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Bryan House Quilts

Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight #24

design improv with triangles· Modern Triangle Quilts

1 Jun

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED MEMBER

Make Modern Triangles member spotlight is on Karen S. who brings her colorful quilts to the Bryan House Quilts blog. Her quilting ID is modern and she loves to learn. And boy, she has tackled it all, starting with Solstice BOM!

QUILTING FAVES AND NOT-SO-FAVES

What is your favorite quilt make of all time?

This one! My stripes that have tons of color and a wavy edge.

Wildflower BOM finish made by Karen Sykes, Make Modern Triangles member.

What are your favorite parts of quilting?

Piecing is my favorite.

Karen Sykes' first triangles design in the Make Modern Triangles program. White background with blue, purple and green triangles

What are your least favorite parts of quilting? Free motion quilting.

LEARNING TO MAKE MODERN TRIANGLES

When you joined Make Modern Triangles, what did you want to learn and/or accomplish? I wanted to learn and practice techniques and become a better sewer and maybe even design my own quilts.

Solstice BOM Month 7 made by Karen Sykes, Make Modern Triangles member.

What do you like about quilting with triangles?

Even though you think you have a plan for triangle designs, they always amaze me how they turn out!

Wildflower Month 2 blocks in navy, lime, bright yellow, purple, light violet and hot pink. Made by Karen Sykes, Make Modern Triangles member.
Quilt design with thread spools and button blocks surrounding a pieced sewing machine. Made by Karen Sykes, Make Modern Triangles member spotlight.
Improv-designed quilt used as a color study in the Playful Color quilt guild. Bright orange, teal, red, peac, navy and violet color palette.

What’s next on your learn-to-do list?

Learn more quilting designs!

What has quilting taught you about yourself? I may be more creative than I thought.

Karen Sykes' version of Make Merry Triangles in bright pink, pale yellow, teal, maroon, lime and black fabrics.

Karen’s STASH AND SEWING SPACE

Describe your fabric stash.

It has grown all by itself! Very colorful.

Describe your sewing space and what you like about it. I recently moved my sewing things into another room. It’s so nice to be able to spread out more!

INSPIRATION

Do you belong to a quilt guild?

Yes, I belong to the Capital Area Modern Quilt Guild in Camp Hill, PA for about 9 years.

Where do you find inspiration for your quilting? From Rebecca Bryan, nature and looking at other modern quilts at quilt shows.

What story from your life would help other people get to know you? I like to know the reasons behind certain philosophies, mostly on my spiritual journey. I’m always asking why.

When you aren’t quilting, what interests do you enjoy? Traveling, reading and doing social justice work, music, and most of all, being with my 4 grandchildren.

Thank you, Karen, for sharing your colorful quilts with us! Cheers!

RELATED LINKS: MAKE MODERN TRIANGLES MEMBER SPOTLIGHT AND TUTORIALS

  • Shirley M. Featured Member Spotlight
  • Lynn K.: Featured Member Spotlight
  • How to Organize Foundation Pieced Quilt Projects
  • Featured Member Debbie U. in the Spotlight
  • Member Spotlight Gayle K.
  • Wendy R. Member Spotlight
  • Make Modern Triangles
  • Tame Triangles with 5-Step Process
Previous Post: « Sparkler BOM Month 4 Member Makes
Next Post: Sparkler BOM Month 5 Member Makes »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rebecca Bryan says

    June 2, 2022 at 10:02 am

    Karen! It’s such a pleasure to work with you! Thank you for sharing your makes and your presence with us! 🙂

Trackbacks

  1. Make Modern Triangles Member Spotlight #25 - Bryan House Quilts says:
    June 13, 2022 at 5:19 pm

    […] Member Spotlight #25: Marilyn W. […]

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About

Hey there! I’m Rebecca, an author and teacher and freezer paper piecing evangelist. I’m also the founder of the Make Modern Triangles Quilt Club.

Disclosure

Just so you know, my site includes affiliate links from which I (it’s me! Rebecca!) receive payment or compensation. Something to consider as you peruse my website. Thanks!

Latest on Instagram

I was ready to give up on foundation paper piecing I was ready to give up on foundation paper piecing altogether, and then I was introduced to freezer paper piecing, and it changed my whole world forever.

Let’s talk about Freezer Paper Piecing versus traditional Paper Foundation Piecing. 👇

The techniques are similar, both methods focus on precision and ease of assembly, but with Freezer Paper Piecing, you get to reuse your templates without turning them into confetti! 🎉 MAJOR WIN!

All you have to do is trace a few copies onto freezer paper or use printable sheets for your printer. It’s versatile, efficient, and saves you tons and tons of time.

🌟 The key benefits of freezer paper piecing: 🌟

👏 Reuse & Recycle: No more wasteful piles of ripped paper templates.
👏 Easy Removal: Templates peel off effortlessly, leaving your masterpiece intact.
👏 Versatility: From intricate designs to straightforward patterns, freezer paper can be used for any foundation.

WAY MORE TIME TO QUILT! 🙌

In all of my programs, we use the Freezer Paper Piecing method, and anyone can learn this, even first-time quilters! I’ve got a NEW block-of-the-month quilt design coming soon, so follow along if you’re looking for a faster and easier way to paper-piece! ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Want to make a witchy little Modern Triangle with Want to make a witchy little Modern Triangle with me? 🧙‍♀️🧵

I’m teaching a FREE class, and we’re getting a little spooky with this one! 🤓

I’ll show you my favorite way to make Modern Triangles using my no-waste, no picking method, and then we’re turning our triangle into a WITCH HAT. ✨

And yes, beginners are absolutely welcome!

I’ll walk you through it step by step, show you how these simple little triangles can be arranged into much more complex-looking designs, and we’ll spend some time actually PLAYING with what we make.

PLUS, if you show up live, you’ll get my exclusive Spooky Witch Hat Modern Triangle pattern FREE so you can keep sewing after class. 🎁

Come hang out, learn something new, make a witch hat, and have some fun with me!

Comment WITCHY, and I’ll send you the link to save your free spot! 🧙‍♀️

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Tell me you’re a quilter without telling me you’re Tell me you’re a quilter without telling me you’re a quilter. 😂🧵

I’ll go first: I can find quilt inspiration in approximately ANYTHING. I own fabric that is apparently too special to actually use, and “one more seam” has never once meant one more seam.

Your turn. 🤓 Finish the sentence in the comments 👇 

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
A couple of weeks ago, I picked my colors for next A couple of weeks ago, I picked my colors for next year’s “Starburst” Block of the Moth, and I had to laugh at myself because even though I started with a few pretty pinks and yellows as my inspiration...

I devolved back to rainbows for my final selection. I do love a rainbow gradient! So glorious, so delicious!

Honestly, sometimes it takes me several, several, several rounds to get the colors just how I want them. 😭  But the good news is, I do have the rainbow fabric on hand!

Now I can Netflix and sew... as I work on my Starburst sample! Hooray!

Who else just can’t resist a rainbow palette??? Follow along @bryanhousequilts to be the first to see my latest “Starburst” design! 💫

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
SWIPE to see the big finish, my completed Peppermi SWIPE to see the big finish, my completed Peppermint Twist Dutch Summer! 🤍

The joy really is in the journey with my Block of the Month programs, where every single month you make one block, sew your whole batch, and, month by month, start to see the design come together with each new block.

And that’s why ANYONE can make this quilt! Yes, even a first-timer! 

You don’t have to sit down and make an entire quilt all at once. You make one batch of blocks, then another, and another... You learn as you go, watch your skills develop, and slowly start seeing the whole quilt come together.

And then one day, all those individual triangles you’ve been making come together and you’ve made THIS. 🥹

I absolutely love how this Peppermint Twist version of Dutch Summer turned out, and seeing all of the blocks together makes me want to do the whole thing all over again in another color palette! 😂

If you want to make your own version of the Dutch Summer, comment ‘DUTCH’ and I’ll send you the details! 💌

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
We’re deep into the ‘ber months, which means cozy We’re deep into the ‘ber months, which means cozy sewing season is in FULL swing! 🙌

👉 We’re chugging along with the Alchemy block of the month, five months in! 
👉 We’re celebrating SO MANY big finishes of our Dutch Summer block of the month quilt tops
👉 I’ve been planning our next block of the month... 

There’s SO much good stuff going on over here, and I can’t wait to reveal my latest design to you so soon, along with all of the projects I’ve been sewing!!! 

Follow along to see my next block-of-the-month design reveal in November! ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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I was ready to give up on foundation paper piecing I was ready to give up on foundation paper piecing altogether, and then I was introduced to freezer paper piecing, and it changed my whole world forever.

Let’s talk about Freezer Paper Piecing versus traditional Paper Foundation Piecing. 👇

The techniques are similar, both methods focus on precision and ease of assembly, but with Freezer Paper Piecing, you get to reuse your templates without turning them into confetti! 🎉 MAJOR WIN!

All you have to do is trace a few copies onto freezer paper or use printable sheets for your printer. It’s versatile, efficient, and saves you tons and tons of time.

🌟 The key benefits of freezer paper piecing: 🌟

👏 Reuse & Recycle: No more wasteful piles of ripped paper templates.
👏 Easy Removal: Templates peel off effortlessly, leaving your masterpiece intact.
👏 Versatility: From intricate designs to straightforward patterns, freezer paper can be used for any foundation.

WAY MORE TIME TO QUILT! 🙌

In all of my programs, we use the Freezer Paper Piecing method, and anyone can learn this, even first-time quilters! I’ve got a NEW block-of-the-month quilt design coming soon, so follow along if you’re looking for a faster and easier way to paper-piece! ✨

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Want to make a witchy little Modern Triangle with Want to make a witchy little Modern Triangle with me? 🧙‍♀️🧵

I’m teaching a FREE class, and we’re getting a little spooky with this one! 🤓

I’ll show you my favorite way to make Modern Triangles using my no-waste, no picking method, and then we’re turning our triangle into a WITCH HAT. ✨

And yes, beginners are absolutely welcome!

I’ll walk you through it step by step, show you how these simple little triangles can be arranged into much more complex-looking designs, and we’ll spend some time actually PLAYING with what we make.

PLUS, if you show up live, you’ll get my exclusive Spooky Witch Hat Modern Triangle pattern FREE so you can keep sewing after class. 🎁

Come hang out, learn something new, make a witch hat, and have some fun with me!

Comment WITCHY, and I’ll send you the link to save your free spot! 🧙‍♀️

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
Tell me you’re a quilter without telling me you’re Tell me you’re a quilter without telling me you’re a quilter. 😂🧵

I’ll go first: I can find quilt inspiration in approximately ANYTHING. I own fabric that is apparently too special to actually use, and “one more seam” has never once meant one more seam.

Your turn. 🤓 Finish the sentence in the comments 👇 

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
A couple of weeks ago, I picked my colors for next A couple of weeks ago, I picked my colors for next year’s “Starburst” Block of the Moth, and I had to laugh at myself because even though I started with a few pretty pinks and yellows as my inspiration...

I devolved back to rainbows for my final selection. I do love a rainbow gradient! So glorious, so delicious!

Honestly, sometimes it takes me several, several, several rounds to get the colors just how I want them. 😭  But the good news is, I do have the rainbow fabric on hand!

Now I can Netflix and sew... as I work on my Starburst sample! Hooray!

Who else just can’t resist a rainbow palette??? Follow along @bryanhousequilts to be the first to see my latest “Starburst” design! 💫

#modernquilting #paperpiecing #foundationpaperpiecing #quiltingtechnique #quiltteacher
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