Mad for Plaid Table Runner - On Newstands Now!

      I am beyond thrilled to have had a pattern and piece accepted for publication in Fons and Porter's Easy Quilts, on newstands now!  Turn to page 60 to see the spring time version of my Mad for Plaid table runner, which is a piece I completed during the summer of 2018!

TURN TO PAGE 60!

Head shot is from 2012  - I need to get a new one soon!  

     Back in 2016, my husband, my two kids and I had an adventure of a lifetime, walking across Scotland following the John Muir Way.  10 days of walking a total of 134 miles over beautiful country was unforgettable!  Along the way, we stopped in villages and cities, and in Linlithgow, found a quilt shop!

   I had hoped to purchase some Liberty of London (which I did later in Edinburgh), but here I was able to purchase 7 fat meters of tartan fabric.   I  held on to these fabrics waiting for the right project when, in the summer of 2018, my quilt guild issued  a "Mad for Plaid" themed challenge for the summer picnic.   I designed and made a table runner that would utilize these fabrics for that challenge.

     I bound it in a dark green solid, and used a newsprint printed fabric on the back.  In keeping with the "plaid" theme, I quilted it heavily with a checkerboard pattern using my walking foot.

      There were some beautifully executed applique projects which won that challenge, but I liked my design, and decided to submit this pattern for possible publication.   The Easy Quilts editors liked the pattern, but wanted a version in spring colors for the spring issue.   It was  a great  experience to work with the folks at Windham Fabrics to pick out fabrics from the Sugar Sack Collection by Whistler Studios.  To me, the checks and florals in that line seemed perfect.  

       For this version, I quilted with a loose, loopy free motion design,  in a bright light green, which seemed more appropriate to the feeling of the runner.  

     I used the big bold floral for the backing.   

     I used the tartan runner this Christmas, and am looking forward to being able to use this cheery Spring runner soon! 

       Thanks for visiting my blog!  I have lots of quilting projects underway or in my head for 2019.   Watch for my part in the Turnabout Patchwork Quilt blog hop on February 2! 

Take care,

Gretchen