quilting blog Archives

Posted on March 16, 2020 March 16, 2020

Stay At Home Quilter Working From Home

It’s not a new thing for me, I have been a stay at home quilter for many years and textile artist before that. I have been practising real social distancing, 2-3 metre between me and the next individual and I am holed up over 98% of the time indoors.

Occupying My Time

As a workaholic, working from home has always suited me. I am however struck by and alarmed by the misconception of social distancing. It is time to stay at home people, whether your government recommends it or not.

I start my day with an exercise programme. I keep moving through the day – this is important. There is no iron next to my sewing machine, I have to get up and move. There is no kettle, I have to go to the kitchen.

Fresh air is important so I choose a quiet time of the day for a walk ensuring I keep my distance. Stay safe.

I am staying in contact with people on social media so I do not feel isolated. I am not panicked nor fearful, I believe strongly in stopping the spread of the virus. Follow me on Fb, Instagram where I can be found as KarenPlatt_Textiles and Twitter

What did I Make This Week?

I have a new launch. I have released my inspirational guide to Lisbon and created new artwork for it, one of which is used as the front cover. That’s the fourth in the travel inspiration ebooks.

I have also been improv quilting, creating blocks. I am happy with these although they seem to take about 45 mins each, which seems a long time. It’s a great way of using up fabric scraps and scrap quilting.

Talking of scraps, I also gathered some tiny bits of fabric and created a fabric and thread bowl.

Lessons Online

Apart from my quilting ecourses online, allowing you to be a stay at home quilter too, I am now also teaching French and Spanish online. I am a fully qualified and experienced languages teacher teaching children and adults. You can find me on this website

Words work and images copyright Karen Platt 2020

Posted on January 27, 2020 January 27, 2020

Old Textile Work and New

Old textile work was found in my drawer last week. I had discovered a few unfinished projects. This week I had planned new art quilts I had mentioned in last week’s blog. However, having been ill all week, I could not manage much at all.

Friday saw me scramble to get something done and I started my second project with the pink and green fabric. However it is feeling a bit like the other project and I want it to be different. I have an idea for it now.

Old Textile Work

First though I went back to the old textile work. In my drawer was a four year old project (does not feel that long ago). Based on a photo in Tunisia, and a subsequent drawing as well as an altered image idea. I had gathered all my fabrics only to shove it all in a drawer owing to the death of a loved one. Yesterday I managed to finish it. Not strictly a quilt as it has no wadding, this stitched picture is now complete. I think my object here was to use as many fabrics as I could and this packs in at least eight. Is that a record for a tiny piece?

No sooner have you finished one, that another old textile work beckons. This is one I lost confidence with. It was my very first piece of free motion stitching on a painting. So wobbly, but I think I can pull it together now.

Looking Ahead

There are still lots of art quilts to get down into fabric and stitch. I am also about to launch my next Inspiration ebook – Domes, Towers and Turrets. It’s been very exciting to work on this one and it is the last of the themes for the moment. There are 14 of them and 3 art/travel ones. Next up in February or March will be the original themes I started doing before I got waylaid. These are not just photos but textile work. More about that next time. Visit the website to see all my work.

Words, work and images copyright Karen Platt 2020

Posted on December 27, 2019 December 27, 2019

Day 27 quilting of 31 day blog challenge

Day 27 quilting brings more stash and ideas for art quilts. I sorted through more fabrics and unfinished projects. This is necessary before I start something new.

Unfinished Projects

On Day 27 quilting, I want to make it clear that certainly for me, it is not all about bed quilts. Many of my projects are wall quilts or lap quilts. Three years ago when I started quilting for a living, I made a decision that I would quilt jackets and coats. I have been rather slow in this area. It will receive more attention in 2020. I dug out the jacket I am making, I know I started the second front but have not found that yet. This is top of my list for finishing.

Art Quilt

I tried out an idea for an art quilt. Whilst I do not dislike it, it was lacking something and so I put it to one side to think about it. I have many ideas buzzing around in my head.

Improv Quilting

Whilst I ponder that art quilt, I sorted a bag of scraps. You can see that I ended up with strips, skinny strips, pre-cut triangles and some odd shapes. I started putting together improv strips, for a possible scrap quilt. I am feeling a bit at odds with it all today.

Sahara

I have been fortunate enough to travel to the Sahara more than once. In 2014 I started writing about the places I had visited and the art I had made, including textile art. Unfortunately in 2016 my partner died and it all became too painful. However, even though three years on, it still caused me much pain and tears, it is almost finished and ready to launch, so look out for that. I hope to launch it on what would have been Ali’s birthday on the 28th December.

hand stitched textile — Hand painted fabric, machine and hand stitched original Sahara desert textile

Words, work and images copyright Karen Platt 2019

Posted on December 23, 2019 December 23, 2019

Day 23 quilting of 31 day blog challenge

Day 23 quilting was to bring the new quilt to show. However, fatigue saw me having to put that down with just 15 cm (6 inches) left to do and a few ends to tie in. About another hour’s work. So look out for that tomorrow. Instead I am going to let you see a snippet of it and talk about hand quilting too.

If you are wondering how many of the other 60 quilters taking part in the 31 day blog challenge, have made it so far, check them out on Muppin, although I note that Cheryl stopped on day 14.

Sneak Peek

Day 23 quilting progress. I must say that this new quilt is looking rather handsome. It is my most heavily quilted quilt to date. I am pleased with the way this has turned out. One of the modern quilts in my new Modern quilting ecourse, which you can take online. 2020 is my year of modern quilting.

Lost And Found

I have been having a clear out, my work table is now clean and clear. Ready for me to start my new projects. I shall be art quilting and more. When I talked about UFOs a few days ago as part of this 31 day blog challenge, I mentioned my hand quilted quilt, telling you that I had used the fabric for workshops, forgetting I needed two pieces more for my handmade quilt. In my clear out, I found that fabric. Yes I had saved it as I thought. I have already started stitching.

Discount

Day 23 quilting discount – get ready for the new year and make yourself a brand new quilt with my digital fabrics. Take 10% off until end of the year 2019. What a great way to celebrate the New Year. Many of the fabrics are created in a series and therefore go together well. What beautiful quilts they make as a panel, accents or art quilts and some work well in traditional quilt designs too. Here is one of my favourite series, Kaleidoscope fabric:

Kaleidoscope fabric Karen Platt — copyright Karen Platt 2019

Words, work and images copyright Karen Platt 2019

Posted on December 18, 2019 December 18, 2019

Day 18 quilting of the 31 day blog challenge

Day 18 quilting takes a look at things that go wrong and makes suggestions for putting them right. Quilt tips and more. Join me on Instagram, find me karenplatt_textiles

Quilts need to be flat

When you make your quilt sandwich ( a quilt usually consists of 3 parts: the quilt top, the wadding or batting, and the backing) it needs to be flat. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it is challenging. It takes time, careful pinning and checking.

day 18 quilting — Flat at the front, but the back was not right and need attention

I used to think that it was tricky, but my first few quilts gave me no problems. However recently, I switched from crawling on the living room floor (my biggest space) to making the sandwich on my work table. Whilst this was better for my knees and back, it seems to not have worked so well for me.

For my latest quilt, I went back to the living room floor. I have never known a fabric like this one, it wanted to walk. If I got one bit straight, it pulled something else out of whack. I straightened it several times, got the three pieces pinned together, only to find problems on the back.

I took this to the work room and unfolded, unpinned where necessary and made sure it was all straight before proceeding. This is of extreme importance, flat front and flat back, otherwise you have puckers when you quilt. It is just a matter of patience and time to get it right and makes for a professional looking quilt.

Quilt Tip

Day 18 quilting tip is for quilting the sandwich. In general it is good advice to quilt circles or wavy lines, stippling even on squares and vice versa. However, my approach is often to ‘freeform’. By that I mean, I just take the needle where it wants to go and approach each square individually. It makes for an interesting quilt. I have used this method in both my hand and machine quilting.

Today’s discount

Day 18 quilting discount is 20% off the Design in Quilting and Patchwork ecourse, so there has never been a better time to do this. Learn how to design your own quilts in 2020.

Check back tomorrow for more quilting.

Words, work and images copyright Karen Platt 2019

Posted on December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019

Day 17 quilting of the 31 day blog challenge

Day 17 quilting is off to a start with a bang. Where I am up to with my new quilt and a very special addition to my ecourses are setting my workroom alight today.

Quilting

I quilted some of my new quilt, so day 17 quilting is all about showing you what I achieved. If you have been reading all the blogs, you’ll remember that I made an error in the placement of the first block on this new quilt and therefore the design changed. So I ended with the placement of 9 blocks, with gaps in between, making it ideal to quilt.

The fabric was a killer for making the sandwich, it just wanted to walk across the floor. I have never had a fabric behave like this before. Eventually, I got the sandwich flat and quilted away. One happy quilter.

I then started my quilting and decided to quilt all the blue squares first. Now all there is is the white squares and surround to finish off. I made up my own straight line quilting pattern.

New ecourse Creative Stitch

I am so thrilled to announce my new ecourse, which can be joined at any time no matter where you live as it is online. But why wait? Join me in January for a bumper 2020 hand embroidery ecourse. It is all about contemporary stitch. A 12 month ecourse looking at stitch, design and more.

Discount

Today’s discount is on this wonderful new Creative Stitch ecourse, so join me today with 10% off a saving of over 32 pounds. I look forward to welcoming you on the ecourse. Let’s make 2020 Creative Stitch year. I’ll see you tomorrow for another discount and blog.

Words, work and images copyright Karen Platt 2019

Posted on December 10, 2019 December 10, 2019

Day 10 quilting of the 31 day blog challenge 2019

Day 10 quilting means I am a third of the way through the month of the blog challenge 2019. It’s been great to participate so far and I am enjoying reading the quilting blogs of the other quilters taking part. There are great quilts to see and lots to read. Today I have decided to introduce you to more of the bloggers. You can follow them all here

31 day bloggers

Let me introduce you to a few bloggers on Day 10 quilting. The challenge was initiated by Muppin and quilter Cheryl Sleboda who has a fun take on quilting. Cheryl loves texture and creates tactile textiles involving manipulation. She was instrumental in getting over 60 people to sign up to the 31 day blog challenge.

Pamela has some very beautiful quilts in her blogs. Her UFO on Day 6 is amazing. A BOM, Quilt Along is definitely something I must introduce next year. I have been experimenting on the quiet with blocks. Check out her day 4 on Fancy Feathers.

Tuning My Heart Quilts is a totally different style of quilting and that’s what I love about quilting, you can make it all so personal. Choose your style and technique, add a bit of you and it’s like magic. I love the Xmas makes on Day 4.

Creatin’ In The Sticks is something totally different again. Check out the Xmas star ornaments on her blog

Top Quilting Books

Best quilting books I would recommend would be in no particular order

Anything by Brian Haggard, I love these books and the style of quilting. His latest one is Blended Embroidery that I reviewed a little while ago.

Anything by Jean Wells, boy I love her style. Her design techniques are superb. I have also reviewed her books. Her latest is Intuitive Color and Design.

If you are into free motion you can do no better than Angela Walters. I particularly like Shape By Shape. She really is the Queen of free-motion quilting. I wish I could do this, I need lots of practice.

Sandra Meech is a fabulous quilter and I am lucky to have met her too. Her books are incredible. Her exhibition at the Festival of Quilts 2019 was wonderful to see.

If you want to be a quilt artist, look no further than Paula Nadelstern. She is impressive to say the least.

Finally, check out my book reviews because I review quilting books on a regular basis. I’ll be back tomorrow with more.

Posted on December 6, 2019 December 6, 2019

Day 6 quilting of the 31 day blog challenge

Day 6 quilting of the blog challenge brings you my oldest UFO. My one and only UFO. Yes I have only one. Every day brings a new blog for the 31 days of December, so don’t miss any.

UFO or Unfinished Object

Day 6 quilting – what do I have that is unfinished? In this case, a full sized quilt. An early project that I tried to stitch in the ditch on my small domestic machine at the time without a walking foot. I learned that lesson. That was one not to be repeated. It all went so horribly wrong and some of the stitches are very tight. Why is it still unfinished? It’s so much easier to start a new project. Unpicking takes so much longer than sewing. Day 6 quilting promise to myself is to finish it asap. I was hoping to finish it this year but a few things have gotten in the way. It is on my to do list.

How Old Is It?

I started making the quilt in August 2017. It was easy to put together. I just fell down on the quilting. The fabrics I was using were much older, they had been in a drawer since 2008!

At least I can now stitch in the ditch perfectly (more or less). I also bought a walking foot. So there should not be any more unfinished quilts on this patch.

Do you have any ufo’s? Work out why and fix it. All quilts deserve to be finished, sooner or later.

My Xmas Gift To You

At the same time as the 31 day blog challenge, I am running an advent calendar Christmas countdown, with a special offer every day. Today, there is a special offer on my hand dyed fabrics. Take 10% off the advertised price. The hand dyed fabrics are all dyed by me, most are cotton including quilting cotton (calico and fat quarters) and hand dyed cotton scrim suitable for textiles, but there are still a few velvets, silks and linens as well as muslin. Some are available in packs. If you cannot see what you want, just let me know.

All the fabrics can be found here

Posted on December 4, 2019 December 4, 2019

Day 4 Quilting of 31 Day Blog Challenge

On Day 4 Quilting I hope you are enjoying all ‘behind the scenes’ quilt know-how and tips. Today I am bringing you more of what I love and more discounts. Great ideas for gifts today for the quilter who has everything.

Hand or Machine

On Day 4 Quilting are you hand or machine quilting today? I tend to do both. Even my machine made quilts are finished by hand with the binding stitched to the back by hand. It gives a good professional finish. Although hand stitching takes longer, I find I can relax with it in the evening, and it hardly seems like work.

Cathedral Windows Quilting

One of my favourite methods for hand stitching is Cathedral Windows. I love the rhythm of folding back and stitching in place. Apart from basic patchwork, this was how I got into quilting. Last year speaking at quilt shows, one lady was amused by how my samples were nearly all Cathedral Windows. I was speaking on my favourite design topic – colour but I had taken mostly samples of my Cathedral Window quilts.

Day 4 Quilting Discount is Kits

Day 4 Quilting Discount is on all my quilting kits. The kits can be found here. They include a 16 patch Cathedral Window kit, Brights Cathedral Window kit, Ice Quilt kit, Spring Quilt kit, Summer Quilt Kit, Autumn Quilt Kit and Winter Quilt kit. Some of them might be in limited supply, so buy early and again this 15% discount is for one day only. Please check back tomorrow for a different discount. I look forward to seeing you. Meanwhile pop along to Minion to see the other blogs involved in this 31 day blog challenge.

Posted on December 1, 2019 December 1, 2019

Day 1, 31 Day Blog Challenge

31 Day Blog challenge as set by a fellow quilter. On that website you can see all the other quilters who are taking part in this blog challenge. Welcome to Day 1 of the quilters’ blog challenge.

What I Hope To Do

I’ll be using the 31 Day Blog Challenge to give tips, techniques, wip, ufos and all things quilting so pop along every day to make sure you do not miss anything. At the same time I have an ‘advent calendar’ of discounts on items from my quilting website. Each discount will last one day only, the discounts vary from day to day. Some items are unique and one only, others are available to more than one purchaser. So keep tuned as we go through the next 31 days. I am currently working on 3 new quilts.

31 day blog challenge 2019 — my new scrap quilt design

Day 1

A little introduction for people who do not know me. I am a hands on quilter and teacher in the UK. I design all my quilts from scratch. I tend towards the more modern side of quilting, but enjoy all styles and techniques. I write my own patterns. I teach online, so it does not matter where you live. Quilts can also be purchased. You can see all my work so far on this page of my website.

Today’s Special Discount

Every day there will be a different discount. The discount runs until the launch of the next blog post on the following day, so make sure you place your order without delay. Day 1 on the 31 Day Quilters’ Blog Challenge is 15% off a one and only unique quilt. The for sale price has been put on the website. The higher price was marked from when the item was listed to 30 November 2019, it will revert back to the full price on 2nd December when discount 2 is launched.

discount on quilt — This fab quilt is discounted today

#31dayblogchallenge2019