Attention Getter!

Appropriately named, Dawn Stewart's "Attention Getter" bed runner is featured in the October 2014 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. This patchwork runner can transform a room with a zen-like palette of limes, grays, blacks and whites from our chic Cosmopolitan collection. See what Dawn has to say about her cool runner:

 

(Photo used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting  2014 Meredith Corp. All Rights Reserved.)

Q. What motivated you to make a bed runner?

Dawn: I've been inspired by some pretty bed runners that I've seen in hotels, and wanted to make one for our spare bedroom. I thought it'd be fun to do for something a little different.

Q. Can you talk about how you made the focal print pop?

Dawn: I love the large focal print in this collection, so I wanted to feature it as the centerpiece of the runner as a large, uncut piece. Framing it with the lime inner border and the black border with the lime circles helps to pop the color in the large print.

 

Q. Can you talk about how your design evolved?

Dawn: The inspiration that I drew on for the design is from the Japanese room dividers that are kind of opaque.  I started with that in mind, and built it out in "panes" in the outer border.

 

(Photo used with permission from American Patchwork & Quilting  2014 Meredith Corp. All Rights Reserved.)

Q. How about your color choices/placement?

Dawn: My intent was to play with the gray to black tones in this collection, and pop in the lime green. 

Q. What's your favorite print from the collection?

Dawn: You gotta love that large central focal print, but I also really like the white print with the rounded squares in the outer border.  I think it's just fresh and modern.

Q. What do you like best about the runner?

Dawn: I think it will play well with any neutral bedding that I put it over :)

Q. Can you talk about the machine quilting on the runner?

Dawn:  I machine quilted it on my Handi Quilter long arm with all over large stylized leaves to play on the center focal fabric.

Q. What makes this project so fun?

Dawn: I love to play with modern/funky prints and use them in traditional ways.  I like the combination of the boxy "panes" mixed with the fun movement of the stylized fabric prints in this project.  And it's easy to make!

See the entire Cosmopolitan collection here.

Find the kit for Dawn's bed runner here.

Find American Patchwork & Quilting magazine here.

 

Brighten up a bed with Calypso Goldfish

Can't get Ro Gregg's cheery, summery Calypso Goldfish prints out of your mind? Quilt Trends magazine just featured this eye-catching runner using these prints, made by The Quilting Hen. Keep reading to learn more about it!

Calypso Bed Runner by The Quilting Hen; featured in Quilt Trends summer 2014

Q. What did you find appealing about the Calypso Goldfish fabric?

Patricia Sue: I love any fabric that has to do with fish or the ocean. This collection especially appealed to me because of the bright colors--I love the cheerfulness, and just looking at them makes me happy! I love pink, and love how it is used as an accent color in this collection. The masterful blend of contrast and matching colors make it easy to use any two pieces next to each other.

Q. What makes a bed runner such a great project?

Patricia Sue: Bed runners are great for using fabrics that you love, but don't necessarily want to decorate your entire room in. They allow you to have seasonal changes in decor or add a splash of color to a room that you do not want to completely change, but need a new look for a time. They allow you to try different techniques without having to creating an entire quilt. If you have a special or light color bed spread, a bed runner is a nice way to protect the end of the bed covering. They are also a must for those who live in cooler climates and need the extra layer on their feet at night!

Q. How did you construct the blocks?

Patricia Sue: The blocks are all applique. I used steam-a-seam™ just on the edges of the appliqué so that the quilter would not have to go through multiple layers of adhesive. I know what a challenge it is to try and quilt through that many layers of adhesive--nearly impossible! Since bed runners do not need to be washed as often, a raw edge appliqué will hold up well enough.

Q. How did you come up with the design?

Patricia Sue: I was going for an interpretive design that could read like a lily pad. The colorful fish on these fabrics look like they should be in an outdoor pond with lily pads and frogs. The blue wave was chosen to represent water and the yellow gives the appliqués a "floating" effect.

Q. What made you decide to use four borders?

Patricia Sue:  I loved all the pieces in this collection and I could not decide on one to eliminate, so multiple borders were a must-do. The dimensional pink border is an added texture that I like to put in my "fun" quilts. Kids especially like this added texture, and these fabrics could easily be suited to a child's room.

Q. What do you like best about the runner?

Patricia Sue: The little dragon flies are my favorite. I did not realize that the dragonflies were even there until I was piecing the quilt. I was admiring the fish and frogs so much that initially I missed them. They are a nice added splash to an already spectacular design.

Q. How is it machine quilted?

Patricia Sue: The "lily pads" are free hand echo quilted. The block backgrounds, setting triangles, and borders are quilted with a combination swirl and wave design. Our long arm quilter, Shawna Crawford, always seems to know just what to put on the quilt to make it a complete look.

Q. Tell us about the coordinating pillow (shown in the photo).

Patricia Sue: The pillow was made using scraps from the runner. The templates for the appliqué frogs and dragon flies are included in our kits. You can put them on the runner, pillowcase, or throw pillow as desired. The appliqués were made with scrap fabrics from the runner also.

Read more about Ro's Calypso Goldfish collection here and see the entire line here.
Purchase the kit for this bed runner here.
Find Quilt Trends magazine here.

Get Whimsical with Piccadilly

Piccadilly...the very word just sounds whimsical, doesn't it? The colors and prints of our new Piccadilly collection bring that carefree whimsy to fabric: soft aquas, lavenders, fuchsia and olive, all light and airy!

Dual-colored scrolls

A spring-like leafy vine

A great modern geometric print

Gorgeous focal flowers

Make a summery bed runner to freshen up your room with our free pattern using Piccadilly prints:

Picadilly Bed Runner designed by Diane Arganbright and Patricia Sue Nelson of The Quilting Hen

Download the free pattern here.

See the entire Piccadilly collection here and ask for it at your local quilt shop.

Transform a bedroom...easy as 1, 2, 3!

As quilters, we're often asked "just how many bed quilts do you have?" It's fun to make a variety of bed quilts, and fun to have a variety of looks to change up a room. 

But what if there was an easier way? What about a bed runner? Less work, less storage space, all the impact! Terry Albers of Hedgehog Quilts designed this beautiful bed runner using the Summer Breeze  collection for Easy Quilts magazine.

Blue on Blue by Terry Albers; machine quilted by Sandy Schilawski;featured in Easy Quilts Spring 2014 

Q. What makes bed runners so great?
Terry: A bed runner can make a quick change for your room.  It lets you dress up
your bed without the time, expense and storage issues of a big quilt.

Q. What attracted you to the Summer Breeze fabric collection?
Terry: Color...it's always about the color for me. I'm a fan of watercolors and
that's the feeling I got when I saw this fabric. The unexpected hint of
purple really makes the line pop. It's subtle but makes an impression.

Q. Love the coordinating pillows! What can you tell us about them? 
Terry: I love the way the throw pillows accent and enhance the runner. They help
give the room a more pulled-together feel.  I used 20" pillow forms and make
all my "coordinating" pillow covers the same size. Quick change without
storage issues. When I want to change out the room, I just pull off the
pillow covers and keep them with the runner.

Q. Can you talk about how you came up with the design?
Terry: I knew I wanted to make a bed runner for my guest room. I played with some
of my favorite table runner designs, enlarged the blocks and tweaked the
borders.

Q. Favorite fabric in the collection?
Terry: My favorite fabric is the large floral on the light background...it looks so
airy.

Q.  What are the challenge/benefits of working with a fairly monochromatic collection?
Terry: While this line is fairly monochromatic, working within the group helps me
make sure the tints and values complement each other. The challenge lies in
arranging the design elements with enough contrast (in color and scale) to
keep the fabrics from mushing together. Also, the light purple accent draws
out the color differently in each fabric, helping the eye separate the
elements.

Q. Your bed runner seems wider than most traditional ones. How come? 
Terry: This bed runner is definitely wider than most.  It has a bigger presence on
the bed than a runner just at the foot. I love the layered look I get by
starting with the off-white matelasse bedspread, the turned back sheets and the
regular pillow cases in the same off-white and then the wide runner with the
accent pillows. It all looks luxurious and welcoming.

Q. Can you talk about the machine quilting?
Terry:I brought the runner and the pillow tops to Sandy Schilawski so that she could use the

same quilt design on everything. We chose an all-over design for the runner
and then enlarged the same design for the pillow covers. It wasn't so much
about matching the design as it was about keeping the flow smooth from the
runner to the pillows. I was looking for a peaceful feel to the whole
project.

See the entire Summer Breeze collection here.
Learn more about Terry and her work here.
Find Easy Quilts magazine here.
Find the kit for the Blue on Blue runner here.