Chris and Flo – our favorite passtime.
Here I am in Indianapolis, Indiana – a mom, a wife, an accountant and a quilter. I’ve been quilting for a long time – for the record, the recipient of the very first quilt that I gave away just turned 30 this year, which is a little weird since I don’t feel like it’s been that long. Seriously.
I learned basic sewing skills from my mom, my paternal grandmother, and a very patient and good-natured 4-H leader. My paternal grandmother, Evelyn Kauchak, also taught me the basics of embroidery and knitting – I remember devouring the Lee Wards catalogs with all their pre-printed embroidery projects, thinking how I wanted to make the quaint pillowcases and dresser sets like she did. And the quilts. Oh yes, the quilts.
Grandma Kauchak seemed to find peace in needlework. She had 13 children and bunches and bunches of grandchildren. Up until her death, she made each of the grandchildren either a quilt or crocheted baby boots and a cap.
I have the baby quilt she made for me. It’s made of little embroidered blocks, each with a fairy playing in the garden, set in sashing of yellow duckies. I don’t think it has much of a batting, but it is a treasure. Of course, it is unsigned.
Now, quilting and fabric play keeps me curious and thinking – drawing and quilting and planning, colors and shapes and the interconnectedness of it all gives me great joy. And a connection to all the other quilters who are finding peace and joy in their work.
As for this blog, I am self-taught and I get no help from outside consultants – except the kind soul who offered to set me up on his server access so I could give it a go. If the website is a little rough around the edges, bear with me ’cause I haven’t figured it out yet.
But I will. Because I can do hard things. And so can you!
And I’d like to share the peace and joy that I’ve found in completing quilts and needlework with you.
The process may be stressful – mostly self-induced, I realize – but the end product is a release. A little piece of myself goes into each of my projects, and it’s that I share.
Thank you for coming along. Best wishes to you and here goes!
Chris
I love your site!
You are so cool….keep it up
Thanks, Debbie!
Ok, What does DH and DS stand for?
D is for Devoted, Delusional, Darling, Dee????
The H and S are easy and I am sure once I hear what the D Stands for I will laugh.
As much as I like your options (delusional seems most appropriate) I usually mean “dear”. DH, DS#1 and DS#2 are old terms that I used to use a long time ago to avoid using proper names. That assumes, of course that some day I’ll have more than 20 visitors and will need to protect my sweeties’ identities. Can you say delusions of grandeur?
Wow! I love your website! You inspire me not only with your art, but with your willingness to grow, learn and put yourself out there.
Agree whole heartedly!
You inspire me! Can’t wait to see where the journey takes you next……
Proud of you; wish we could all pull out of our heads that which is deep in there but wants to come out. Sometimes we just don’t take time.
Chris, You are very inspiring………….
Hi;
Thanks for such a personal web site. It was a breath of fresh air for a similar someone at a similar point in their life. I love all your quilts — you’ve been >very< busy!
Right now I'm trying my hand at making a living on the internet, but look forward to a time it can be more about sharing my thoughts and passions.
BTW — Your Flo and my Aristocat could be sisters, if not twins. But she always lays cross-wize in my lap.
Thanks so much for stopping by – and I’m so pleased you like my quilts! My old girl, Flo, is quite particular about the laps she chooses – it’s fun to think she has a twin out there! All the best – Chris
Hello – just found your website. May I ask for more information regarding your Optic Squares quilt? Is there a pattern or tutorial you used? I LOVE IT and would like to make it – the sooner the better – is there any other way? I have had three cats in my life – all calico – Juniper was quad-coloured, female, and our first ‘baby’ and ‘best friend’ – for almost 20 great years. Daisy and Willow (grey-dilute and tortie, gorgeous) are best of friends and eight-year old and the two of us loves\ them both, very much as they are our family. Best Wishes and Many Thanks.
Hi, Nena. I’m so glad that you stopped by my website.
Optic Squares is a pretty cool pattern, isn’t it? It is one of my favorites! I developed that particular block on my own for something easy and fun. I will put together a little tutorial including estimated fabric and should have it posted on my website by Monday.
Your kits sound wonderful! I don’t know that I’ve seen a quad colored calico before – I’ll bet Juniper was beautiful! My little calico Flo is quite the diva – she tolerates our yellow tabby, Beau, but just barely.
Thanks again for stopping by, and I really appreciate your request for the Optic Squares instructions!
I’m enjoying your blog. What caught my attention was your picture with your cat, Flo. Here’s why: http://queenodella.blogspot.com/2012/06/ebeneezer-florine.html
However, accomplice is probably not the word I’d use for my cats!
That is TOO funny! Our Flo is not nearly so snuggly as the Flo in the blog you reference – she is a D.I.V.A. and has no patience for any of us lesser beings. Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Chris-Saw your link on fibermania today about qayg. I have been quilting forever,
and still have not tried it. One question about your tutorial – I see how easy it would be to quilt the first section, by itself. But then you sew it to section 2 and THEN have to quilt section 2? Why not quilt section 2 first and THEN sew to section 1? Am I missing something? Thanks so much! I really really must just try this and then I will get it, I am sure!
Hi, Chris! I’m so glad you stopped by -
I’ll try to answer your question the best I can:
Why quilt the center section 1 first? Why not quilt section 2 first and add section 1 then quilt it? My answer is that I prefer to quilt the center of the quilt first. If I am FMQing a queen size quilt on a regular domestic sewing machine, the area that is hardest to squish under the harp is the center.
I like to make section 1 the largest that I can comfortably quilt on my machine with all the added sections narrower. In this quilt, section 1 is the widest of all 4 sections – 40″ x 40″. All the other sections are no wider than 30″ – even though they may be longer. That means I get the widest section in the center quilted first, then add narrower sections and quilt them, working the ease to the outside edges. If I would have quilted section 2 first, then added section 1, I would have a bigger section to squish under the machine harp.
I like the method of getting the center nice and square and flat, then add the other sections as if I’m adding borders to a quilt – which I do regularly! Also, I could have made section 1 larger, but I chose not to since I was concerned about the overall size. It doesn’t much matter – it’s just what worked for me.
You’re correct in that the best way to do it is to give it a try for yourself and see what works best for you! What works for me using this method is just a suggestion – it’s easiest for me to wrap my brain around getting the center done then adding borders. It’s turning out great – I’m really happy with the way it’s going so far!
Take care and thanks again for stopping by!
Love your little place here. I found you by searching for a scrappy masculine quilt. The tutorial on flip and stich caught my eye. I am going to make a quilt for my grandson who will graduate in 2014. No this ios not too soon for me to start. I have developed into a why do today when I can put off rill tomorrow type worker. I ahve alittle question on this project. All the fabrics I will use for this I have been saving for years, from the Christmas PJ’s I make for my family every year. some fabrics are cotton, flannel, and jersey knits oh and Sweat shirt type fabrics in a multitude of colors and prints all Christmasie. I need to use each fabric and find a way to incorparate their school clors. In this case Black and red. I have picked a swirly type red fabric for the backing. I think that works for a boy. And I want to use a black as my center fabric on all the bloks. Would it be better to make the strips all the same or “iliregular”. it seems I have no imagination.
Hi, Alice –
I think black and red are great colors for a guy quilt – and they will work with all your Christmas PJ fabric!!
Since you’re using jersey knit along with your cottons, take a look at the tee shirt quilt I made here. I know you’re not making a tee shirt quilt, but the trick with using stretchy jersey knit or sweatshirt fabric in a quilt is to stabilize the knits – there are lots of online references to tee shirt quilts to tell you what type of iron on stabilizer to use.
I’m suggesting that making the knits non-stretchy will will help with the construction of your blocks – if you’re making stitch and flip strip blocks, you’ll want to stabilize the knits so they don’t get all wonky on you too fast – but it won’t ruin the nice feel of the knits.
As for whether to use irregular strips, here’s my only suggestion: make sure that the center diagonal strip is a common color in all the blocks. If you’re thinking about using black as the center strip – that’s the idea. The rest of the strips can be any ol’ width you like them as long as they cover the foundation, but by making the center diagonal strip all the same color, you’ll be making a secondary design when the blocks are pieced together. Take a look at the final quilt for the stitch and flip strip quilt and you’ll see the red center diagonal makes a diamond shape when all the blocks are put together. Good for you! Have fun making your quilt! All the best – Chris
Thanks Chris for the suggestions. I had planned on black for the center strip. Also I knew about the stablizer for the knits. I used it on grand daughtes quilt it certainly helpped elimiate the wonkiness. This is only mysecond quilt and I’m little unsure on some things. reading about regular and irregular got me a little “illregular” Thanks again.