Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles was once told by a quilt shop owner, “You’ll never amount to anything as a quilter if you can’t follow instructions.” Never say never. Since then Lynne has designed more than 70 collections of fabric for Moda, created hundreds of quilt patterns, written books, and taught quilting classes all over the country. In 2001 Lynne and her husband Robert opened a quilting studio and retreat center in Bennington, KS–Lynne’s childhood hometown. Both Lynne’s fabrics and quilts have a distinctive style. It wasn’t that Lynne couldn’t follow directions; she just had her own way of doing things!
Kansas Troubles fabric collections have nature-inspired color palettes. Each collection is comprised of 75% dark colors and 25% light colors. The Kansas Troubles fabric collections are mostly dark colors to convey the primitive, historical theme of a quilt but have enough lights to make the quilt sparkle. The prints from one Kansas Troubles fabric collection play well with the fabrics from another.
Kansas Troubles quilt patterns generally feature Lynne’s Layered Patchwork technique. Lynne takes advantage of the pinked edges on precut fabric. She sews these edges on top of the quilt block and allows use and the washing machine to let them gently roll and fray. This gives her quilts a soft tactile quality missing from quilts pieced in a traditional manner.
Kansas Troubles fabrics and Kansas Troubles patterns evoke the quilts made during the times of the “Kansas Troubles”--the years before and during the Civil War. These contentious years were filled with bloody battles over the question of whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state. Kansas Troubles quilts are like their counterparts from long ago–made to be used and tolerate some abuse, but still be beautiful.
Watch this video where Lynne Hagmeier and Jenny use kansas troubles fabric collections to create a fantastic Five and Dime quilt project.
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Jenny and Lynne co-hosted a quit tutorial on Lynne’s Five and Dime quilt during which they demonstrated Lynne’s Layered Patchwork technique. Lynne also talks about Kansas Troubles fabric by Moda during this video.
Jenny and Lynne showcased another Kansas Troubles quilt pattern–the Twirls & Swirls Quilt–in this video tutorial. Again, you can watch Lynne’s Layered Patchwork technique. This quilt top requires one Kansas Troubles Charm Pack and two yards each of Kansas Troubles fabric by the yard for the background and border. This quilt pattern is from the book Layers of Love by Kansas Troubles Quilters.
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We love Kansas Troubles fabric at Missouri Star. We also love the way Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles puts together a quilt. Like Jenny, she likes doing things in a simple, practical way. You might want to give her techniques and her beautiful fabric a try!
