Cotton & Color – Blog – Page 3

7. October 201614. February 2019

Ep. 7: Heinz’s 3D-Quilts

Where did you get your inspiration?
I bought the book ‘One Block Wonders’ and decided that I want to make a quilt like that for my daughter.

This quilt looks very difficult to make. How long did it take from start to finish?
One quilt takes about 4 months. I made them in 2014.

What do you personally like best?
I like the bright colors!

Since when are you sewing?
I am sewing since more than 30 years already!

What do you like best about quilting?
I love to play with colors. Quilting is such a relaxing hobby.

What is your advice for beginners?
You need patience and persistence. Stay open for new techniques!

image002_copy — The beautiful blue version

27. September 201614. February 2019

Why did you make this quilt?
I attended a class with Barb & Mary from Me & My Sister Designs. These two women are really entertaining! I had such nice days in class! The pattern is called Slice of Cake.

How long did it take to finish the quilt?
It took me about 4 months to finish it.

What did you like best when making this quilt?
I tried a new quilting method. To create a quilting stencil, simply sew your quilting design with the sewing machine without thread into parchment paper. Place the paper on your quilt top. With the Quilt Pounce Pad you can stamp white powder through the small perforations onto your quilt.

What fabrics did you use?
I like the fabrics from Me & My Sister designs very much, but they did not match the colors in my room. I used other 10” squares (25 cm fabric squares). You have got to try this pattern, it is so easy!

mod_22270lc — Fabric from Barb & Mary (Me & My Sister Designs)

lec_3009-3-01 — 10” Fabric Squares ‘Origami’

20. September 201614. February 2019

Ep. 5: Jeanine’s Name Quilt

What kind of quilt would you like to share with us?
This is a quilt for my son and his girlfriend.

What do you like most about this quilt?
That I could incorporate our first names in the creation.

What kind of materials did you use?
Red and black patchwork fabrics from various sources

How long have you been quilting?
for twenty years

What experience in your time as a quilter has touched you the most?
The discovery of the blogosphere!

Do you have a good advice for beginners?
Do not be scared!

Where can you find your latest creations on the Internet?
On my blog Boites et Bobines

7. September 201614. February 2019

Coffee with Vreni

“What a nice surprise! Come inside!”

Vreni welcomes us today in her studio. She is here almost every day working on her projects.

Vreni, when did you start quilting?
About 25 to 30 years ago, I passed by a shop in Basel. As soon as I stepped in, I had the feeling, that this was the perfect hobby for me.
I attended a class with Karin and made my first quilt.

How did it turn out?
My first quilt was green, pink and brown for our bedroom. I never liked it too much. That is why, some years later, I tore it apart and made a small quilt for my cat. And – what a surprise! – my cat was really happy with it!

How did you discover Cotton & Color?
I was on my way back home by tram, when I saw, that there was a sign on a garden fence for this shop. I immediately told my husband, that I needed to go there! I still remember your daughter Ida, she was 3 years old then. I liked the shop, because it was small but cozy.

What are your favorite designers?
When I started, I just knew Amish, Debbie Mumm and Thimbleberries. Today, I really like the Country style like Lynette Anderson and Nordic colors from Tilda. I really really don’t care for modern patchwork.

I heard, that you have a particular tradition when making quilts!
When I finish a quilt, I always use the scraps to create a matching bag. So it has its own “home” (and it’s also better to store them). It is also nice to use them as pillow cases.
Everybody asks me: ‘What are you doing with all these large quilts?’ I have to confess, that I don’t like to make tiny handmade objects! They make me nervous!

What is your favorite sewing technique?
I mainly sew by machine, but I always try to add a personal touch by sewing by hand.

Could you tell about your other hobbies?
I enjoy embroidery from time to time. I also have this habit of decorating: four times a year, I “dress” my home according to the season! When you will come back in December, you will find my home full of Christmas quilts, candles and nits (small dwarfs from Denmark). Sometimes, I do an Open House and everybody is welcome to take a look!

And how about your husband, does he help you with the decorations?
Actually, he really enjoys it! I always make sure, that he has got his little space to escape… I already occupy 90 percent of our space. 🙂

Does creativity and patchwork run in the family?
My brother is a painter. My twin sister Denise loves to quilt. Her daughter Pia, who now lives in Salt Lake City, works as an interior designer and is very gifted! Pia took an old Swiss sewing machine with her.

What patchwork projects are you planning, right now?
Look at this book! I want to make this little doll! When I will go to our cottage in Denmark, I will bring with me this quilt top to finish while I am there.

We cannot wait to see the Christmas decoration!

Astrid

6. September 201614. February 2019

Ep. 4: Irene’s Panel Baby Quilt

For whom did you make this quilt?
For my grandson

What kind of materials did you use?
I chose a panel for which I had the right edge materials

When did you start and how long did it take to complete?
I started in May 2016. All in all I needed about 5 weeks to finish it.

What do you like most about this quilt?
The panel and my handy quilting around the contours of the animals and on the edge I find particularly well done.

How long have you been quilting and what has inspired you to start?
One and a half years ago, a quilt exhibition inspired me to start this as a hobby.

What do you like most about this hobby?
I like the community. Now and then I’m also a bit proud of my creations and ideas.

Do you have good advice for beginners?
Stay tuned, even if everything doesn’t work out right away; one passes through different phases. In an ’emergency’ you can always get help from other patchworkers!

kau_adv-16299-286_110x60 — Panels at Cotton & Color

1. September 201614. February 2019

Ep. 3 : ‘Construction’ by Séverine R.

What kind of quilt would you like to share with us?
My first large blanket, made with a panel.

For whom and why did you make this quilt?
I love the online shop, where I like to stroll around and get inspired. One day my son got up extra early to look at the fabrics with me in my office. It was not long before he discovered the fabric with construction site motif! I was pregnant at the time, and immediately began quilting a new blanket, which I gave to my son for his third birthday.

When did you start and how long did it take to complete?
I finished the quilt just in time for his birthday! I did the cover by hand in just three evenings watching TV. The quilting on my old sewing machine was exhausting!

What do you like most about this quilt?
On the panel i highlighted only the most important details, so they feel good. I also like the appliqués particularly well.

What kind of materials did you use?
The panel ‘Under Construction’, the black fabric ‘On the Road Again’ (tire tracks) and 2 Unis – one in black and one in cheddar.

How can we find you on social media?
On Instagram – Feerin’ handmade.

How long have you been quivering and who or what has caused you to start?
I started 4 years ago, but made a longer break during the first 2 years after the birth of my son.

What experience in your time as a quilter has touched you the most?
I think the world of patchwork is very open, regardless of the style.

Do you have any good advice for beginners?
At an exhibition I was once so impressed by the quilts of a lady that I had to tell her that my creations look pale beside hers. Then she replied that she’s just a couple of miles of thread ahead of me. I think of this sentence every time I finish a reel ?

23. August 201614. February 2019

Ep. 2 : Isabel R. & her Perfect Form

“A big stash makes a beautiful quilt”

Who is this for?
I made this quilt from the pattern “Perfect Form”, for my sewing room. Now I borrowed it to Astrid, to display it in the shop “Cotton&Color” in Riehen. Come and take a look!

The best part of making it?
After cutting out many flowers, I could play around until I found the perfect setting. I enjoyed it so much! When I was machine quilting, I created different vertical wavy lines: this was really relaxing!

How long did it take?
My quilting friend Marisol from Spain came to visit. We planned this project together. It took me 3 weeks to finish it.

What kind of fabrics did you use?
I mainly used colored fabrics from Kaffe Fassett and Amy Butler. The background consists of Brigitte Heitland and Lecien fabrics.

fib_perfectform — Perfect Form by Laura Heine

background — Modern Background Paper – Brigitte Heitland

background 2 — L’s Modern Basics – Lecien

18. August 201614. February 2019

Easy and quick cat’s bed project!

Materials needed:

0.4 m (= 16”) fabric A for inner side (well visible)
0.4 m (= 16”) fabric B for outer side (will be partly hidden when sides are rolled up)
0.45 m (= 0.5 yd) fabric C for “mattress”
Small package of polyester batting (min 60’’ x 60’’ =. 1.5 x 1.5 m)

Cutting (includes seam allowances):

fabric A: 2 pcs 0.2 m (8’’) x fabric width

fabric B: 2 pcs 0.2 m (8’’) x fabric width

fabric C: 2 pcs 0.45 x 0.53 m (1/2 yd x 21’’)

Place the 2 large fabric C pieces right side together. Cut them round at the corners (see image below).

We used a small plate with the diameter of 16 cm (= 6.3’’) as a template for the curve.

Sewing the mattress:

Place the fabric pieces C on 3 layers of batting. The batting should be slightly larger than the fabric. Stitch around the edge with 0.75 cm (a little bit more than ¼‘‘) seam allowance, but leave an 5‘‘ opening on one side. Cut back the batting. Clip several times into the seam allowances on the rounded corners.

Turn the mattress inside out. Iron the edges with steam and fold the seam allowance at the opening to the inside. Close the opening with a narrow seam

Measure the outer edge of your mattress (I measured about 172 cm = 67.5”)

Sewing the sides of the bed:

Sew together the 2 strips from fabric A to crate a very long piece for the cat bed sides.

Repeat with fabric B.

Place the long strip of fabric A and the long strip of fabric B right sides together. Cut them to the measured perimeter of your mattress plus 2 times the seam allowance.

In my case this is 172 cm +2 x 0.75 cm = 174.5 cm,
or 67.5” + 2 x 1/4” = 68”

Place the strips onto 2 layers of batting.

Sew the 2 fabric strips lengthwise together on one side only.

Open up (see picture above) and iron the seam.

Lay the fabrics right sides together again and sew the other long side of the strips together, leaving the beginning and the last 10 cm (= 4’’) without seam (see picture on the left side)

Turn the tunnel inside out and iron it.
Fold the tunnel lengthwise in half.
The ends of fabric A are now together. (see picture above)
Pin these ends together and start stitching from the free ends of fabric A.
Continue to sew towards fabric B, so that the ring is closed..
Iron the seams and fold the seams at the remaining opening to the inside. Close the opening.
Before you pin the ring to the mattress, check again which fabric should be on the outside of the bed.

Stitch slowly with denim needles.

Roll down the bed sides.

Done!

16. August 201614. February 2019

Coffee with Edda

Today we went to one of our dearest quilters, Edda, to have a coffee (a tradition that never lacks here in Cotton&Color) and to talk about her passion for quilting and sewing!

What was your job before retirement? I worked in a pharmacy!

How did you discover quilting? At that time the shop “Cotton&Color” was located very close to my street! I always had a lot of fun choosing and visiting Astrid’s shop!

For how long have you been doing it? I discovered it 18 years ago. I’ve always been into handmade object and creative projects! In fact, my previous hobby was painting porcelain.

Quilting seemed to be the “perfect” hobby, since I love sewing my dresses and display them in my studio!

Do you remember your first quilt? How was making it? My first quilt was a Kaffe Fassett inspired quilt, a Venetian quilt, I loved it!

My second quilt was exhibited by Astrid in a fair, I was so proud!

How about your family? I have a son that lives in Basel. My daughter lives in Zurich, she works with glass… she probably got my creativeness (at least I think so!)

Sadly, 6 years ago I lost my husband. It was a difficult period of time and fortunately I could rely on my friends I met through my quilting group organized by Astrid.

What is the name of your quilting group? We call ourselves “Regio Quilters”: we all live near the border to Germany, so some of us are German.

What do you do together? Other than quilting we organize dinners all together and have a lot of fun! This year I went on vacation with two of them for two weeks in…the North Sea! What a beautiful holiday!

I also have another quilting group, that I meet during the weekends.

What are your plans for the future, regarding patchwork? Until now, I made many big quilts. Now, I would love to create little and funny patchworks, to give as gifts.
I’m actually thrilled: my grandchild will be born in September, and this gives me the occasion to go wild on new projects!

I’m also on Instagram and Facebook. I can share my creations and watch what all my friends are up to! So funny!

How does quilting help you during bad days? I learnt from my friend the “Stress quilting”. There’s no other better way to throw out all the bad thoughts than quilting!

And finally, can you show us your favorite quilt?

We hope you liked this first interview!

See you soon

Astrid & Edda!

13. August 201614. February 2019

Ep. 1 : Sabine & her Charm Packs

“What I make with my hands, I give of my heart!”

Who is this for?
One of my good friends has a daughter, who just had a baby. I thought a quilt was the best way I could welcome it!

The best part of making it?
I think I had a great time “playing” around with the different fabrics, especially in the middle section, figuring out what colors were best and how could I make it pretty and yet fun!

How long did it take?
It took me about 6 weeks to finish it.

What kind of fabrics did you use?
I bought the fabrics at “Cotton & Color“.
I used Mini Charms and Charm Packs for the middle part and owl fabrics from Riley Blake.