Quilt Photography Workshop

There is less than one week until the first monthly Quilt Photography Workshop link up.  If you want to add the button to your blog, you can find the code on my sidebar.  As a reminder, the first link up challenge is to pick some fabric(s) and take lots of pictures of it.  Remember the point of the post is the photos, not the fabric - try different angles, different lighting, and/or different ways of displaying the fabrics (not strange or unusual, just workable.)   And then write a post about it - your post will probably be more photos than words but you could maybe write about what worked, what didn't, what you want to try next time, and/or advice and questions for others.  Then come back here on August 25th to link up your post and see what everyone else did. 

And one suggestion I have for your post:  make sure we can see your photos.  For reference, I save my photos at 600px which seems to be the size I see on lots of other blogs.

This photography workshop is open to everyone who likes to take photos of handmade items - whether you take pics with a DSLR, a point and shoot, or even your phone.  The main point of the link up is to improve your blog photos and composition and variety, which can be worked on no matter what you are using to take pictures, are a big part of that.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I bought my "fancy" camera early this year.  I am still learning how to use it through lots of trial and error but I did set two main goals for myself:  (1) use it only in manual mode and (2) try to avoid having to do a lot of post-editing.   By strictly using my camera in manual mode, I forced myself to learn the meaning of words like aperture and ISO and I took A LOT of awful pics - overexposed, underexposed, blurred - but it has been totally worth it.  I can definitely see a huge improvement in my photos - including photos of quilts, food, and people.  It seemed daunting at first to learn how aperture, ISO, and shutter speed worked together but now, while I still make plenty of mistakes and take lots of bad photos, I can say I understand it (which means you can too!!!)  I am still learning - I still am envious at the amazing photography I see on other blogs - but I think I am at least moving in the right direction.

My second goal was to avoid having to spend a lot of time editing my photos. I already spend too much time on the computer - I would much rather be taking photos or making things to photograph or spending time with the people in my photos - not cropping or adding brightness!  Again, this is definitely a work in progress but I have really been able to reduce the number of photos that need any post-processing.  Especially cropping - I think that is what I used to spend the most time on but I hardly ever need to crop photos now.

For me, photography is an important part of the blogging experience.  I think when I first started blogging, I tended to rush the photo part so that I could get my post published but now I think of taking pictures as part of the process.  Sometimes, this means having to wait to post until I can get better pics - whether that means waiting for daylight, better weather, or for someone older than 2 to hold the quilt for me!  Actually, I guess my third goal would be to work on taking photos using indoor lighting (not flash.)  I'll write about my other photography goals in a later post - they include using props and adding variety to my photos.

So, what do you think?  What are your goals?  What are your thoughts about the importance of blog photography?

For more info about the quilts in these photos, see this post.  The patchwork-y one is the back of this quilt.

Patchwork Frames One Block Baby Quilt

Patchwork Frames Small Quilt (30.5" square)

I just wanted to write out the measurements I used for the baby-size quilt I made using the patchwork frames block (tutorial here and my post about it here.)  I made this larger version of the mini quilt by adding more frames around the center block.  Here are the instruction to make a 30.5" square quilt with the center being placed off-center within the quilt.

In addition to the fabric for the main block, cut the following:

From background fabric:

2" x 12.5"
4" x 12.5"
2" x 17.5"
4" x 17.5"
3" x 23.5"
5" x 23.5"
3" x 30.5"
5" x 30.5"

From print 1 (first border):

2 pieces 1.5" x 17.5"
2 pieces 1.5" x 19.5"

From print 2 (second border):

2 pieces 2.5" x 19.5"
2 pieces 2.5" x 23.5"

Sew the 12.5" strips to either side of your 12.5" block as shown.

Sew the 17.5" strips to the top and bottom of the center block.

Using the same method of first sewing the smaller strips of each print to the sides and then sewing the larger strips to the top and bottomt, attach the rest of the border pieces.

Quilt and bind as desired.

Little Quilts for the Summer

Way back at the beginning of this summer, I made two mini quilts inspired by the adorable bees from the new Briar Rose fabrics.  

Since we loved the summery colors of the bee fabric, we (my middle daughter and I) also used prints that remind us of fun summer activities.  Well, the horses would be more of a "wish" than an actual activity - but reading outside, gardening, and bike riding are reminiscent. 

I surrounded each center print in the low volume fabrics I have been using a lot lately and then used essex linen to surround the squares.

To finish it, I added some pink hand-quilting with a bit of embroidery and then used one of my favorite prints from Briar Rose for the binding.

For the other mini (which I actually made first), I used the bees for all the centers - how cute are those bees that are knitting?!?!!  I then used tiny squares of more Briar Rose prints for the border and essex linen (I think in flax) for the binding.

Both quilts (along with my tutorial) are in this summer's Fat Quarterly issue that was published last week (that is why I waited two months after finishing the quilts to post about them - if you were wondering.)  Find it here.

Find Briar Rose at:

Fabricworm
Fat Quarter Shop
Sew Fresh Fabrics
Lark Cottons

just because . . .

Just because . . .

  . . . these little feet are making me laugh as I watch my little one do everything she can to keep up with her older sisters 

   . . . I'm happy that most of what I've been doing to improve my blog photography has been really helping improve my family photos as well

    . . . I loved reading my friend Laura's post about how much her little one loves the new quilt she made using my patchwork frames pattern and thinking about how fun it would be if we lived closer to each other (pattern/tutorial variations coming soon)

Patchwork Frames Quilt Pattern

Just wanted to let you know I have a tutorial for this patchwork frames block and mini quilt on the Birch Organic Fabric blog today using their new Eiko fabrics.  The tutorial includes measurements for three different sizes of fussy cut centers so you can adapt it to your favorite prints.

Once you have your basic block made, you can either finish it as a mini quilt as shown in the original tutorial which would also be a nice size for a pillow cover.  Another idea for using one block would be to add multiple borders and make it a baby size quilt.  You can find the measurements I used by clicking here.

Baby Size One Block Quilt 30.5" square

Or you can combine multiple blocks to make it a throw size or larger.

12 Blocks (evenly placed)  finishes at 54.5" x 71"

12 Blocks (uneven placement) finishes at 54.5" x 71"

Yardage Requirements

12 fussy cuts (choose from the following sizes:  2.5" x 4", 3.5 x 3.5", and/or 3.5" x 4.5")
2.5 yards of background fabric
.5 yard of dark fabric for inside border of blocks (sub cut into (24) 1" x 8.5" strips and (24) 1" x 9.5" strips

For patchwork rows, your fabric requirements will vary depending on how many different fabrics you would like to use for variety.  Each block takes 28 2" squares so you'll need 336 2" squares.  I have written out instructions below for strip piecing the patchwork rows.  If you choose to use this method, you'll need 24 strips measuring 2" x 12.5" and 32 strips measuring 2" x 16.5"

Strip Piecing the Patchwork Rows

From a variety of fabrics, cut 24 strips measuring 2" x 12.5".   Divide into 4 piles of 6 strips each and sew those strips into rows varying the fabrics throughout.  Make sure that the top and bottom fabric from each set is different.

Press seams and cut into vertical strips 2" wide as shown.  Each set will give you 6 strips.

Repeat the process except use cut 24 strips of fabric measuring 2" x 16.5" and divide into 3 piles of 8 strips each - again being sure to vary the fabrics and make sure that the  the top and bottom fabric do not match each other or the top and bottom fabrics on any of the smaller strips.

12 Block Throw Quilt (evenly placed blocks) (finished size:  54.5" x 71")

Arrange your blocks into 4 rows of 3 blocks each until you are happy with the layout.

From your background fabric, cut the following:

8 pieces measuring 5" x 12.5" (sashing)
3 pieces measuring 5" x 45.5" (sashing)
2 pieces measuring 5" x 62" (border)
2 pieces measuring 5" x 54.5" (border)

Sew the small pieces of sashing to the blocks to form rows as shown.

Sew the large pieces of sashing to the rows as shown.

Sew the 5" x 62" border pieces to either side.

And complete the quilt top by sewing the 5" x 54.5" to the top and bottom.

12 Block Throw Quilt (randomly placed blocks) (finished size approximately 54.5" x 71")

Arrange your blocks in 4 rows of 3.   Vary the position of the blocks within each row but for the purposes of this tutorial, you'll need to make sure that none of the blocks overlap with blocks from other rows.  The blocks could be positioned at the very bottom or the very top of a row but this tutorial will demonstrate piecing in rows, not by blocks.

When you are happy with the layout, begin adding sashing to the top and bottom of each block.  Each block in the top row should measure 21.5" in height.  The blocks in the remaining rows should measure 16.5" in height.  Also, for each of the remaining rows, you might have one block that does not need a top sashing piece.

Next you'll start filling in the rows by adding sashing between the blocks.  Each row should measure 54.5".  Then just sew the rows together and you'll have your completed quilt top.

If you want to vary the block size, substitute the following measurements:

10.5" Basic Block

Substitute the following measurements in the 12.5" version:

For a block with a 2" x 3.5" fussy cut:  (a) 2" x 2", (b) 2"x 3", (c) 2.5" x 7.5", and (d) 4" x 7.5"

For a block with a 3" x 3" fussy cut:  (a) 2" x 3", (b) 3" x 3.5", (c) 2" x 7.5", and (d) 3.5" x 7.5"

For the side strips, use (2) .75" x 7.5" and for the top and bottom strips, use .75" x 8"

And use 1.75" squares for the patchwork rows.

The Quilt Photography Workshop

Taught by:   YOU!!!!!

As you probably know, I have decided to retire the weekly Let's Get Acquainted Link Up and instead host a themed monthly link up.  And after thinking about it, I decided to focus the themes on photography.  From recent discussions, I know many of us agree that photography is one of the first things we notice on quilt blogs and one of the factors that determine whether we are going to keep reading.  Therefore, I thought maybe you would all like to join me in improving our blog photography -the quality of our photos, the composition, the use of lighting, the variety, limiting the amount of post-editing  - basically whatever you want to work on.

I definitely know a lot more about photography now than I did when I started my blog 1.5 years ago.  I know the relevance of aperture, shutter speed,  ISO, and even white balance.  I have read numerous photography tutorials on both sewing and other types of blogs.  I even upgraded to a "fancy" camera about 6 months ago (it is an entry-level DSLR but fancy to me!)   But I think what has really helped me improve my photos is well, taking lots of pictures!  And really experimenting when I do - taking pictures indoors and outdoors, taking them from various angles, taking both close-ups and um, not close-ups, changing the settings on my camera - you see what I mean.  Learning by doing!  

Are you still with me?  So, the idea is that every month, I will post a photography challenge --- involving fabric/handmade items!  Quilts, bags, pillows, knits, crocheted items, cross-stitch, clothing - whatever you are working on.  You'll take lots of photos of your project and then write a blog post about the photos - about what worked, what didn't, what you learned, what you are going to try next time.  Some months will have a very general theme while others might be a more specific challenge.

And this workshop/link up is not just for sewing bloggers who want to improve their blog photos but also for those of you who take absolutely beautiful pictures (you know who you are!!!) - we would love it if you participated and shared your tips and techniques with the rest of us!

August Challenge:  This is an easy one!  Take photos of fabric.  Yep, that's it - we'll start with a very general challenge.  Your choice - photos of your stash, photos of your favorite fabrics, photos of fabrics you are about to sew together, photos of fabric combinations you love - all of the above?!!?  Just remember take lots of photos (we are all using digital, right?!?!)  And then come back here on August 25th to link up your post.  

A Calm Quilt

When organizing my sewing space a few months ago, I found this group of fabrics sitting together and I thought they would combine well in a quilt.  But I had other things on my list so I put them away with the rest of my stash and it wasn't until recently during a bit of unplanned sewing time that I remembered my plan.  

This is probably the simplest quilt I have ever made.  I just cut large strips from each of the fabrics, decided on a layout, and stitched them together.

I used some essex linen, kona - I think aqua and oyster, and a stripe from Lizzy House (which is one of my most favorite fabrics.)  

The binding is one of the gray sketch prints and I backed it with a super soft flannel.

Then came time for the photos and my littlest (she is almost 2) really did not want me to take photos of this quilt but rather of other quilts around my house.

She kept tossing the new one onto the floor and holding up old ones.  I tried again the next day (notice the new outfit) but she still didn't want photos of the new quilt.  Hmmm . . .

Maybe she has a preference for crochet????!!!?!?