From Scraps to Statement Pieces - Maker Minute
Hi! I’m Katie, the owner (and chief quilt wrangler) behind Modern Textiles. I’m based in Minnesota, where I spend my days turning fabric into bold, clean, modern quilts with just a touch of attitude. I specialize in professional longarm quilting, modern quilt pattern design, and pantographs that are anything but boring.
I’ve been quilting since I was a tot underfoot at my grandma’s sewing table—which is now my sewing table—with my own kids now underfoot. I love everything quilts, but like many quilters in the last few years, I’ve caught the quilted bag and tote itch—so you’ll see some of that sprinkled into my work these days. Garments next? We’ll see!
When I’m not quilting customer quilts on the longarm, I’m usually designing patterns that make people say, “Ooooh, that looks fun!” One of my favorite techniques is foundation paper piecing, which is exactly why CutterPillar tools are basically permanent residents in my sewing room.
In this blog, I’m sewing my Around the Kitchen table runner pattern, which is a fantastic intro to FPP—structured enough to learn the process, but still playful and satisfying to sew. The pattern also includes a wall hanging version, and it’s perfect for using up scraps, just like I did here.
Let’s talk about favorite tools, because CutterPillar absolutely delivers. My Glow Premium II Lightboard with self-healing mat is a must-have—especially for larger paper piecing projects. The lightboard offers three brightness levels, so I can see my layered fabrics clearly without straining my eyes.
I also love the tempered glass overlay, which means I can iron directly on the lightboard (yes, it’s as magical as it sounds). And the Flex Sewing Machine Light? Chef’s kiss. I have mine mounted to my domestic machine, but I also use it when longarming to check tension on the back of client quilts—because good lighting makes all the difference between “I think it’s good” and “perfect!”
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If you’d like to follow along with what I’m making (or see what chaos I’m getting into next), you can find me at https://modern-textiles.com/ or hanging out on social media:
And if you’re ready to add some CutterPillar goodness to your own sewing space, you can use my affiliate code MT15 or shop through my link: https://cutterpillar.co/?ref=MT
Trust me: your eyes, your seams, and your sanity will thank you.
