Longarm Quilting by Knotted Thread

All The Things Tote (s)

Published on January 18, 2024 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Totes for Many

Have you ever found a pattern that you love so much, you want to make it over & over again? For me, a pattern that falls into this category is the All The Things Tote. It’s designed by Kait at http://www.knotandthreaddesign.com. This pattern comes in three different sizes and all are more generously proportioned than you might imagine. As soon as I made one, all I could do was grab yardage and get to work on more!

Fabric by Fancy That Design House; a hostess gift for Annie

Quilted Panels

Early 2023, I knew without hesitation that I’d be making a LOT of these totes. I could easily straight-line or decorative stitch some quilt sandwiches to then cut into pieces for the bags, but I wanted a little more flair. My intention was to make these for gifts and I thought it would be fun to experiment with different pantographs and fabric combinations. I also wanted to be as efficient with fabric and cost effective as possible when it came to professional longarm quilting. Thankfully, I have made a lot of quilts and have had excellent experiences with two quilters, each of whom helped me in this tote making effort.

The best part, I started early enough to not feel panic at the holidays while creating handmade gifts. Just for reference, I highly recommend the early start! So much more enjoyable.

I turned to Jennifer, www.knottedthread.com who has quilted so many of my projects over the past several years. Every single finish ships back to me in a timely manner and I never doubt it will be perfectly done. These bag panels were no different – so well done. Kait, at Knot and Thread, also quilted panels for me. Some were done with quilt batting, others with Soft and Stable Foam Stabilizer. I generally prefer cotton batting, but one bag in particular needed a little more structure, which was made possible with the soft and stable.

Juki, My Workhorse

I have two sewing machines and one, the Husqvarna Opal, is used entirely for piecing blocks and my Juki TL-2010Q is used for projects that require industrial strength and power to glide through thick layers. They are my studio babies and I can’t imagine sewing without either of them. They each perform so well for what I need and I’m thankful for the flexibility to move around a table to the machine which is best (for me) at different tasks.

The All the Things tote has a few areas/seams that are several layers thick. Think double sided fabric, stabilizer, binding, webbing straps…it’s a lot. My Juki earned its place in the “I can do this because of you” category this past year! While I didn’t attempt the thickest seams with my Husqvarna, I think a slow and steady pace might work with a variety of machines and heavy-duty needles.

The Process and the Finishes

With so much of this being “secret gift” sewing, I thought I would have taken more photos! As I started to write this post, I realized I didn’t have as many process photos as I usually take. It might also be that each bag was made from yardage panels and not pieced blocks. Some I finished with white webbing straps, others were webbing covered in coordinating fabric. The additional benefit is that each panel had a little bit of wiggle room and cut just right, I had some leftover yardage for zipper pouches. I mean, who doesn’t love a quilted zipper pouch?

Rifle Paper and Art Gallery Fabrics; always finished with my personalized labels

The Totes

With this one, I reversed the direction of the end panels so that the interior would face out with a pocket of yellow flowers. I like it!

Perfect for beach days; this one lives in Rhode Island

This directional beach chair fabric, was constructed just a bit differently so that all the chairs were accurately placed. It also makes me think about lazy summer days, toes in the sand, enjoying the surf with family & friends.

My youngest now has two totes, a large & a medium. The first is one of my favorites, complete with shark fabric, but do I have a photo? Not that I’ve found yet! I’ll have to do that. Any time I’m asked to make something by my kids, it’s a prompt, “of course”.

Then there are the maker friends, who share fabric (you know it’s you, Joanne!) or tell me about totes they’d like to have, but likely won’t make. I’m looking at YOU, Alicia. I’m fortunate to have a circle of creative people in my life and the sharing of ideas and handmade gifts is truly a joy. I think often times as makers, we don’t receive handmade gifts because others think we would do it ourselves. I can’t speak for everyone, but even though I sew, quilt, bake, make bread, I’m always excited when I handmade “thing” comes my way. It’s fun & I appreciate the time & effort someone invested into gifting me something from their own creativity and hands.

For a friend who grew up on a flower farm & who shares a love of hydrangea

Pink-ish & patriotic for the friend who serves and protects our country’s freedom

For a friend who patiently waits the arrival of her baby boy; a hospital bag/tote

All The Things

Such a perfect name for a tote that can be designed in numerous fabric combinations, carrying widely different contents, stabilized with a favorite material, quilted with unlimited pantographs or straight lines, pieced block pockets…it is and can be All the Things.

With eleven already under my belt, it still doesn’t feel like I’ve made all the combinations in my mind, so there may be more in 2024!

Happy Sewing!

All photos and written content property of Two Terriers Studio & not to be copied or distributed without written consent of the owner. This is not a sponsored post (although I wish it were!). All comments and collaboration notes are my personal opinion & from my personal experiences.

Homespun, Hoodoos, and the Hiker(s)

Published on October 30, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Home. Homespun. Yes, count me in. I love being home; I’m probably too much of a homebody at times. But it is the space I enjoy with the people I love best, so HOME, yes. Always.

When this pattern, Homespun, was published by Morgan at http://www.modernlymorgan.com, I knew exactly which fat quarter bundle I would use from my collection. I also knew that a bit of fussy cutting would be thrown in, so I got to work. This pattern comes in three sizes: baby, small throw, and large throw. I made the large throw, which measures at 64″ x 80″.

Bright on Bright

I used my stash of Alison Glass Fabric, the Trinket collection. It’s bright on bright, which I believed would be a fun spiral of color in this particular pattern. I also switched from my favorite bleached white background to a denim blue by Art Gallery Fabrics and that was a good decision. I rarely do it, but I’ve not been disappointed when I shift to dark backgrounds. There is so much color in the piecing, the denim blue anchors it all.

Priorities

At the time I started this quilt, I was testing patterns for three other designers, so my personal projects were last on the list. I always meet my deadlines and knew I had to finish the quilts that were pending my written edits and sewing; this one had to wait. I had set out the Homespun pieces on a large foam-core board so that I could eventually lay-out each individual block and ensure the direction of the fussy-cut centers. I almost feel that “meticulous” cut is a better description; maybe we should start calling it that instead of “fussy”. But there it sat, in various stages of completion while I worked on the testing deadlines. It was never far from sight, but it was also 4th on the list of studio work to be done. And you know what happened? Two years passed. TWO years. I worked on other things, this one never far from my machine. Embarrassing? Yes, a little. However, in that time my skills had improved and this went together so quickly once I restarted.

The bees. How stinking cute are the bees? I had used this Art Gallery Fabric in another quilt and could not get enough of the bees. I bought more & more and then sort of hoarded it. I HAD to have these as the centers of these Homespun blocks. While I didn’t spend an exorbitant amount of time thinking about the layout of the other colors, I did spend a lot of time ensuring all the bees were in the right places, directionally correct. Then it was a matter of chain-piecing until it was done.

Fast forward to 2023

It’s now 2023, 28 months since the first cut was made. I had a trip to Utah on my calendar and was intent on bringing this along. I got it finished and packed up. I bring quilt tops in my carry-on bag; never trusting all that work to cargo, that’s for sure. This was day three of our trip and elevation sickness found its way into my life the night before this photo was taken. Goodness. Wow. Ugh! It didn’t occur to me right away what the culprit might be. I underestimated the toll on my body from a day of travel, a day of hiking and then adjusting to 7K+ feet shift in elevation. I recommend giving yourself some time to acclimate. Lesson learned! I’d already had a sneak peak of Bryce Canyon the night before and there was NO WAY I was skipping this adventure. No way I was quitting; I was hiking that canyon, nauseous or not and if it took me all day, I was going to do it. My husband’s patience was a godsend. It was hot and so steep; we stopped often for me to collect myself, but we got it done. It was absolutely awe-inspiring and I’m so glad we pushed through. Just as I imagined, these colors in that canyon – magic.

I say this with almost every single “Quilt in the Wild” photo, but the pictures never do the real thing any justice. I thank God for this beautiful world and for the capacity to see just a smidge of it in my lifetime. Travel and exploration is worth every penny and every minute. It certainly puts life into perspective when you see how small we are in comparison. As “homebody” as I can be, travel, sightseeing, meeting other people and experiencing different cultures (even within our own country) is a blessing. To see my quilts in the places I’ve traveled with my husband or our family, it means a lot to me. It’s a documentation of work & fun; a combo scrapbook of sorts.

Curiosity

This might be one of the funniest memories and photos from the quilt photo vault.

As we traversed the canyon, I saw this crevice where I thought my husband could stand and be SAFE from the edge with a steep drop, but also have a pretty dramatic photo. Of course, we gave right of way to all the other hikers and patiently waited for an opening in the path. I was standing uphill, around another bend, thinking I would politely call, “now, do it now”, when no one else was around. I think this gentleman totally missed what we were doing and as soon as hubs unveiled the quilt, this man STOPPED in his tracks. Of course, only I could see him. I waited, he didn’t move. I waited more, he kept looking. I’m sure my husband was thinking, “Take the darn photo! Can I put my arms down now?” Our fellow hiker continued to look. I was both amused and curious what he was thinking. We are usually alone when documenting quilts, so to see a complete stranger take a hard stop in his own journey to watch this, made me smile. I have wondered many times how he told the story, or if he ever did, once his hike was done. This photo is one of my favorites.

The Hoodoos

One last shot of my Homespun quilt, among the Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon National Park. This may have taken me years to sew, but I always say that things happen for a reason. Maybe it was meant to be photographed here. Finish too soon, miss the shot.

That’s about as close to the edge as I want to be!

Back home & finished

It was long arm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com with a honeycomb pantograph. The binding is a navy and white stripe; the backing is Alison Glass’ Art Theory. So much color!

It’s now 2.5 years since this began and it’s done. It holds a lot of memories and a lot of miles and for that, I think it finished right on time.

-Happy Quilting!

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written permission of the owner.

Star Pop 2, #2

Published on October 28, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Lately, I’ve been documenting things out of the chronological order in which they were created, so here’s one more to keep it going! Star Pop 2, the second one I’ve made. I made the first Star Pop 2 quilt in the spring, as a baby gift for my American Sign Language teacher, but I kept it under wraps to keep the surprise. My youngest fell in love with that first version and asked me to make another. Of course, the answer was YES. Now, many months have passed and I’ve made a second of this same pattern. It goes together quickly and the structure of the blocks allows favorite prints to shine, as they aren’t cut too small. Also, who doesn’t love stars in a quilt?

Star Pop 2 is a modern sawtooth star pattern. It’s beginner friendly, too. The pattern comes with six size options: baby, square throw, large throw, twin, queen, and king. The first one I made in baby size, this one is the large throw which measures 60″ x 75″.

The Fabric

This quilt is made with some favorite Art Gallery Fabrics I purchased from my friend, Brittany at http://www.whiteplainsquilts.com when she had an online fabric shop. She still designs and sells beautiful quilt patterns, so go give her website a look. She phased out the fabric portion of her business, but when she was in the thick of it, the curated bundles were exceptional. Several of these prints are from my own AGF stash, but they all came together beautifully, in my opinion. I was drawn to the “Willow” fabric collection by Sharon Holland, and most especially, Rosewater Ballet. It truly reminds me of ballet, the days watching my child at the conservatory; the swans also remind me of the Swan Boats in Boston…it was the spark for this particular quilt.

This beautiful Rosewater Ballet print and the stack of white blocks, that will become the stars, makes me smile. I think there’s something really cool about seeing the elements stacked and ready, knowing the end goal.

Piecing

Seriously? How sweet is this? The owl, the flowers, the colors. Let’s all just acknowledge the simplicity of the block too. If you’re one who likes chain piecing and efficiency, this pattern by Emily Dennis, http://www.quiltylove.com , is a good choice.

If you’ve seen many of my quilts, you know I often finish them with a pieced back. I use up all the bits from the front or make duplicate blocks for a section across the center. I am still learning to piece backs with a single fabric, but I knew this one needed no interruptions or other fabrics. It’s not perfect pattern matching, but with only a couple of these under my belt, I’m OK with it. I also know the recipient won’t be judging it harshly. I’ll tell you, it boosted my respect for people who hang wallpaper! Geez. That’s a skill.

Ready for Travel

Here she is, pieced and swirled and ready to be quilted. When the colors and the prints are all tossed into one shot and there’s that exhale of relief that what was in my mind, worked out in the process. Even better, a thumbs up from the one who requested it. That’s all I need.

In the Wild

This summer, my husband and I were in Utah and visited two national parks. Not having been to Zion National Park before, I didn’t really know what all we would see, but I thought this quilt would photograph well in that environment. The rugged terrain and the delicate prints, a perfect balance. If you’ve never been to Zion, ( http://www.nps.gov ), I recommend giving it consideration. The trails were not as crowded as I anticipated and the views were unbelievable. I found myself stopping every few feet because the view was even better and then realized none of the photos were as breathtaking as the real thing. So, it became “take photos, but take it in”.

Is that not jaw-dropping, beautiful nature? I thought my quilt was pretty cool, but the landscape dwarfs it by comparison. I mean, seriously. How is a quilter supposed to compete with the Master Artist and thousands of years of time? Impossible. Just be ok with being second, here.

A little closer look; plenty of wrinkles after the hike

The sun shifted just a bit as we were walking out of the canyon, across this riverbed. We paused to take a few more minutes to soak it all in, not knowing if we’d be back. The air is so clean; there was hardly a sound even though we weren’t alone, and the scent of the vegetation is unlike anything in New England. I wish I could add sound/scent to these pictures. The quilt draped across this branch, a little airing out, but looking like stained glass windows. I’m always a sucker for quilts in the wind.

I couldn’t do this without my husband (photo assistant, location coordinator, wearer of big river hiking boots!)

Finished

I had this professionally long-arm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com. This is the Macintosh Rose pantograph in white thread. I chose this because it’s sweet and the swirl of the roses is a nice contrast to the larger square blocks and star points. It’s a feminine finish…I love it.

It just needs a quick wash, another hug and then off to live with my youngest. May she feel the love wrapped up in this project.

-Happy Quilting

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without permission of the owner.

Eastern to Mountain, Part 3

Published on October 25, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

Well, this post was a long time coming to press! Goodness gracious. The second post in this 3-part series was written five months ago, but this particular quilt has been finished for a year. I’ve clearly not kept up with the blog or the chronology of my projects this year.

Time. It’s fleeting.

Let’s just get to it…meet the quilt lovingly called “The Beast”. The third in a 3 part series.

The Beast

Why “The Beast”? First and probably singularly named because it’s huge. Huge by the standards I’d set for some of my quilts when this was finished in the summer of 2022. With this being an improv style, there wasn’t a pattern or an end size in mind when I started. It was finished when I was finished and that took months (years?). It’s perfectly suited to keep my tall husband cozy on movie nights, so all’s well that ends well.

Strings

There’s no surprise this is another scrappy quilt. I never tire of seeing a decade of fabric bits thrown together into something useful. Thrown together may be a stretch, but I can say without hesitation that I don’t spend much time thinking about which fabrics are pulled from my overflowing bin. I’ve purchased all these pieces because I like them individually, so my thought is that collectively, it will work out. This quilt represents years of previous projects. I love it.

Like most quilters, I have a multiple scrap bins. Some sorted by color, some by designer, some by size. The pieces of this quilt came from the “strings & strips” bin. With the completion of each project, I sort scraps into the appropriate bin and anything more than an inch wide, but in a long strip, goes into this one space. When it hits overflowing, it’s time to piece them together.

Foundation Paper Piecing

I started these blocks with ten inch foundation paper piecing squares from http://www.missouriquiltco.com. The lightweight and easily torn-away foundation papers made these blocks a breeze. I constructed this like a “string quilt”, with a fabric strip placed face-up, diagonally across the center and then worked in each consecutive strip to one side until the foundation was covered. I flipped the square around and repeated on the other half of the square. Everything was given a good press, trimmed and set aside. Over and over and over!

As you can see, there isn’t a theme. The strips vary in color, width, designer and style. It seems to me that in scrappy quilts, the more fabrics, the more it makes sense. It’s not like trying to stay in a zone and missing it…the more the better. At least to my eye.

A Traveling Top

From New England to Utah, this quilt saw some mileage. In the summer of 2022, my husband & I were in Provo, Utah as well as Sundance. The scenery is incredible; perfect for quilt photos. We hopped around town, a bag of quilt tops in tow, and then headed into the mountains. I’m so lucky to have a husband who will carry quilts up steep terrain and then also hold them off the ground while I try to capture good angles. He’s the best. We’ve learned that photos of large quilts in the wild are easier when they are just pieced tops. These babies get heavy!

Stewart’s Cascade Trail

Into the mountains we go. These photos were taken along Stewart’s Cascade Trail, a 1.9 mile hike from the south side of Mount Timpanogos. The trail traverses through thick fir trees, oak, maple, aspens, and an avalanche path. It is stunning. The aspens were spectacular and when the sun shines just right, everything is more beautiful. The elevation is significantly higher than what we are used to at home, but it was manageable. The snakes, not my thing. I kept a good watch after the first one crossed my path.

Anyone else love to see quilts in the wild or in the wind? I love the burst of color among nature’s glory.

The goal was to get to the waterfall and take the photos there. A few people stopped to ask what we were carrying, so the trek took more time as we stopped to explain the quilts. I never know if other hikers think it’s cool or wacky that this is what we are doing, but I’m guessing it leads to a story of “you’re not going to believe what I saw on the trail today!” Just as we got to the clearing and the waterfall was within sight, a young couple moved passed us and perched on a rocky ledge and made themselves comfortable. We debated waiting them out, but also made note of the time and impending sunset. Hiking back down a trail we didn’t know, in the dark, wasn’t top priority. The waterfall shot was over. So here we are…imagine a waterfall just behind the quilt. It’s there, I promise.

Quilted

I had this longarm quilted by Jenn, http://www.knottedthread.com using the Time Warp pantograph. The movement of the panto across these angular cuts is exactly what I wanted.

With so much going on in the front of the quilt, I opted for a simple black & white striped binding. The back of the quilt is mainly black and white with a pieced section, too. I like how the striped binding frames everything.

I had two bolts of the terrier fabric & it has come in handy for quilt backs. I really like this print and have used it on quilts I know I intend to keep in our family.

The Beast finished at 75″ x 87″; a decade of fabric, many months of sewing, a bit more than two thousand miles of travel and a day’s hike in Utah. Worth every minute of effort.

-Happy Quilting!

This is not a sponsored post. All content and photos property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be duplicated or shared without written consent of the owner.

Eastern to Mountain, Part 2

Published on May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

The Wonky Stars Quilt

Continuing on with my Eastern to Mountain, 3-part series, let’s talk about the Wonky Stars Quilt. This series is about three different quilts that are all scrap busting by nature; colorful and well-traveled. This particular one was 100% inspired by the Missouri Star Quilt Co. “Block” magazine that I received from a fellow quilter. As I’ve mentioned before, I learned so much about quilting from Jenny Doan, Founder of Missouri Star Quilt Company http://www.missouriquiltco.com. I watched her online tutorials, almost daily in the beginning, and her ‘anyone can do this’ style drew me in. She made quilting approachable and fun, so of course, I was happy to have this new book in my collection.

Wonky Stars is just that – WONKY. There’s no fussing with matching triangle points. The four patch center is about as precise as the piecing needed to be. The rest is a wash of colors and prints, free form triangle shapes and wonky goodness throughout. Making this was a relaxing experience and I immediately thought that it would be a quilt I could make over & over and never tire of the process. While Jenny’s version on the cover of her book is scrappy, as is mine, this would be fantastic in a curated palette or from a single collection. I omitted the sashing and setting squares in my quilt, but aren’t Jenny’s just an extra pop?

Gathering the Scraps

As you can see, there’s a little bit of everything in these blocks! My go-to background is a bleached white cotton from Moda Fabrics. A bright, crisp white is one of my favorites when paired with all these vibrant colors. Keeping the same white in my quilts allows my solid white scraps to match. Pulling from smaller pieces generally ensures they are all the same. Note, I said “generally”. It’s not an exact practice, as there have been a few stragglers left behind from earlier quilting days. One of those stragglers found its way into this quilt, as a matter of fact. I actually didn’t even notice the slight variation until the quilt was completely pieced and I saw it in the daylight!

Progress! I totally understand that scrappy patchwork isn’t everyone’s favorite, but I love it. It’s good to be frugal, using every last little bit of precious fabric. I like reliving the memories of so many other projects as I cut new blocks for what will be a one-of-a-kind new quilt. As usual, I didn’t have a final size in mind when I started these blocks. I kind of let the evolution happen and felt that I’d know when I’d made enough. There were moments I thought this could be a really fun & funky baby quilt, but the more stars I made, the more I wanted the quilt to be very big. So, I kept going.

Assembly

Once my blocks were finished, I cut them all to the same size which seems like a process out of order. With the focus and precision in the four-patch and the “legs” of the stars all being different, the squaring came last. Squaring up these nine patch blocks was quick & the sewing even more so.

You can really see my alternating pressing of seams here. That’s another technique I know many quilters will debate. Press to alternating sides or open? I tend to press alternately; open if the pattern calls for it. With the Wonky Stars, my alternate row pressing was just fine. I always give my quilt tops a final starch and press before they are quilted, but this one shows the first pass.

Off to the Mountains

This is where the Eastern to Mountain comes in. My husband and I took two quilts into the mountains of Utah and photographed them in a place that was totally new to us. We like to hike and explore, but the difference in altitude and width of trails compared to home made for a challenge. Thankfully, my husband agreed to carry the quilts and I’m certain the other hikers were wondering what he had in that big plastic bag! After crossing paths with a snake, I was busy watching my steps. Stopping among the Aspens for photos was the perfect respite. The photos do not do justice to this beautiful place. And yes, the top is a bit wrinkly.

I’m thankful we took these photos in Provo, before hiking near Sundance. We learned that extra large quilts are more difficult to keep off the ground when taking photos and dirt hiking trails aren’t forgiving. I had to do a little hand washing of this one and left it to drip dry over the hotel shower curtain rod. That was when I found the one, white square straggler. Yes, I left it and it’s quilted in. I sort of figured if it took all this piecing, hiking, and hand washing for me to see it, then let it be.

Back East

The backing fabric by Sarah Golden for Andover Fabrics features terriers, of course! The beautiful edge to edge quilting is the work of Jenn at Knotted Thread http://www.knottedthread.com. Now quilted & bound, it had one more trip to our friends’ in New Hampshire. Equally bright in the mountains of Utah as it is here, over the picket fence of a 200 year old home. Quilts – memories stitched together and at home everywhere.

All content and photos property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written consent of the owner.

Eastern to Mountain, Part 1

Published on May 3, 2023May 3, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

The Retro HST Quilt

In three seasons of 2022, I made three quilts that traveled with me between the Eastern and Mountain time zones of the USA. I love “Quilts in the Wild” and capturing these in different cities and seasons, in various stages of completion was a treat. So, with that in mind (and because I’m about a year delayed in writing these stories), I’m going to do a 3 part series. One more thing they all have in common is that they were all three made from my scrap stash. It’s hard to say now, but I’m guessing some element of it was an Earth Day focus, using what I have without buying new. There truly is a blessing in using what you have; I could not be more pleased with these quilts.

A Sew Along

One of the great things about the Instagram quilting community are the friendships that can develop between quilters who may have never even met in person. A shared passion for fabric & design, is something we can talk about for days. Fine tuning skills with tips & tricks, as well as collaborating on patterns or even sew-alongs, is actually fun. This Retro HST (half-square triangle) Quilt was born out of an IG sew-along.

Quilty friends, @lizzymakes, @knotted_thread & @graccieone were the spark behind this sew-along in the spring of 2022. It was inspired by a half-square quilt created by Red Pepper Quilts (the original is a 9-patch HST block) and had been made by Elizabeth. Jen & Amanda hosted a “create at your own pace” sew-along and I liked the idea of a giant quilt, but at my own pace, and not on a group deadline. I started pulling fabric and pairing up squares.

Keeping the momentum going with more fabric pairings and trimming. In true to me form, once I started, I was pretty singularly focused!

A few tools to help with accuracy and flat blocks are always right by my sewing machine. The wool pressing mat, my LDH snips, a hot iron and a tailor’s clapper are all used in a day’s work.

The Block Assembly

Accuracy in the first cut is important, but it’s also important how we press (not iron) and trim our blocks to size. This particular quilt of mine has 576 half-square triangles. A little bit “off” x 576 will result in a wonky, not square or flat quilt top. I knew that if I was going to cut this many pieces, they had to be spot-on!

What’s on the inside matters too. I love how quilt blocks look from the side you’ll never see once it’s quilted.

Little by little, I pulled fabric and paired the darker pieces with some low-volume prints. I tried to stick to a schedule of making a few each day because I could tell right away I was going to like this and wanted to see it through to the end. That isn’t always the case. Some “starts” are not the favorite “finishes”.

Off to Utah

I finished this before our trip to Provo and lovingly packed a suitcase with three quilts to take for photos. It’s been a long time since I was in the mountains west of home, so I was excited about the potential for great scenery. Provo did not disappoint!

Two perspectives along the same sidewalk at Bridal Veil Falls. I wish there was sound…the waterfall and the gentle breeze cannot be captured here; it was a spectacular spot.

I like the contrast of the color and softness of all this fabric against river rocks and the roar of nature. Of course, I was on alert for gusts of wind so that my quilt top didn’t get blown into the stream. That would likely not be pretty!

Back to the East Coast

Once I returned home, this was sent to be long-arm quilted. I’m so thankful to have the option to send big quilts out for the magic of edge to edge quilting. I don’t think I could do it justice, for a quilt this size, on my domestic machine.

I chose a swirl pantograph to give movement to all the angles and squares. The backing is a text print (my editing / writing days shine through in fabric prints, sometimes); the binding is a Liberty print. It pulls colors from the front, coordinates with the print on the back; subtle, but interesting, in my opinion.

I’ve shifted to machine binding my larger, personally owned quilts. Yes, it’s special to have them hand-bound. But, we use our quilts and they are washed often, so I like the added assurance of a solid, machine seam.

Retro HST in Autumn

The good thing about an “at your own pace” sew-along is that I wasn’t behind schedule when I finally had it pieced, quilted, traveled and bound for photos in a New England Autumn! As much as I loved the Utah mountain shots, the backdrop of red trees is pretty cool too.

This one is well traveled and well loved, season to season. I look forward to making another!

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio, not to be copied or distributed without written consent of the owner.

My 1st Pixelated Quilt

Published on May 2, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

This is the latest scrap busting quilt I’ve made and I love it. Every quilt comes with a story; how it began, who it is for, the process, the fabric, the quilting and boy, does this one have a story. It’s one that I’m glad I trusted the process and continued sewing, even amidst the doubt and layout fatigue. What started as a project to use scraps and have some “mindless” patchwork sewing, quickly became anything but mindless. It’s more of a study of value and every block is placed with intention. Such intention isn’t usually found in scrappy or improvisation quilts I’ve made in the past. This one took time.

Sorting Scraps

I tend to be frugal with my scraps; almost to a fault. I’ve now been quilting for just over a decade and while I buy a lot of fabric, I use and keep almost every little bit until it’s a size that I can no longer find a use for. After each project, I’ve cut leftover fabric into 5″, 3.5″, and 2.5″ squares and store them together for future patchwork. The bigger pieces are sorted and stored by color and become zipper pouches or something like that. I’ve made so many “scrap busting” quilts and will be sharing them here soon. I’m a couple days late for Earth Day celebrations, but I always feel that using every little bit and not dumping it into a landfill is a responsible way to move through this process. My goal here was to not purchase a single piece of fabric to make this giant quilt and in that, I succeeded.

When I decided to make this Pixelated Quilt, I pulled all my 2.5″ squares and just dropped them on my cutting table. That’s the mess above. I don’t sort my squares by color, but by size. It seemed to make sense until this quilt assembly.

After a few days of sorting through all those little random pieces, I spent time sorting by color into a storage box. I don’t work well in chaos, so while I like all the fabric, the lack of order was making it a challenge to get things done. I was reminded that I have very little orange, yellow, or purple fabric in my collection. I needed to cut into some other larger pieces to develop the right amount of color gradient.

It was at about this time that I wasn’t sure I wanted to make this a large quilt. I started questioning what minimum size would still show the pattern, but allow for a quick finish. It was taking more time than I had anticipated (or wanted to spend) and rather than using the 2.5″ squares I’d already cut, I was having to cut into more fabric I already owned. I said to my husband, “I thought this was a good idea, now I’m not sure. Maybe it can be a baby quilt? I’m actually not loving it; is the value gradient actually showing yet?” He will say that the story went something like, “I have an idea; I love it; I think I’m OVER IT; insert mild curse words; I’m SO OVER it; a few more curse words; Ok, I really do love it!” Ha.

The Layout

My block layout is a 6×6 pattern with the darkest line on the center diagonal. I also wanted the graphic images to be oriented top to bottom; the quilt front would have an obvious “top”. This was one more place where the intentional layout became time consuming. In addition to the gradient, I wanted the orientation to be consistent. Sometimes, I don’t worry about that. This time, I was trying to get each piece correct. With a quilt measuring 68″ x 80″, that meant 1,512 pieces…all measuring 2.5″ unfinished, 2″ finished.

Quilt in the Wild

I like to photograph my quilt tops before they are quilted and bound for a few reasons. When I finally get the top finished, the first photos feel like a bit of a celebration. It’s also easier to travel with quilts of this size before they are quilted and bound, because the weight of something 68×80″ is heavy. My husband always helps me with the full size photos, so it’s also good that he’s not standing there, arms completely outstretched, trying not to let a heavy quilt hit the ground. I think it’s fun to see my work out of the studio, so “Quilts in the Wild” is top of my photo list.

These photos were taken at the Northfield Daffodil Farm in Litchfield, CT. It’s a magical place with rolling hills and so many beautiful flowers. This is was the second time (and second quilt of mine) photographed here.

Longarm Quilting

I sent this to be professionally longarm quilted by Jen, http://www.knottedthread.com. I chose a continuous Baptist Fan pantograph and I think she did a wonderful job.

The backing is of sea turtles and the binding is a Moda Fabrics grunge. I like how the binding matched the sea turtles, but also framed this span of so many colors.

Finished

Quilted and bound, I took it to Massachusetts for one more photo. It was just the burst of color needed by the sidewalk on this cloudy, spring day. If you look closely, you can see those turtles peaking out at the upper right corner.

While there is truth to the way my husband would relay the story of this quilt’s making, I look at it finished and I’m thankful I continued on. Isn’t that the way with most things in life? It’s the mentality to keep going that will get us where we need to be. Within these one thousand five hundred and twelve squares are fabrics from my very first quilt, made over a decade ago, as well as pieces from almost every one in between. I’m definitely seeing repeats and I notice the gaps in my own stash. This one will be staying at home with us. I made a considerable dent in my scrap squares and celebrated using every little bit.

It’s just a fun, cozy, colorful quilt, made with love.

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio and not to be copied or distributed without written consent.

The Night Vision Quilt

Published on April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 by twoterriersstudioLeave a comment

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve shared stories of quilts here. I didn’t realize how long until I started this post, but hello again, I’m glad you’ve joined me. I’ll be catching up with stories and photos of many quilts (some from 2022!) and travels very soon. I hope you’ll come back and visit.

A Pattern Test

This project was a pattern test for my quilt designer friend, Morgan, of www.modernlymorgan.com. She and I have worked together several times and when she asked me to test / review this pattern, I was happy to do it. Pattern testing gives me a path to keep my editing skills fresh and to work with talented makers, as well as having a sneak peek into yet to be released designs. It’s all good.

The Fabric

There’s a joke around the internet that buying fabric and quilting are two different hobbies. As a quilter, and fabric enthusiast, I tend to agree. I often buy fabric I love, without a clear-cut plan for it, but I know it will be used one day. Nothing goes to waste in my studio. For this quilt, I pulled a fat quarter bundle from my stash. This particular bundle is called Americana, by Art Gallery Fabrics. While it’s not specifically Stars and Stripes, the color variation is definitely one that evokes patriotic feelings. In a decade of quilting, I’ve not made a patriotic or Independence Day summer quilt, so this seemed the perfect time. I purchased this bundle from another friend, Jen at www.knottedthread.com.

There’s something so beautiful about freshly cut fibers, stacked neatly together. To take yardage, cut it apart and reassemble into something new is a wonderful thing.

Half-square triangles in the making. I’ve only recently started using Seam Tape when piecing HSTs. It certainly cuts down prep time and results in accurate measurements too.

Fabric confetti is an unavoidable “work hazard”! Even these tiny pieces have a purpose. I donate these to a friend who uses them as “stuffing” for bedding for local animal shelters. It makes my heart happy to know that nothing goes to waste and that these trimmings give comfort to an animal in need.

Piecing the Blocks

The instructions for this quilt are very straight forward and allow for a lot of chain piecing. I like the repetitive nature of matching blocks and being able to sew several sections all at once and then work on the layout by color value / design. Morgan’s patterns are precise and easy to follow. I never question the math or accuracy, even in the “testing & editing” phase.

Tools

I rely on a few tools in my studio to enhance my quilt blocks. A wool pressing mat, tailors’ clapper, a HOT iron (no steam) and Faultless “magic” spray. This is not a sponsored post (although, I wish it were!), but here’s a glimpse of some of my favorite tools. The combination of these really helps to create flat seams and we all know that flat seams build flat quilts.

A Stack of Blocks

Seeing these photos reminds me, again, how long it’s been since I’ve blogged! I started this quilt while there was still snow on the ground. The colors brightened those winter days and made me look forward to summer picnics and celebrations. This quilt has traveled all around the eastern USA; see the sights below.

The pieced top, not yet quilted, traveled to Florida. For my family, the beach is among our favorite places to be, so of course, I needed to photograph this here. I do travel with quilt tops; I like the varying scenery for backdrops, but it also blends my hobby/work with family adventures. My husband is my trusted quilt holder & photo assistant, and thank goodness he’s tall and willing to hold these for all the photos! I literally couldn’t do this without him. He’s my biggest cheer squad too.

Quilt Travels Continue

Quilted, not yet bound. Photographed at the Norman Rockwell Museum, MA

I sent this quilt top to NJ to be longarm quilted by Jen, at Knotted Thread. Her work is the exact finishing needed to bring these to life. I went with a swirl and star motif to balance the squares and to add a flair of celebration, as would be appropriate for Independence Day!

When it was returned to me, I brought it along on a trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. Norman Rockwell’s paintings and illustrations tell the story of American life and it was not only a treat to see all his work, but the property is gorgeous too. I thought it was an ideal location to photograph my Americana themed quilt; at the home/studio of a renowned American illustrator. If you ever find yourself in western Massachusetts, stop in and see his work. It’s even better up close. I was in awe of the details – you don’t want to miss it.

Night Vision at the Norman Rockwell Museum, along the footbridge

The Details

This pattern comes with instructions for four sizes: child, throw (as I’ve made), twin & bed. It is fat quarter friendly and would also be great in a scrap-busting finish. You can purchase this & other designs at Morgan’s website as linked above. Check out all the other testers’ versions on Instagram too; so much creativity and inspiration to be found there!

Thanks again to Morgan for including me in the tester group. I end up with so many beautiful projects by doing this work.

All photos and stories property of Two Terriers Studio & not to be duplicated or shared without written consent.

Holiday Hills Quilt #2

Published on February 17, 2022 by twoterriersstudio2 Comments

Looks familiar, right? It’s February 2022 and this has been in the works for a couple of months. Other quilts have been started & finished, but I fell out of habit getting blog posts written during the holidays, so let’s catch up.

Quilting Gifts

If you’ve been a reader for awhile, you know I sew or quilt almost daily. I test patterns for several designers and I write about those quilts & my experiences here. Often, when I test a pattern, it happens to align with a holiday, a seasonal shift, coincidentally with milestones or the birth of new babies. When that happens, I head into the test with a particular person in mind and I choose fabrics that will work well with the quilt, but suited to a gift I also want to make. It’s a win-win. There are also times I make a quilt, knowing it’s a gift, but I want to have one for myself too! This second version of the Holiday Hills Quilt is kind of like that. I made the first version for my family, knowing full well that my sentimental, holiday loving, decor enthusiast friend needed one too.

Keeping Secrets

I’m blessed with a multitude of creative family & friends. I’m inspired by their work and frequently, we share work or “barter”, for lack of a better word. We encourage one another, while also learning from each other. It’s really cool. I was speaking with my friend, Tammy, in late 2021 and she said, “I’d love for you to make me something; maybe a quilt?” Not only is she a friend, she’s been a solid customer too. She has supported my business from the beginning and owns multiple Two Terriers Studio creations. This particular discussion came on the heels of taking inventory of all the quilts I’ve made & gifted and even stacked in closets in my studio. Quilts I’ve tested, ideas that were started & left unfinished. Quilts on my “to make someday” list. Her comment got my wheels churning. I was watching her decorate her new home for the holidays. She has such an attention to detail that I knew her quilt would be best suited with the holidays in mind, in the color scheme I saw in her home. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I have learned that with the amount of hours it takes to complete a project like this, keeping the fabric a secret was not a great idea. I needed her input or approval first.

Fabric

Tammy’s favorite color is teal / aqua. Little pops of it show up all around her world! As I started looking into fabric, I found this collection by Maude Asbury for Free Spirit Fabrics called Fa La La. I felt that it was perfect for her & she gave the “thumbs up”. It was all she knew about what was in the works; the rest I kept to myself. I’ll tell you, not sharing the other fabric choices was a challenge. I wanted to include her, but also surprise her. The trust she placed in me to just do as I wished, was a treat. I ordered the fabric and the project began.

I realize now that I didn’t actually take that many progress photos! This was a pattern I’d already made once, so the piecing and technical issues have been documented before. It was so tempting, with every new tree, to share progress, but I stayed on task.

Longarm Quilting

This quilt is 60×64″ and bigger than I felt comfortable quilting, edge to edge, on my domestic machine. Tammy agreed with having it professionally quilted & she covered that cost, as well as the feature fabrics. I sent this to Jenn, www.knottedthread.com, for the quilting. As always, amazing results. After hours and hours of cutting and piecing, it’s nice to have this kind of finish, texture, and creative art added. It’s a team effort, a collaboration, for sure.

I’m certainly NOT a perfect piecing, all the time, kind of sewist, but this pattern by Raye, www.thehomebodyco.com, is written in such a way that points are not lost in the piecing of these trees. So satisfying to see it up close. Well, at least for me!

I chose this aqua snowflake fabric for the binding. With it being her favorite color, and also featured among the tree motifs, it frames the design pretty well. I try to make my binding at the time the tops are finished, but to be honest, it’s the stage at which I usually lose momentum. The secret is to gift quilts; those get finished! I don’t care to admit how many quilts are stacked in my studio waiting for this 1% final piece of the puzzle.

The Backing

The original feature fabric is the entire back of this quilt. I just love it. The whimsical trees, the old fashioned-ish ornaments, images reminiscent of “tinsel” trees from the 60’s (is that when those were popular?); it all makes me smile. If she wants a pop of color, this can be draped on a sofa or the foot of a bed with the backing facing out, rather than the front.

Exhale

Binding finished, one swift “shaking it out” and setting it down for a look…I exhaled. It’s as I had hoped and it embodies work beyond my own hands. Some of the swirls remind me of the first letter of my name; some of the stars, the first letter of her name, the quilty details made possible by a woman in another state. It’s good. Collaboration is good.

Snow Prayers

Last, but not least, photos for documenting the finish. New England is traditionally known for snowy winters, yet, no snow on the ground when this was done & ready to be sent. If you know me well, you know that I don’t often pray for snow. Like ever; except maybe on Christmas Eve, then not again. However, I did pray for snow the night before this photo. The cool colors of these trees, the holiday vibe & the winter forest just begged for snow. Asked & received. God is good. Today, barely a week later, the snow is mostly melted. For now. Seriously, I don’t want to jinx myself!

All Done

When I woke to snow, it was a good day. There, I said it. I was happy with this weather. My husband always helps with photos and if you look closely, you can see that he walked AROUND the frame so that his big footprints wouldn’t be tracked into the photo. Bonus, I didn’t even think of it, but he knew. Well done, hubs!

Holiday Hills #2 is now at home with Tammy. She un-boxed her gift on her instagram stories @whitelilacfarmhouse and her reaction literally brought me to tears. Her crying, my crying…her jokes about how “Stacey really taped-up this box” (if you know, you know). It was funny even through our happy cry fest. That unboxing moment is why I do this. I want my family & friends to feel loved. Geography doesn’t allow me to be with all the people I care about on a regular basis, but sharing something handmade, one of a kind, and made with love, can transport us across the miles. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to be able to share this skill/hobby/interest of mine with those I care about. Tammy, remember it’s meant to be used. Use it, love it, wash, dry and repeat.

Enjoy…..

All photos and content property of Two Terriers Studio; not to be duplicated or shared without written consent of the author.

Holiday Hills Quilt

Published on November 10, 2021 by twoterriersstudio2 Comments

I’m BACK!

I’ve been a little quiet in this story telling space, but today is the pattern release day for the Holiday Hills Quilt and time for me to get back to the writing of these quilt stories. As the leaves change from vibrant green to red, yellow and now a tinge of orange, it’s clear winter is on the way. It’s perfect timing to prepare for the holidays and handmade gift giving, or to even make something festive for yourself. Truth be told, I will most certainly be keeping this quilt for my family.

A New Quilt

I was fortunate to work with Raye, thehomebodyco.com, who designed the Holiday Hills pattern. She began the initial discussion with testers in 2020 and as you might imagine, there were a few other things that needed attention in that crazy year. Quilting was certainly a positive distraction, but when you’re offering a product to so many people, distractions may not be the best element in the equation. Fast forward to 2021 and this quilt was entirely worth the wait. While we all wanted to go-go-go in 2020, it was wise to settle in and wait; make it perfect. It is well-written, with precise details, easy to make and might I add, FUN.

I have been mindful of “sewing from my stash”; Lord knows I don’t NEED more fabric, as fun as it is to shop and add to my collection. I did want to make a quilt with a traditional color scheme, so I headed straight to my Christmas bin of textile goodness. I pulled this collection, called Merrily by Gingiber for Moda Fabrics. Adding in some coordinates by Cluck Cluck Sew and Sweetwater, I was all set. Let the cutting begin.

There’s always something a little delightful about seeing these fabric trimmings piled together. It’s a sign of what’s to come, but also indicative of little waste, which is a good thing!

A Forest in the Making

Seriously, just having these beauties lined up on my cutting mat was the inspiration I needed. I could already tell how much I would love this quilt.

The Backing

If you’ve been around here for very long, you have seen the photos and heard the stories of all the creatures, great and small, we see in our neighborhood. The black bears seem to be the ones who garner the most surprise and awe, but we also have almost daily visits from deer; the occasional bobcat sighting, and often the hooting of an owl in the trees behind our home. It continues to be magical, if not also frightening at times. I mean, nobody wants to find themselves 15 feet from a bear without any warning (and it happens!). Long story long, that is what drove me to purchase several yards of this fabric. It looks and feels like home. I was shopping with my daughter and stopped the moment I saw this bolt, “isn’t this perfect?” Her reply, “what are you going to do with it?” I had no clue in that moment, but the pine boughs, deer, owl and vibe of it, drew me in. It came home with us that day! I knew I’d figure something out & that it would be used and loved.

A Pieced Quilt Top

Another common thread is my love for summer. It might seem odd that I was as thrilled as I was to dive into a winter holiday quilt. It’s not hard to be excited about changes when things go smoothly. That smoothness isn’t always the case, but in the wait for this pattern and seeing how well it all came together, I was mostly on board for letting summer fade away to focus on the next thing.

Quilting, Edge to Edge

If I’m quilting a small item or baby size quilt, I’m comfortable with doing that on my domestic machine. This quilt’s size and my vision for the pantograph meant sending it to be professionally long armed. This quilting work was done by Jenn at knottedthread.com. It’s exactly what I imagined. The ornaments give a feeling of snow and wind gusting through the hills of trees, but also a nod to favorite Christmas decorations. It finishes the “story” perfectly, in my opinion.

I’m staking claim to this one, for snuggles by the fireplace this holiday season. It’s a simple theme, but each element ties together feelings of home for me. To think the fabrics were purchased years apart and that the pattern was a year in the making, it was just meant to be. Timing is everything, correct? I think timing worked out pretty well on this one.

Pattern Release

The Homebody Company is releasing this pattern today, November 10, 2021 for purchase. You’ll find this quilt in both printed and pdf versions, as well as an extension for making a pillow and even a paint-by-numbers kit. It’s a win-win. Special thanks to Raye for including me in the tester team. It’s always a joy to work together!

Holiday Hills Quilt, by Stacey at Two Terriers Studio

Thanks for stopping by! More projects coming soon.

This is not a sponsored post; all opinions are my own. Content not to be copied or distributed without written permission of Two Terriers Studio. All data and photos property of Two Terriers Studio.