Lorena Uriarte

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Quilt Coat Pattern Round Up!

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Which is my favourite quilt coat pattern?

It’s not surprising that I have embraced the quilt coat trend. I love making quilts, sewing my own clothes, and I hate being cold. And because I can’t disappear off to Spain every winter, a quilt coat is the next best thing!

Here are three of my favourite quilt coat patterns, along with a comparison of their hoods and some notes on binding:

Cheeky Lorena wrapped in a quilt coat
  1. The Tamarack by Grainline Studios
    • Pros: This pattern has a good range of sizes and features a flattering shape due to its scooped hemline around the hips. The longer back piece provides extra coverage, and you have the option for welted or patch pockets, as well as no collar, collar, or hood options.
    • Cons: The pattern was originally written for non quilted fabric, which can make it confusing, especially when dealing with darts and welted pockets. Additionally, the Hood, Collar & Patch Pockets Variation comes at an extra cost.
    • Hood: My favourite hood of the three. It’s a good shape and easy to bind.
Lorena's Tamarack
Tamarack
Chore Coat
Kaleidoscope Elemental Coat
Elemental
  1. The Chore Coat by Patchwork & Poodles
    • Pros: Designed specifically for quilted panels or to repurpose an existing quilt, this pattern has a slimmer fit and a sporty straight hemline at the hip. It includes the hood, collar, and pocket patterns in the initial cost. The pattern is simply written and easy to follow. I like the method for inserting the sleeve. It is straightforward to adjust the length of this coat.
    • Cons: Since it is a slim fit, you may want to make a toile (a test garment) to ensure the fit is perfect for you. It may not suit all sizes. 
    • Hood: My least favourite hood. I find it a bit bulky. I prefer the collared version.

  1. The Elemental Coat by Crinkle Dreams
    • Pros: This pattern offers lots of variations, including a cropped jacket, a hip-skimming length, and a longer knee-length version. There are also two sleeve lengths. Like the Chore Coat, you can choose a design with or without a collar or a hood, all included in the original pattern purchase. Plus, it features in-seam pockets, which we’ve all been waiting for in a quilt coat pattern.
    • Cons: I generally am not a fan of dropped shoulder designs as the coat can feel a little bulky, but I know others appreciate the extra room. The coat is designed with a one-button closing, but I chose to size up and add buttons down the front.
    • Hood: I also like this hood. It sits well around the neck and is easy to bind.

Making a Reversible Coat

Any coat can be made reversible with careful attention to binding the internal seams. This is my preference for any coat, as I dislike raw internal seams; unbound wadding leaves fluff on your clothes. However, I haven’t been able to master a reversible coat with double sided in-seam pockets, yet! Stay tuned…

Binding

I’m not afraid of a hand-finished binding; I think it’s worth the effort. I make my own by cutting 2″ bias strips and feeding them through the Simplicity bias tape maker. I’ve also used pre-made bias tape, stocking up at quilt shops that have a cute selection. There is a lot of binding required to bind a coat once you take into account the outside edges, sleeve cuffs, collar/ hood, and internal sleeve and side seams. It can be up to 8 meters depending on the pattern and size. Hate binding, most quilt coat patterns provide alternate finishing methods, like overlocking and Hong Kong seams.

Quilting Tips for Making a Coat

If you are making a quilt from scratch, think about how you want your finished coat to look and feel. Not just the patchwork but also the wadding and density of quilting:

  • Wadding: Cotton and bamboo wadding that has been lightly quilted and washed and dried has a better drape. Hand quilting with a wool/poly wadding gives a coat a puffy look.
  • Warmth: The warmth of your coat can vary based on the amount of patchwork, the type of wadding and the density of the quilting.
  • Lining/Backing Fabric: Choose smooth fabrics for the lining. They are softer on the skin and drape better.

Whether you’re looking for a project to keep you warm or a stylish way to showcase your quilting talents, these patterns and tips offer something for everyone. Happy sewing!

I teach a Two Day Quilt Coat Workshop. Find a list of them by searching my class schedule.

Quilt Coats

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The Before Times Exhibition: Wangaratta Art Gallery
12 Nov – 18 Dec 2022

I’m excited to have three of my bespoke quilt coats included in a new exhibition opening at the Wangaratta Art Gallery on 12th November.

THE BEFORE TIMES
A group exhibition featuring Phong Chi Lai, Tara Glastonbury, Caroline Hadley, Diana Vandeyar, Jessica Wheelahan and Lorena Uriarte.

The term before times dates back centuries and has a long association with imagined worlds and apocalyptic stories. Recently, the before times has taken on new significance as our lives changed dramatically and we fondly remember times before Covid-19.

Six artists have used this phrase as a starting point, some taking their practices back to basics or celebrating the return of inspiration and materials while others explore types of memory or envisage a dystopian future that might await us.

Nothing Is Sacred – Quilt Coat made with Dear Jane quilt

Number 1

Blue Monday – Quilt Coat made with face mask scraps

Number 2

Face Mask Jacket – Quilt Coat made with commercial face mask panels

Number 3

Bushfire Charity Block drive for Wollongong MQG

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Please see this post at Wollongong MQG Facebook group for more details.

I was asked to design an original block to share as inspiration. Please find the instructions below. This block is free for anyone to use for charity blocks and quilts. Please do the right thing 🙂

“How you can help:
We have decided to make tree blocks. The tree is a symbol of growth and nourishment. A tree symbolizes the generations of a family; a tree sprouts from a seed, the roots provide strength and stability, and whilst the new sapling is young and vulnerable they are protected by the other trees until they grow and flourish. In time the branches spread and then create new fruit that gives life to the next generation.

There is no restriction to one type of tree block. We would love our quilts to be beautiful and diverse just like our wonderful communities. The below quilt blocks have been designed and supplied for inspiration, but please feel free to use your own ideas and colours. If you would like to help, please make a tree block of a generous 12.5 inch square using a low volume / white or pale grey background. Once completed please send to:

Wollongong Modern Quilt Guild
PO Box 54
Jamberoo NSW 2533

We are going to distribute the quilts made to the families who have lost everything. 

We would like to ask that blocks be mailed for arrival by the end of February. We thank you in advance for your support. #bushfireblocks

If you are going to be at Quiltcon, I’d be happy to collect your block there. Please get in touch to arrange a pick up. Thank you.

New Shoots Quilt Block – Lorena Uriarte
New Shoots Bushfire Charity Block InstructionsDownload
New Shoots Leaf TemplateDownload

They called it “Diet Pie”…

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Diet Pie
Auth: 
Recipe type: Dessert
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
So named at quilt class, cause there are no calories whilst stitching, right?
Ingredients
  • 3 medium granny smith apples, peeled, cored and cubed
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons currants
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
  • ¼ teaspoon cloves, ground
  • 2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon plain flour
  • 2 sheets puff pastry
  • egg and milk wash
Instructions
  1. Simmer apple, water, lemon juice, sugar and currants for 5 minutes till apples are tender but still hold their shape. Watch they don't burn! Add a tablespoon of water if that looks likely!
  2. Remove from heat and stir in cinnamon, cloves, walnuts and flour.
  3. Cool completely.
  4. Cut pre-rolled pastry into two large circles. Use the biggest plate or bowl you can and a sharp knife.
  5. Place one circle on a sheet of baking paper on a flat baking tray.
  6. Top with apple filling, keeping 1" clear around the edge and press it level.
  7. Place the other circle on top and press the edges together till sealed.
  8. Using a small bowl, trace a faint circle in the centre.
  9. Then with a sharp knife cut out from the circle forming 16 slices.
  10. At this point you may need to chill the pastry again if it's a bit floppy before proceeding, place baking paper with tart/ pie on a plate into the fridge or freezer to firm up the pastry a bit. When cooled slide paper back onto baking tray
  11. Next, turn each slice on its side to expose the filling.
  12. Brush lightly with beaten egg and milk.
  13. Bake at 200C for 30 minutes till golden and puffed, if browning too quickly you may need to turn down your oven a bit.
  14. Allow to cool on a rack before serving.
They called it Diet Pie...

They called it Diet Pie…

Diet Pie

Sydney Quilt Show 2015

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Wingdings: A Variety of Symbols by Lorena Uriarte. Inspired by the back side of Chuck Nohara's Symbol Quilt.

Wingdings: A Variety of Symbols by Lorena Uriarte. Inspired by the back side of Chuck Nohara’s Symbol Quilt.

Oops, it’s only when I saw my quilt in Quiltmania this week that I realised a massive oversight on my part. Seems I forgot to write about my most exciting quilty event of the year! The Quilters’ Guild of NSW’s annual Sydney Quilt Show, a member’s show with over 400 quilts in various categories and displays was on 17-21 June. It’s now months ago but it’s probably a good idea to document the event, especially since I won something and so did many of my friends.

There was a spectacular Red & White Challenge this year, over 140 Red & White quilts hung together in a brilliant display of ability and creativity. I had worked diligently to complete a quilt I’ve been wanting to make since 2012, a red & white version of Chuck Nohara’s Symbol Quilt. The original Symbol Quilt is double sided, with the red & white blocks on the back (see photo below).

My quilt really was an adventure, I’ve never made a two colour quilt before and I found it challenging. I was glad when it was finished and very grateful that Michele Turner was quilting it. I really needed a break from it. And it took months for me to pick a fabric for the binding. In the end I was really happy with how it looked and it won First Prize in the Machine quilted Category of the Red & White display. Hooray! Thank you to the sponsors Quiltsmith, Sew Easy, Tech2Home and Nestle for my amazing assortment of prizes.

Some photos of Windings: A Variety of Symbols. Not great ones. This may be why I haven’t written this post before!

IMG_2498 IMG_0143 IMG_0888 IMG_1311 IMG_1453 IMG_1495

I also entered a second quilt in the Modern Category, Under the Sea a variation of my Opal Essence quilt pattern. There’s an embarrassing amount of teal and aqua in my stash. This quilt documents much of it!

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Like most of my quilts, they all end up in use or display around our home. Adding some colour to gloomy days or a warm wrap when it’s chilly!

Under the Sea & Rainbow Reverb quilts adding colour to a gloomy day...

More on the Sydney Show soon… in the meantime you can see all the prize winning quilts in The Quilters’ Guild of NSW Gallery.

 

 

my cheaty appliqué “thircles”

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Yes, you read right. Thircles. You may already know that a squircle is the shape somewhere between a square and a circle but what’s a thircle?

If you’ve seen my Opal Essence quilt you’ll notice that all the circles are made up in thirds. The first quilt was made by appliquéing the third of a circle on to a diamond shape. A simple way to make sure you get a smooth circle is to use a template under your appliqué piece. The great thing about using this technique with a thircle (tee-hee, it still makes me giggle!) is that you can easily remove your template and reuse it.

My template of choice for this technique is a really smooth, bump free freezer paper template. You trace your pattern piece on to freezer paper and cut it out very carefully.

My cheaty applique thircle how to…

1. Press your freezer paper template to the wrong side of your fabric. As you will be folding the fabric over the template to appliqué try to place the curved edge on the diagonal grain. The stretch that lies here on the bias helps to create lovely soft curves with less bumps and folds.

2. If you are fussy cutting and placing the paper on the bias isn’t possible, consider using the fabric in a larger thircle. A larger, gentler curve is more forgiving with stiff fabric.

3. Next, use a ruler with a 1/4″ marking to add your seam allowance to the straight edges of your thircle shape. Cut with a rotary cutter or scissors. I love using an Add-A-Quarter ruler for this step. Using scissors cut a generous 1/4″ seam allowance around the curve.

IMG_0511

4. Use a fabric glue stick to keep the seam allowance tucked under. Use a fine line of glue, about 1/8″ away from the curved edge of the freezer paper. That will help when it comes to sewing the shapes down and will also reduce the chance of your fabric fraying along the raw edge.

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5. Match the seam allowance of your thircle with the corresponding point of your diamond background. Pin or lightly glue your shape into place. I like to pin along both seam allowances where there’s no freezer paper.

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6. Using a thread colour that disappears appliqué the piece down. Use small stitches and pull the thread a little to hide it.

7. Once the shape is appliquéd down, trim away your background with scissors leaving a generous 1/4″ seam.

8. Finally, whip out your freezer paper template to reuse. The less glue you use, the easier it is to remove and reuse the papers.

 

Now that your thircles are appliquéd down, you can piece your diamonds into a hexagon and fan your centre seam.

 

2013-08-26 14.51.09

I’ve been teaching workshops using this appliqué technique as well as the machine pieced thircles and most students are surprised by how much they enjoy the process. The smaller thircles are definitely less stressful if you appliqué them. The larger thircles can be rotary cut and machine pieced pretty quickly and painlessly. You can even mix both techniques in your quilt, maybe stick to one technique in each block though…

Hope that helps someone out there too afraid to try appliquéd curves. Let me know if you have any questions!

 

 

 

Modern Quilt Show Australia, Kiama

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Long overdue blog post number 2 this week. As Miranda’s mum would say, “bear with”!

Topic: Modern Quilt Show Australia, hosted by Wollongong MQG in Kiama, 30th & 31st May.

modern qult show flyer

Okay, right off the bat… I couldn’t attend this show as I’d absentmindedly booked myself out to teach in Brisbane this weekend. Rookie mistake. I will be making this show a priority in my schedule in the future as I heard so many wonderful things about it by those who did attend. Great vibe, exciting quilts, engaging discussions about where modern quilting stands today in Australia.

So, my only means of participating were by submitting two quilts for inclusion in the show. I have to congratulate the hardworking selection panel who picked the quilts to hang in this show, only the second time this event has been held. It’s a lot of work and not all the decisions are easy. From what I could see on social media that weekend and follow up blog posts, the show was a great success. Yay!

When I put my two quilts forward for inclusion they weren’t (ahem) actually finished, but I didn’t expect to have two accepted so I hedged my bets. I guessed which one would be accepted and started quilting that one. Then I received a notification that both were in and I frantically got to finishing them off. To put this in perspective I’d been busy finishing two quilts for the Sydney Show and wrangling together a GWSMQG group quilt entry too. In short, the house got very messy, and I probably wasn’t super social!

squircles mosaic

I was really happy with my finished quilts, Squircles was started at Quiltcon back in February in Carolyn Friedlander’s Aerial Grove class. I really, really loved making this quilt. I loved the freedom of not using a template or marking pen for the applique technique, I loved finding a variety of prints that would let the gorgeous Lecien yarn dye in the centre shine and I loved piecing the whole thing together like a jigsaw puzzle without referring to a pattern.

The improvisational quilting was a steep learning curve as I’d never tried portioning up a quilt top before and using a different pattern of straight line stitching in each section. It did break the job up and it made it less boring, which seems to be my main issue with quilting. It was still hard to wrangle though, 78″ x 78″ is not a huge quilt but it was still rather hefty to push through a domestic sewing machine. When I had finished both entries I treated myself to some hand quilting watching Carolyn’s Handwork Is Fun Webinar on the MQG website (members only). What a treat!

floors mosaic

My second entry was a folly, a spur of the moment idea whilst scrolling through one of my favourite Instagram feeds “I Have This Thing With Floors”. I came upon an image of a tiled floor that I imagined I could make by simply using pre printed stripes. This was my fastest quilt top EVER, I’m working on a pattern for this quilt top so I’ll keep you informed…

I was thrilled to have both my quilts included in the Modern Quilt Show and so excited to hear that I Have This Thing With Floors got a Judges Commendation. Completely unexpected! Nothing for Squircles but it is now one of my favourite quilts! Here’s a list of all the winners.

squircles couch

I did have a hand in a few other winning quilts at the show: Our GWSMQG group quilt won 2nd place in the Group category, My daughter Sofia won 1st Place in the Youth category and another group quilt made with the fun gals I went to QuiltCon with earlier this year won 3rd place.

Thank you to all the organisers and sponsors of the Modern Quilt Show, it’s an exciting time to be a quilter and you are helping to get the word out there x

Phew, long post. One more to come this week. You have been warned…

Desert to Sea: 10 Quilts From Australian Designers

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images from book

So many exciting things happening around here lately, I’ve fallen behind and so I’ll start with the release of my Opal Essence pattern in Jane Davidson’s fabulous book, Desert To Sea. The book was self published by my clever friend Jane and is available to order right now from Amazon and Book Depository. I know there are a few local fabric stores who are stocking it or taking pre orders too, in most cases this can be a slightly cheaper than paying for the book + overseas postage. Contact Quiltsmith, Material Obsession, Cotton Factory , Patches Indooroopilly and QuiltJane for more information.

Desert To Sea Book: 10 Quilts from Australian Designers

Desert To Sea Book: 10 Quilts from Australian Designers

There are 9 other gorgeous quilts in the book by Jane Davidson, Danielle Auckens, Betty Kerr, Cathy Underhill, Charlotte Dumsney, Rachaeldaisy and Jeannette Bruce. The book has well written patterns, wonderful photography and even colouring pages to help you plan your quilt.

You may have seen some photos on Instagram taken whilst teaching this pattern, it’s proving to be a very enjoyable day class and students are learning lots. Take a look at the #opalessencequilt hashtag to be inspired! You’ll see photos of my two other versions of the quilt too #undertheseaquilt and #pinkchampagnequilt.

Opal Essence IG

I’ve had acrylic templates made to help speed up the cutting for this pattern and will be listing sets in my shop next week. The acrylic templates set includes 6 pieces to help cut the diamonds and arcs for machine piecing, I’ll also include a full size A3 template sheet and a packet of pre cut freezer paper shapes to give the applique technique I teach in my classes a try. That will be for another blog post!

Template sets are $35 plus postage. I’m also getting 20 copies of the book to sell together with my templates for those who can’t find them locally. The set will be $70 plus postage.

Please contact me if you’d like to pre-order a set as I expect delivery in the first week of July.

book and templates

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Social Tote Workshop at Material Obsession Saturday 27th June

Chuck Nohara Class at Material Obsession Friday 10th July

Chuck Nohara Class at Material Obsession Saturday 10th July

Lorena presenting at Friday Showcase at The Quilters’ Guild of NSW 7th August

Opal Essence Class at Quiltsmith 26th September

Opal Essence Class at Material Obsession Saturday 24th October

 

Apple, Pecan and Bourbon Caramel Cake

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Apple, Pecan and Bourbon Caramel Cake
Auth: 
Recipe type: Cake
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 12
 
It's healthy... it has fruit. and nuts!!
Ingredients
  • 150 grams butter, softened
  • ¾ cup caster sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups self raising flour
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • ½ cup milk
  • 2 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
  • 50 grams butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ⅓ cup Bourbon
Instructions
  1. Cream butter, caster sugar and vanilla essence with a stand mixer or electric beaters.
  2. Add in 3 eggs, self raising flour, salt and milk. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes till smooth and light.
  3. Spread cake batter into a greased springform pan/ cake tin with removable bottom.
  4. Arrange sliced apples over the top and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
  5. Bake at 180C/ 350F for 40 minutes till cake is cooked through and golden.
  6. Meanwhile, make caramel by simmering 50 grams butter, ½ cup brown sugar and ⅓ cup Bourbon till thickened. If you don’t have bourbon use scotch with a little maple syrup and vanilla to flavour it. Or leave it out but call it something else! You know the alcohol cooks out so no need to worry about getting tipsy?
  7. Anyway, when cake has cooled for 10 minutes, pour over warm caramel and let it sit till completely cool before serving.
  8. Or serve cake warm, with ice cream and hot caramel. Yum!

Apple Pecan and Bourbon Caramel Cake blog pic

c. 2015 Lorena Uriarte