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Welcome to Better Done Quilts

I have always believed that quilts are “better done than perfect”. My primary goal has been to share beautiful quilts to show my love to friends and family. However, over the past few years, I have learned better techniques and methods, so my quilts are now better done – better designed and better constructed. I want to share with you what I have learned about making Better Done Quilts.

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From the blog

About Me

Hi, I’m Karen. In my other life I am a wife, mother, nurse, scientist and teacher. My grandmother got me started in quilting as soon as I was old enough to help sort fabric. As a teenager, I made and sold miniature quilts for dollhouses. I have always figured out the quilt patterns and techniques on my own. I don’t own fancy rulers or have the latest sewing machine, but I love quilts. Over the past few years, I have been learning more about the craft of quilting and I am excited to share what I have learned with you!

Let’s get sewing!

#mostlovedquilt The most loved quilts on my family no longer exist because they were used and loved until they literally fell apart. This is the most loved quilt that is still extant. This is the #scarletfeverfeverquilt When my kids were young, we had to cancel a planned long weekend vacation because my youngest got scarlet fever. My kids and I were stuck in the house and I needed a new way to entertain them, so I pulled out my fabric stash. Each person picked 2 fabrics, I cut them into squares and created giant half-square triangles. all the fabrics were left over from other projects. We pieced the back because I couldn’t go out to shop. This became our sock day quilt, and the kids only got to use it if they were sick or injured. After they moved out, they shipped it to each other for a while. It is very worn, and mended, so it has been mostly retired. But it is definitely loved. #igquiltfest2023 #igquiltfest #igquiltfestday22 #favoritestep No question, my favorite step is design. I love playing with colors and shapes. Sadly, when my old computer died recently I found out that the #eq8 designs I thought I backed up were lost. After a brief period of mourning, I started designing new quilts. I use EQ8 for my designs. I actually owned the first version of the Electric Quilt program, back when my handle was LEFC008. Designing is definitely my happy place. #quiltdesigner @theelectricquiltcompany Quilts are 1. #duckduckgoosequilt 2.#candlesburnbrightquilt 3. #2022mqgminiswap. 4. #singaporeslingquilt #igquiltfest2023 #favoritecolor I love richly saturated colors. I have always gravitated towards these shades- I am@right at home with #pantonecoloroftheyear #magenta #igquiltfest #igquiltfestday18 #quiltsofsignificance Today’s prompt for #igquiltfest2023 takes me in different directions each year. This #treeoflifequilt is significant for several reasons. First, it took me 20 years to finish. My skills needed to catch up with my ideas (something that is a regular pattern for me). Next, the symbolism is significant- the tree was a symbol used by the hospice where I worked. Third, this became my first quilt pattern, and the first quilting class that I taught. (Pattern available in my Etsy shop - link in bio). Finally, it is the first quilt I submitted to a juried quilt show. It was accepted for the 2020 Lancaster AQS show, which was cancelled due to COVID. #igquiltfest #igquiltfestday17 #rawedgeappliqué #quiltpatterndesigner #quiltteacher #quilter #treeoflife #100dayproject Tonight I finished the block on the left. It’s the redesigned version, the one on the right is the original. I am so glad I decided to redesign! The larger size will make a better looking quilt and is easier to piece. And I love the new arrangement of the colors. I am to work on the other three of these blocks for the quilt. #100dayquilt #100daychallenge #paperpiecingisnotmyfavorite #fpp #duckduckgoosequilt #birdsnestblock #besttipever For me this quilt led to the best tip. I made this wallhanging for a small group challenge. I loved the idea of it, and I’m really proud of both the color placement and the quilting. But it is not straight, my lines bowed and I didn’t know how to make it better. A friend gave me the best tip ever - lean into your strengths and be willing to learn the things you don’t know. I signed up for my first quilting retreat with classes @midappalachianquilters and learned more about precision piecing with strips. I kept making my strip-pieced quilts and I kept getting better. Now I teach classes@in the techniques I have learned and some of my quilts using strip-piecing have been in juried shows.#igquiltfest2023 #igquiltfest #igquiltfestday15 #landscapequilt #bewillingtolearn #strippiecing #recentfinish is today’s #igquiltfest prompt. I have to confess that I do not feel very productive lately. I finished this table runner, which I love. And I made 8 placemats for my QuiltCon classes. But that’s all I have finished. There are many reasons, most of which I have limited control over. I did make a conscious choice in January to focus on cleaning and reorganizing my sewing space, which was wise, but time consuming. I have many family sewing projects this year and I’m frustrated that I am so slow. But I will keep moving, just a slower pace. #igquiltfest2023 #igquiltfestday14 Another day another picture. Last night I reworked my design and increased the block size slightly. I really like the overall design better. I also reworked the color way with batiks, because that’s what I’m using. With my 30 minutes today, I trimmed the paper piecing pattern and got about 1/3 of one block done. I’m happier with the coloring and I’m looking forward to seeing the block finished. #100dayproject #10daychallenge #100daysofquilting #day13of100 #wiporganization I have a bunch of stacking plastic boxes with lids. When they are all full, I know I can’t start any new projects until I finish and clear out a box or two. I usually have 2-3 projects that I am actively working on, so those projects often have the lid off and sometimes have fabric spilling out, but the boxes really do keep me organized. #igquiltfest2023 #igquiltfest #igquiltfestday13 #projectboxes