Kim Hanson

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Quilts of Nancy Basserman and beautiful Baker Park in Calgary, Alberta

January 14, 2017 | 3 Comments

I originally published this blog post on October 21, 2016. I wanted to republish the post – as Nancy Basserman has recently passed away. I only came to know Nancy several months before she passed….she was a lovely lady, very kind and very sweet and a wonderful quilter. May she rest in peace.

 

Earlier this week, I took to Baker Park to photograph some of Nancy Basserman’s lovely, scrappy quilts. When I arrived, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Not fifteen minutes later, the skies clouded over and it was threatening to snow. With or without sunshine, Nancy’s quilts sparkle especially in the beauty that is Baker Park. Across the Bow River from Bowness Park, it is a little known gem of nature, walking paths and greenery.

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In the background, Canada Olympic Park and our ancient ski jump built for the 1988 Olympic Games.

Even though the cold had started to blow in, there were some people in the park, riding their bikes or walking their dogs but it was mainly deserted. Just right for me to snap my photos!

Nancy’s amazingly striking scrappy pineapple quilt drew me in right away. It is so pretty and so scrappy and so attractive.

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Nancy has a penchant for making flying geese – and she does it very well. This beauty demonstrates both Nancy’s piecing and quilting skills.

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Baker Park is home to a pair of bronze twin bears Leo and Mol. The statue stands near the center of the park; an interesting twist to the beauty of nature that surrounds it.

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A sweet little Christmas quilt is one of Nancy’s favourites.christmas

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I call this quilt “In the Shadows” – probably not what Nancy calls it but I love it for the shadowy effects each block portrays.

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Next time you’re out and about in Calgary looking for a wonderful place to walk or sit and think check out Baker Park. Nancy’s quilts will not be there but you will love the nature that surrounds you.

Kim

Filed Under: Beautiful Calgary urban parks, Christmas Quilts, Profile pieces, Quilt Inspiration - Where Do Pattern Ideas Come From?, Quilt Photography, Quilters, Quilts, Quilts and Machine Embroidery |

Fabulous Festive Fat Quarters!

October 1, 2014 | Leave a Comment

I was recently featured on my favourite quilt shops’ web site – Fort Worth Fabric Studio. Here is my pillow tutorial, in plenty of time for Christmas sewing and Christmas giving.

I’m thrilled and excited to be featured here today, on the Fort Worth Fabric Studio blog page. Thanks to both Jodie and Lindsey for having me here. Even though I reside in Canada….a long, long way from Texas, I order most of my quilting fabric from FWFS. I’ve come to love the service I always get, the fabulous quality of fabrics that arrive in my mailbox and regular Friday email featuring new fabrics and sale bundles. What could be better?

I’m a freelance quilt designer and writer – my work can be found here and on my pinterest page. Visit my website and sign up for regular quilt-related emails.

So…..speaking of fabric and bundles, here is what arrived in my mailbox a short time ago!

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From that fabulous festive bundle of fat quarters, my Christmas pillow was born.

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Sweet and simple is my motto when creating quilt patterns and this pillow is about as sweet and simple as they come. Since it’s only September, you have oodles of time to make this project before Christmas rolls around. Make it as a gift for someone special!

Supplies: (all fabrics used to make the pillow are in the pictured fabric bundle and are fat quarters – 18″x22″ – with the exception of the white, background fabric)
Finished size: Pillow cover 15 1/2″x15 1/2″

7 Fat Quarters – (Black with multi coloured dots, black with white dots, black with Christmas wreaths, green with white dots, green with Christmas trees, red stripe, red with green leaves)
1/2 yard white
15″ square pillow form
17″ square of quilt batt
2 yards stabilizer – 20″ wide
1 yard fusible web
2 1/2 yards red rickrack
spray starch
temporary spray fabric adhesive
needle, thread, thimble

Optional: crocheted flower, four buttons

Cut:

1. Two pieces of white fabric each 17″ square
2. From six of the fat quarters, two blacks, two greens and two reds cut one 2″x22″ strip from each.
3. Cut three more 2″x22″ strips from the black with multi coloured dots, four 4″ corner squares, and four 2″ circles
4. Cut four 2 1/2″ circles from four other fat quarters
5. From remaining fat quarters, choose four different fabrics and cut four 16 1/2″x12″ rectangles for pillow back
6. Cut two 16 1/2″x12″ rectangles from stabilizer for pillow back

Construction: Pillow Front (Cover) use a 3/8″ seam allowance unless otherwise noted

Begin by stitching together six 2″ strips for the pieced patchwork square. Press seam allowances and spray with starch.

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Cut six 2″ strips from the six fat quarter unit

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Line up the cut strips as per the photograph. Match seams and stitch. Press rows in alternating directions. Spray with starch.

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Trim pieced patchwork square to measure 10″x10″. Stitch 2″ black strips as borders to both top and bottom and to both sides. Press and trim.

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Cut a piece of fusible web to measure 10″x10″. Using the directions for the type of fusible web you are using, fuse to the back of the square using your iron.

Fold one white fabric square in half, and then in half again to find the middle.

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On the diagonal, center the pieced patchwork square onto the white fabric and using an iron, fuse being mindful to trim away any loose threads.

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Stitch around the outer perimeter of the pieced patchwork square using a machine applique or blanket stitch. Trim any loose threads.

Place one 4″ square right side down on one of the pillow cover corners. Using a pencil, draw a line across square diagonally. Stitch along the pencil line.

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Cut the square 1/4″ from the stitching line.

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Press the triangle open. Repeat for the three other corners of the pillow cover.

Mark the center between the pillow corner and the edge of the pieced patchwork square. Draw a very light pencil line and pin rickrack to that line. Carefully stitch on the rickrack.

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Fuse circles to rickrack as shown in the photograph.

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Make a three-part quilt sandwich with the pillow cover, quilt batt and the second piece of white fabric as backing. Adhere each layer by smoothing and applying spray adhesive. Pin. Quilt as desired. Trim to even. (My pillow has been quilted using a free motion pattern, which worked double duty, by not only quilting the pillow cover, but also secured the circles onto the pillow cover. If you choose not to quilt the pillow in this manner, be sure to stitch around the circles to secure.)

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Hand sew on the crocheted flower and buttons, if you so choose.

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Pillow Back:

Place the right side of one pillow back rectangle on the table. Layer a corresponding piece of stabilizer and another pillow back rectangle on top. Fold over the top edge 1/2″ and press. Fold over top edge another 1/2″, press and stitch. Do the same for the other pillow back piece.

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Right sides together, layer the three-piece pillow back rectangles over the pillow cover keeping the seam allowances to the middle. See photograph for placement.

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Trim to even all layers, pin and stitch around perimeter of the pillow cover. Turn pillow cover right side out.

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Insert pillow form. You are done!

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Nice to meet you all!
Kim Hanson

Filed Under: Christmas Quilts, Quilt Patterns, Quilted Pillows, Quilts |

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!

November 20, 2012 | 2 Comments

My first cover! What a joy it was to see my work featured on the cover of Creative Machine Embroidery magazine.

Quilt design is such a creative venture…satisfying and fulfilling and totally different from the type of work that I used to do. In 2009, the editor of Creative Machine Embroidery magazine, Ellen March, published my first quilt design. It’s an embroidered rag quilt which they called Fireside Flannels.

It’s a pleasure and privilege to work with magazine editors – women who work hard and communicate efficiently. Often, with just an email or two, we manage to produce the work and images that the editors hold in their minds. I love it!

There is a saying: “If you wish to accomplish something you’ve never done in the past, do something that you’ve never done”. My first cover is a perfect example of that quote….I had never commited my artwork as drawings to be digitized, I had never worked with a collaborator (Jackie Holderbein of Oregon Patchworks) and I had NEVER, EVER worked so hard on one assignment before! Jackie and I worked feverishly to get the 12 Days of Christmas embroidery designs “just right”. Jackie is lovely; a talented woman who is a fabulous to work with.

There is still time before Christmas to make the table runner. All 12 designs are free until December 31st and are located on the Oregon Patchworks website. I’d so love to see your finished work – send me a photo when you’re done.

Till later……
Kim

Filed Under: Christmas Quilts, Decorating with Quilts, Magazine quilts, Press, Quilt Patterns, Quilts, Quilts and Machine Embroidery |

Best Christmas Quilts 2012 from Quilter’s Newsletter

August 29, 2012 | 254 Comments

To be brutally honest, ordinarily the absolute last thing I want to think about in August is Christmas! But, I have to say once I took a peek through the Best Christmas Quilts 2012 issue published by Quilter’s Newsletter, all the fabulous quilting projects showcased in the magazine made me want to shout “Deck the Halls”! In fact, I’ve already started making one of the projects….Winter Delights Pillow by ZJ Humbach, featured on page 30 of the magazine. Next on my list is designer, Jocelyn Ueng’s quilt called One Winter’s Night. The colors of red, green and stunning teal blue have compelled me to put this quilt on my “to do” list.

I’m grateful to Mary Kate Karr-Petras and her great staff for choosing one of my projects for this special issue; my Basket Weave Christmas Stocking – photograph and pattern on pages 18-20.

< My Christmas stocking is unique and fun to make. Finished fabric strips are woven together to form the body of the project and raw edge applique techniques are used to finish both the heel and toe of the stocking. Machine quilting adds depth and texture to the project and some machine embroidery provides that "just right" final touch embellishment. (For those quilters not having machine embroidery capabilities, the word "joy" could be easily hand stitched onto the stocking cuff). As readers know, there is a great giveaway to be made. Leave a comment on my blog before 11:59 p.m. MDT on August 30, 2012 for a chance to win Alpine holiday fat quarters fabric bundle from Hoffman and a copy of Best Christmas Quilts. I will draw one name at random. One comment per person, please. Open to all those people who have not won something from Quilter’s Newsletter in the past 90 days.

< Thanks so very much for stopping by. Happy Christmas in August everyone. Kim P.S. Best Christmas Quilts 2012 from Quilter's Newsletter can be purchased at www.quiltandsewshop.com.

Filed Under: Christmas Quilts, Decorating with Quilts, Magazine quilts, Quilt Patterns, Quilts, Quilts and Machine Embroidery |

Cookies4Santa

September 19, 2011 | 7 Comments

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I am so pleased and honored to have been included in the fabulous Celebrate Christmas campaign put together by the indefatigable Michele Foster of Quilting Gallery. So much fun for me – so much work for Michele!

I’ve called my block, Cookies4Santa…..

>Celebrate Christmas Quilt-Along and Super Deals for Quilters

Grab your stash and dig out some of your favorite Christmas fabrics. You will need some fusible web for this project, pinking shears and the decorative stitches on your sewing machine. Included in the block tutorial, are the outlines needed for the cookie cutter fabric appliques. If you have Christmas cookie cutters on hand – use them instead! Just be sure the sizing is correct and you’re good to go. Have fun with this block and it would be a treat for me to see photos of your work.

Download the Cookies 4 Santa Tutorial here

Please contemplate joining my blog – scroll down until you find the “Join Us” box and sign-up. I’m a quilt designer who loves to use machine embroidery in my quilting and I’ve been so fortunate to have my patterns published in U.S. publications – Creative Machine Embroidery magazine, Quilting & Embroidery magazine and upcoming in the new Canadian publication, Quilter’s Connection magazine. I am a yoga enthusiast who is so not flexible, but loves the movement and stretching that yoga offers. Quilted and embroidered yoga mat bags and children’s savasana blankets are a large part of my business.

Thanks ever so much for your time. Kim

Filed Under: Christmas Quilts, Quilt Patterns |

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