Introducing the Swatch Service from The Confident Stitch

Posted on March 17, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone!

I’m so excited to share with you a fun new quarterly swatch service program from a wonderful modern quilt store, The Confident Stitch!

When you sign-up for this program, you can choose to receive from one or more different swatch card options including Quilting Cottons, Garment Fabrics (Warm Tones), and Garment Fabrics (Cool Tones). The links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that I earn a small commission. However, I only endorse quilting products that I use myself and find valuable.

Each swatch card subscription features 8 fabric samples and includes delivery for just $13 plus a special discount code for all of the featured fabrics!

The advantage of having a swatch card for quilters is that you can see and feel the fabrics in person before ordering larger cuts of fabric. When you are matching fabrics for a quilt project, it is so important to be able to see the exact shades and hues in the fabric. I also like to feel the hand of a fabric before purchasing, and each 3-inch by 2-inch swatch is large enough to satisfy our tactile need for fabric petting!

The Spring 2020 swatch cards are shipping now. I really love the bright modern fabrics featured this month for quilters.

Outside of the Swatch Card

The outside portion of the card has a note about Kate McIvor, founder and owner of The Confident Stitch. See the color wall on display with the cute dachshund pillow? I made that pillow as a sample for the shop!

Swatch Service, Quilting Cottons, Outside of Card

Inside of the Swatch Card

You’ll find all the quilty goodness on the inside! Each card comes with a brief description, describing the theme of this quarter’s fabric swatches. For this quarter, the theme is “London in the 1960’s.” Each individual fabric swatch is 3-inches by 2-inches. The fabric designers featured this month include Kaffe Fassett, Tula Pink, Cotton + Steel, Carolyn Friedlander, Ruby Star Society, and Art Gallery Fabrics.

You will also receive a special discount code for all the fabrics listed in the swatch card. This discount is only available to swatch card subscribers!

Swatch Service, Quilting Cottons, Inside of Card

Peek Under Each Fabric

After you have lovingly petted each fabric swatch, lift it up for a description and pricing of each fabric.

Swatch Service, Quilting Cottons, Close-Up

Are you ready to subscribe? Hope on over to The Confident Stitch and sign-up today! Let me know in the comments if you’ve joined! I can’t wait to see the projects that you create using these fabrics.

Happy quilting,

~Jen

Chicken Challenge Class at a Quilter’s Affair in Sisters

Posted on July 14, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Happy Monday, everyone!

Last week, I was able to take 2 classes at the Quilter’s Affair event leading up to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. I took the classes with my sister and we had so much fun! We did stay for the quilt show, and I will upload some pictures of the show later this week.

We took a 2-day class called “Chicken Challenge” taught by Ann Shaw. Students could choose from several of Ann’s chicken patterns to use in the class. Ann is a fun and entertaining instructor who really helped the class understand the importance of fabric selection and placement in creating these unique pieced quilts. Yes, these quilts are pieced and not appliqued! Ann teaches a straight-line sewing technique based on Ruth McDowell’s wonderful art quilt methodologies.

Here’s a look at my chicken part way through the fabric audition process. The pattern is Gallus Gallus by Ann Shaw.

Gallus Gallus Fabric Auditions

Although we both selected the same pattern, my sister and I selected different fabrics to create 2 equally colorful roosters:

Side-by-Side Roosters

We brought a variety of fabrics for the class, but naturally found ourselves shopping for more fabric yumminess from the Stitchin’ Post after class. With Ann’s help, I decided that my chicken needed to have a black and white background so I found myself petting bolt after bolt on Thursday afternoon before choosing a few pieces. I also picked up a wonderful Kaffe Fasset print for the ground.

My sister picked a great white-on-black print for her ground and used a neutral gray sketch fabric for her background that we had in our stash. I just finished piecing my chicken with about 30 minutes or so to spare in class. My sister almost finished her chicken and only has a couple of seams left to sew at home.

Here are our pieced roosters with backgrounds:

Pieced Roosters

I plan on changing my borders slightly this week and will then quilt up my Gallus Gallus!

I did get a chance to snap a few pictures of some of the other chickens created by our fellow class members. I’m missing a few of the chickens, but these pictures will give you a good idea of how the fabric selections can really change the look of the pattern. Whenever possible, I tried to include the participant’s name in the photo. If you were in the class, please leave a comment!

Rooster by Michele Dore

Rooster by Christine

Rooster by Unknown

Rooster by Leslie

Rooster by Susie Linford

Rooster by Sheryl Kock

Rooster by Barbara

Rooster by Claire Christiansen

Here’s a sample that Ann had finished using the Gallus Gallus pattern. This quilt was on display at the mini store inside Sisters High School.

Completed Gallus Gallus by Ann Shaw

My thanks goes to Ann for teaching such a wonderful class! Can’t wait for next year.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Using Shot Cottons with Paper Piecing

Posted on July 24, 2013 by thequiltedcat

I still have a few more pictures to upload from the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, but wanted to show you how I’ve incorporated some beautiful shot cotton fabric into a paper piecing project.

I picked up some fat quarter bundles of Kaffe Fassett shot cotton a while ago, but didn’t have a specific project in mind. When I participated in the Central Oregon shop hop earlier this year, I picked up a very colorful batik at the Stitchin’ Post in Sisters.

Inspiration hit me! What if I used the shot cottons to pull out the colors in the batik? I could do a paper piecing project since the paper would act as a stabilizer for the more delicate shot cotton fabric. I also used Kona cotton in snow and artichoke to help add structure.

Here’s a look at the shot cottons and batik:

Kaffe Fassett Shot Cottons and a Batik

On Carol Doak’s Yahoo Group, we recently celebrated the 7th anniversary of that group with a new block called Oh Happy Days! This block has a ton of different pointy pieces that worked perfectly with the shot cottons. Carol also provided a suggested quilt layout with the block that I used.

Here’s a look at the completed quilt top:

Oh Happy Days Quilt Top

I’m pretty happy with how colorful this quilt top turned out, and really enjoyed being able to incorporate the delicate shot cottons into a project. I hope to quilt it soon!

Have you used shot cottons in a quilt? Please share your projects!

Happy paper piecing,
~Jennifer

Little Bird!

Posted on June 20, 2013 by thequiltedcat

I saw the cutest little stuffed bird pattern called Friends of a Feather by Indygo Junction recently and just knew that I had to make it!

This little bird can sit in the palm of my hand very easily so it is the perfect size to perch upon my computer while I work. I used a Kaffe Fassett fabric for the bird body and tail. The pink fabric is something that I pulled out of my stash so I do not know the fabric line, but I think it pops nicely against the body.

For the eyes, I used mini turquoise buttons and attached them with embroidery floss. I didn’t have the proper gauge of wire on hand as the pattern recommended, but I did have some thinner crafting wire in a pretty turquoise color that complements the eyes and the body fabric.

Here are some picks of my new little bird friend. Click on the pictures to see a larger image:

: Sitting in a bonsai plant

: Hiding in a tree

: Perched on my monitor

I’m definitely going to make some more of these little birdie friends to give as gifts! The pattern is quick and easy to follow and the birds require minimal supplies that I usually have on hand.

Tweet, tweet!
~Jennifer