Quilt blog with breaks for crochet and fun with language

A pair of hands points out the diagonal seam attaching two 2 1/4" wide binding strips.

How To: Correct quilt binding length every time

Posted on November 12, 2021November 12, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R3fdw7pC0I Welcome to my second tutorial! Quilt binding frustration is real, friends. Is it the correct length? Oh no, it's twisted! Alright I think it's fixed. No it's twisted the wrong way, nuts. After learning this technique watching a video...Read More

A closeup detail photograph of a quilt in greens, blues, and pink with details of the wave and bubble quilting.

Floating Forest release day!

Posted on November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

Release day for the Floating Forest quilt pattern! It's here! It's now! On sale! You can get the Floating Forest pattern in my pattern shop here on the website and all patterns are 20% off through Sunday November 14th. My...Read More

The Moons Akimbo special, or, patterns now available on my website

Posted on October 7, 2021October 7, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

The Moons Akimbo special Dear long-suffering readers, here is the Moons Akimbo post I promised months ago! I know I don't have to tell you how crazy life gets sometimes. Still, no excuses. As a result I am offering you...Read More

Release day for Moons Akimbo, or, an exercise in brevity

Posted on July 8, 2021July 8, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

I am very pleased to let you know that Moons Akimbo is now available for purchase in my store! After a lot of hard work and some wonderful test quilts that I will highlight in a post tomorrow - along...Read More

Video Tutorial – How To: Sew Curves Without Pins!

Posted on June 5, 2021June 5, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

Welcome to my first video tutorial, in which I talk entirely too much, say a lot of "um" and "like," and generally bumble through showing you how to sew quarter circle curves without the use of pins. Moons Akimbo, releasing...Read More

Moons Akimbo on the horizon, or, the continuing adventures of Quentin’s silhouette

Posted on May 24, 2021May 24, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

I did a truly scary thing and entered Quentin's silhouette portrait quilt into the Minnesota Quilters quilt show as a judged entry! When I decided to enter it, I let go of any expectation to place since there are plenty...Read More

Release day is here!, or, a very happy birthday to The Kitchen Sink quilt pattern

Posted on May 1, 2021May 1, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

I am beyond excited to announce that the pattern for The Kitchen Sink is now available! This quilt pattern has instructions for crib, twin, queen, and king size quilts. Click here to read all about this quilt's journey from fabric...Read More

Pattern testing underway, or, how to wait when you’re excited

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

Hint: it's SO HARD to wait when you're excited. My wonderful pattern testers are off and running, and I absolutely love the fabric they've chosen. Here are fabric pulls from four of the six, and I'll give you a little...Read More

The beacons are lit, or, a horn call for pattern testers

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

I am excited to announce that my first quilt pattern, The Kitchen Sink, is ready for testing. After going through copy editing with the wonderful Bryn Schut of Bryn Schut Edits, and further checking and double checking (so much checking)...Read More

Putting your brain to paper, or, how The Kitchen Sink became a quilt

Posted on March 21, 2021March 23, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

I have embarked on a grand journey. Grand in the sense that it will be large, fairly scary, and take me far from my comfort zone, like Pooh's Grand Adventure. Earlier this year, I finished a quilt affectionately named The...Read More

Whimsical creatures in full color

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

As I sit here on the couch, I can't help but heave a sigh as the monitor makes it clear that my delightful, energetic child is going to skip this nap. At times like these, I feel a strong connection...Read More

In defiance of grid structure, or, how the heck to price an artist’s work

Posted on January 30, 2021January 30, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

The design for this quilt came to me on the edge of sleep, which is both cliche and true. I suppose it would be more cliche if it had come to me in a dream, so there's that. I loved...Read More

Further explorations in quilt portraiture

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

The beginning of this latest project was sort of an accident. My son, who is two years old, discovered a fascination with my sewing machine and wanted to watch it go. What was I to do, but make it go?...Read More

My style of quilting is not very portable; good thing I know what to do with a crochet hook

Posted on July 18, 2020February 5, 2021 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

[caption id="attachment_1597" align="alignright" width="234"] Cascade lake by our new apartment in Rochester, Minnesota[/caption] What a wild few months! We managed to transport ourselves nearly 2000 miles with no major injuries or broken furniture. Driving across the country with a toddler...Read More

A portrait of my sister, or, Girl With a Raised Eyebrow

Posted on April 22, 2020April 22, 2020 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

Guys guys guys. I have some bombshell sisters, let me tell you. I happened to snap a photo of one of them in a car during a family trip about eight years ago, and it's one of my favorite photos...Read More

Babies are marvelous quilt receivers

Posted on February 29, 2020February 29, 2020 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

My second niece, Sylvia, was born last December, and I'm embarrassed to say her quilt was late. Now that it's been gifted and my head - hung with shame - lifted, I can share it with all of you! I...Read More

Boy, what a show! Plus I’m excited to drink wine and paint… a butt?

Posted on September 29, 2019September 30, 2019 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

Anathema sitting on the beginnings of a project This weekend was the River City Quilter's Guild Quilt & Fabric Art Festival! Truly amazing artists exhibited their work, from detailed paper piecing to joyous freeform and pictorial fabric expressions. I have...Read More

Supposing on the subject of honesty and the horror of a public blog

Posted on September 23, 2019September 25, 2019 by Karoline Li (Flustered Turtle)

My husband stealthily modeling my son's first birthday quilt (He requests that I specify he is kneeling behind the quilt) My name is Karoline, and I make quilts. I make them in my head, then I make them for my...Read More