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Sunday, July 10, 2016

2016 New quilters blog

This year I am participating in the 2016 New quilters blog hop.  They divided us into little groups called hives and I am in the Hive Sewciety.  Our hosts are Cheryl at www.Meadowmistdesigns.com , Yvonne at www.quiltingjetgirl.com, and Stephanie over at www.latenightquilter.com. This has been a lot of fun as I have learned a lot about blogging.  The first part of the hop involved dividing us into groups of 4 or 5 and critiquing each others blogs.  This was fun.  I am grateful that I have a daughter who was willing to help me put different things on my blog.  So, now we are into the hop and we visit each others blogs.


They have asked us to do an intro about ourselves.  

I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and raised in a small town named Grantsville.  I learned to sew in 4h, with my mom as my first teacher and then later with another lady in town.  I had fun and really enjoyed sewing.  As I was growing up, my mother would quilt and we would play under the quilting frames, and push the needle back through for her.  My favorite classes in jr. high and high school were the home economics ones.  I also did summer home economics.  

  After getting married, and having my first child, I decided I wanted to do some sewing.  I made him a coat one winter, and also made him a quilt.  It was a transportation quilt and involved a lot of applique which I like.  It was fun to do and I don't know what ever happened to it.  I can't find it anywhere.  I decided I enjoyed quilting that my next quilt was an amish one.  It had a lot of little pieces and I was cutting them all by hand.  I gave up on it, and I think by mistake it got thrown away during a move.

Eventually I wanted to make another quilt.  This time I was able to get a rotary cutter and mat, and wow, what a difference that makes.  It is so much easier to cut now.  I love quilting and I am more the traditional type, but there are some modern ones that appeal to me. You can read more about me by going here.

I don't know why I decided I wanted to blog, but I love it as a way to have a record of my work.  If I try to keep a hand written journal, they get lost.  I needed a name.  I liked using my first name, but when I googled Kathy quilts or Kathy's quilts, there were too many that showed up.  I decided to use the "k" and that is how I came up with Kathy's Kwilts and the more came because I wanted to focus on quilts and sewing.

They asked us to share some of our favorite quilts that we have done.
This is a quilt that I did for a lady in 2013.  I designed the pattern.  This one was quilted with an overall quilting design on my husqvarna lily 550 sewing machine.  It is a twin size.




This is another one done in the same pattern, and I quilted it in the same way.  


Earlier this year, I ran across a blog by the same ladies hosting this blog hop, who did a blog series on writing quilting patterns.  I decided that I wanted to try developing a pattern, so I took my notes from making these and put it together, and it is the quilt that is the quilt along on my page.


This quilt was made for one of my friends first grandson.  it was fun to do and this one was hand quilted.  In every other block there is a heart in there.  Then I outline quilted around some of the frogs.  



This quilt was made for my first granddaughter born in 2010.  I did this one on my machine.  I love doing a 4 patch as they go very fast.  I put hearts in all the plain squares and then quilted in the ditch on the 4 patch.  The border was done with a stencil, that I traced on, and then carefully followed the lines.  



In May 2015 I got my first machine quilting frame.  Things go so much easier now.  I use a grace pro frame, can do up to king size and a juki tl98q machine for quilting.  I love it.  

They asked for a quilting tip and one that has helped me is to make sure that when you are sewing your blocks, take the time to press.  They look much neater and it just makes the whole quilt turn out better.

As for blogging, I link up to different link ups each week.  Sometimes I may do a blog post before the links are open and then forget to link.  I now put it on the calendar in my phone, along with the link.  Just a couple of clicks and it is done.

As for favorite books, I love the classics. One I am reading right now is Education of a wandering man by Louis L'Amour.

As for a dream vacation, how about Hawaii. That would be sure fun. But, I found another dream the other day. There is a gorgeous home for sale in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Viginia. It has been a bad and breakfast. The best thing, there are 4 dining rooms. How about turning 1 into a quilting Studio and maybe selling quilting supplies and another 1 into a classroom for quilt retreats, and let's take a 3rd and turn it into a football room. It would be decorated with Indiana Colts quilts and pillows and of course, BYU. That would make 2 guys very happy.

Question: is there something in the way of quilting you would like to try? I have 2. One is the Mariners compass quilt and the other is I would love to be good enough at quilting and quilt projects for designers as they get ready to go to quilt market.

I hope you have enjoyed visiting my blog. I love comments and would appreciate hearing from you. I would love you to visit my friends who are joining me in this adventure as well.
Shannon @ shannonfraserdesigns.ca
Tami @ sewmuchforfreetime.blogspot.com
Suzi @ websterquilt.blogspot.com
Olusuyi  @ alicesamuelsquiltco.wordpress.com

45 comments:

  1. Well done Kathy, I enjoyed reading your blog hop post, I was stressing a lot about mine and I'm glad it's over and done with :) Aren't you lucky! I'd love to own a quilting frame someday. Your Quilting tip is right on point and makes life so much easier.

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    1. Thank you. I love my quilting frame. I got it for a bargain and it serves my needs.

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  2. Hi Kathy, you re-vamped you blog, it looks very nice. Thanks for sharing you quilting story with us. I relate to your wanting to keep a record of your sewing accomplishments. That was one of the reasons I started a blog too =) I am impressed that you can machine quilt up to king size on your machine quilting frame. =)

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    1. Thanks. I have had fun doing this blog hop. My daughter has helped a lot with the design.

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  3. It has been a pleasure reading this post and getting to know you a bit. I also find keeping a record of my quilting accomplishments and hopes useful, and I find that blogging seems to help keep my sewing on track.

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    1. Lisa,

      Thank you. I have tried to keep notes and journals on paper, but they get lost too easily. This has been a great way.

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  4. Kathy, Hi Heide here stopping in from Miss Bee hiving group. What a great post to get to know you...Such wonderful creative people in our New Quilt blogger group and it has been such a great journey to meet everyone. Happy Quilting. Hugs, Heide

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    1. Thanks Heide. It has been fun getting to know each other. I hope we will all continue to follow each others blogs.

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  5. Gm Heide it was a great read this morning with my coffee...I would like to try paper piecing....And get more scrappy quilts done...way to many scraps around..lol.. happyness04431@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Anna,

      Thanks for dropping by. Paper piecing is on my list. I need to work on some scrappy quilts.

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  6. Hi Kathy, it is so nice to get to know you better and I really love knowing everyone's "how I started quilting" back story. I'm sad to hear that you can't find the first quilt you made your husband, but I envision that it got a lot of love and use and eventually just became tattered from all the love. <3

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    1. Thanks Yvonne. This has been a great way to get to know each lther. I have really enjoyed it.

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  7. Hi, Kathy! So nice to meet you! Great introductory post and I enjoyed looking at your quilts you made. I would like to do more paper piecing; I've only done two paper pieced items which I will be posting about this week. It was fun but definitely a learning process.

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    1. Thank you. I love sharing the quilts I have made. This is a good place to do it.

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  8. Hi Kathy! It's great to meet you! You retreat center idea would be a blast. I like to try new things all the time and one thing I have learned in that process is that I am not an art quilter. It's fun, but it's just not me.

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    1. Suzy,

      I haven't done the art quilts. Not sure the retreat idea will come to pass, but sure is fun to dream.

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  9. Such a great post to get to know you Kathy. Your tip about using your phone to remind you to do link ups is a great one, I always struggle with remembering to do this.

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    1. Thank you. I definitely try to find ways to try to get organized.

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  10. Ahhh, Hawaii would be awesome to visit, Kathy! I've got English Paper Piecing on my list of techniques I would like to try. I never thought I would like hand stitching, but it's become a fav!

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    1. I love hand stitching. It is relaxing to me. Thanks Shannon.

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  11. Hi Kathy! It's been fun getting to know you on this hop. My dream vacation would be to go to Ireland. My dream quilt would be a Lone Star because it requires such precision. Mine would probably end up looking like a small mountain! Ha!

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    1. Hi Jennifer,

      I have really enjoyed getting to know others through this blog hop. It has been fun. I would love to do a lone star.

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  12. Hi Kathy!! The Blue Ridge Mountains is a perfect & beautiful place to have retreats! My dream vacation would be in Australia. I have friends that live there that I would love to visit. Your advice for taking time to press is right on. I have never not pressed, and can't imagine what my blocks would look like if I didn't. Enjoy your week! ;)

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    1. Thank you. Australia would be fun. We did an Alaska cruise a few years ago, and met quite a few couples from Australia. They were all very nice.

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  13. Hi Kathy, great to get to know a little more about you. There are two quilts that have been on my bucket list since I started quilting, one is the Storm at Sea and the other the Kaleidoscope block. Hope some of your dreams come true.

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    1. Oh, Sue, both of those would be fun to do. It is fun to have dreams.

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  14. Hi Kathy. :) Thanks for sharing your story with us. Wouldn't that old bed and breakfast be sweet for a quilting retreat. What a lovely idea.
    I have so many new quilting things I want to try. Curves, pattern writing...the list goes on. Right now I am trying to focus on improving some of the skills I know aren't quite good enough and THEN after I am comfortable with those I will add some new things.

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    1. Hi Jen,

      There are so many things to try. I too am working on improving on things. I am trying to learn to quilt feathers. It is fun. I love the creativity that quilting gives us.

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  15. Hi, Kathy! Great getting to know you today. There are so many quilts I would like to try...I also would like to try the mariner's compass some day.

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    1. Hi Jodie,

      Thanks for dropping by. Isn't it fun wanting to know what we all want to try?

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  16. Hi Kathy, Chevron quilts are one of my most favorite. I hope you have that binding on, its beautiful.

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    1. Mary,

      Thank you. I got the chevron quilt bound and gifted. They loved it. I do like the chevron.

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  17. Hi Kathy, nice to meet you! I like how you named your blog...quilts with a K! The quilt you made for your first granddaughter is so sweet! I'd love to hear more about your Juki and frame.

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    1. Hi Paige,

      Yes, sometimes we have to be creative. I definitely will share more about my frame and machine. Stay tuned.

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  18. Nice to get to know you better Kathy! I'm surprised you found a unique name with Kathy in it since there seem to be a jillion Kathy's! I haven't been quilting long so there are a BUNCH of things I want to try someday. Applique, set in seams, making some mini quilts, participating in a block swap of some sort, Stack & Whack. I sure have enjoyed the New Quilters blog hop. How about you?

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    1. Hi Janice,

      I have loved the new quilters blog. It has been fun. I love applique, especially doing it by hand. It was fun to try to find a unique name.

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  19. Visiting today on the blog hop and finally making it to everyone in your hive. Participating has really helped me out with so many technical issues! I loved hearing your story and seeing your quilts. How fortunate you are to have grown up in a sewing tradition!

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    1. Thank you. I love it. I see my daughters doing a bit as well. My oldest granddaughter likes to quilt as well. She is 6.

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  20. Hi Kathy...I learned to sew in 4-H as well. Loved reading your blog and getting to know you...this blog hop has been loads of fun!

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    1. 4h is a great program. So glad I had some great leaders.

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  21. Wonderful to meet you Kathy! Happy quilting.

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  22. I so enjoyed reading your post Kathy, and reading about your quilting journey. At this moment in time the one quilt I want to do is already stitched, at least the top is. I just want the courage to get going on FMQ.
    Smiles
    Kate

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    1. Kate,

      You can do it. Try a couple of small projects first. Let me know how it goes for you.

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  23. Kathy, I loved reading a bit about your quilting journey. That Bed and Breakfast home sounds like the perfect place to set up some quilting spaces.

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