We’re deep into the competition and the races are still super tight!! Are you ready to see who will be competing in the 2013 Fat Quarterly Modern Madness Finals?

Simply Color (256 votes, 51%) def. Field Study (248 votes, 49%)

Architextures (302 votes, 60%) def. Madrona Road (202 votes, 40%)

Which modern fabric line will take home the title? Be sure to cast your vote below. (One vote per reader, please. : ) For easy reference, updated brackets can be found here.

Feel free to say how much you like this quilt as I am very proud of it.  It makes me feel like I’m a cowboy living in the Wild West corralling and lasso-ing livestock and singing country songs.

If you’re interested email us at submissions@fatquarterly.com.

Issue 13 is out now!

Find out more here!

If you are a subscriber all you need do to access your copy of the issue is log into your account. The links to the issue will be listed under “Your Issues”.

The next two issues are themed “Summer” and “Christmas” and we’d love you to get your thinking caps on and come up with proposals.  If there is a new or upcoming fabric line out there that you’d love to work with, we may be able to get hold of it for you.

If you are interested, please email Lynne@fatquarterly.com and include a photo of at least one project you have made and designed yourself.  We can either add you to our list of contributors to approach for future projects or you could at the same time put in a proposal for one or our upcoming issues.  I look forward to hearing from you!

After our biggest voting turnout yet (621 votes!) and another down-to-the-wire finish (decided by 1 vote!), we’re down to our final four modern fabric lines.  Let’s see who advanced …

Simply Color (324 votes, 52%) def. Pearl Bracelets (297 votes, 48%)
Field Study (311 votes, 50%) def. Noteworthy (310 votes, 50%)
Architextures (352 votes, 57%) def. Marmalade (269 votes, 43%)
Madrona Road (327 votes, 53%) def. The Birds and the Bees (294 votes, 47%)

Any surprises?  Are your favorites still in the race?

Well, now the real fun begins.  Be sure to vote early and vote often for your picks to advance.  For your reference, updated brackets can be found here.

** Voting is now closed.  Thanks for playing! **

Class sign up is not done on a first come first served basis. We try and consider everybody’s preferences when time tabling classes to try and accomodate as many first picks as possible. That being said we will give preference to those bringing their own machines for all the 3 hour workshops that require sewing machines.

Just in case you have forgotten, these are the classes on offer this year at the retreat:

3 Hour Workshops
Improv – Lucie Summers
Precision Piecing – lynne Goldsworthy
Portholes – Lucie Summers
Embroidery – John Adams
Spring Carnival EPP Pillow – Katy Jones
Cathedral Windows – Brioni Greenberg
Photography – Judith Dahmen
x&+ Flexi Frame Purse – Tacha Bruecher
Read Between the Lines PP block – Julianna Gasiorowska and Joanna Wilczynska
PJ Pants – Kerry Green
Free Motion Quilting – Trudi Wood
Crochet Flower Pillow – Laura Taylor

For more information visit:

http://www.fatquarterly.com/retreat/workshops

Table Top Sessions
Triangle City EPP – Katy Jones
Curved EPP – Julianna Gasiorowska and Joanna Wilczynska
Carving Rubber Stamps – Tacha Bruecher
Photography – Judith Dahmen
Trapunto – Ruth Singer
Hand Quilting – Lucie Summers
Creating a Blog – John Adams
Bag Charm – Brioni Greenberg
Touchdraw – Lynne Goldsworthy
Needleturn Applique – Mandy Noble
Hand quilting – Mandy Noble
Granny Squares Crochet – Laura Taylor
Free Motion Quilting Design – Trudi Wood
Fantasy Fabric Shop – Kerry Green

For more information visit:

http://www.fatquarterly.com/retreat/table-top-sessions

Sewing Curves in English Paper Piecing by Joanna Wilczynska and Julianna Gasiorowska (Table Top session)

During classes you will learn ‘Stitch by Stitch’ method of sewing curves in EPP. No glue, no ironing, no cutting the fabrics on curves! Only you, fabrics, paper templates, thread, needle and pins (you will need scissors only to cut thread). Our classes allow to sew one block measuring approx. 11″ x 11″

“Read between the lines” Paper Piecing Block by Joanna Wilczynska and Julianna Gasiorowska (3 hour Workshop with machines)

During classes you will learn not only how to paper piece but also get to know some paper piecing tricks. You can piece one block measuring 12″ x 12″ or 16″ x 16″ finished (12 1/2″x 12 1/2″ and 16 1/2″ x 16 1/2″ unfinished, respectively). It’s your choice which block size you want to sew – larger block is at confident beginner level (there are many small pieces to sew) and the smaller block is aimed at intermediate + beyond.

After 485 votes, we’ve narrowed down the field to your favorite eight fabric lines. Let’s see how they all fared …

Pearl Bracelets (270 votes, 56%) def. Comma (215 votes, 44%)
Simply Color (269 votes, 55%) def. 2wenty Thr3e (216 votes, 45%)

Noteworthy (301 votes, 62%) def. Constellations (184 votes, 38%)
Field Study (309 votes, 64%) def. Oh Deer! (176 votes, 36%)

Marmalade (274 votes, 56%) def. PB&J (211 votes, 44%)
Architextures (328 votes, 68%) def. Chicopee (157 votes, 32%)

Madrona Road (268 votes, 55%) def. Glimma (217 votes, 45%)
The Birds & the Bees (248 votes, 51%) def. Summersville Spring (237 votes, 49%)

Now’s the time when your favorites really need your votes! Use the form below to record your responses. For your reference, an updated bracket sheet can be found here.

** Voting is now closed. Thanks for your response! **

Hand Quilting by Mandy Noble (Table Top session)

In this class we will look at the following techniques:

Burying your knots – burying your threads at the start and end of your stitching

Stitch in Ditch – simple running stitch along the seam do not use a back stitch. A popular technique is to quilt 1/4″ from the seam line which avoids extra bulk of the seam allowance. An invisible thread can be used or floss to make a feature of the stitiching.

Using a template – using chalk, an erasable pen such as frixion (removed by ironing or a warm wash) or an air drying pen (which disappears when the ink has dried).

Kantha – entire cloth is covered with running stitches, works particularly well with appliqué where the appliqués object is outlined and the remaining are filled with Kantha

Needleturn Appliqué by Mandy Noble (Table Top session)

The word “appliqué” is derived from the French verb “appliquer,” meaning “to put on.” It refers to a textile craft in which one piece of fabric is sewn over another for a decorative effect.

In the context of sewing, an appliqué refers to a needlework technique in which pieces of fabric are sewn onto another piece of fabric to create designs, patterns or pictures. Applied pieces usually have their edges folded under, and are then attached by straight stitch, blind stitch, or reverse appliqué where two layers of material are stitched together, part of the upper layer is cut away, and the edges are stitched down.