Signature Quilts

Over the years I have participated in a number of signature block exchanges.  Those signature blocks provide such good memories of my quilty friends and the great times we have had together in meetings and at retreats.  However, I have found it a bit of a challenge to figure out the best way to use those blocks.

Dear Jane Signature Exchange

​In this exchange, each participant did the same block   All blocks needed to be signed and dated.  Each participant was required to produce a block that was representative of their larger “Jane quilt”. 

​Since there were many different fabric themes, the biggest part of the challenge was figuring out how to put them all together.

See some additional exchanges done by my Dear Jane Minnesota group here.

Dear Jane Minnesota Signature Exchange Quilt created by Kari Schell

Heritage Club Signature Exchange created by Kari Schell

Heritage Cub Album Block Exchange

For many years I was a member of Heritage Club.  This club was run by Four Season Quilts - a local quilt shop and each month we learned a bit about the history of quilting and received a pattern for a small quilt.  

In 2010, members decided to do an album block exchange.  For everyone who chose to participate in the exchange, we did an album block using a muslin fabric for the background and a "civil war-like" fabric.  

Scroll down for more on drafting the album block  along with this quilt layout using Electric Quilt 8.

Tech Know Quilters Masters Signature Block Exchange

Last month the challenge for Tech Know Quilter Masters members was to create a virtual signature quilt.  There were three parts to the challenge:

• A signatures exchange.  This could be a hand created signature or one using fonts or embroidery.  The suggestion was to include a state or country so we could celebrate our friendships from around the world.
• A signature block exchange.  Members were encourage to incorporate their signature into a signature block.  We placed no restrictions on fabric,  but did request that the block be a square.
• A signature quilt.  Members were encouraged to create a quilt that utilized either the exchanged signatures or the exchanged signature blocks.

The group really outdid itself this month.  Having a chance to revisit the blocks and quilts as I posted them here, made me super proud of this exceptional group of designers.

​I chose to use the signatures in a quilt -- so if you scroll down you will be able to see the signatures in my virtual quilt.

Here are the blocks that were shared during the challenge.

Merle Rawson NWS Australia

Julie Pedersen

Linda Carlson Missouri

Merle Rawson (option 2)

Lynne Maramieri Ontario Canada

Brigitte Lee Singapore

Curryanne Hostetler Indiana

Joyce Drenth Illinois

Katherine Martin Wiltshire UK

Kristy Goodin Soard Ohio

Kristy Goodin Soard Option 2

Kristy Goodin Soard Option 3

Rhonda Goss

Pam Riggs Virginia

Zdenka Nemethova - Czechia

Edith Craig North Carolina

Roxanna Khoury Oklahoma

Gloria Jacobs Romsey Australia

Helen Hicks Massachusetts

Here are the signature block quilts that were shared on Facebook.  Notice that some members used their own blocks with the signatures of the participants.  Others incorporated the submitted blocks in their quilts.  And this was all done virtually!

Edith Craig

Curryanne Hostetler

Kristy Goodin Soard

Kristy Goodin Soard

Kristy Goodin Soard I loved Joyce Drenth's block so much, I used it in my setting to try it out! Thanks Joyce!

Joyce Drenth

Zdenka Nemethova

Helen Hicks

Lynne Maramieri I chose a different route and placed the signatures in the sashing of this quilt.

Katherine Martin

Julie Pedersen

Brigitte Lee

Want to Know More About TKQ Masters?

Tech Know Quilters members are eligible for the Masters program after completing 12 months of Tech Know Quilter classes.  Masters members receive fewer lessons each month, with more time to devote to their own projects and challenges.

Drop me a note if you have completed over 12 months of Tech Know Quilters and are interested in learning more about the Masters program.
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You can learn more about the regular Tech Know Quilters membership program and sign up for the wait list for the next open enrollment period here.

Album Block Signature Quilt

In the tutorial today, I decided to share how to draft the album block I used in my Heritage Club exchange quilt.  Along with the process to incorporate the Tech Know Quilter signatures in the virtual quilt.

A Few Notes on Removing the Background

• The site I used to remove the background is remove.bg   There is no need to use the paid version for images that will be imported in EQ.  In fact EQ will really appreciate the smaller sizes.
• It is critical that you follow the process outlined in the video for importing images into EQ.  Do not use the image worktable or it will add a black background -- which will not be useful.
• If you zoom in on my quilt image, you can see the signatures posted by TKQ members -- all with the background removed.  I love my Tech Know Quilter friends from around the world.

Album Quilt designed by Kari Schell using EQ8

Album Quilt Layout

• In the video, I shared the layout and borders I used in the quilt along with the sizes.  Just a reminder that we always design quilts at finished sizes (without seam allowances). The quilt center size was calculated so that I could use 3" blocks for Border #2 and a narrow border #1.  Sometimes it pays to think ahead.
• You can always double check your border math by recoloring the block spaces and going to Print and Export and selecting the block.

In the video, I did not include information on drafting the other blocks, or working with the fabrics.  The fabrics I used were old Jo Morton fabrics from Andover.  I collected them at least 10 years ago -- and they still match fabrics in my personal collection.  :)

Have you every done a signature quilt?  I look forward to seeing pictures in the Learning EQ Facebook group.

Learning EQ Facebook Group Post for Signature Quilts

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Happy quilting.

​Kari

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