Kerstin
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quilt-free.bsky.social
Kerstin
@quilt-free.bsky.social
210 followers 170 following 78 posts
Serial hobbyist who has knit everything, worked with metal, painted loads of papers, and messed around with cameras.

For now I cut up fabric and play with it.

Cambridge, MA
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quilt-free.bsky.social
Aaaaaand she's done. Used a "Simple Sue Block" with a mix of vintage and current prints for a finished quilt of 61" x 61". Quilted in the ditch (def not my fave) for a 2" x 2" grid. The backing is the plush Cuddle in the color "coffee." Destined to be a fam favorite. 💫

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Large block quilt in earth tone colors of brown, gold, rust, orange and green. Mostly print fabrics with a few solids mixed in. Quilt patiently held by my husband in front of a lake. Quilt folded on a hammock in the sun. Backing is a deep warm brown plush fabric called Cuddle in the colorway "coffee." Back is folded over to show a corner of the quilt blocks on the front in a mix of earth tones in brown, gold, green, and rusty orange.
June 15, 2025 at 7:02 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Nothing like binding off a quilt on a screened-in porch of a lake home on a warm and windy day. ☀️ #modernquilting #quiltsky
Scrunched up quilt in warm earth tone colors. Havanese pup at far end of the quilt hiding from the “puparazzi.”
June 12, 2025 at 6:07 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Coming May 16.😍

#quiltsky #modernquilting
The Quilters | Official Trailer | Netflix
YouTube video by Netflix
youtu.be
May 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
sltrib.com The Salt Lake Tribune @sltrib.com · May 3
At a time when protests are surging across the country in response to Trump administration executive actions that have tested the tenets of U.S. democracy, these women have found in quilting another avenue to express their protest.
These LDS women are giving lawmakers a piece of their mind — one quilt square at a time
Mormon Women for Ethical Government and its allies are taking on Trump-era cuts by quilting.
www.sltrib.com
May 3, 2025 at 11:26 AM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Managed to get this top mounted on a 30x40 gallery wrapped canvas just in time for my daughter's birthday.🥳

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Colorful improv half-square triangle quilt top mounted on a 30x40 gallery wrapped canvas. Colors include pinks, purples, greens, blues, brown, gold, gray and white. Birthday pic of my daughter in a pink dress sitting on a couch cuddling our chocolate and white pup.
April 24, 2025 at 8:55 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
First time using Cuddle for a backing and I'm not looking back!
Mia has already claimed it for her furry little self.

Liberated log cabin block from Nicholas Ball's book "Inspiring Improv."

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Colorful scrap quilt using the liberated log cabin block by Nicholas Ball. A mix of earth tones and more saturated colors in oranges, purples, and teals. The backing is "Cuddle" -- a silvery grey short pile plush fabric. Straight line 1 inch quilting. Super soft! Mia, our chocolate and white Havanese pup, laying on the recently finished quilt.
April 22, 2025 at 9:47 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
"BRING HER HOME! BRING HER HOME!" Tail end of a loud and energetic chant to bring Rumeysa Ozturk, kidnapped Tufts student, back home to Boston. #HandsOff
April 5, 2025 at 11:07 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
When I'm not quilting, I'm protesting. Electric crowd here in Boston today. Strong speeches by Markey, Pressley and Wu were enthusiastically received at City Hall. We don't usually look each other in the eye here while out and walking about -- not so today!
Tens of thousands of people at "Hands Off" protest in Boston, 4.5.25 Protest sign in Boston: "It's Not a Left or Right Moment. It's a Right or Wrong Moment." - Sen. Cory Booker "Tombstone" signs along gate at Granary Burying Ground (Boston's third oldest burial ground dating back to 1660). Signs read "In Memory of Reproductive Rights" and "In Memory of Climate Science" Protest sign: SO MANY PROBLEMS SO LITTLE CARDBOARD
April 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Had a pile of 4.5" HST's sitting around from another project that I had given up on and decided to chop them up, too. I sewed them together in a 3x3 block, added a 10.5" background square, made 8 HSTs, then trimmed each half-square triangle to 4.75".

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Colorful scrappy half-square triangle quilt in pinks, purples, greens, blues, teal, yellow and gold.
March 25, 2025 at 8:29 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Well, these blocks came together in four days so I'm calling it a win. This one used eighteen 10.5" blocks as a starting point. I found the process so enjoyable, I'm going to make it a practice: one 10.5" block every day to explore pattern and color.

#modernquilt #quiltsky #bitsandpiecesquilting
Colorful scrappy half-square triangle quilt using leftover blocks from other projects. Blocks were 10.5" each, resulting in eight half square triangles of 4.75". Colors include oranges, purples, greens, blues, golds, brown and white.
March 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
I recently stumbled on a Youtube video from bitspiecesquilting on scrappy HST's using leftover blocks. I've been collecting blocks from various projects and this seemed like a fun way to cut them up. I'm starting with a 10.5" block. More info in ALT description.

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Half-square scrappy triangle quilt using leftover blocks and scraps from other projects. Idea is from bitspiecesquilting on Youtube. I started with a 10.5" block, which results in eight half-square triangle blocks of 4.75". I was skeptical as to whether all these disparate blocks from various projects would work together so I'm pleasantly surprised at how well they talk to each other. For the smaller leftover blocks, I've sewn them together to make a larger block. If you don't have leftover blocks, this is a great way to sew up scraps in an improv block -- the fun is in the surprise after you cut them up!
March 19, 2025 at 1:54 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
One of these days I'll get a better pic of @timnatarr.bsky.social fun "strip sandwiches" quilt pattern from her online workshop. Her advice for grouping colors was super helpful. I used *all* the colors this one.🌈
Super bright and colorful quilt using small blocks with a contrasting center stripe. My Havanese pup, a big fan of all things quilty, is curled up asleep in the lower right.
March 18, 2025 at 5:53 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Another quilted water bottle cover using the pattern by Made Just Sew. The recipient said she will "treasure" it. 😊

madejustsew.com/blog-2/how-t...

#modernquilting #quiltsky
The front of a quilted water bottle cover in small half square triangles. Colors are blues, greens, teals, cream, white and grey using a mix of prints and solids. The back of a quilted water bottle cover in small half square triangles. Colors are blues, greens, teals, cream, white and grey using a mix of prints and solids.
March 7, 2025 at 11:40 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
In between trips to the sewing machine and design wall, I took time out to trip on down to a local protest. Decent crowd on the Common yesterday. It will continue to grow here, no doubt.
Protest sign reads "We The People Are Wicked Pissed" Protest sign reads: "Send Elon to Mars!" Protest sign reads "The Rich Get Richer, The Rest Get Lied To" Crowd on Boston Common in front of Parkman Bandstand protesting the GOP's war on the federal government.
March 5, 2025 at 4:02 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Found somewhere in NYC in 2022.

1787-1987 We The People

Recovered from a weekend bout of flu just in time to head to a protest later this afternoon. #50501
Mosaic embedded in wall. Found in NYC. Colorful shards of tile, stoneware, and glass surrounded the inscription "1787-1987 We The People"
March 4, 2025 at 1:30 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
After seeing this folded log cabin block in Tara Faughnan's newsletter, I had to give it a go. When I tried to stretch it over canvas, the edges popped out in an unattractive way so I stitched down the folds to keep them flat. Next time, I'll add a solid border.

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Quilted log cabin block stretched over a gallery wrapped canvas. Colors are various shades of purple, pink, grey, blue and yellow. Hand stitching in embroidery floss was added for extra texture.
February 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Kerstin
infinite-women.com
"Quilts—large, patchwork fabric blankets often donned with ornate designs and patterns—are typically seen as crafts for homemakers or family heirlooms. But for Black Americans, these pieces of art may carry an inheritance beyond just their family lineage." www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-...
From the Antebellum South to the Civil Rights Movement, Black American Women Have Long Told Their Stories Through Quilts
In a new exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, over 30 works showcase the significance of this quilting tradition
www.smithsonianmag.com
February 25, 2025 at 10:25 AM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Pieced during summer of 2020 with a limited fabric selection. Pattern is Tara Faughnah's Bars Quilt. Wasn't it love with it on the wall, but post-quilting it's become the quilt my husband reaches for at night.

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Quilt with vertical bars of color laying on sunny couch. Colors are shades of blue, green, yellow, white and grey.
February 23, 2025 at 4:32 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
I had these two small blocks up on the wall for ... ever. An acquaintance saw them and suggested I connect them. ("It would make a lovely gift!") This was my first attempt at mounting a quilt block on a 10x10 gallery wrapped canvas. And now I'm hooked.

#modernquilting #quiltsky #improvquilting
Quilt block in improv curves mounted on a 10x10 gallery wrapped canvas. Colors are shades of blue, grey, and white. Sitting on a mantel with a vase of dried flowers to the right.
February 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Look what I found!👀 I pulled her book off my shelf and this was stuck inside. I still remember how fun and fresh her quilts looked, especially back then when the fabrics available at my local shop were heavily skewed toward earth tones and batiks. Fun little time capsule.

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Magazine article on Denyse Schmidt titled "Sew Hip, Sew New" from People magazine, December 18, 2000. "Quirky quilt designer Denyse Schmidt adds a new stitch to an old art" Adorable cover photo shows her sitting on a chair surrounded by her quilts with her hair wrapped up in a quilt and her eyes glancing upward. Second page of article on quilter Denyse Schmidt from People magazine, December 18, 2000. Photos show Denyse piecing quilts and sitting around a table with her girlfriends, laughing and eating pastries.
February 19, 2025 at 2:08 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Gave EPP a trial run a couple of years ago. Lost interest (or maybe just eyesight). Was more enjoyable than I imagined. Time will tell if I pick it back up again. The colors spark joy and maybe that's a good enough reason.

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Hand sewn hexagons using bright colors in purples, reds, oranges, blues, greens, pinks, yellows. Small supply box for English Paper Piecing includes fabric wrapped hexagons, vial of needles, thread, glue stick, portable light, beeswax, plastic clips and needle minder.
February 18, 2025 at 1:50 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
The Bodhi Quilt by Blooming Poppies. My first string quilt. When I look back on quilts I made during 2020-21, the most enjoyable were the "zone out and chill" ones. I paid attention to color, value, contrast but no mental labor was involved. I think it's time for another.

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Quilt draped on chair. Diamond set blocks using scrap fabrics in tones of peach, pink, yellow and orange on a cream background. Quilt on floor in diamond set blocks using scrap fabrics in peach, pink, yellow and orange on a cream background. Small dog standing on quilt, looking up.
February 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Took a nice long walk to my local woke quilt and yarn shop. 🫶
Large colorful quilt using scrappy block letters to spell out "OUR SOCIETY AND DEMOCRACY ONLY WORK WHEN WE THINK NOT ONLY ABOUT OURSELVES BUT ALSO ABOUT EACH OTHER" Letters are pieced in both print and solid fabrics in bright colors like yellow, red, orange, blue, pink and white on a dark blue background.
February 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
quilt-free.bsky.social
Can't stop, won't stop.🕺

#modernquilting #quiltsky
Wonky log cabin quilt block stretched over canvas. Colors include purples, blues, gold, orange, peach, teal, and white with a black center.
February 14, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Reposted by Kerstin
joshspero.ft.com
What do artists really lose when their studio burns down? on.ft.com/42UdfJA
How does an artist recover from the loss of their studio?
[FREE TO READ] Many creative spaces were devastated in the LA wildfires — there is a long, sad history of a life’s work going up in flames
on.ft.com
February 14, 2025 at 10:29 AM