, clarify directions, etc.

I use PDF-XChange Viewer, a free Adobe alternative, for annotating PDFs on my PC all the time—but there’s no version for portable devices. It seems like a no-brainer that there’d be apps out there to mark up PDFs on tablets, but I’m yet to find a good one for Android at least. Certainly nothing as easy as scribbling a few notes in the margin of a printed pattern. Maybe some day…

Thanks again to those who entered—stay tuned for some more giveaways in the coming weeks.