sewtakeahike

snowball QAL tips

 

If you're looking for the initial Snowball QAL post, it is here

and the flickr group is here!

 

Just a few tips to make your snowball block production quicker should you use the pattern I provided! 

But before we get into that, make sure and join the flickr Snowball QAL group!

First, instead of completing the snowballs one at a time, do the snowballs in batches, cutting, then sewing and trimming several at one time.

 

 

So in other words, I cut all my triangles and squares and patterns and then stacked them like this so I can sit at my machine and just sew all the triangles on; not having to get from my machine over and over.

 

Once they are all sewn

 

 

I will press them all, then trim them all.  Make sense? 

Doing this "production" type sewing will definitely speed things along!

I like to do them in batches of 30 or so.  Only because that immediate gratification part of me dictates it this way if you get my drift!

xo,

Penny

Snowball Along!

 

 

So apparently this is what I do when I'm sick.  Start a couple of new quilts.  I've been battling a cold for a week and the last few days it's getting the better of me. 

 

So first I started my polka quilt out of my asterisk block. 

 

 

I have three of the blocks completed and that's a quilt I will be taking my time on.

Now, I'm starting a Snowball quilt.  Contrary to my Asterisk blocks, these blocks are super quick.  And because it's hard for me to sit still even when I'm sick, I've started a Snowball Along.

There are several ways you could do these blocks, and it's probably no surprise to you that the easiest way for me is to foundation piece them.  So that's the technique I'm going to share with you today. 

But first, a few details.

• each snowball block finishes at 4" square
• the solid I am using is connecting threads "verdigris"
• this is the perfect block to use up your scraps
• my finished quilt will consist of 288 snowball blocks (16 across and 18 down)

 

 

Here we go!

What you will need:

• Print off this pdf that has 4 snowball foundation patterns on it and then cut each snowball pattern out separately.
• solid fabric cut into 2 1/2" strips and each strip cut into 3" lengths.  Then cut these 2 1/2" X3" rectangles in half, into triangles.
• scraps that are at least 5" square for the center of the snowball

 

Choose your center fabric (scraps work really well for this!) and trim it at least 1/4"  past all edges of the pattern.

 

With the right side of the pattern up, and the right side of the fabric down, align one of your solid triangles in one of the corners so it overlaps the corner mark by at least 1/4", and sew through the layers along the line. 

 

Repeat with the other 3 corners.

 

Turn the corners of the paper pattern in and trim the center print fabric somewhat even with the edges of the solid fabric.

 

Fold the paper corners back out

 

then press the solid fabric out to cover the paper corners.

Turn the block over, and trim the edges, leaving a 1/4" seam allowance of fabric past the edge of each side of the paper pattern.

 

Now all you have to do is make 287(!) more (that will give you a 64"X 72" quilt) and I'll meet you back here in a few days and we can assemble them!  I can't wait to see your fabric choices!

 

xo,

Penny

 

2 weeks of Ron

 

Thank you once again Monica for the pattern!!  I love my Ron quilt!

And just for you Monica, "cats that look like Ron Swanson"

 (photo courtesy of vulture.com)

Ron loves sushi

And there you have it.  5 hours of cutting 1200 squares.  Over 3 hours of pressing seams open.  Pinning and unpinning.  I love Ron in blue, don't you too?

 

And you're not going to believe this, but when my Ron quilt saw the photo of Sonja's amazingly fabulous new pattern "I love sushi" (This is a pattern that went right to the heart of me the first time I saw it and it's one I will make!), he whispered to me, "I love sushi too".   

So there you have it again.  Straight from Ron quilts lips. 

 

Here's a bit more info about I Love Sushi:

The I Love Sushi Quilt finishes at 37" x 43" , and is a paper pieced quilt pattern. The PDF pattern is 20 pages long, and includes all pattern templates. The first 10 pages print out as a handy booklet, and includes basic paper piecing instructions, a glossary of terms, illustrated instructions and links to online tutorials. It was designed with beginners in mind, so it's rated easy-moderate for novice quilters. It makes a yummy wall hanging, baby quilt, or small lap quilt

 

 

A few weeks ago, Alyssa from Pile O Fabric contacted me about being a part of the Totally Groovy QAL.  And although I won't be making this quilt right now, I really love it and wanted to help her get the word out about the QAL!  She wrote up this post to make it easy on everyone involved, so if you like the "groove" quilt you see above, read on! Also, I'll be giving a copy of the pattern away on July 28th, so make sure and check back then!

 

Pile O' Fabric has partnered up with Carolina Patchworks (Emily Cier) who is an amazing quilt designer and writer. She wrote Scrap Republic, Quilt Remix, and Pixel Play (coming soon). You can see her work in Modern Blocks, and she is one of the 16 Iconic Quilt Designers in the newly released book, We Love Color.

For this Quilt Along we will be using Emily's Groove Quilt Pattern, which Emily will be offering at a discount for all QAL participants. It might seem a bit intimidating, but Emily assures it is much easier than it looks! This will nevertheless be a challenging Quilt Along in Solid Color Selection and Curve Piecing, but still achievable for the newer quilter—and rewarding, too! As you quilt along there will be wonderful tutorials and advice on fabric selection, piecing curves, and quilting techniques from amazing quilters. Emily's patterns are very easy to follow and always have instructions for crib, lap, twin, queen, and king. You are welcome to make this quilt any way you see fit, so if you prefer to use prints then go for it! It will be neat to see everyones own
interpretation.

Here are the current scheduled posts for the Quilt Along. We will be learning the ins and outs of curve piecing from amazing quilters Emily Cier, Jacquie Gering, Amanda Woodruff, and Kate Conklin. We will also be getting some Groovy Quilting tips from Quilting Extraordinaire Angela Walters. This will be a fantastic learning experience, and a great opportunity to meet some new quilting friends!

• August 2nd - Planning and Choosing your Fabric (and if you need fabric, I’ve
  arranged for a 20% discount on Kona Cotton at Fat Quarter Shop)
• August 9th - Meet the Totally Groovy Designer, Emily Cier
• August 16th - Cutting your templates
• August 22nd - Intro to Curves Piecing by Alyssa Lichner
• August 23rd - Piecing Traditional Curves by Jacquie Gering at Tallgrass
  Prairie Studio
• August 30th - Piecing Curves without Pins by Kate Conklin at Kate Conklin
  Designs
• September 6th - Piecing Curves without Pins by Emily Cier at Carolina Patchworks
• September 7th - Piecing Curves with a Curve Master Foot by Amanda Woodruff
  at A Crafty Fox
• September 13th - Putting all the pieces together, finishing your quilt top
• September 20th - Choosing a Backing Design
• September 27th - A Look at Emily Cier's New Book Pixel Play
• October 4th - Totally Groovy Quilting Tips by Angela Walters from Quilting is my
  Therapy
• October 18th - Wrapping up and linky party begins
• October 25th - Submissions do for Grand Prize Winners

Throughout the course of the QAL, participants will have the chance to win
AMAZING prizes from the following Sponsors. For exact prize details you can visit Pile O' Fabric

The Pattern

Carolina Patchworks will be offering all QAL Participants a discount on her
pattern.

• 20% off 2 or more (a great chance to get another one of Emily's wonderful
  patterns) code: TOTALLYGROOVY
• 15% off Groove Paper Pattern code: GROOVEPAPER
• 15% off Groove PDF Pattern code: GROOVEPDF

The Fabric

Fat Quarter Shop is offering all QAL Participants a 20% Discount on all KONA cotton from now till August 30th using code: Sewing101

Pile O' Fabric is having a giveaway for a Totally Groovy Quilt Package!
Everything you need to join the fun $75 to The Fat Quarter Shop to get your fabric and a Groove Quilt Pattern to Quilt Along! This giveaway ends July 31st.

Flickr Group

Join the flickr group, which can be found here.
This will be a great place for us to come together and share photos of our
progress and get to know each other.

Totally Groovy Button

If you’d like to let people know what fun you are up to or invite your
friends to join here is a button!

<div align="center"><a href="http://pileofabric.com/post/1001884-totally-groovy-quilt-along-with-prizes" title="Pile O' Fabric"><img src="http://pileofabric.com/Events/totally-groovy-qal/button_sm2.jpg" alt="Pile O' Fabric" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Sign up and be entered into a drawing to win a pattern!

Pile O' Fabric would like to get an
approximate head count of you all. If you plan to join and Quilt Along please fill out the sign up form, this will NOT commit you to anything. If you sign up you will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 10 Groove Patterns (paper).

For complete details of The Totally Groovy Quilt Along you can visit Alyssa
at Pile O' Fabric.

Promotional Partners

If you want more chances to win a Groove Pattern then check out these other blogging friends who have offered to help promote the QAL. Some will be giving patterns away!

• July 14th - Taryn @ Pixels to Patchwork
• July 16th - Jacey @ JaceyCraft
• July 17th - Angela Walters @ Quilting is my Therapy
• July 18th - Tessa @ The Sewing Chick
• July 19th - Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting
• July 20th - Kelly @ Live. Love. Create
• July 21st - Jacquie @ Tallgrass Praire Studio
• July 22nd - Jennifer @ Ellison Lane Quilts
• July 23rd - Heidi @ Fabric Mutt
• July 24th - Beth @ Plum and June
• July 25th - Barbara @ Monumental Quilts
• July 26th - Allegory @ Sew Allegorical
• July 27th - Danny @ Mommyforreals
• July 28th - Penny @ Sew Take a Hike
• July 31st - Amanda @ A Crafty Fox
• August 1st - Kate @ Kate Conklin Designs

Okay everyone time to get your Quiltin' Groove on!! :)