Announcing the Summer Block Party Quilt Along

Who is ready for a fun and low-stress Summer project? Announcing the Summer Block Party quilt along!

WHAT: Join us in creating a breezy Summer quilt with blocks designed by some of your favorite designers! This will be a mystery quilt of sorts, with the blocks and the final layout being revealed along the way. 

WHEN: Starting Monday June 17 through July 31, 2024

• Each day for 9 days we will email you a PDF pattern for a free 12" Summer quilt block.

• On June 26th we will send you finishing instructions to turn your blocks into a 44" x 58" quilt.

• The fun doesn't stop there! Each Friday in July we will send you free BONUS projects to make with your 12" blocks.

• Sew at your own pace through the Summer!

HOW TO JOIN: It's free to join! Sign up to receive the daily email with the PDF patterns...AND the bonus projects. 

• You only need to sign up once with one designer to get the blocks (All designers will be sending out the same patterns each day).

• Following the completion of the Summer Block Party, you will be subscribed to each of the participating designers' newsletters which are free - and you can easily unsubscribe anytime. 

WHO: Here's the list of designers for the QAL. It's a fun group and I can't wait for you to see the blocks and bonus projects that we've designed!

Amanda Niederhauser  Jedi Craft Girl  @jedicraftgirl

Amy Chappell  Ameroonie Designs  @amerooniedesigns

Amy Smart  Diary of A Quilter  @diaryofaquilter

Andy Knowlton  A Bright Corner  @abrightcorner

Bev McCullough  Flamingo Toes  @flamingotoes

Jen Belnap  The Smitten Chicken  @thesmittenchicken 

Jennifer Long  Sew A Story  @sewastory_jenniferlong

Melissa Mortensen  The Polkadot Chair  @polkadotchair

FABRICS:

We will be using the following fabrics for our blocks, but feel free to use whatever you'd like!

All fabrics listed are from Riley Blake Designs and each block pattern will use the following names to identify fabrics (bold names):

• Background fabric (Stars Seasonal Basic or Riley White)
• Dark Blue (Oxford Blue solid)
• Blue (Cadet solid)
• Medium Blue (Cornflower solid)
• Light Blue (Boy Blue solid)
• Dark Red (Barn Red solid)
• Red (Schoolhouse solid)
• Light Red (Tea Rose solid)
• Pink (Frosting solid)

For those that sign up there's a helpful information sheet PDF available that has the schedule, the QAL details, fabric requirements, and a handy planner sheet so you can plan out your own fabrics.

Remember - the free block patterns can only be accessed by signing up for the QAL; the blocks won't be shared here on my blog. Sign up to receive the block patterns and bonus projects, and we'll get started on Monday June 17th!

edited to add: sign ups are now closed and the quilt along for 2024 has ended. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Maple Leaf Quilt Block Tutorial

Today I'm sharing a tutorial for these classic Maple Leaf quilt blocks!

Before we get started, I want to let you know that there's a free printable version of these instructions available here. I've included two sizes for you, a 9 1/2" block and a 12 1/2" block.

Want to see what you can make with these blocks? Be sure to scroll to the end to see the quilt I made using the 12.5" blocks.

For this example I'll be using a single print to make one block but these Maple Leaf blocks are also really fun as a scrappy block. So pull out those scraps and give it a try!

Here's what you'll need for one 12.5" x 12.5" block

• 4 print squares, 4.5" x 4.5"
• 2 print squares, 5" x 5"
• 2 background squares, 5" x 5"
• 1 background square, 4.5" x 4.5"
• 2 background squares, 4" x 4"

Changeling Star Quilt Block for Sewcialites 2 QAL

 Hello everyone and welcome to any new visitors!

This is a big week for a couple of reasons-- First of all, it's finally my turn to share the block I designed for the Sewcialites 2 quilt along with the Fat Quarter shop! The second reason is that this is block #23 which means we are ONE block away from being able to start piecing our quilt tops together!

Are you ready to see the block I designed? This is the Changeling Star block:

Scrappy Gradient Block Tutorial

Ready for a simple but really fun quilt block tutorial? You're going to love this one. It's perfect for using up those scraps that I KNOW we've all be saving. These are fast to make, and it's fun to dig into your scraps and play with colors and values.

This is called the Scrappy Gradient quilt block and I created it for an online quilting bee that I was a part of a couple years ago. 

This block is great for quilting bees and block swaps because it's easy enough for even beginner quilters, it's a quick block so you can have each quilter make 2-3 blocks, and in the end you get such a great variety of scrappy fabrics and different prints. 

Build A Heart Quilt Block Tutorial

I'm delighted to be a part of the #SewPINK initiative again this year with ByAnnie.com and I have a quilt block tutorial to share with you as a part of this blog hop.

This year ByAnnie.com is joining forces with the Fat Quarter Shop with a goal to raise $20,000 to be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and ByAnnie.com will match every dollar raised on the #SewPINK fundraising page here. 

(A PDF download for this pattern is available in my shop here)

Six years ago I became a breast cancer survivor myself, and during the months of surgeries, procedures, and healing, my quilting friends all gathered together to make a beautiful scrappy heart quilt for me. It is one of my most treasured items.

As a very small way of giving back, I've created a scrappy heart quilt block that could be used by a group of friends or a quilt guild to make a handmade gesture of love and support to someone battling cancer or just going through a difficult time. 

I'm calling this block the Build A Heart quilt block - you start with a scrappy little heart and then you have three options to build it into a 12.5" quilt block. Here's a look at a couple of the blocks:

How To Sew A Partial Seam

 Hello and welcome to any new visitors!

Today is my turn on the Back to School Blog Hop - a chance for all of us to learn some great new tips, tricks, and techniques from 16 different quilters.

Today I'll be sharing a piecing technique that's a great one to have in your tool box. At first it might be a little intimidating but once you learn it, it really unlocks a lot of great block ideas and patterns. 

Have you heard of partial seams? Partial seams are not difficult - the best way for me to explain partial seams is to show you...I'll step you through it, using a tutorial for this 6 1/2" Wrap Around quilt block. 

And if you'd like the full Wrap Around quilt pattern scroll to the bottom for a link to download.

SewPINK + Hearstrings Quilt Block Tutorial

Hello friends and new visitors!  Today I'm sharing a new quilt block tutorial - one that is close to my heart.  

Recently I was invited to participate in the #SewPINK initiative created by ByAnnie.com and I didn't hesitate for a moment.  You see, I am a breast cancer survivor myself and I will take any opportunity to bring awareness to this important issue. 

Nearly five (!) years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a bilateral (double) mastectomy. During the difficult months of recovery, some dear friends secretly gathered heart quilt blocks from fellow quilters and stitched them together into a sweet quilt which was presented to me.  The beautiful, scrappy quilt included a label on the back with an inspirational quote and the names of all who contributed in some way to the quilt.  It is still one of my most treasured quilts and brings tears to my eyes just talking about it.

With that beloved quilt in mind, I wanted to share a tutorial for a quilt block that could be used by a group of friends or a guild to make a personalized and meaningful gift for someone battling cancer or going through a difficult time.  

This Heartstrings quilt block is a foundation pieced and applique block but it is beginner friendly and is great for using scraps.  I wanted you to be able to pull from what you already owned to make these blocks - use those scraps, favorite treasured fabrics, and prints with some meaning behind them.

**scroll to the bottom to read more about the #SewPINK initiative and how you can play a part!  And be sure to read the details about the giveaway as well!

If you know basic foundation piecing techniques then you can breeze right through the first part of this tutorial.  And if you're not familiar with it - don't be intimidated!  Once you get the hang of it you'll love it.  Pssst.....scroll down to find info about a giveaway from ByAnnie.com! 

Shall we get started?  

First - Download and print the Heartstrings PDF pattern. That's where you'll get the outlines for each side of the heart.  You can print on regular printer paper like I did, or you can also use Foundation Paper.  If you're making a lot of these blocks I recommend using Foundation Paper because it tears away SO easily.  Carol Doak's Foundation Paper is my favorite - find it here on Amazon*

Download and Print the Heartstrings PDF foundation pattern here

Makes one 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" quilt block

**This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) when purchases are made through links found in this post. Thank you!

Gather the following fabric:

• a 6 1/2" x 11 1/2" piece for one half of the heart
• a 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" background square
• a variety of scraps / strips

You'll also need:

• a washable gluestick (optional)
• scissors
• rotary cutter and mat
• sewing machine that can do both straight stitching and zigzag

 

We'll be working on the left side of the heart first, but using the BACK of the paper.  

1.  Place the first strip of fabric (right side up).  Use a bit of washable glue (Elmer's Washable School Glue is my favorite) to help that first strip stay in place.  You'll want to be sure that the strip fully covers the bottom of the heart from edge to edge.  You can hold the paper up to a window or a light to check this.  

TIP:  You need to sew the strips to the back of the paper so that when it comes time to trim the half heart shape you can see the lines.  To make the lines more visible on the backside, you can place the paper against the window and trace over the lines with a pencil.  

2.  Place the second strip right sides together on top of the first strip.  Reduce your stitch length (I set my Juki TL-2010Q to a stitch length of 1).  

TIP:  When foundation piecing, it is essential to reduce your stitch length.  Having a really short stitch length will help to perforate the paper as you sew so it will be much easier to remove at the end!

Stitch along the edge of the fabric, stitching through strip 1 and 2 and the paper.  I try to still use a 1/4" seam allowance.

3. Fold open strip 2 and press.  

4.  Have some fun with these strips - for my 3rd strip I wanted it to be at a different angle so I placed it how I wanted it, and then stitched 1/4" from the edge of the 3rd strip.

See how it's going to leave a large seam allowance on that 2nd strip?  That's ok!  I'll just fold back the paper and trim that seam allowance to be 1/4".  

TIP:  The Add-A-Quarter ruler is really helpful for trimming up seam allowances when foundation piecing.

There....all trimmed up nice and neat!

5. Fold open the 3rd strip and press.  

6. Continue adding strips, varying the width of the strips and the angles.  Just be sure that each strip you add is WIDER than the heart shape.  At the end we'll trim it down and you don't want any strip to end up too short or you'll have to start over. 

Now I have my heart shape all covered.  See the photo below for the view from the other side...

7.  Time to trim the heart!  Use scissors to trim around the outside edge of the heart.  Carefully remove all the paper on the back side of the heart.

Set it aside for now and work on the right side of the heart.

8. Use scissors to cut out the half heart template and pin it to the 6 1/2" x 11 1/2" piece of fabric.  

TIP: Because this is a larger piece of fabric, you have a great opportunity to use a print that has a special meaning or message.  I love this print from Riley Blake Designs - I had it in my stash and I love that it had some positive and encouraging messages on it.  

9. Cut out the heart shape along the solid outer line.

10. Place the two heart halves right sides together and using a 1/4" seam and a regular stitch length, sew the two halves together along the center stitch line.  

11. Press seam toward the solid (right) half and trim off the little dog ear at the bottom point of the heart (see photo above).

12. It's now ready to be appliqued to the background square.  You have some options here - you can place your heart at a fun angle (as in the photo above), or center it.  

TIP: Be sure the heart is placed at least 1/2" away from all sides of the background square so it won't get caught in the seam when you're sewing the blocks together.  

If you choose to center the heart, fold the background square in half and finger press to crease.  Use that crease to help you center the heart.  You can see the heart centered over the crease in the photo below.

13. Time to use our helpful Elmer's washable school glue again.  I sure love this stuff when I'm foundation piecing.  Use a bit of glue in a few spots around the edges of the heart to hold it in place while you applique.  You can also pin the heart in place as well if you prefer.  

14. Use a small zigzag or blanket stitch (and coordinating thread) to stitch all the way around the heart and secure it to the background square.  On my Baby Lock Sofia 2 I used stitch #8, at 2.5 wide and 1.0 length.  

So that the zigzag stitch would not be as noticeable, I used a lighter pink thread on the left half and a darker pink thread on the right half.  

You're Heartstrings block is done!  

If you want to add more personality to your block, another option is to piece the background square!  To do this you'll need two rectangles, 6 1/2" x 12 1/2"

For this block I used some low volume scrap strips and switched which side I used the strips. 

TIP:  If you use lighter fabrics in your heart, be aware that the background print may show through.  For this reason, I chose a light pink background for the right side.  

Center the heart on the background square as we did before, glue or pin in place, and zigzag stitch around the heart to secure it.

And below you can see both of my blocks together.  I think I'll keep going and make enough of these for a throw quilt.  They're so fun and scrappy!

If you make a Heartstrings block I'd love to see it! Be sure to tag me (#abrightcorner) on social media and use the hashtags: #HeartstringsQuiltBlock and #abrightcorner so we can all see what you create!  

Giveaway

Edited to add:  Giveaway is now closed - thank you everyone!  The winner is Esther G.  Congrats Esther!  

Ready for the giveaway info?  ByAnnie.com is giving one of my lucky readers a $30 gift card!  To enter, simply leave a comment on this post.  I'll randomly choose a winner on October 20, 2020 and notify them by email (so make sure you include your email address in your comment!)  And a big thank you to ByAnnie.com for the giveaway!

Thanks for visiting!  If you're new here, you might also be interested in:

• my pattern shop
• more A Bright Corner tutorials
• view my completed quilts
• read about my book Fresh Fat Quarter Quilts here

Ready for more #SewPINK projects? Check out the talented creators that are a part of this blog tour:

✂ Oct. 1 (Thur): Mister Domestic

✂ Oct. 5 (Mon): Sewfinity

✂ Oct. 7 (Wed): Great Heron Thread

✂ Oct. 9 (Friday): Knot and Thread

✂ Oct. 12 (Mon): Snuggles Quilts

✂ Oct. 14 (Wed): A Bright Corner

✂ Oct. 16 (Fri): Suzn Quilts

✂ Oct. 19 (Mon): HUGS'N KISSES

✂ Oct. 20 (Tues): Sallie Tomato

✂ Oct. 22 (Thur): Masterpiece Quilting, Nancy Scott 

✂ Oct. 23 (Fri): Meadow Mist Designs

✂ Oct. 26 (Mon): LoveYouSew

✂ Oct. 27 (Tue): Teresa Coates

✂ Oct. 31 (Sat): Sookie Sews of Sue O'Very Designs

The #SewPink Initiative was created by ByAnnie.com LLC to raise awareness for breast cancer throughout the year. Our efforts culminate in an annual blog hop during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote self-care, awareness, early detection and support for those affected by breast cancer. 

To learn more and see the calendar of events visit: https://www.ByAnnie.com/SewPINK

To find screenings available near you: 

• Breast Screen (Australia)

• CDC.gov (US)

• WebMD (free screenings)

To donate directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation visit: https://give.bcrf.org/give/31404/#!/donation/checkout

Did you know?

If you haven't yet, please make an appointment for a breast cancer screening!