I don't know If I can do it justice.

But I'll try! You would never believe how these quilts are made! I'll try to explain with photos.On Wednesday I went to My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe to see a trunk show by Carmen Geddes.
She makes traditional quilts using very modern methods.

Using this printed, fusible interfacing product from Quiltsmart,

you cut your fabric pieces and fuse them to the interfacing panels, between the positioning lines. Then you fold the interfacing along the fold lines and sew along the stitch lines.
This photo shows the panel after the vertical seams have all been sewn, but the horizontal seams have not. This is a panel for a quilt like the one in the top photo.

You can check out her YouTube video of this method here. (See the video on the bottom of the page.)
Here is another quilt top from the same panels, just different fabrics.

 Since this was just a top, we got to see what the back looks like.

 The interfacing is sturdy enough to keep the quilt square, but soft enough that the finished product is not stiff. Here is another quilt made from these same panels.

 

 Guess what--there are even panels for mini quilts! : )

But it isn't all just square stuff. Take a gander at these beauties--all still made by fusing your cut pieces to the printed interfacing, and folding and stitching. Click to enlarge any photos.

Then there are the quilts with all those curved or Y-seams. There are printed shapes on the interfacing that you cut out and sew "rough to right" sides together. You slit the interfacing and turn the fabric right side out. Now your shape has a finished edge and a fusible back. You fuse it in place and use invisible machine applique (or decorative stitches, if you prefer) to secure it. The quilts below were all made using this method, or a combination of the two methods.

                                                                                                  

Apple Core--back

Apple Core--front

DWR--front

DWR--back

This was Carmen's backdrop showing quilts using a variety of the techniques.

When the show was finished, Kris, the shop owner, gave us the opportunity to try a small sample piece. Kits were ready and waiting--no charge--and they had a few machines set up for us to use.

 This was the sample--it would make a great hot pad.

We followed step by step instructions to make our own leaf using the printed fusible interfacing. Due to a goof creative cutting, my leaf is cream, instead of yellow.

I had been intrigued by the method, but hadn't expected to be so impressed. I came home with the pattern for the small Lone Star blocks. They didn't have any of the mini square interfacing on hand, or you know I would have picked up some of that, as well! : )






Well, I feel my words and photos have been inadequate in conveying what I experienced, but I tried. Carmen was a delightful presenter. She is an experienced teacher, very knowledgeable, with a fun sense of humor.

It was a very fascinating 3 hours. Well worth the time and the price didn't reflect the value of the event (cost was only $5 and we received a $10 coupon to the shop that could be used that day). They always have a Wednesday special, and it happened that if you spent $25 or more on this Wednesday, you got a free copy of one of the MSQC Block magazines. It really was a good day to be at My Girlfriend's Quilt Shoppe!