Compass Quilt Beauty

Leslie's Beautiful Compass Quilt

Lesley brought her wonderful compass quilt in to show me.

She started this quilt in class last year and was delighted to have it finished and quilted - just the binding to put on now.

This is my "The Way Ahead" design - lots of work and colour choices but worth it!

Here is a close up of the centre:

Congratulations Leslie.

New Project for Quilters' Companion

Quilt Bag Project for Quilters' Companion

I have just finished making the last of my six History projects for Quilters' Companion magazine.

I have made a bag large enough to store your favourite quilt.  The front is string pieced and the back is made of a lovely chocolate brown toile with a quilt label appliqued to it.

My article will feature information on the importance of labelling our quilts and the history of inscriptions on quilts.

Here is a sneak preview of the bag:

Look out for my articles in the next three issues of Quilters' Companion.

Epping Quilters Inc

Class for Epping Quilters Inc

I had a great day yesterday teaching a group of ladies from the Epping Quilters Inc.  We were cutting, stacking and sewing my whack and stack quilt called Millefiori. 

It is a fascinating process to see how different fabrics look when you cut identical shapes and rearrange them.  Look what happens:

This fabric made patterns that looked like star fish and sea urchins:

Here is the fabric being cut out:

Here are Diana and Angela hard at work doing their sewing:

The blocks from this colourway look like fireworks:

Here are some blocks made from a vivid Kaffe Fassett fabric,  Wow!

Diana is the self-confessed "queen of miniatures".  She decided to make a miniature version of my quilt.  Instead of cutting 5" blocks, she cut them at 3" and is going to hand piece them all.  She fussy cut them from her paisley/flower fabric.  They look amazing!

Here is the original fabric she is using:

Here are some different blocks in a bright and pretty floral.

We had a great day, air conditioned room - yay!

I am looking forward to seeing the rest of the blocks at our next class in 2013.

Lovely Longbournes at Lyn's

Final Class for the Year

I had my final class for 2012 at Lyn's Fine Needlework at Baulkham Hills last Saturday.

The girls have made great progress on their "Longbourne" quilts.  Take a look:

The first one is by Meredith who has dubbed it "Katrina mania".  She is addicted to "fussy cutting" now.

The next one is by Pat who always keeps up with the homework - well done Pat.  It looks lovely in shades of green.

This one is by Drew who has made a lovely centre with delightful pink borders and her hexagons on a chocolate brown background.

The last one is by Leslie, a very busy lady who has done lots of my classes. 

It has been a delight to teach these lovely ladies - looking forward to more classes next year.

Katrina

What have I been sewing lately?

Fabric Candy

Moda have recently brought out collections of pre-cut 2 1/2 inch squares.  Now what do you do with them?

On the spur of the moment, I decided to make a small table runner with the collection from "Everlastings".  Add some applique and hand quilting and viola!  I love hand stitching with Perle 8 thread, it is so relaxing!

Here it is so far...

"Spikey" Makes His Appearance

Magazine Appearances

I was pleased to see that photographs of my "Spikes and Specks" quilt made it into the September/October issue of France's beautiful quilt publication "Quiltmania" and in the latest Issue Number 58 of Australian Quilters Companion.

My quilt won Second Prize in the Commercially Machine Quilted Category of the NSW Quilters' Guild Annual Darling Harbour Show in June 2012.  The quilt was beautifully enhanced by the magical quilting of Veronica Appleyard.

I have a project in the Quilters Companion out now.  It is the third project and article in my history series.  This time I include the instructions to make my "Pineapple" block cushion.  The block is made using paper foundation piecing techniques.   It is a fun block to make and would make a spectacular quilt if it was repeated in rows.  Now, that's an idea!

Two Fabulous New Quilts

Two Fabulous and Finished Quilts

Two of my students came into Pioneer recently to show us the quilts they have finished from workshops conducted earlier in the year.

First is Christina who made a beautiful version of my "Fandango" quilt.  This quilt uses "whack and stack" techniques to create lovely patterns in the circular shapes and paper foundation piecing techniques to create the perfect points around the circles.

Christina loved the technique so much she created a matching cushion.  How gorgy is that!  Well done, Christina!

Here is Ingrid striking a pose holding up Michelle's absolutely fabulous "Spikes and Specks" quilt.  I love her beautiful blocks and the borders look fantastic!

Katrina x

Thursday Girls

Last Thursday Workshop for 2012

My Thursday monthly class at Pioneer Patchwork completed their final class for the year yesterday.

Lots of progress has been made on a variety of my designs.

This is Dawn's centre compass for her Paradise quilt.  Wow!

This is Cindy with the border of her quilt as you go "Sakura" quilt:

This is Inge laughing about her applique for "Flowers from Chelsea":

This is Robyn's "Mansfield Park" - nearly finished.  So pretty!

This is the centre of June's "Rose Rhapsody".  It is so lovely:

Last but not least, this is Elaine's centre of her beautiful "Victoria" quilt:

I am so proud of all my students.  Well done girls!

Melbourne Cup Day Bash

Workshop and Fun at Pioneer Patchwork

The girls enrolled in the Melbourne Cup Day workshop had a fabulous day today with lots of patterns, sewing, eating and sweeps!

Here is Ingrid teaching instructions for her Crazy Patchwork Bag with cheeky Julie peering out:

Here are some of my girls making my "Christmas Tree Cushion" in various adaptations.  First is Robyn who finished the front of her cushion and was happily hand quilting.

Here is Kylie with her cushion which she is machine quilting with gold metallic thread.  The colours of her borders are the opposite to the other cushions:

Here is Diane who decided to hand stitch red ric rac to her cushion instead of sewing on buttons:

We had a great day - even though I did not win one cent!

Katrina x