Discovering Slice and Insert

Yes, it's Tuesday. But I'm pushing away from the table to share about my most excellent day yesterday! I had the awesome opportunity to take a workshop from Katie Pedersen and Jacquie Gering, coauthors of Quilting Modern. The workshop itself was entitled "Slice and Dice Workshop/Slice and Insert Technique and Projects" based on a chapter in their book.

I know Katie from previous classes and the SMQG, but I had never met Jacquie, though her Seattle trunk show I attended three years ago was what opened my eyes to the modern quilting movement. So it was a special treat to spend the day and learn from them both.

They brought so many awesome quilts to demonstrate techniques, it was like a mini quilt show.

And to have them present as a duo was just plain delightful.

Before long, we got down to the business of creating. I chose to work with a background of Carolina Chambray in Natural, the first time I'd used it (nice!); then a Field Study multi-colored floral and an unknown Kona green for my insert fabrics. I started with 8" background blocks, and tried to incorporate different techniques in each block. This kind of piecing requires playing with your strip placement, and for me, just staring at it a bit before I actually cut and sewed! But it was very fun, and I got plenty of affirmation, so I'm anxious to do a few more blocks and see where this goes. Here's what I have so far. (We were testing the green as a background, thus the interestingness on the design wall.)

Anyway, it was a wonderfully fun day, one I won't soon forget! If you've done some improv, I'd love to hear about it!

::Improvisational Free-Piecing Workshop::

So the workshop with Quilting Modern's Katie Pedersen was great fun! Since this post is photo-heavy, I'll just comment a bit about each . . .

 Ready to go with fabric 'kits' from Katie . . .

 Katie's stash - brought to share!

 Playing on the design wall with our strip sets for strip-piecing.

Katie's advice: "distance is your friend". ie. step back to get a better view.

Just my strips, ready to piece

 My strip set all stitched up

Using strip-pieced strips, including "slice & insert" technique

 Example of a way to use the cut-up strips in Katie's "Anything Goes"

Practicing stitch and flip triangles

 Katie telling about wonky stars using stitch and flip triangles

 "Split Decision"

 Mocking up my Improvisational Log Cabin block on the design wall.

Finished Improvisational Log Cabin block, for which I have further plans!

 My try at Improvisational Curves

My modern crazy-pieced block - still in progress.

 The scraps, rummaged.

Basically, we covered the techniques in the book, with lots of room for questions, playing with fabric, and Katie sharing from her experience. I'm anxious now to incorporate what I've seen and learned into future projects!