Published – Connect the Curves (Cirque)

Posted in Finished Projects, Published by lorimillerdesigns

My Connect the Curves (Cirque) quilt has been published in the December 2018 issue of American Patchwork & Quilting

There are a lot of amazing quilts in this issue and I am so proud to be a part of it.

As usual, I designed this bold quilt with Electric Quilt design software. I started with a regular drunkards path block, super sized it and then made a few adjustments to create the swirling effect.

I used templates that I created with #EQ8 to cut out all of the curved pieces in my quilt. I generously received beautiful fabric from American Made Brand fabrics.

Stitching the curves on these 10″ blocks is easier than you think because of the size.

I use a 3 pin method and stitch from the outside to the center. Then I flip and stitch from the other end to the center adjusting the curve if needed.

The individual blocks come together to create a 20″ wide swirling center.

Does this happen to you? I can piece all day in quiet, but as soon as I start quilting, I get a furry helper. Cookie, you make it a little difficult to use the walking foot!

I tried some echo quilting around the curves of the center quilting about 1 ” apart to accentuate the motion.

Then I did some free motion feathers and free motion fill to finish up the negative space on the sides. You know I love the texture!

I hope you enjoyed getting a little behind the scenes view of my process on this lovely quilt.

Happy Stitching!

21Jan2018

Published – Concentric

Posted in Finished Projects, Published by lorimillerdesigns

I am proud to introduce my quilt, Concentric, which is published in Modern Quilts Unlimited Issue 22.

And I am thrilled to be listed as a top designer with some other great quilters right on the cover highlighting the circles under Geometric Gems. Step into my studio for a little peek into behind the scenes of making this quilt.

I had the idea of concentric circles of color gradations and started with the traditional drunkards path block and turned it up a notch. I used large 12″ blocks to really show off the colors. Electric Quilt Software made it easy to try a few things with the design until I really liked it.

You start with the center in the lighter tone and then keep sewing each round of color for the block. I used Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solids for the fabric.

To create the middle double blocks, you cleverly cut a finished block to add another set of color.

The fit together perfectly and you just stitch like you were sewing on another drunkards path round.

Just a picture of the teal and blue colors at the ironing board. I was helping them with a little starch.

Here is my original design out of Electric Quilt. I thought the borders added something and the pops of purple added some color to the asymmetric pattern.

All of those open squares were hollering for some extra quilting so I chose a unique design for each one. I think I went though about 8 reference books I had for free motion quilting to find all of the ones I liked. Then it was ready for some pin basting.

I went bonkers with the quilting using my Babylock Jazz. I just wanted to try everything out. I did a lot of marking to try a few new things. I really wanted a lot of texture.

Of course, Cookie cat comes running whenever I quilt and thinks he needs to ride along. It can make things difficult but he is so furry purry, I can’t complain.

Here you can see that wonderful texture after washing the quilt. The designs in the squares show pretty well too.

Another view of the finished quilting.

I hope you enjoyed your behind the scenes tour.

Happy Stitching!

18Jun2016

Published – Infinity Quilt

Posted in Finished Projects, Published by lorimillerdesigns

I am so pleased to share my Infinity Quilt that is published in the Spring 2016 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited.

There are so many lovely quilts in this issue, but my beauty starts on Page 24.

Photo Courtesy of Rebekah Craft

This quilt is also well traveled. The wonderful people at Free Spirit fabrics provided the lovely designer solids that I used to stitch up this design. They asked to show the quilt in their booth at Quiltcon West 2016, an offer that I could not refuse. MQU graciously let me loan it to them for the show. I was inspired to design this quilt after coming across a traditional Belt Buckle Block. I really like taking a traditional block and making it something special with bright colors, an alternate grid, and free motion quilting.

Here you can see the blocks are made up of very simple shapes, but the design looks complex.

Here is my fancy design wall, not! I just use my bed to arrange and lay out the blocks for my quilt. You can see my picture that I printed out of Electric Quilt 7 on the corner of the bed. It is a very handy reference when you are assembling the quilt too.

This is right out of EQ7. I really like the software to design my quilts and it is so handy to have the image when I am submitting for magazine publication. I found when I used the alternate grid, i could arrange the blocks to form an infinity circle. I loved the idea.

I wanted to quilt it myself, so i did some straight line quilting and some free motion quilting that looks like lines. Then in the large grey spaces, I added some modern feathers and pearls. I ended up just drawing a squiggley line down the center and eyeballing the feathers.