Word of the Year Quilts

​I did an EQ8 tutorial earlier this week -- in celebration of Valentine's Day.  

The EQ tutorial shows how to draft a template that can be used to cut two pieces of fabric that could be woven together for a single basket.

In the video, I share three different template options from Electric Quilt 8. Cutting manually. Creating an SVG. Exporting an image and tracing in an Electronic cutting system.

I also share how I used these items with Cricut Design Space.

Then learn how to weave your fabric for your own 3D basket.
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V-Day Card using the 3D Swedish Heart Basket Template Created in EQ8

I've even included some Valentine's Day cards I made with the baskets (filled with a little candy).

If you missed the early blog post, you can catch it here.

Word of the Year Challenge Showcase

In January I challenged Tech Know Quilter Masters members to come up with a word for 2024 and to create a quilt around that word. 

​I have been in groups where selecting a word for the year was suggested (as opposed to New Years resolutions).   

Why do people choose a word for the New Year?
A Word of the Year is your “mission statement” for the next 12 months. You use it to guide and inspire you when making decisions throughout the year. It's not a rigid rule to follow or a single goal to meet. As Elizabeth Rider put it, “it's a constant (but gentle) reminder to focus on creating positive change”.

This one took a bit more work for the Masters members -- but I was so impressed with their challenge words along with the quilts reflecting their word.

​Enjoy this show of their quilts.

Elly da Silva

Julie Pedersen I chose the word "giving". I try to give back as much as possible as I have been very blessed. I use my given talents to share quilts with the teachers and staff that I work with. I chose blocks that had an outward motion in them as you would giving to others. I picked a variety of colors as I wanted to express the many people that can be affected by one person giving to another and starting a "pay-it-forward" chain.

Pat Harkins My word is faith.These are the pictures I collected. I'm not sure what to do with them. They remind me that you can see God's hand all around you.

Zdenka Nemethová My "a bit adjusted" Be Creative □. I´d love to do more applique this year.

Patricia Hansen I chose the word "light" and have designed a quilt using a photograph of the Cape Hatteras Light and the spiral stairs inside the Bodie Island Light, both here on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As a professional photographer, I was always aware of the light and how it manifested itself in every image. So I thought it would be a fitting choice of words for this exercise. I manipulated the staircase in Photoshop and fitted it into a star (another source of light) for this quilt.

Carol Mayhew This isn't my word for the year, but it is a small quilt I did of a word. It has each letter with a fabric that is each a different texture.

Mary Groesbeck My quilt is EXPAND. I want to continue doing what I'm doing, but I want to expand beyond my comfort zone, expand out of any ruts I may get stuck in, and expand my skills, knowledge, and creations beyond where they are. I want to look for things that are different and do things I haven't thought about or tried before. We'll see how it goes.

Kristy Goodin Soard My word of the year is BE. In 2024 I wish to BE present in all I do, and BE the best me in all aspects of my life; as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, student, and above all as a child of God. The bee will remind me to stay busy in this endeavor. My quilt is symbolic to me. The background four-patch represents the four seasons of this year’s endeavor, the 12 bees call to mind the 12 months of the year as well as the hours of each day, and the three borders surround it all symbolizing my being surrounded and supported by the Holy Trinity.

Connie Bradley Bobcik My word is Believe. I believe in Jesus and the power of prayer, and angels among us. I try hard to believe in my abilities and talents, such as sewing, quilting and others. I believe in education and trying to learn new skills. I believe with my heart and I believe in love!

I decided to participate in the challenge as well.  My word is JOY.

 In  Embracing Advent, Jen Ludwig states  "Happiness is not the same as joy."  "Our happiness is based on what is happening, but joy can be present regardless of the circumstances." 

I want to make a more conscious effort to see God at work in all aspects of my life and to chose joy in all situations.  My design is a way to remind me of this on a regular basis.

I decided to try a stained glass type of design.  I used AI for inspiration for the various letters.  Each letter was drawn in EQ and combined in a quilt -- with an added stained glass border.  

I am currently debating making the quilt -- maybe with some batiks.  In the interim, I have put the design as wallpaper on my computer.

Want to Know More about TKQ Masters?
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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.

Happy quilting.

​Kari

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