Monday, February 1, 2021

Fibonacci Squares Tutorial

Here's a fun tutorial to make 2 mirror image Fibonacci Square blocks!

  • Cut 2 squares of contrasting fabric, 15” each
  • Cut each strip into the following widths:
  • (2) 1.5”, and one each of 2.5, 3.5, 5.5”
  • Lay out the strips into 2 sets, alternating the colors of the strips. Sew strips together.
  • Cross-cut the strip sets into the same widths as before.
  • Lay out the strips into 2 sets, alternating the colors of the strips. Sew strips together.
  • You’ll 2 blocks (with opposite colors) that will finish at 12” each!





















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Monday, August 3, 2020

Virtual Lectures and Classes Now Available!


Well hello there! It's been quite a while!

Thanks for popping in!

Like many in this "new normal" I'm moving my offerings of classes and lectures online! 

If your guild is looking for a socially distanced program, please get in touch, heatherkojan@gmail.com, and we can make a great event for you!

These will be just like taking an in person class with me, except: you do it from the comfort of your home: nothing to pack up, no sewing machine to haul around, no forgetting a tool, or fabric, or thread, or your foot pedal (you know who you are!!!) And, pants are optional! (I'll be wearing pants - but you do you!)

All classes are moderated, so let me take care of the technical stuff. Payment platforms also available. It's as easy as an email to get started and get Zooming with me!
Check the Lectures and Workshops tab for offerings!

Also.....

I'm doing several classes with The Original Sewing And Quilt Expo. Check out my calendar tab. It has links to all the classes!

These will be just like taking an in person class with me, except: you do it from the comfort of your home: nothing to pack up, no sewing machine to haul around, no forgetting a tool, or fabric, or thread, or your foot pedal (you know who you are!!!) And, pants are optional! (I'll be wearing pants - but you do you!)



***Have you tried Zoom yet? It's super easy. Back in March, we taught my 89 year old mother how to do it, and now we have weekly chats with her! 

 





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Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Triple Baby Quilt Tutorial and a Sale!


Happy Thanksgiving All!

I'm super excited for Thursday. This is the first fall I've been an official empty-nester (even though my daughter is only 20 minutes away at school.) I'm so happy everyone will be under the same roof for the weekend.

We usually spend the day with my husband's extended family. This year's gathering will be especially sweet, because there will be a new baby in the mix! He'll be about 4 months old. And he'll be joined by a cousin in December! Which means, of course, baby quilts are required!

When I started these baby quilts, I knew I wanted to make them gender neutral with a simple design. I found a perfect fat quarter bundle in my stash which included 3 novelty fabrics: giraffes, elephants and kitties. Yes please! As I started designing, I wanted to make the novelties the stars, so I set them as a large center panel and went from there. And since I had 3 of these "panels" three quilt were made. They came together quickly and I'm really happy with the finishes. And because I did all the math, I figured why not share the pattern. Below you'll  find the tutorial to make 3 baby quilts or The Triple Baby Quilt Tutorial! (BTW only 2 are finished ~ the third is still a top waiting it's quilting!)









Triple Baby Quilt Tutorial



16 or so fat quarters
2/3 yard  Border fabric (per quilt)
3/8 yard  Binding fabric (per quilt)


Start with a novelty fat quarter. Fat quarters typically measure 18" x 22". Your mileage may vary. Trim your fat quarter to the largest square you can get out of it. For one of my quilts it was 17 1/2". The other one must have been an off cut, because I could only get a 16" square out of it. It doesn't really matter. Take the measurement of the square (let's say 17 ½") and subtract ½" to give us the finished size. That gives us 17". Take that number and subtract from 20". So, that yields 3". Divide that in half ( which makes it 1 ½") Add back in ½" for seam allowance. 2" is our measurement. This is the width of the first set of borders you'll cut. The goal is to have our fat quarter with one border equal 20 ½" square (20" finished.) 
I'll run through that one more time.

We'll start with an  18" square. Subtract ½" to yield 17 ½". Subtract that from 20" to get 2.5". Divide in half (1 ¼") and add back in ½" to give us 1 ¾" wide borders to cut.

Cut 2 strips width of fabric. From each strip, cut one length to equal one side of your center square andthe remainder to 20 1/2". 

Sew the shorter border strips to each side of your starting square, then the 20 1/2" strips to the top and bottom. Your quilt top should measure 20 ½" square at this point.

Repeat with 2 other fat quarters and borders.

Take the remainder of your fat quarters and cut into strips 5 ½" x 22" (or whatever the longest width of your fat quarter is.) Sub-cut  strips into 5 ½" squares.

22"

18 "

You should get 9 squares from each fat quarter. You may be able to get 12. If those last cuts don't measure up to 5 ½" square, no worries. Set them aside for now.

Take your 5 1/2" squares and make two columns of 4 squares and 2 rows of 6 squares. Mix them up for a nice variety. Sew the columns to each side of your top, then sew the rows to the top and bottom of your top. Your top should measure 30 ½" square.

Cut second set of borders, (2) 2 ½" x 30 ½" and (2) 2 ½" x 34 ½". Sew the shorter borders on the sides, the longer borders top and bottom. Your top should measure 34 ½" square.

Now time for some improvisation!

Stack (2) 5 ½" squares right sides together. Sew a ¼" seam on the right side and the left side of the stacked squares. Using a ruler and rotary cutter, make a vertical cut, dividing the stack into 2 pieces. Continue to stack, sew and cut. As you cut the stacks into 2 pieces, vary the width of the cuts. The goal is NOT to have the cut be in the exact middle, but have variations in the widths of each piece.


Continue to stack, sew and cut pieces. If you have some pieces from earlier that weren't quilt wide enough, use those now. Stack two pieces together, matching the left edges (5 ½" on the side.) Trim the right edges even if necessary. Sew and cut as above.

Take a bunch of your newly cut pieces, and sew together (on the 5 ½" edges) until you have a  column approximately 36" in length.  Press. With a long ruler and rotary cutter, trim one long side edge straight. Measure over 2 ½" and cut a long border. Measure over another 2 ½" and cut a second long border.  Make 3 to yield 6 short borders. (You'll use 2 per quilt.)

Make another column, this time approximately 40" long. Trim as before. Make 3 to yield 6 long borders.
Sew 2 short borders to each side of one quilt top. Trim to fit. Add long top and bottom borders. Trim to fit. (Mix up the borders from the previous step, so that you're using different borders in each quilt.)

Baste quilt and bind quilts. For one, I quilted with an all over meander. For another, I did a giant spiral. The third is TBD. Cut binding strips 2 ¼" each x wof. You'll need 4 strips for each quilt.

There you have it! Three baby quilts!







I'm not much for shopping on Black Friday, but I do make exceptions for fabric. I'm sure I'll be hitting up Craftsy for classes (only $17.99!) and kits. I'll typically buy their quilt kits, more for the fabric than the quilt itself. Lots of great deals! Shop the sale here.

Ready for another sale? Visit my Etsy Shop and use the code GIVE2016 to get my downloadable subway art for $5 (usually $8!) Available in aqua, tangerine and black. I like to have it printed on canvas for a addition to my sewing room. The file also includes an 8 x 10 jpg you can print at home. Discount expires 12/1/16.


Happy Thanksgiving All!







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Monday, October 17, 2016

Artful Improv Blog Tour and Giveaway!

I'm so pleased to be part of the blog tour for the book Artful Improv by Cindy Grisdela. 




I met Cindy at an art fair in Annapolis about 5 years ago. It was just months after I started the Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild, and I was so thrilled to find an artist that shared the same aesthetic. I'm not even sure if I had ventured into improvisational piecing at that time, but her art quilts certainly inspired me to jump in.

There's so much great content in Artful Improv. A first flip through, and you'll be visually delighted with all of her quilts. As you dive deeper, you'll begin to see how she thinks, plans, executes and finishes her quilts.



As Cindy says in the chapter How to Use This Book: This is a hands on book. Play with the exercises to expand your comfort zone and experiment.

I'm eager to try one of her signature styles, which I think of as ribbons on a present.




Her use of color and scale -  so good!

Did I mention that Cindy is a master at curves? I'm eager to try some of her curved piecing techniques.



Cindy also dedicates a chapter to machine quilting (something that I find challenging, but am working on improving :-))
Look at all that wonderful texture she creates!

More than just a quilt book, I know you'll be reaching for Artful Improv over and over.


Would you like to win a copy of Cindy's book? Just leave a comment below, answering this question: Have you tried improv quilting before? Of course, my newsletter subscribers always get an extra entry (just let me know in a separate entry that you subscribe!) US winners will receive a print copy of the book, international winners will receive a digital copy. Winner will be drawn on October 20. Please make sure I can contact you via email.


October 10: C&T Publishing http://www.ctpub.com/blog/
                
October 11: Maria Shell https://talesofastitcher.com/

October 12: Rayna Gillman http://studio78notes.blogspot.com/

October 13: Yvonne Fuchs http://quiltingjetgirl.com/

October 14: Sujata Shah http://therootconnection.blogspot.com/

October 17: Heather Kojan http://www.heatherkojan.com/  YOU ARE HERE!

October 18: Generation Q Magazine http://generationqmagazine.com/

October 19: Cindy Grisdela https://cindygrisdela.com/blog/




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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

A New Spin On Drunkard's Path Blog Hop and Giveaway!!

I'm so happy to introduce you to my friend John Kubiniec, author of this fantastic new book A New Spin on Drunkard's Path. 




John and I met a few years ago at Quilt Market in Houston. We were co-authors for the book Classic Modern Quilts. After meeting, we became fast friends and soon had our own inside jokes!

Geography separates us, but we still manage to chat and see each other a few times a year. 

After hearing about it for several months, I'm so thrilled to see his book A New Spin on Drunkard's Path in print. What a treat! Simple fabric manipulation gives so many varieties. You have to see it!

Bowties Quilt from A New Spin on Drunkard's Path


There are several projects from the book that I'd like to make. I'm a scrappy gal at heart, so the Bowties quilt called out to me. I made a few that I think will ultimately become a baby quilt. Scrappy pink and grey? Yes!  I tried out a few different layouts. I definitely need to make some more before I can decide. John has several great tips for working with the drunkard's path ruler. He also shares wonderful tips on pinning - fork pins! Who knew? 





Peppered Cotton Background = curly edges!







Would you like to win a copy of the book? John is giving readers the chance to win a copy of his book and a set of the Drunkard's Path templates he uses. To enter, answer this simple question (feel free to elaborate!): Have you tried curved piecing before? Just comment here for your chance to win. For extra chances, follow me and John on instagram (be sure to come back here to let me know that you do.) And my newsletter subscribers always get an extra chance as well! (Just comment that you subscribe.) Two winners will be drawn on October 8th and notified by email (one for the book, one for the template.) If you're a no-reply blogger, please be sure to leave an email address where I can reach you. A US winner will receive a hard copy of the book, international will receive an e-book.

Congratulations, John! The book is fantastic!

Be sure to visit all the other bloggers on this blog hop:



September 26, 2016
Jenifer Dick   www.42quilts.com

September 27, 2016
Heather Kojan http://www.heatherkojan.com  You are here!!!

September 28, 2016
                          
September 29, 2016

September 30, 2016
LoveBug Studios https://lovebugstudios.com/blog/

October 1, 2016         
Kathy Patterson  http://hillstreetquilts.blogspot.com

October 2, 2016

October 3, 2016
Generation Q Magazine http://generationqmagazine.com

October 4, 2016
Nicole Daksiewicz www.modernhandcraft.com/blog

October 5, 2016
            Marti Michell http://frommartimichell.blogspot.com

October 6, 2016
Kim Niedzwiecki http://www.gogokim.com

October 7, 2016

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Wednesday, September 21, 2016

My Modern Spools Mini in Modern Patchwork Magazine!

So this happened a few weeks ago:








My Modern Spools mini quilt in Modern Patchwork Magazine! This is the Gifts edition - chock full of seasonal decor and gifts to give (or keep for yourself!) What I like is that the projects aren't overly "holiday." Switch out some fabrics and they'll work for anytime. With over 30 projects, I'm sure there's several you'll want to make (after you make my Spool quilt of course!) Me? I think I'll start with Violet Craft's paper pieced cardinal. She has it as a table runner, but I think one bird would make a great pillow. And the salt cellar pincushions? Adorbs. I have some old votive holders that I think would work perfectly. 

Oh, and this is fun. Modern Patchwork asked contributors to send in their favorite holiday recipes. You'll find my Sweet Potato Latke recipe in the issue. Think sweet potato french fry - just flattened and with more crispy edges. Delish. 



The hard copy is on newsstands now. Over 30 patterns! Go! Now! Buy! Sew!


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Friday, June 10, 2016

My Interview with Cheryl Arkison on the C&T Blog

Super excited to share my interview with Cheryl Arkison. She's one of my favorite quilters, and I've been known to spend a few hours here and there reading her blog. She's an excellent writer and inspirational improv quilter.

I had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl at Quiltcon in February! (we're cute!)




Head on over to the C&T blog and check it out!
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