Guest blogger and tutorial!

As promised, today we're featuring our very first guest blogger. I'd like to introduce you to Andrea of Knitty Bitties. I saw Andrea's Meadowsweet pinwheel table runner and thought it would be inspirational for the next round of our quilt-along:



I asked if we could feature her photo and she did one better...she wrote us a tutorial! Check it out below the cut. Also, Andrea is doing a little giveaway on her blog so visit before Thursday night if you're interested.

Now, here's Andrea:

What's Modern: Quilting

Not that I'm to that point or anything, but I've been thinking about how I'll quilt my sampler quilt. But the more I think about it, the more I just don't know how to quilt a sampler quilt (in general) and a modern sampler quilt, specifically.

So for now, here are the ideas I like best...

First, I've always wanted to try this diagonal quilting from katie did.

Or what about Ashley's curvy line quilting?

Or wavy quilting to offset all those sharp angles?



Or what about parallel lines or some sort of a grid?

I hope once I get the top finished, it'll tell me what to pick. What about you? What sort of quilting are you going to do?

Quilt Along: Round 2

Welcome to Round 2 of the Modify Tradition quilt-along. This round will be sort of the same as last time...but sort of different too.

The part that's the same: every week we'll post a tutorial for one traditional block. We'll feature 12 blocks this round which you can use to make a sampler quilt. If there are any you don't like, feel free to substitute any Round 1 blocks you like better. The first tutorial will go up February 1.

Now, on to the part that's different: Jennifer and I won't be making sampler quilts. Instead, we're going to use our blocks to create smaller, more manageable projects.

And because this is still a quilt along, we'll provide a tutorial for the project featured that week. We want to give everyone the chance to quilt along with us this time...so if you don't have the time or inclination to make a sampler quilt, there will be plenty of other ways to use your blocks.

So, what sorts of things are we going to make? We'll definitely make some things that are nice to look at...



...and some useful things (that are still nice to look at).



But wait! There's still more: we'll be posting a giveaway every week! The plan is to give away the item we made for the tutorial (and maybe some bonus giveaways for people who are quilting along with us).

And, to start things off right, I'm pleased to announce that we'll have our very first guest blogger next week. This very talented sewer/artist has generously offered to post a mini tutorial that shows just what we hope to accomplish in this next round.

And we hope you'll join us. It should be fun!

Languishing

Hi, everyone.  Long time no post.  That's because my project has been languishing in the cabinet while I got other things done, including Christmas gifts, unfinished projects, moving my boyfriend in, seeing one of my sisters get engaged, and going back to work.

The real reason I'm here, however, is to ask if you saw this.  What a gorgeous sampler quilt!  Nettie used a somewhat traditional layout complimented by a fresh and interesting color palette.

Hopefully mine turns out this nice.

Old business and new business

So, how is everyone doing on their blocks/quilts? I'm really excited to see what you guys are up to!

If you haven't been there in a while, head over to the flickr pool to check out the new additions. Feel free to post photos of your in-progress or finished sampler quilt!

I've been busy trying to catch up on my quilt and I'm happy to report that I have all 12 blocks sashed and ready for their final white borders. My quilt is turning out so huge that I can't fit everything in one photo. Yikes!



Now, on to new business: Jennifer and I are scheming up something new and exciting for the next round of our quilt along. We're going to start posting new block tutorials in February to give everyone (including us) some time to catch up.

Stay tuned...we'll reveal the new plan later this week.