Time To Sew: Secret Sewing and Classes

 

To everything, there is a season! And it’s now the season for “secret sewing” and quilting classes!

Time to Sew: Secret Sewing

Tis the season! Secret Sewing happens several times a year for this rambler when it’s time to start piecing new unpublished patterns and designs. As I’ve mentioned I am blessed to be associated with Island Batik as an ambassador which has opened the door for pattern design.

Twice a year fabric companies and quilt related manufacturers gather to introduce new products at what is called Spring Market and Fall Market. Spring Market has a new location each year, and actually opens up tomorrow in Portland (more on that tomorrow) and Fall Market is always held here in Houston the week prior to the big International Quilt Festival. Markets are tradeshows for wholesale buyers and media leaders in the industry and not accessible to the general public – except through media!!! Many bloggers, shops, designers and quilt related folks will be posting their take on market across social media – so watch for the hashtag #springmarket2018 to be the first to see the new products.

This week I have begun my “secret sewing” for the Fall Market. I have two new patterns being released featuring two new lines of fabric from Island Batik that must remain “secret” until the big reveal. Oh, it’s sooo hard for a rambler to keep a secret! I can give you little teasers along the way but I can’t show the fabric or the pattern, sigh. But it’s a good secret and going to be worth the wait!

Tomorrow I will share the story behind this year’s Spring Market release of my newest pattern “Geese Over Galveston Bay” so stay tuned for that…in the meantime, here’s yesterday’s tease on Spring Market Quilt #1.

I love color! And I promise the beautiful fabrics who are disguised as a grouping of black and whites are truly tropical colors! Coming Soon Fall Market 2018

Time to Sew: Classes

After what seems like a long drought this rambler is teaching classes again! This month’s project has been Sugar & Spice, a pattern from Studio 180 Design that uses Deb Tucker’s tools, the Tucker Trimmer I and the Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler.

Sugar & Spice, pattern by Studio 180 Design, the quilt is pieced and quilted by Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler

There have been two classes this past week, in case you missed the post here are the ladies from the Thursday night class proudly displaying their 6″ Lemoyne Star block made by strip piecing with no Y-seams.

Sugar & Spice class, TEO’s Treasures May 10th taught by Karen Overton

Being a night class, and this photo taken after 10 PM, don’t they look all fresh and pretty, their blocks too!

Some of us are night owls others are not. For those who aren’t, yesterday offered a daytime version of the same class.

Learning to use the Studio 180 Design tools

 

Hourglass units for the Sugar & Spice pattern are trimmed to perfection using the Tucker Trimmer I

 

Time to Sew! Quilting classes are a wonderful opportunity to learn new techniques and meet new quilting friends

 

Time to Sew makes us happy just thinking about it and happier doing it!

Our class yesterday had six students and everyone had large group instruction then individual instruction as I have found students are always at different quilting skill levels, as well as some are smoking needles while others have a steady pace. My goal as a teacher is to teach where the student is at – in other words, no pressure to feel like you are behind or ahead – the important thing is to understand the technique, to learn how to read the tool instructions so when the student returns to their own studio they have the knowledge to continue the process to produce their personal quilt. Unfortunately one of the students had to leave early before I was able to have a photo of her to include as part of the class…sigh…I really like taking photos of my students – but we will see her in future classes!

Barb chose fun Halloween prints for her quilt

 

Ivy pulled out her collection of Tim Holtz prints for her star

 

Susan chose some beautiful corals and blues for her quilt

 

Michelle mixed some fun solids with 1930’s reproduction prints with a fabulously fun background

 

Mona went fat quarter shopping right off the shelf in the shop! Aren’t these prints fun.

I am sew proud of each of these ladies – they learned two new tools and three techniques in the class. Can’t wait to see their finished quilts in the future! I think we need to schedule some show and tell gatherings in the future – a class reunion! Wouldn’t that be fun!

Upcoming Classes:

We announced the following summer classes at TEO’s Treasures Quilt Shop. Registration is through the shop and class size is limited.

Love Links:

This pattern uses the Wing Clipper I tool and can be made in multiple sizes from a 13″ x 14″ mini all the way up to a 104″ x 112″ king. Students choose their size and fabrics.  Students will learn how to make flying geese using Deb Tucker’s method of oversizing and trimming down to achieve success in keeping all their points, which are needed to create the chevron blocks in this modern pattern. Pattern and tool required for the class.

 

Love Links Pattern by Studio 180 Design. Quilt pieced and quilted by Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler

Love Links classes at TEO’s Treasures Quilt Shop, Thursday night June 14th, 6 to 10 PM, and Saturday, June 16th, 10 – 4.

North Star

North Star is a stunning quilt made using Deb Tucker’s Corner Beam tool (formerly called Spotlight tool). The quilt finishes at 52″ x 52″ and uses 1 1/2″, 3″ and 6″ corner beam units. While this looks striking in Black and White imagine it in Christmas colors or your favorite color! Christmas kits will be available at the shop! Pattern and tool are required for the class.

North Star, pattern by Studio 180 Design. Quilt pieced and quilted by Karen Overton.

North Star classes at TEO’s Treasures Quilt Shop are scheduled for Saturday, July 21 from 10 – 4, or Thursday night August 2 from 6 – 10 PM.

Time to Sew!

My plans today are to sew under the tiki hut until it gets too hot and then move the sewing part of the operation inside the RV – but I think I will leave the cutting and ironing station set up outside. This will give me more room to work in the RV as well as help me “get my steps in” as I run out to use the rotary cutter or press those seams open!

Then I have big plans to join my island girlfriends at the Galveston Island Quilter’s Guild as we have our annual installation of officers and our “picnic” and of course a little show and tell!  It’s been too long since I’ve been with the island gals and I’m looking forward to it!

This is Karen Overton The Quilt Rambler, hoping you have time to sew today!

What are you working on? Do you ever take classes or do secret sewing? Don’t forget to take a little time out for beautiful sunrises and sunsets!

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8 thoughts on “Time To Sew: Secret Sewing and Classes

  1. Pat says:

    Always a fun time with quilty friends!
    Learning something new every meeting!
    See you there!

    • TheQuiltRambler says:

      It’s a really cool pattern. I love the fact that there are multiple sizes! My friend and fellow certified instructor, Bonny Peters made the miniature – it was sooo cute! I’d sorta like to make the larger version in a different colorway as a bed size quilt….and like you, it’s on the “someday” list….don’t you just love it that quilting is an inexhaustible passion!

  2. Roseanne says:

    Hi Karen,
    I appreciate your explanation of Spring and Fall Market. The terms are banished about like everyone knows where and what that means. We don’t all know!! Oh, your teapot and mug look so pretty together. The colors are so striking and rich. Your classes look so fun, and everyone made great choices for their fabrics. I would definitely leave the ironing outside when it gets too warm and humid!! I live in Wisconsin and I move my ironing board to the foot of my bed in summer so it’s out of the sewing room. I stand right under a ceiling fan while ironing and it’s still too hot. {{Hugs}} I really can imagine how hot it is there – I used to visit the Woodlands each year in August. Not February when it might be cooler and less humid, but August. Uck. ~smile~ Roseanne

    • TheQuiltRambler says:

      Yep, Spring and Fall Market can become cliches if we aren’t careful. If your local quilt shop doesn’t attend market and you know they are going to come back and tell you about new products that they have picked up or ordered then it does sorta escape the majority of us!

      My teapot isn’t Fiestaware, maybe someday, but the teacup is! I love Fiestaware and have 7 place settings all different colors – plan on picking out the 8th color this summer when the new Mulberry is introduced!

      Ironing can be hot no matter where or what time of year! If you find yourself in the Woodlands again, travel on south down I-45 and stop by to visit!

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