Camping and Knitting

Inspired by the quirky hand-knit socks that are everywhere (or so it seems), I have wanted to learn the secrets of knitting for eons. During the recent Quilt Festival, I persuaded Danielle and Wanda to teach me how to knit, even though I am a leftie and they are both expert right-handed knitters. Undaunted, they simply taught me to knit as a righty. However, it was not so easy (at least for me). So they showed me how to Continental Knit (work is done with the right needle while the yarn comes off the left-hand). This I love! I knit a few sampler squares during Festival, and have started a bonafide project. While it is not a pair of socks .....


it is the beginnings of my first knit scarf. The pattern is the Easy Ribbed Scarf by Graywood Designs. I love the soft variegated colors in the wool yarn, Lanaloft (Coral Reef) by Brown Sheep Company in Nebraska.


I began this over the week-end while camping with the Scouts at Camp Strake. The weather was absolutely gorgeous! Perfect for camping and canoeing.

My tent is nestled among the trees, early Saturday morning. Misty fog is rising from the lake. A chilly, nippy morning it was, too.

Here are half the Scouts, as they gear up for a canoeing relay race. Meanwhile, I'm on the shore, happily knitting away.

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P.S. There are loads of websites and YouTube videos teaching how to knit, just as Danielle and Wanda promised. Enjoy this post by another lefty-knitter or this site (by knittinghelp.com), which has video-teaching demos of both "ways" of knitting and much more.

Hoffman Dolls

Every year, Hoffman Fabric Company holds a contest open to quilters, doll-makers, and garment makers. It is called the Hoffman Challenge and began (over 20 years ago!) when one booth vendor at a quilt show challenged another to make a quilt out of that "awful fabric." Word spread and quilters from all over joined in on the fun. The rules were simple: Use no more than two yards of the specified fabric (identified as the Hoffman Challenge fabric), keep the quilt within a specific size range and submit it by a stated deadline.

Since those humble beginnings, the Challenge is now run by the Hoffman Fabric Company and includes dolls, garments, and quilts (pieced, applique, mixed). I was entranced by this year's doll entries featured in an exhibit during the recent International Quilt Festival.

Princess Padideh's Flying Carpet
by Doris Moore of Granbury, Texas, USA
Winner of the Curator's Choice in the Doll Division

Bella by Deanna L. Hogan of Astoria, Oregon, USA
2nd Place Winner in the Dolls category

The quilt is Dragonflight by Kathy Goetz of Willamina, Oregon, USA

This collection of Hoffman dolls includes Simplicity by Daria Cash of Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA (far left) and The Paisley Pasha by Mary Kaplan of Atwater, California, USA (far right). The lovely quilt Paisley Fantasia is by Frances Alford of Grafton, Vermont, USA. Note: If you can help me identify the other two dolls, please email or leave a note in the comments below.

My favorite is the frolicking dancers, Let's Dance Together Forever by Priscilla McDonald Duffy, of AC Australia, and the pineapple Hoffman quilt, Old-Fashioned Rose by Patti Kupferer of Mesa, Arizona, USA. I especially admire the intricate and minuscule piecing!

The new Challenge fabric for the 2010 competition has already been selected, and featured on placards in the Hoffman Challenge exhibit area at IQF. See it below and watch for it to appear in your local quilt shop soon.
Click here for more information on the current challenge or click here to see photos of the winning entries for this year, and past years.


Speaking of years ago.... Once upon a time, I made a Hoffman Challenge quilt that spent a year traveling in one of the Hoffman exhibits. It did not come to the Quilt Festival in Houston, but instead it traveled to Paducah and to the national Sewing Expo where an internet friend took her photo in front of my quilt and sent the photo to me .... hmmm, I wonder where that photo is .... Can't find it at the moment, so I will share this one instead ...

The quilt you see is American All-Stars, my first Hoffman Challenge quilt, home after a year of traveling. Leftover fabric was used to make the outfits for my boys to wear to their first wedding on July 3rd. The patriotic flavor of the Hoffman fabric was perfect for their wedding attire.

A Japanese favorite

The quilters in Japan are meticulous in their art, creating wonderful works often crafted by hand. Today's featured quilt from is from the IQF exhibit of Prize Winning Quilts from International Quilt Week Yokohama 2008, sponsored by The Quilt Week Executive Committee. This quilter, Shiori Yamada, is from Shimane, Japan.

Flower Calendar
by Shiori Yamada

It is a sampler quilt -- each block is different -- and features both pieced and appliqued components. I believe it is hand-quilted. In fact, I am wondering if this quilt is all stitched by hand, as several Japanese quilts are entirely hand-sewn.

Here is a detail of two blocks. Note the finely pieced sashing and borders. These pieces are quite minute in size, perhaps that is why I admire this quilt..... it is a large quilt made of many miniature ones.


Another detail photo. I love the tilted basket filled with embroidered flowers. The quilter has added beading with the embroidery for additional texture and detail.



One last view of her block of spools and flowers.
In her Artist Statement, Shiori lists her design source as being "Basket and spool blocks" adding further:

Seeing the basket and spool blocks I made before,
I decided to make a quilt with them.
I added flowers in baskets to get warmth.
Beads gave this quilt unity and a cheerful look."

I find Flower Calendar to be quite delightful. The more I look, the more I see, and the more I see, the more I want to look!

Antique Folk Art Quilt

Along with the acclaimed juried IQA Quilt Competition, the International Quilt Festival has many other special exhibits featuring a variety of other quilts. Today I am featuring one of my favorite quilts from the Quilt Festival Antique Quilts display.



This Folk Art quilt is a classic antique quilt in that we do not know who the original quilter was, so we must credit an unknown maker. What an excellent reminder to today's quilt artists to sign & date your work!



Dating to the 19th century (c. 1800), this quilt was made with hand-stitched piecing and applique. It features a wide variety of natural dyed fabrics and measures 81" by 84 1/2".


I especially love the baskets and the manner in which the brown border frames the center of quilt. I can only wonder what the original coloration must have been, as colors dating back 200 years have faded long ago from their original brilliance.


On another note ...

Have you ever seen a better looking group of sisters?

What a delightful surprise and treat it was when they showed up in the booth today! I have had great fun meeting so many new people/new friends during the show, as well as running into my quilting and fiber art friends (some new and some old). But my family is the best!




Wonder who will pop by the Graywood Designs booth or the Thangles booth tomorrow? Only time will tell .....

or I will ... later....

IQF Detail shots ...

Last week, I worked as a Quilt Angel hanging quilts to convert the cavernous George R. Brown Convention Center to Quilt Fantasy Land. One of my absolute favorite quilts spied while working that day is this one by Karen Stone.

Clam Session
by Karen Stone of Beaumont, Texas, USA

I was so pleased to discover that she won the prize for Mastery Award for Innovative Artistry, sponsored by Maywood Studios.


Today, I am looking closely at the minute details of the biggest prize winners, including detail shots of their quilt art below.

The detail below is from the World of Beauty award-winning quilt.

Hearts and Garlands
by LIZ JONES
of LEOMINSTER, HEREFORDSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM

Garden of Dream
by FUSAKO TAKIDO
of SHIZUOKA SHI, SHIZUOKA KEN, JAPAN

The quilt above won the Founder's Award.

Best of all are the two detail shots from the Best of Show quilt:

On the Wings of a Dream
by CARYL BRYER FALLERT
of PADUCAH, KENTUCKY

I love the quilting through-out this piece. See how her quilting alone continues the flow of fabric waves across the leg.

Sorry to be sharing the same quilts as yesterday ... I will try to broaden myself by taking photos of other quilts tomorrow!

Preview Night 2009

Excitement as the count-down ends...

... and the shopping begins ....

This is a view down Vendor Aisle #1400. Look carefully all the way to the end of the row ... oops, too far ... come back about 2 or 3 booths and Surprise! On the left is Graywood Designs.

Danielle and Wanda are ready to answer all your questions about quilting and/or knitting. I can answer some questions too, but I'm just beginning to knit (after a long siesta away of many years). It is rather fun, but more news on my knitting another day.

At the other end of the vendors, in the first aisle, you will find the "It's A Party" gang, including Thangles. Spend $25.00 in any of the participating booths to earn a chance to win a wonderful quilt (or other prizes too). While you are in the area, stop by the Thangles booth to see ....


... a demonstration by Mary Beth or Patrick of how to sew half-square triangle blocks the Thangles way. Other fun, sponsored by Pokey Bolton and her Quilting Arts team, includes raffle chances for classes at the Make It University or swapping ATCs with other attendees. To find this group, look for the Make It University sign on aisle 1200.




Of course be sure to go and admire the prize-winning quilts in the 35th annual International Quilt Association juried show. Here is the 2009 IQA World of Beauty Award winning quilt.

Hearts and Garlands
by Liz Jones of Leominster, Herefordshire, United Kingdom

Another top prize-winner is this quilt, winner of the 2009 IQA Founder's Award.

Garden of Dream
by Fusako Takido of Shizuoka Shi, Shizuoka Ken, Japan

Be sure to see the exquisite workmanship of this quilt, winner of the IQA Best of Show Award for 2009.

On the Wings of a Dream
by Caryl Bryer Fallert of Paducah, Kentucky

To see full views of these quilts as well as all the winning quilts in the 2009 IQA Show, click here for the official Prize Winners of the 35th International Quilt Festival.

Quilt Market 2009

Quilt Market is my annual Quilt Family Reunion held every year, same time, same place. This family dates back 14 years ago to an internet Round Robin group I was in with Mary Beth Hayes. We met at Market that year, then Mary returned the very next year to launch her invention: Thangles, which I believe to be the easiest way to make 1/2 square triangles.

Above is Mary with my guys and hers at last year's Quilt Festival. I met her sister Wanda Hayes Eichler long ago, too. Below you can see me with Wanda in her Graywood Designs booth at this year's Quilt Market.


Wanda comes all the way from Pigeon, Michigan (in the thumb region) to show her quilt books and knitting patterns. If you are in Michigan, check out her studio shop Pigeon River Mercantile (note: she is online too).


Quilt Market continues to be a time to meet online friends face-to-face. This photo shows me with Robin Koehler who I met recently via the QuiltArt list.

Robin is another friendly multi-talented person (aren't all quilters?). Check out her website Nestlings by Robin to see if you agree. Of course now I am wishing that I had taken more photos at Market to share here .... maybe I will remember next year .....

You can find me during Festival in either the Thangles booth (#124 or so) or the Graywood Designs booth (#1452) ... unless I am wandering among the wonderful quilt exhibits .....