Table of contents for Spring 2015 in Modern Patchwork

Like many quilters “of a certain age,” I started learning my craft as a teen, influenced by the happenings and trends in the world around me. The American Bicentennial had ushered in a new appreciation for all things handmade, and I had a neighbor who quilted. Marlee lived and breathed quilting: she made lots and lots of quilts. Her home was filled with quilts in every size, from utilitarian bed quilts to a Baltimore Album stitched entirely by hand. Her life revolved around learning new techniques, embracing modern technology, honing her craft, and spreading the “Quilting Gospel.” When I decided to make a quilt for a friend, I only had to knock on her door and she enthusiastically pulled a book from her shelf (Quilt In A Day by Eleanor…

Sometimes a quilt speaks through intricate piecing, but sometimes the fabric itself needs room to shout. These oversized Hourglass Blocks give the fabric the space to do just that. Choose colors with enough contrast in hue and value to bring dimension into play. This striking layout calls for straight line quilting to compliment the triangle shapes. MATERIALS Finished block 20" × 20" Finished quilt 50" × 50" ■ Fabric for quilt top (I used Reel Time by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics.) – Assorted prints and solids, 16 fat quarters, 18" × 22" – Border, ⅞ yd. – Binding, ½ yd. ■ Backing, 3 yds. ■ Batting, 58" × 58" ■ Triangle template, provided on insert ■ Template material DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics” for more information.…

I was totally smitten by Jessica Jones’ Time Warp collection for Cloud9 Fabrics; with its nubby texture and retro sensibility, the fabrics are a playful nod to the barkcloth of the 1950s. Making it into a tote was a great way to show off one design from the collection. This project is elegant and functional, with enough room for your shopping treasures and an outer patchwork pocket for your cell phone or shopping list. The construction is so simple you may want to make more than one! MATERIALS ■ Midweight fabric, 1⅜ yds. (Barkcloth, denim, canvas, or home décor fabrics are good choices.) ■ Lining fabric, ⅝ yd. (Fabric must be 44" from selvedge to selvedge) ■ Double-fold bias tape, ½", 2½ yds. ■ Pocket fabric, coordinating solid, fat eighth…

Whether you’re on your latest business trip or spending the weekend at a sewing retreat, this travel portfolio set will come in handy. Available in two sizes—large for legal pads, small for list pads or sketching tools—this makes a great last-minute gift. A patchwork front on the large portfolio will show off an assortment of favorite prints. Get ready to be organized and stylish! MATERIALS Portfolio, closed: Large, 13" × 10" [Small, 10 ¾" × 5 ½"] Fabric requirements for the small portfolio are in brackets. ■ Lining, ⅜ yd. [¼ yd.] ■ Batting, 20" × 30" [15" × 30"] ■ Fusible interfacing, 20" width, ¾ yd. (I used Pellon® Craft Fuse™.) ■ Button, 1" ■ Hair elastic ■ Basting spray ■ Point turner DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See…

Inspired by a stack of fabrics designed by Ellen Luckett Baker, I created these place mats as a practical canvas on which to practice straight line machine quilting. The easy and unstructured piecing allows for lots of creativity and individual variation. MATERIALS For 4 place mats, 12" × 17½" each ■ Fabric – Place mat tops, 8–10 fat eighths (9" × 22") of coordinating fabrics – Backing, 1 yd. or 4 fat quarters – Binding, ½ yd. or 2 fat quarters ■ Batting, 4 pieces, 18" × 13" DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". Press all seam allowances open unless otherwise noted. See “Sewing Basics” for more information. CUT THE FABRICS 1. Choose 4 fat eighths to feature more prominently in the place mats. From each of those fabrics, cut a…

modern patchwork is packed with projects for today’s quilters and sewists. The contemporary and fresh aesthetic of these projects pays tribute to the modern revival of patchwork, integrating traditional and innovative techniques. Submit today! We’re seeking fresh and stylish items with a modern-day appeal made in the latest fabrics. If you have an original design that you’d like to have published, we’d love to see it! What are we looking for? Distinctive and unpublished original projects to suit every room of the house. We encourage you to submit projects that fall within these guidelines: ■ Modern quilts: all shapes and sizes ■ Kitchen & dining: pot holders, aprons, place mats, and table runners ■ Studio accessories: pincushions, organizers, and needle books ■ Living room décor: pillows and quilt throws ■Baby…

I love sharp angles and wanted to create a challenging quilt incorporating them. I paid special attention to my fabric selection, playing with color, contrast, and composition not only in the quilt design, but also in the quilting itself. The expanse of negative space in the third panel gives the quilter a wonderful area for flights of quilting fancy. MATERIALS Finished quilt 39½" × 44½" ■ Fabric for quilt top (I used dear Stella fabric.) – Triangles, 10 assorted low-volume gray prints, ⅜ yd. each – Main (Row 3), ⅜ yd. – Accent prints, hot pink and yellow, scraps at least 8" × 12", fat eighth, or ¼ yd. each ■ Binding, lime green, ½ yd. ■ Backing, 2¾ yds. ■ Batting, crib size ■ Templates A & B, provided…

I was inspired by the beautiful colors and Asian feel of my fabrics from the Petal and Plume collection for Art Gallery Fabrics to create clusters of triangles imitating fans. I used a liberating machine appliqué technique and homemade freezer paper tempaltes to make this project fun for advanced beginners and seasoned quilters alike. MATERIALS Finished quilt 40" × 40" Kit available ■ Fabric for quilt top – Background, white, 1¼ yds. – Contrast fabrics, 6–10 fat quarters (18" × 22") ■ Batting, 45" × 45" or crib size ■ Backing, 1¼ yds. ■ Freezer paper ■ Spray starch ■ Small brush ■ Appliqué basting glue with a fine tip applicator ■ Monofilament thread, clear DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics” for more information. MAKE THE TRIANGLES 1.…

Nothing says “spring” like a rainbow after an April shower. This fresh design mingles two traditional blocks— Drunkard’s Path and a simple Nine Patch— with stunning results. The rainbow effect is accentuated by using different values of the same color fabric. This quilt showcases a variety of Kona Cotton solids from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. MATERIALS Finished block 15" × 15" Finished quilt 60" × 75" Kit available ■ Fabric for quilt top (All fabrics are Kona® Cotton solids from Robert Kaufman Fabrics.) – Limestone, 1¼ yds. (42" of usable width required) – Bordeaux, ½ yd. – Ballerina, ½ yd. – Honeysuckle, ¼ yd. – Nectarine, ½ yd. – Grellow, ½ yd. – Goldfish, ¼ yd. – Grasshopper, ½ yd. – Cabbage, ½ yd. – Parrot, ¼ yd. – Mediterranean, ½…

This cute pincushion is a great project to showcase your favorite fabric scraps, and would make a pretty gift for a friend who is just beginning to sew. Whether using a monochromatic color scheme or a full palette of colors, it is sure to brighten up any sewing space! A little bag of crushed walnuts or fine sand inside the pincushion helps to keep pins super sharp and protect your beautiful fabrics from snags while pinning. Finished Dimensions: 2" high × 4½ " wide. All seam allowances are ¼" unless otherwise stated. TO ASSEMBLE THE PATCHWORK TOP 1 Lay out your ten wedges in a circle. Starting at any point, sew five wedges into a half circle – working clockwise, place two wedges right sides together, right piece on top…

BIRTHPLACE Thousand Oaks, California CURRENT HOME St. Joseph, Missouri EDUCATION Otis College of Art and Design, BFA Graphic Design / Illustration LEARN MORE ABOUT FREESPIRIT Free Spirit speaks to a community of quilters and sewers who look to our brand and family of designers for inspiration. We speak the language of creativity and vivacious fun for home décor, quilting, crafting, and more. makeitcoats.com BROUGHT TO YOU BY FABRIC AND QUILT DESIGNER TULA PINK KNOWS SHE CAN’T BE ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE. And she’s learned that she gets the best response when she holds true to her vision, one that melds a love of storytelling, drawing, and a palette of fresh, pure color. Partnering with the right fabric company was key to her success as a designer. They encouraged her…

My inspiration for this bag came from a shopping trip while traveling in Portugal. With the long strap, you can wear it as a shoulder bag or across your body for hands-free adventure. I use this bag as a purse and also for excursions like a recent six-mile hike. Create the color block accent strips with large scraps, solids, or fun prints. MATERIALS Finished bag 14" × 13" × 5" ■ Main fabric, ⅔ yd. ■ Lining fabric, ⅔ yd. ■ Zipper pocket, 1 fat quarter ■ Color block accents, 6 assorted scraps (at least 10" × 2" each) ■ Lightweight woven fusible interfacing, 2¼ yds. (I used Pellon® SF101.) ■ Zipper, 9" or longer ■ Bag template, provided on insert ■ Zipper foot DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼", unless…

Simple diagonally pieced blocks come together in this quilt that symbolizes modern urban living. Generous pieces give the large-scale prints a chance to take center stage. MATERIALS Finished block 6" × 6" Finished quilt 51½" × 51½" ■ Fabric for quilt top (I used Distrikt from FreeSpirit Fabrics. Fabric key is adjacent to the Quilt Assembly Diagram.) — A, ¼ yd. — B, ¼ yd. — C, 5⁄8 yd. — D, ¼ yd. — E, ¼ yd. — F, ¼ yd. — G, ¾ yd. — H, ¼ yd. — I, 1 yd. — J, ¼ yd. — K, ⅜ yd. (½ yd. if using directional fabric) — L, ¼ yd. — M, ¾ yd. ■ Backing, 3½ yds. ■ Batting, 59" × 59" or twin size ■ Center template,…

The versatile petal shape appears in many patterns and projects, from the sophisticated and beautiful Double Wedding Ring pattern to this delightful table topper. I loved the colors and retro feel of the Cream and Sugar Collection from Windham Fabrics—all positively modern! MATERIALS Finished quilt 17" × 17" ■ Templates A & B, provided on insert ■ Fabric for table topper – Background fabric, fat quarter – Pink, 7" × 11" – Blue, 11" × 13" – Orange, 5" × 5" ■ Paper-backed fusible web, ½ yd. ■ Jumbo rickrack, ½ yd. (I used orange to coordinate with the center circle.) ■ Backing, 21" × 21" ■ Low-loft batting, 21" × 21" ■ Binding, ¼ yd. (I used a diagonal stripe print.) DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics”…

I love working with half-square triangles—they are so versatile and yet pleasingly simple as well. These pincushions are quick and fun to make and they make great gifts for you or loved ones. Challenge yourself to use scraps and leftovers from other projects for these tiny gems. MATERIALS Makes 2 pincushions Finished size 4" × 4" and 2" × 6½" ■ Fabric for 4" × 4" pincushion —2 dark squares, 3" × 3" —2 light squares, 3" × 3" —Backing, 4½" × 4½" ■ Fabric for 2" × 6½" pincushion —6 dark squares, 2" × 2" —6 light squares, 2" × 2" —Backing, 2½" × 7" ■ Fabric-safe marker ■ Acrylic ruler ■ Ground walnut shells ■ Hand stitching needle and coordinating thread Optional ■ Funnel DIRECTIONS All seams are…

After seeing many quilts using a traditional Melon Patch block—both historic and modern—I set out to develop a simple piecing method for modern quilters. I settled on this version using templates, which made it easy to piece the curves. The result reminds me of flower petals. Circular quilting adds another modern element to this quilt. MATERIALS Finished quilt 74" × 55" ■ Templates A, B, and C, provided on insert ■ Template material ■ Fabric for quilt top – Petals, complementary prints, 12 fat quarters – Background fabric, white, 6 yds. ■ Backing, 5 yds. ■ Binding, ½ yd. ■ Batting, twin size DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics” for more information. WOF = width of fabric CUT THE FABRIC 1. Trace the templates on the template material…

Ripple was inspired, as its name suggests, by the ripple effect on a pool of water as a droplet hits the surface. The careful use of value in the simple pieced half-square triangles adds to the illusion of a diamond exploding outward. This is a brilliant stash-busting quilt—see what you have on hand before you shop. MATERIALS Finished block 12" × 12" Finished quilt 96" × 96" ■ Fabric for quilt top – Background, assorted light gray prints, 5½–6 yds. total. (If you are buying a range of prints for the main fabric, purchase a minimum of ½ yd. per print.) – Accent fabric, assorted prints - Dark blue/navy, 2½ yds. total - Medium blue, 1¾ yds. total - Light blue, ¾ yd. total ■ Backing fabric, 9 yds. (or…

This Log Cabin adaptation has two fun twists—curved corners and strips of varied width that take this design from expected to unexpected. The impact of this quilt comes from the vibrant colors and large-scale design. MATERIALS Finished quilt 46" × 46" ■ Templates A, B, C, and D, provided on insert ■ Template material ■ Fabric for quilt top – Red, purple, lime, ⅜ yd. – Mustard, gray, blue, ½ yd. each – Cream, ⅞ yd. – Orange (piecing & binding), ¾ yd. ■ Backing, 3 yds. ■ Batting, 54" × 54" DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". Press after every round. See “Sewing Basics” for more information. WOF = width of fabric MAKE THE QUILT TOP 1. Use the cutting chart to cut the fabric. Label the pieces as you…

This pillow doesn’t require a lot of fabric to make a statement. For the pillow front, buy pre-cut squares, fat eighths, or fat quarters. Scrap collectors can raid their stashes. When selecting fabric, you will need a light, a dark, and two medium values of each color. I used red, yellow, blue, and green plus black and gray. MATERIALS Makes 1 pillow 16" × 16" ■ Fabric for the hourglass blocks – Red, 4 squares 6" × 6" each (1 light, 2 medium, 1 dark) – Green, 4 squares 6" × 6" each (1 light, 2 medium, 1 dark) – Blue, 4 squares 6" × 6" each (1 light, 2 medium, 1 dark) – Yellow, 4 squares 6" × 6" each (1 light, 2 medium, 1 dark) – Black/gray, 8…

I love the Log Cabin block and its innumerable variations, especially Courthouse Steps. This classically traditional block looks so fresh and modern as an entire quilt top in solids and subtle prints. Consider using curly and curved quilting to counterbalance the pure geometric quality of this setting. MATERIALS Finished quilt 66" × 86" ■ Fabric for quilt top (I used Cotton + Steel fabric from RJR Fabrics.) Note: Purchase the fabric off the bolt (instead of fat quarters) to maximize the length of each strip. – Khaki, ¾ yd. – Hot pink, 5/8 yd. – Misty green, ¼ yd. – Green cross print, ¼ yd. – Cornflower blue, ¼ yd. – Aqua, ⅜ yd. – Coral, ½ yd. – Deep blue, ⅜ yd. – Salmon, ½ yd. – Salmon cross…

“Modern traditionalism” is a term coming up a lot lately in conversations among quilters. The term seeks to define a sub-genre of modern quilts that incorporates elements of traditional ones—or perhaps the term defines a sub-genre in traditional quilts; those that start “classic” and inch toward a more free-form style. From either vantage point, modern traditionalism has emerged as a way to blend, remix, or otherwise couple characteristics of both modern- and traditional-style quilts. Two styles, both alike in dignity Hallmarks of the traditional style include borders, symmetry, and block-based design, typically executed in high-contrast fabrics. A Mariner’s Compass from 1900 would hit all of these criteria, for example. Traditional quilts are almost exclusively utilitarian; they’re made for the bed, not for the wall or a tabletop. In other words,…

SEWING TECHNIQUES FOR ACCURATE CURVED PIECING Basics and beyond ANGELA PINGEL Quilting Arts Workshop™/ F+W Media, Inc., 2015 DVD/video download Run time: 68 minutes $24.99/$19.99 Take the mystery out of accurate curved piecing with author and quilt designer Angela Pingel as your guide. Angela shares her secrets for sewing curves using minimal marking and just one pin! Learn how to sew quarter-circle curves with disappearing seams and explore traditional blocks such as Drunkard’s Path, Apple Core, and Flowering Snowball using fresh and modern color combinations. With Angela’s tips, you too can master curved piecing! STEP-BY-STEP FREE-MOTION QUILTING Turn 9 simple shapes into 80+ distinctive designs CHRISTINA CAMELI Stash Books, 2015 192 pp., Paperback $24.95 From straightforward to striking, the quilting designs in this book will inspire you to make beautiful…

Although I created this project as a table runner, it can also double as a striking piece of wall art. Use your favorite contrasting color scheme to make the oversized plus symbols pop from the neutral background. Straight line quilting provides a striking, geometric look. MATERIALS Finished size 15" × 75" ■ Fabric for table runner top – Light gray, ¾ yd. – Medium gray, ½ yd. – Dark gray, ⅛ yd. – Chartreuse, ⅛ yd. – Gold, ¼ yd. – Brick red, ¼ yd. – White, ¼ yd. ■ Backing, medium gray, 1⅜ yds. ■ Binding, light gray, ½ yd. ■ Low-loft batting, 18" × 80" DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼", unless noted. See “Sewing Basics” for more information. WOF = Width of fabric cutting chart CUT THE FABRIC…

The angular shapes of mid-century modern architecture fill me with excitement! They are so dramatic, so different, they just cry out for interpretation in fabric, like these two pillows featuring two very common mid-century modern house shapes. Download the full-size templates for this project at QUILTINGDAILY.COM MATERIALS Makes 2 pillows 12" × 18" ■ 2 background fabrics, ½ yd. each, 1 color for each pillow ■ Templates, downloadable from quiltingdaily.com ■ Fat eights of 2 colors, the main house color for each pillow ■ Scraps of 1–3 additional colors for details on the houses ■ Double-sided tape ■ Muslin, ½ yd. (2 pieces 15" × 21") ■ Batting, ½ yd. (2 pieces 15" × 21") ■ Sewing machine with walking foot and free motion/darning foot ■ Point turner ■ 2…

Gamaguchi Mint fabric from Cotton + Steel’s Mochi collection is the natural partner for this coin purse. Its sophisticated and stylish—yet playful—design is just large enough for your phone and a little fun money. MATERIALS Finished purse 5" × 5" ■ Fabric – Outer purse top, 2 pieces 8" × 6" – Outer purse bottom, 2 pieces 8" × 5" – Purse lining, 2 pieces 10" × 8" – Zipper pocket lining, 2 pieces 5" × 4" ■ Templates A, B, and C, provided on insert ■ Template material ■ Fusible interfacing, 20" wide, ⅜ yd. ■ Fabric-safe marker ■ Zipper, 4" (I used a metal zipper with a decorative pull.) ■ Metal purse frame, 5" ■ Adhesive (I used E-6000® Craft Adhesive.) ■ Awl ■ Paper twine ■ Pliers…

The inspiration for these two pillows came from Denyse Schmidt’s newest fabric collection, Franklin. Denyse has a knack for capturing the charm of her native New England while adding a decidedly modern edge to the fabrics she designs. Balancing this collection with a beautiful snowy white fabric was the perfect complement! MATERIALS For 2 pillows, 18" × 18" and 16" × 16" ■ Fabric – Background & lining, white, 1 yd. – Accent, a variety of 5" squares (I used a charm pack of the Franklin collection by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit.) – Pillow backs, ¾ yd. ■ Low-loft batting, 20" × 20" and 18" × 18" ■ Pillow inserts, 18" × 18" and 16" × 16" DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics” for more information. PREPARE…

This quilt is a modern take on the traditional Ocean Wave pattern. By placing the small half-square triangles on a sea of dark blue instead of in the rigid traditional structure, the blocks float in large, asymmetrical waves. While the resulting quilt looks freeform, it is actually designed with ease of cutting and piecing in mind. MATERIALS Finished quilt 60½" × 60½" Kit available ■ Fabric for quilt top (I used Tidal Lace by Kim Andersson for Windham Fabrics.) – Fat eighths (11" × 18"), 14 prints and 2 light solids – Background and binding, deep blue, 3¾ yds. (I used Deep Sea solid.) ■ Backing, 4 yds. ■ Batting, 68" × 68" or twin size ■ Fabric-safe marker DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics” for more information.…

Fractured Jewels was made with leftover scraps from another quilt, but don't feel limited to working with scraps. The key to its success is a lot of bright colors that contrast with a white background. MATERIALS Finished block 11" × 12½" Finished quilt 37½" × 29½" ■ Fabric for quilt top – Fat quarters, 6 different solids, 18" × 22" – Background and binding, white, 1½ yds. (I used Kona® Snow.) ■ Templates A, B, C, provided on insert ■ Template material ■ Backing, 1¼ yds. ■ Batting, 45" × 36" or crib size Optional ■ 60° acrylic triangle ruler DIRECTIONS All seams are ¼". See “Sewing Basics” for more information. WOF = width of fabric CUT THE FABRIC 1. Trace the templates on the template material and cut them…

This pieced and quilted sketchbook cover features bright, bold, solid colors on a typographic print but any high-contrast combination of fabrics will have equal effect. Dense matchstick quilting enhances the striking modern design and adds stability. The cover fits a standard composition notebook but with a little tweaking could easily fit a smaller sketchbook. MATERIALS Fits a 7½" × 10" sketchbook ■ Main fabric, ½ yd. ■ Fabric for arrows – Aqua, 5" × 10" – Chartreuse, 5" × 10" – Magenta, 5" × 5" ■ Lining, fat quarter (18" × 22") ■ Flannel or thin batting, fat quarter ■ Sketchbook, 7½" × 10" (I used a Moleskine® plain notebook.) DIRECTIONS Seams are ¼" for patchwork piecing and ½" for cover construction. See “Sewing Basics” for more information. CUT THE…

I love the look of layered transparency, the illusion that lighter shapes of seethrough color are hovering over or beneath shapes of darker color. For this quilt I paired lighter-value fabrics with darker-value versions of the same or similar colors. Orienting the gray ombré borders with the light edges inward makes the neutral color seem to flow behind the blocks. MATERIALS Finished block 12½" × 12½" Finished quilt 50½" × 50½" ■ Fabric for quilt top – 8 dark-value fabrics, ¼ yd. each – 8 light-value fabrics in the same hues, 11" × 18" or ¼ yd. each NOTE: Don’t go too light or too dark or the fabric will read as white or black. Keep the darks within the same value range and the lights in the same range.…

For the projects in this issue (unless otherwise indicated): ■ When piecing: Use ¼" seam allowances. Stitch with the fabric right sides together. After stitching a seam, press to set the seam; then open the fabrics and press the seam allowance toward the darker fabric. ■ Yardages are based upon 44"-wide fabric. sewing kit The following items are essential for your sewing kit. Make sure you have these tools on hand before starting any of the projects: ■ ACRYLIC RULER A clear flat ruler, with a measuring grid at least 2" wide × 18" long. A rigid acrylic (quilter’s) ruler should be used when working with a rotary cutter. You should have a variety of rulers in different shapes and sizes. ■ BATTING 100% cotton, 100% wool, plus bamboo, silk,…