Hi all,
Just pondering new projects, I really love to do applique quilts. Have never done one by Mckenna Ryan, wondering how difficult they are? As far as applique quilting, I would consider that I am medium to advanced as far as experience...now that is on the actual applique...fmq is another story!! ;) ...Thanks for any advice...
Kif

I enjoy McKenna Ryan patterns. The secret to success are using her fabrics and a very good pair of Kai small cutting scissors. The better the scissors, the better your cutting is. Forgot to add, patience helps a great deal on her work.

I think it just depends on your skill set. I don't applique well so for me it would be very difficult. A friend of mine loves applique and has made several Mckenna Ryan quilts and she says they are easy to do (for her) other then having sore fingers. She hand appliques them. She probably has the strongest fingertips of anyone I know! It can be a little hard to go through that many layers of fabric.

Thanks...I love to hand quilt, last couple of years have been learning machine quilting, too...like them both for different reasons, and depends on what I am making, and its use...

I use light weight fusible to arrange the pieces then top stitch(machine)very close to the edges. I also use manicure scissors for fine cutting. I like to use batiks when possible as they fray less. (if at all)

To me, the difficult part would be coughing up the money to buy a set of them. They are beautiful, but they don't come cheap! The other difficult thing would be that I prefer to come up with my own fabrics for anything - and hers seem to look a lot better with the fabrics she uses.

Holy Moly everything and anything involving McKenna Ryan patterns is here on ebay

http://stores.ebay.com/Stitches-Quil...l?_fsub=723662

I know!! That is where I was pondering buying from...but, I am like some of the others here...I like to use my own fabrics...(I really have a hard time justifying buying specialized fabrics when I have the size stash of fabrics I have...) And I really don't want to spend that much money for something that may not look right IF I don't buy her fabric...sigh...decisions, decisions....So, anyone have any pics where they made one of her patterns and used their own fabrics? I am leaning toward the wildlife, outdoorsy patterns...maybe if DH was not so nice, and would say, " Why are you buying more fabric?" I wouldn't have such a hard time deciding to buy more...but, he never says a word...I may get a little "smirk", and a big grin...but that is all...Hmmmm....blame hubby for my fabric "addiction", yeah, mmmhhhmmm.... :-P Well, thanks ya'll for your input, and any pics you know of!!

I have recently bought the "Which came first?" pattern but unlike some of you I wish I could by a kit with all the fabrics!

I have "found" them all on-line but I'm sure its going to take some doing to assemble the whole list of them, especially if I have to order from different places! Shipping - ugh!

Going to check out Fabric Depot this coming week. They may have a few.

Thanks for advise on scissors, etc! I'd agree that the batiks would be the only way to go!

I have a kit still in the box. Took a look at all the tiny pieces and decided to wait on it a little longer. The basic construction is really fusible interfacing with raw edge applique. Not too difficult I'd say - just tedious.

McKenna Ryan Quilts
 

I was wondering if you ever found someone who did some of the McKenna Ryan quilts with their own fabrics?
I ordered some of her patterns but wanted to change the fabric colors a bit.
They look beautiful the way she has them.
I really want to do the Heaven and Nature Sing quilt but didn't know about how to finish the edges of all the appliqué.
If anyone has done one could you post a pic or link?
Thanks all!

I did! I bought the 3 kitty cats. My first ever applique, and it was SO easy. I did raw-edge applique with fusible (I believe that's how the patterns were written). I used a zigzag on the edges, with invisible thread, to try to avoid any fraying. I think usually raw-edge applique is just straight stitch near the edge.

Here are my quilts - you can decide if they look good with my own fabrics. :)

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ETA: Sorry about the double photo. I editted to add a larger image so you could see details, and now I can't get rid of the first attachment.

Holy wow...I love what you did...great job...I believe I have a couple of pattern of this designer...don't know which ones. But pretty sure I will never make them. I should just gift them so they can be used.

Beautiful Kristakz! I bought a small kit. I fused and raw edged appliqued. It is so tedious I got bored with it. But I feel that way with most applique. I rather paper piece patterns, especially these: http://www.silverliningsoriginals.com/

Oh MY!!! Thoses are just BEAUTIFUL btiny!! I would love to recieve anything by her. I keep asking for them on those important gift giving days like Mother's Day, My birthday and Christmas. In fact I have my request in for my birthday which landed on Black Friday this year. :shock: Wish me luck! Crossing my fingers but not holding my breathe. LOL.

Tricia

I love McKenna Ryan's designs but have not attempted one...yet. I will say that the Kai scissors are the bomb! They are sharp and will produce a cut to the tip of the blade. I am currently working on an appliqué quilt that I'm using them for. I bought them about a year ago, and they are pricier than others but worth the investment.

I get so frustrated with guild members who won't buy the sharp new small scissors and keep using the old manicure scissors because they are 'still good'. Good for what? I always ask. I want to cut fabric not hack it to death.

I'm just finishing 'Reaching Out'. Loved every minute of it! Mine is a lot brighter - not so 'antique-y' compared with the picture. I couldn't thread a sewing machine just over two years ago and it's my second appliqué project - first is my avatar.
It's night here now, so I'll post a pic tomorrow when I get daylight to photograph it.

Which Kai scissors do you recommend for small applique cutting work?

Nancy

LOL I can't even remember when I got them... These are just the patterns NOT the kits. Hang on minute I will go see which ones I actually have roflol Whew back...I have the Loon Creek, http://www.backdoorgeneralstore.com/...?productid=559 and the Coffee Classics series which includes 4 individual patterns: Four Big Shots, Warm Up, Just Coffee, A Fresh Cup. Must have been having coffee withdrawls that day lol Here is the link to the Coffee Classic series https://pineneedles.com/SuperStore/S...ssortmentID=36

First off Kristakz, I think your cat quilts look amazing with your own fabrics!! Thanks so much for sharing them, as I haven't seen but one or two that were made without using MR fabrics...I must confess, I still have not even made one of hers...and I have the entire set of one of hers and several of her others...I need to just "buckle down" and get after it...lol...Please, if there are any others out there who have made any MR quilts, please post pics...whether it is using MR fabrics, or your own....I need inspiration!!!:)
Kif

Can't wait to see your pic!!!!! Hint, hint....;)

Hiya friend...I am thinking you probably should just gift those bad boys out...send em on down here to Texas!!! ROFL....As I know you are thinking, well, okay...and you will add them to the ones you have and haven't made yet either, eh??!!..:D
Seriously, if you do think you may ever want to part with and sell the Loon Lake one....keep your ole Texas friend in mind...One of the single ones I have of hers is Wolf Watch...I could put Loon Lake with it and make a great lil quilt...er, someday...soon...real soon...really....:p
Regards,
Kif

I love the coffee ones. I have been looking at them, my sister was a manger for Starbucks for years and I think they would be a great gift idea.

This is the first I've heard about Kai scissors. I found some curved ones on Amazon for $14.99. I have very good curved scissors and don't know if Kai would be any better. They are Japanese scissors, not American made, which would be nicer. But I still would like to know what makes them so nice. Why haven't I ever heard about them before. I do a lot of applique with my scissors and have no problems at all. But if these Kai are superior, I would buy them in an instant. Any advice?

I would love to do some applique but the thought of needle turning scares me.

These patterns are made for raw edge applique. They do have allot of small pieces. I am in the process of making two of them. A Journey To light and Storybook Farm. I always use my own fabrics

Sorry the picture took so long - it was raining yesterday! I've still to add an inner border (pink) and I'm going to use the same lemon for the outer border. I also changed the setting of the nine-patch (they were the
worst!) to the background fabric.
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I am a twit! :rolleyes: My quilt is by Edyta Sitar, NOT McKenna Ryan. I have got a couple of her patterns, but haven't started them yet. Oops - sorry :o

I don't do photos so hope this works, I used all my own fabrics and started with just one block of Mckennas down
on the farm quilt, the swing on the tree. Then I bought one more block of a pine tree and some deer and voila, a little imagination and photos and I had a quilt!

Oh my...these quilts are amazing!! I don't know how I missed seeing these last replies with pics...I am so sorry I am so late replying..
Knitette, even if yours are not MR, they are simply lovely...
kat13, I am just about speechless at yours..and I am rarely speechless...mostly here on QB when I see the work of talented people!!
Regards,
Kif