Ask Kodiak Part 1

Welcome to Ask Kodiak, a cozy corner of the internet where quilting questions find thoughtful answers. Whether you're just threading your first needle or have been piecing quilts for decades, this blog is here to guide, inspire, and connect quilters of all kinds. From step-by-step tutorials to honest takes on trends in the quilting world, I’m here to share what I’ve learned (and what I’m still learning). Curious about a technique, tool, or quilting debate? You're in the right place.

Lots of questions came through about my cats! They never feel left out. I have two cats Edwin and Hans. Hans is named after the famous villain in our favourite Christmas move Die Hard, sorry for those that do not believe this to be a Christmas movie.

        Edwin's answer: meeeeeooowwwww meow meow meooooow

What is it with fibre artists and cats!!

This one I can't answer with any specifics! I love having a furry friend around the house. I grew up with cats in the house so I was an animal lover long before I became interested in fibre art. My PSA: Make sure you are careful with your threads, needles, everything fibre-y if ingested it can be an expensive vet bill and you do not want the stress that comes along with it. 

What got you into quilting? And how does one go about starting?

My Mom got me started in my quilting journey. She joined a small quilting bee and started learning. I tagged along with her for some of the sew days to help make the community quilts, I ended up loving playing with the fabric choices and seeing how the colours interacted with each other. I have always been creative and artistic, taking art class through grade school and into university. I have a hand injury that prevents me from drawing or painting with my right hand for extended periods of time hence the switch to quilting. Quilting has allowed me to fill my creative cup without experiencing the pain I get from long days drawing in a sketch book.

How do you get started? I would say this depends on what kind of learner you are. I knew the quilting basics prior to the pandemic and with all the time we had to spend isolated I dove into the deep with reading all the quilt books I could get from the library. I watched a lot of YouTube and I mean a lot. My beginning though started with fabrics I picked up at thrift stores and just trying different patterns out.

Ideas to get started: sign up for a beginner quilt class at a local quilt shop or an online offering of a beginner quilt class. If you are like me and have a f*ck it attitude, dive in and figure it out as you go - this is best if you have some basic sewing skills to build on. I have been toying with the idea of teaching a Quilt Basics class, let me know if this is something you want and we can make it happen. 

What project are you most excited to complete?

I have two projects on the go right now that I am really excited to have done. One is a quilting project and the other is a knitting project.

1. Quilting project... 

Big Woods by Tula Pink and Sarah Fielke - this was a huge undertaking for me, it is about twin bed sized with traditional quilt piecing as the background and needle turn applique for the animals, flora, and fauna on the quilt. I signed up for the 2024 Block of the Month in the hopes of keeping up with the pace, but alas I dragged my feet. I am on month four of the twelve month project. A block of the month is a quilt pattern that the organizer release a block and instructions each month. If you are on top of it you will finish the program with a finished quilt. I signed up for this particular BOM to learn needle turn applique because I felt like it is the last fundamental skill in quilting that I had yet to tackle. (to be clear to be a great quilter you do not need this skill, I just wanted to add to my toolbox) Here is a photo of the top corner of the quilt so far!

2. Knitting project...

Men's Classic Raglan Pullover by Jane Richmond - this Christmas will be our first as a married couple and I have been knitting up a storm to get a finished sweater under the tree for him. I only have a few more inches to knit out and then blocking is the only thing it requires! Very exciting, this will be my first knitted sweater for him. He has received socks before and obviously quilts!

• • Jane Richmond's Pattern Link also available on Ravelry

What part of the quilt is the background?

Reading a pattern can be confusing! I see background fabric as anything that isn't the focal point, easy way to think about it is wherever your eye can rest is background. If an entire quilt is pieced with complex printed fabrics the piecing design can get lost with the fabrics. That being said there is BEAUTIFUL maximalist quilts in the world that are jaw dropping. It is cool to see the same pattern quilted in different colours, the design can changes depending on the colour palette. In the quilt in the wild photo the background fabric is the light grey. I love this quilt!! It was gifted to a friend that lives in Florida so I might put this pattern back on the "to-do" pile. 

General Kodiak "rule" that is not always followed: background fabric is a solid colour with no print (buying a couple meters of solid fabrics than printed fabrics brings the cost of the quilt down).

Thanks for stitching along with me! If you have a question you'd like to see featured on the blog, feel free to email me at kodiakquilting@gmail.com or reach out on Instagram at @kodiak.quilting Until next time, stay excellent.