it’s your turn
We love to hear from you, our readers.
What are you working on now? How has
Quilting Arts inspired or educated you?
What new techniques or infl uences are
you exploring?
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490 Boston Post Road, Suite 15
Sudbury, MA 01776Dear Quilting Arts,
I must express how much I appreciate
Jane Dunnewold’s “UnBound” article
series. Many magazines are full of fun,
new, and exciting how-tos and variations
of older techniques, as well as inspiring
(and sometimes intimidating) beautiful
art quilts. Ms. Dunnewold explores
the thought processes involved and
manages to explain and solidify these
somewhat ephemeral—and sometimes
emotional—aspects behind creating
and evaluating. Th is series has been of
much help to me. She is, quite simply, the
thinking woman’s quilter.
Very much looking forward to the next
installment, while I am busy digesting this
latest one.
Catarina Bitkover
Stockholm, Sweden
Dear Catarina,
We totally agree and have loved Jane’s
series, too. Although the fi nal installment
of “UnBound” appeared in the December
2015/January 2016 issue, we hope to provide
equally fulfi lling articles in the future for you
and all our readers.
Th e Editorial Team“Frida Kahlo: A Woman of Passion and Color”
Margaret Pottinger • Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Margaret entered this quilt in the “Face
Time” Reader Challenge (see page 26
for a gallery of fi nalists’ quilts). She said
this about her quilt: “Despite her lifelong
physical ills, Frida Kahlo (July 6, 1907– July
13, 1954) celebrated her culture through
her art and her dress. My portrait of this
great artist refl ects her passion for color
and texture.”DO YOU BLOCK
YOUR QUILTS?
At Quilting Arts, beautifully made quilts
are our business, and our readers agree.
Finishing a quilt is part of that process—one
that can make the diff erence between a
good piece of fi ber art and a great one.
Taking time to fi nish a quilt professionally
by squaring and blocking it might make the
diff erence between being accepted into a juried show or not.
We asked our friends on Facebook if they block their quilts and here are their responses:So how is it done? It is easiest to try fi rst with a small quilt that fi ts on your design wall.
Pin the quilt into the wall, spacing the pins every 2"–3" apart. Spray the quilt with water
until it is wet all the way through. Use a ruler to make sure all seams are straight and
the corners are square. If your quilt is not square, gently pull the quilt to the correct
position and pin in place. Allow the quilt time to dry. Th e length of time depends on
many factors—from 3 hours to 3 days. But when it’s thoroughly dry, voilà—a square
and straight quilt!Blocking greatly improved this quilt. It now
hangs straight and square.53% Yes
15% No
32% Occasionally