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WORK TITLE: Modern Scot Patchwork: Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE: 1956
WEBSITE: quiltsbykat.com
CITY: Sutter Creek
STATE: CA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1956; married Frank Axe.
EDUCATION:University of California, Davis, B.A., 1980.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Quilter, businessperson, and writer. IDEC, project manager, 1993-2001, associate director project management, 2001-03; Biogen Idec, associate director of process improvement, 2003-05; Kathy’s Quilt Room, Amador County, CA, owner and designer, 2012–. Also served as chair of Amador Citizens for Smart Growth, 2005-2012.
AVOCATIONS:Traveling, studying history, and gardening.
WRITINGS
Also author of the blog Views from the Middle.
SIDELIGHTS
A retired scientist, Kathy Allen studied bacteriology as an undergraduate and worked primarily in the areas of project management and process improvement. Allen became interested in quilting through a friend who taught her how to quilt. Her husband bought her a quilting frame and machine and built a room especially for her quilting efforts. Allen eventually founded a quilting company that specializes in modern and unique quilt patterns designed for both beginners and experts.
In her first book, titled Modern Scot Patchwork: Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans, Allen provides lessons in how to make modern, graphic quilts based on traditional tartan woven patterns from Scotland. Writing in the book’s introduction, Allen notes: “When traveling through Scotland, whether it be to historic Edinburgh, the rolling hills of Aberdeen, or the mountains surrounding Fort William, it’s hard to escape the visual impact of the dominant pattern we call plaid. It’s in the wallpaper, it’s on the carpets, and it’s in the clothing — and the variety of tartans seem endless.”
Allen focuses on simplified instructions of easy piecing of tartan colors than can be complex. She begins with a brief vocabulary lesson from the word “tartan,” which means “woolen, latticed fabric” in Scotland, and “plaid,” which references how the broad cloth is used for different items, such as a blanket or a skirt. Allen next turns to basic quilting techniques, including large-scale patterns. These patterns are based on authentic tartans but provide more modern designs for quilts. In the process she shows readers how to choose and merge fabrics to mimic the various woven patterns of Scottish tartans. Allen writes about a variety of basic quilting techniques and includes patterns for six of her own designs. She chose these patterns for their ease of quilting. Nevertheless, three of the designs are for beginners while the other three are for more experienced quilters. Among the designs is a gold and green tartan design called the Amador in honor of Allen’s California roots.
Allen also provides guidance for readers who would like to create their own tartan designs. These include how to create “merge” fabrics, that is ones that interweave with others, and strip sets that provide the base for patterns. Addressing the complexity of piecing tartans into patchwork quilts, Allen provides a simplified process. The book includes large graphics, charts, and tips. In addition to making the daunting patterns look easy, Allen does the math necessary to make such designs. The book includes a gallery at its end that shows more samples of tartan designs.
A history buff, Allen also includes some historical information about tartans in the book’s introduction. She notes that tartans are primarily associated with the Highland clans of Scotland but points out that the design known as plaid or tartan has a much older history dating back to the pre-Celtic cultures of Europe around the eighth century BC. Allen also delves into the various Scottish clans associated with different tartan designs, such as the Maxwell clan. For example, she discusses the Maxwell design which was inspired by a story about a Maxwell who escaped prison by dressing up as one of his wife’s ladies. Other Scottish clans discussed include clans Elliot, Maitland, Barclay, Hannay, Macrae of Conchra, and Fraser.
In relation to tartans and politics, Allen writes: “No other fabric has had such a prominent role in the history and politics of a country or has been written about so often in poems and historical novels.” For example, she writes that the Highland Scots started to wear tartan designs not just as a style of clothing but also as an expression of their hatred of their English rulers. “The tartan was a symbol of patriotic fervor,” writes Allen. The book also includes photographs. “The histories add texture to a book made to instruct kilted quilters–and non-Scots, too,” wrote a Publishers Weekly contributor.
BIOCRIT
BOOKS
Allen, Kathy, Modern Scot Patchwork: Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans, C&T Publishing, Inc. (Lafayette, CA), 2018.
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, February 19, 2018, review of Modern Scot Patchwork, p. 71.
ONLINE
Karen Platt, https://karenplatt.co.uk/ (July 31, 2018), Karen Platt, review of Modern Scot Patchwork.
Kathy Allen website, quiltsbykat.com (August 26, 2018).
About Kathy
Kathy Allen is a retired scientist who has been quilting for 10+ years. She brings her love of travel and history into her modern quilt designs. In this first book, Kathy brings her interpretation of the tartans of Scotland into the quilting world. Patterns that may look daunting are made easy. No math is necessary because Kathy has done it for you!
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Kathy Allen
Kathy Allen
Retired
Sutter Creek, California
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Kathy's Quilt Room
University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
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282 connections
I'm happily retired now, spending my time quilting and traveling. I still review EIRs, and I also enjoy talking about drug development, process improvement, and corporate mergers--but only as a mental exercise. I am happy to advise those going into project management, but mostly I will tell you to stay off Facebook, keep good notes, and always know who your difficult team members are.
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Experience
Kathy's Quilt Room
Retired
Company NameKathy's Quilt Room
Dates EmployedMar 2012 – Present Employment Duration6 yrs 6 mos
I am currently involved in quilting, traveling, studying history, and gardening. I am happy to help with EIRs, and brief discussions of project management and process improvement, but only briefly!
Amador Citizens for Smart Growth
Chair
Company NameAmador Citizens for Smart Growth
Dates Employed2005 – Apr 2012 Employment Duration7 yrs
Biogen Idec
Associate Director of Process Improvement
Company NameBiogen Idec
Dates EmployedNov 2003 – Mar 2005 Employment Duration1 yr 5 mos
IDEC
Associate Director Project Management
Company NameIDEC
Dates EmployedNov 2001 – Nov 2003 Employment Duration2 yrs 1 mo
IDEC
Project Manager
Company NameIDEC
Dates EmployedJun 1993 – Nov 2001 Employment Duration8 yrs 6 mos
Project Manager for Rituxan
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Education
University of California, Davis
University of California, Davis
Degree NameB.A. Field Of StudyBacteriology
Dates attended or expected graduation 1977 – 1980
I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Blaine Beaman at the Medical School
Volunteer Experience
Kennedy Foundation
Director
Company NameKennedy Foundation
Dates volunteered2007 – Dec 2013 Volunteer duration6 yrs
Cause Education
The Kennedy Foundation is a non-Profit Foundation that operates the Kennedy Gold Mine, a historic site used for teaching school children about California's gold rush history. It is open to the public on weekends. This site, which is one of the U.S. National Registor of Historic Places, exemplifies the California gold rush and in particular, hard-rock mining. Little by little, the Kennedy Foundation is restoring these resources and preserving California history.
Mother Lode Quilters Guild
Quilt Show Publicity
Company NameMother Lode Quilters Guild
Dates volunteeredJan 2014 – Jan 2014 Volunteer duration1 mo
Cause Children
We make comfort quilts for children, seniors, and newborns, and coordinate with other local groups in support of local children in distress.
Skills & Endorsements
Biotechnology
See 36 endorsements for Biotechnology36
Endorsed by Lisa Alexander and 5 others who are highly skilled at this
Endorsed by 12 of Kathy’s colleagues at Biogen
Biopharmaceuticals
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Endorsed by 9 of Kathy’s colleagues at Biogen
Process Improvement
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Mary Mary Molina and 19 connections have given endorsements for this skill
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Recommendations
Received (0)
Given (2)
Lisa Ridge
Lisa Ridge
Global Talent Management & Organization Development Leader
May 14, 2013, Kathy worked with Lisa in different groups
Lisa was instrumental in establishing a program in process improvement at both the initial strategic level and the detailed technical level while at Biogen Idec.
Robin Weaver
Robin Weaver
Principal at Regulatory Writing Services
July 12, 2008, Kathy worked with Robin in different groups
Robin's work was always thorough and timely. She kept to the rigorous schedules and provided work that was the highest quality. She was an active participant on the Project Teams on which she served and always came up with creative solutions to the various problems that would surface. I have the utmost respect for Robin because of her leadership skills and her technical abilities.
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quotes and info from introduction
Modern Scot Patchwork: Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans
Publishers Weekly. 265.8 (Feb. 19, 2018): p71+.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Modern Scot Patchwork: Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans
Kathy Allen. C&T, $29.95 trade paper (112p)
ISBN 978-1-61745-594-0
Quilt designer Allen, who makes modern table runners and bed quilts based on traditional Scottish tartans of lowlands and highlands, begins her charming book on Scot-inspired patchwork quilts with a vocabulary lesson. In Scotland, "tartan" means "woolen, latticed fabric," and "plaid" refers to how the broad cloth is used, say, as a blanket or skirt. That established, she moves on to the basics of quilting techniques. The book includes patterns for six of Allen's designs, which she selected for their "quiltability," three of which are aimed at beginners and three at more experienced quilters. She also configures a gold and green tartan to honor her California roots and outlines six steps for readers who want to construct their own tartan design, including creating "merge" fabrics (ones that interweave others) and strip sets to provide the base for the patterns. Piecing these tartans into patchwork quilts is complex; however, Allen has simplified the process with a system, plus large graphics, charts, and tips. Allen delightfully includes each tartan's family story, such as the Maxwell, inspired by the story of a man who escaped from prison dressed as one of his devoted wife's ladies. The histories add texture to a book made to instruct kilted quilters--and non-Scots, too. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Modern Scot Patchwork: Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans." Publishers Weekly, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 71+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357579/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=7aec5bb3. Accessed 13 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357579
Posted on July 31, 2018
Book Review Modern Scot Patchwork by Kathy Allen
Written by
kplatt
Posted in
Book Reviews
Tagged
C&T Publishing, craft book reviews, quilting, Search Press
Book Review Modern Scot Patchwork by Kathy AllenBook Review Modern Scot Patchwork by Kathy Allen, softback published by C&T Publishing. ISBN 9781617455940, price 24.99 available in the UK from www.searchpress.com
Subtitled ‘Bold Quilts Inspired by Iconic Tartans’, this book gives just 8 tartan-style quilt patterns. There is a brief history of tartan, followed by sections on colour and design. The book is illustrated throughout, however, some of the images emphasize the inaccuracies in the piecing in this book. The designs are offered in different sizes. The diagrams rely on numbers and letters for colours, a little confusing in its method. An image of the original tartan is shown and the ‘interpretations’ are close to the originals, so anyone could take a photo of a tartan and do this. The quilts are given a skill level, but confident beginner would have been more suited than beginner because piecing accuracy is essential in quilts of this nature. There are also quilts for experienced quilters – just a more complicated pattern and one for intermediate quilters. A gallery is shown at the back of the book with more samples. These quilts are modern representations of tartan, but lack imagination in interpretation of design. They do make wonderful quilts.