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#52 weeks & #sewalong...
#52 weeks & #sewalong...
Published:
Jan 23 2018 - 04:00
It's 2018! Is it time to start a new project? Of course it is, it's always time to do that! Especially when it's one that doesn't come with a deadline. So what to make? Or start.
How about a Jelly Roll Rug? One Jelly Roll, batting and a zig-zag sewing machine. Kairle Oaks and Jen Van Orman have been leading a sew-along on Instagram the past few weeks with tips, tricks and encouragement. This is Jen's rug, it's made with Vanessa Christenson's shipping-in-February Ombre Confetti Metallics.
The Jelly Roll Rug pattern was designed by Roma Lambson and measures approximately 30" wide by 44" long finished size.
Kairle used a Jelly Roll of Lella Boutique's shipping-in-March Nest for this beautiful rug.
The best part about the sew-along has been the tips - the "this is what it should look like at this step."
Do you participate in sew-alongs? Also known as quilt-alongs.
I've done a few... the Blockheads, the Patchwork Quilt-Along with Bonnie & Camille's Basics last year, the Farmer's Wife a few years ago, assorted impromptu sew-alongs with friends or on social media, and so on. I've kept up beautifully with a few and others... they're now long-term WIPs.
But with Blockheads ending, I am itching to start something new to work on long-term. Ish.
I love the 52-week challenges that a couple of shops are doing via Facebook and Instagram.
A Needle Pulling Thread is a shop in Digby, Nova Scotia - Canada. (O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all thy sons command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free!... sorry. Hockey fan here. It's a reflex-thing.)
This is the fourth year the shop has been doing a 52-week challenge - make a block every week for the entire year. The red and white checkerboard is the 2018 block - the instructions are on the shop's Facebook page. Birds In the Air was last year, the Churn Dashes were 2016 and the stars were 2015. All are very scrappy, the idea being to use your scraps and have some fun.
The Quilted Moose in Nebraska joined the fun last year, making the Birds in the Air blocks and starting their own block, a 6" Cake Stand.
For 2018, Debbie has chosen a 9" finished Double Nine-Patch block.
(I may or may not have coerced a friend into doing this one with me.)
Do you know of any other shops doing a 52-week challenge like this? We'd love to see what they're doing and share - we might even join in!
We're also participating in the Clementine Quilt-along benefitting St. Jude's Children's Hospital. This year's quilt is made using Mama's Cottage by April Rosenthal.
The Clementine quilt was designed by Kimberly Jolly and the folks at It's Sew Emma.
While each of the patterns is a free download - with video tutorials to help - a $5.00 donation to St. Jude's is suggested with all of the money going to the charity. The instructions for Block 1 will be posted on Thursday but the listing of Fabric Requirements is available now.
As soon as I finish my Blockheads' quilt - quilts - I'm diving into this sew-along. Start with Strips by Susan Ache.
This sew-along is informal and on Instagram but there are already blocks being made. I know a few folks are still waiting for books to arrive at their local quilt shop so I think this one will be flying along like an airboat soon.
Airboat.
#airboatparade on Instagram. This is Susan's quilt titled Airboat. It's a very, very clever way of making a block that looks a whole lot harder than it is. I've already got my fabric ready and I may have started cutting the parts for a block or two.
So what about you? Do you participate in sew-alongs? Do you like them, or are you more of a lurker?
I will let you know how it goes - how I keep up, my blocks and so on.
I think two things are certain. I will fall behind at some time then catch up after a marathon sewing session. And I'm going to have to change something about the blocks, settings or pattern.
Let's hear it for sew-along-ishes!
Happy Tuesday!
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