Carli The Quilter

1.    Start with 5 fat quarters, one the focus fabric, 2 light colors and 2 dark colors.(Two Hour Table Runner Part One) 2.    Layer the FQ’s face up, 1 st light fabric, 1 st dark fabric, focus fabric, 2 nd light fabric, 2 nd dark fabric.(Step two photo) 3.    Make only 4 vertical cuts with rotary cutter across and through all layers of the FQ’s. Make these cuts off on any any that is workable for sewing together fast, try to vary the width of each cut, this is where it gets very individual. (Step 3 photo) 4.    Start with the far left stack of slices: ·       Take 1 top slice and move it to the bottom of the 1 st stack. ·       Moving to the right always, take 2 top slices and move to the bottom of 2nd stack. ·       Take 3 top slices and move to the bottom of 3 rd stack. ·       Take 4 top slices and move to t...

I love a fast and easy way to sew strips and make interesting blocks. This tutorial is a short demonstration of how we can make the process of block building in a modern, fast way. This tutorial will help you step out of the box of traditional thinking about always having everything straight and even and time consuming. This tutorial is just the beginning of using this technique to make fun bags, quilts, table runners and gifts of all kinds. Step 1: Start with three fat quarters, don’t trim, just lay them on top of each other on a cutting mat. Step 2: Using a long enough ruler to reach both sides of the fat quarters, make two off center kind of cuts in the way I’ve done in this photo. The secret to this technique is about going out of the box. Step 3: From the first stack on your left, take the top piece and put it under the same stack. Then on the next stack, take the top two pieces and put them at the bottom of the pile. Leave the third stack intac...

Life has been up and down, all around, spinning sometimes and lost in the wilderness of life at other moments. I never know when something good is going to enter my life. I can plan well, execute focused attention on those plans and even sleep well too. Sometimes my world is touched by light and goodness. I can see dark clouds coming and I take shelter. This little quilt came into my life one of those times I sought shelter. The rain poured for what seemed like weeks as I played inside with the technique of stacking and whacking, slicing and dicing whatever you call it, in a totally different way. Designing; whacking and joining away I went. My task was "purple" the favorite color of Jennifer, Violet's Mom.   Playing with stacking and whacking is almost second nature because as I play with integrating recycled fabric from clothing into quilts its takes a different frame of reference to work with even the most challenging of recycled fabrics. 100% cotton ...

 While I'm designing, I often get lost in the moment. I find this to be a great asset to creation of a new design. Over the summer, I've been perfecting this technique. This mixing and mashing kind of construction is freeing in all aspects of designing. Its a technique that leaves you thinking about further adjustments that might be beneficial to the end product. The quilt police are likely to pick up that the seams don't match or that the piecing looks not coordinated or straight or whatever. I am not concerned about that. I'm concerned with developing a fun and fast way to piece and then create from there.  Again the technique is so simple but leaves a complicated look at the end. Here's how to start: Decide on your background color. I like to use solid colors, but I've had good results with a print as you'll see in further postings. Then pick 5 colors for the complementary strips. Then cut (1) 10 in. square from each complimentary color. Lay ...

A baby girl was born recently and the parents want a custom hand made baby quilt. Its such an honour to make custom quilts for folks who value a local product, hand made, original.   Little pieces, colors custom picked from my studio stash. This quilt retails for $325, custom orders are made with the person who is receiving the quilt in mind. The answer to the colors chosen, Purple! Under a pear tree sits the purple quilt and I. Here is the alternate colors for this quilt.   And the  back of this little baby quilt was a print of cartoon like kid stuff.        

Sometimes, I just want to add an embellishment to a quilt. For this T-shirt quilt I'm making ( www.goodearthquilting.ca )  I decided the small circles were calling for ric rac or something. I love using trims that add sparkle to a piece. Embellishing a quilt as you create or as you follow a pattern is easy to do and it might turn up your "Wow" factor. This little tip for using those fabrics that might not pop, try ric rac?  If you want to continue by adding beads, buttons or lace a whole new look starts to appear. When I'm wondering about something, I'll pin the embellishments on and then put it to the side. I will carry on wiht another part of the quilt or start a whole new project. For me, moving away, giving the change some time to jell in my head is important. Take for instance, this bass fish came to me through the mail when I participated with International Quilters round robin exchange. This bass was at the third installment, ready for me...