Tuesday, June 01, 2010

more quilt along info

Thanks for all the feedback about my pattern writing questions in the last post. It sounds normal for pattern writers to round up by about 1/4 yard. I find I do the same thing. For the quilt along fabric requirements I already rounded up, so you shouldn't need to. (Unless you want to, of course.)

(I cracked open my fat quarter pack this morning...I can't wait to start cutting and sewing!)

To answer some questions....

How do I join in the quilt along?

That's a good question. I will post the instructions here on my blog, you quilt along. Feel free to show progress shots, as well as your fabric selections in this flickr quilt along group pool and on your blog.

What size are the squares?

2.5" cut. Which means it's a jelly roll, layer cake or charm pack friendly pattern.

If I am using jelly rolls, how many would I need?

1

If I am using layer cakes, how many would I need?

1

How many charm squares would I need?

123 (since charm packs vary in count, I can't calculate the exact amount of charm packs you will need.)

If I am using scraps, how many 2.5" squares will I need?

You will need 490 colored squares. Unless you are cutting scraps, don't cut into your fabric yet, as we will be strip piecing. If you are cutting from scraps, you may want to start now. :)

Does the background need to be plain white?

No, but I would recommend a tone on tone fabric or something extremely subtle.

What fabric are you using for your background?

I'm going to use white Kona cotton.

Thoughts on fabric selection...

Take note of the value (light, medium, dark) of your fabrics. If you use lighter fabrics, you will have a softer, more subtle quilt. If you are using brighter/darker fabrics, the pattern will have more definition and will be bolder. If you are using pre-cuts, try to choose the darks and mediums from the line. Or choose only the lights. If you mix in the light fabrics with the mediums and darks, you are going to lose the pattern definition in your quilt. Most pre-cut fabrics have a mix of values since it's a representation of the entire fabric line. So, to get around that, you could buy more than the required amount to work around the values or substitute in some coordinating fabrics. Scrappy is always good, right? Just something to think about as you are planning your quilt.

I plan to start next Monday, June 7th.

I'm glad that so many of you will be quilting along with me!

37 comments:

Alf and Lily Creations said...

Those fabrics pictured look lovely, what are they ?

Amanda Jean said...

Anna Griffin's The Lizzie Collection. I picked them up at quilt market...they will come out in July, I believe.

OurCrazyFarm said...

YAY! Can't wait to get started! I am going to make this quilt for a special couple who will be married in August. Great pattern~ and all those scraps to use up is just another bonus:))

tarabu said...

490? Nope, my 2.5" stash is not there yet! Dangitall, I guess I'll just have to buy more fabric!

ktquilts said...

I am reserving my right to quilt along later!!! I love your quilt, and even have a Verna Jelly roll just waiting patiently...but I am currently swamped!! Also need to get my machine in for annual service. Rats! Oh, and I am trying not to buy any fabric for awhile so Hubby won't keel over when I buy that fat quarter stack you have there!!!

Blessings,

KT

Hannah said...

Woohoo! Can't wait to get started! I've got a stack of fabrics all picked out.

Nicole said...

this sounds interesting yet intimidating, the latter on a few fronts, first it is crazy mom, second it involves getting things done in a timely fashion.....and lastly that looks like an awful lot of little squares, and last but not least i have never done a quilt along! but i think i might jump in and see how far i manage to make it.....

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to start this quilt along. Thanks for your very clear layouts and answering all the coming questions ahead of time!

Teresa said...

Oh great I have time to get to the fabric store:) I'm geeked!

AllieKatMom said...

Im in and I am so excited to see I can use my Hunky dory jelly roll. I think all the colors are light to medium so should be fine on the color scale.

BrianG said...

Why do they keep making such beautiful fabrics?!?! There are already a million lines of fabric I would like to have and here is another. Beautiful quilt and plan.

Oops in my husband's account.
Leila :)

Hrönnsa said...

I loved your last quilt along, it was just fun fun fun :) I´m joingin this one as soon as my exams are over...so it will be a july quilt for me...can´t wait!!!

Anita in Florida said...

Well I can't wait either! Your last quilt along was great fun (9 patch a day). Now I just have to decide what fabric to use...I have a few to choose from, Whimsy, Charisma,Eden...can't decide.

Deb Robertson Writes said...

I've got my fabrics, mine's going to be another stash-buster! but it's going to be pretty cool I think.

Denice said...

i cant wait!!! i have a few charm square packs i have wanted to use and NOW is the time :) this is going to be awesome.

Georgia said...

Hmmm, changing my mind about which fabrics to use. I have an Urban Chiks Sweet jelly roll - that might be just perfect. The lady in our fabric shop is going to roll her eyes when I go in to buy yet *more* white cotton! (I buy a LOT!).

Terriaw said...

Love your Q&A. I think I might end up using a set of fat quarters from my stash, so I am happy to know where we're headed. I think I will probably use white because I love how fresh it looks, but maybe I'll go crazy and try something more bold!

anniem said...

I have some of Anna Maria's voiles but not a whole fat quarter pack. If i don't have enough variety can I mix other cottons in with the voiles? I haven't used them yet so i'm a little apprehensive. Thanks for any input

Kristina said...

I'm going to try! No promises, but we'll see if a lovely 1-year-old and her very patient Dad will let me get some time with the sewing machine! Woot Woot!

Thimbleanna said...

What a fun quilt along! I probably told you this already, but after I saw you with these fabrics at quilt market, I ran over to the booth and grabbed a pack. Sadly, when I went back the next morning to get some for a friend, they were gone! Can't wait to see all the varieties that your quilt-a-long will produce!

Dorrie said...

I'm either going to break open my FQ bundle "Love" by AB or use my Hunky Dory charm packs~I have 3 which should just about do it maybe throw a bit of AMH pink voile in too. . .Kona white or Kona white crush for the background. . .

Sue said...

Those fabrics are great. What a fun find. I'll have to watch for them in July. And I just looked at the sketch for the quilt and it looks awesome. Can't wait to follow along.

kdhobby said...

Sounds like fun! Now I must decided on the fabric...so many to choose from. :)

Nancy P said...

Well here I go..hoping to join in my first quilt along! Scared but excited. (I JUST finished my 1st quilt top!)
You may have already said this and I missed it, but how often do you post on quilt alongs? (I will be out of town for almost 2 weeks in June so wonder if I am crazy to think I can do this)
Thanks
Nancy P

Q @ JAQS said...

Lovely fabrics.

I won't be quilting along - but I love to reading the progress and process of it :).

Diane said...

Hmm, I need a new project like a hole in the head, but, I do respond well to planned events and schedules and I am thinking this may be the perfect project for my jelly roll/charm pack/growing pile of misc cuts of Hope Valley.... guess I have 5 days to think on it :)

Deven said...

I am so EXCITED! I have two bed sheets waiting to be upcycled. One is a burnt orange (for the back) & one is white for the front!

Plus I have all these beautiful prints that look so lovely with the burnt orange. One of which is covered with MATRYOSHKAS!

My honey was born in the USSR and I lived in Belarus for almost 5 years. I have a heart thing for matryoshkas.

My 3 girlets will be so jealous when they realize that this quilt is for MOMMY'S bedroom!

Anonymous said...

Missed you and so glad you are back. I am making my quilt in red, white and blue for a QOV. All from scraps so I will be busy this weekend cutting out 2.5 inch squares. Thanks!

wishes, true and kind said...

I'm in! Hmmm. Maybe I will use my Plume jelly roll....

Regina said...

Hoping to join in! I have a layer cake waiting to be used. I just need to pick up the background fabric.

Sooz said...

Amanda Jean! I'm so happy you're back! What a lovely surprise to see your name over at Liz's teeny tiny quilts, and I literally hooted with joy when I clicked and then saw yesterday's date. She's back, I hooted!

You're work has inspired me so much, that, in celebration, I'm gonna join the quilt-a-long, even though I'm crazy to start up ANOTHER project right now. But, as your banner so aptly announces, we are crazy moms.

Looking forward,

Susan

Anonymous said...

This is great. I just bought 10 fabrics from different lines that look beautiful together!! Blues, greens & pinks. I am new to blogging & think the quilt along is just great!

Cary

Rhi said...

I think I am going to join up too. Have lots of projects on the go but love the design so will come onboard! I'm going to use some of my stash - mainly because hubby has banned fabric purchasing this month!!

Munaiba said...

Looks like fun but I have way too many things on the go. Good Luck!

SheilaC said...

Going to give it a try!!

SheilaC

Anonymous said...

Im in!!! ... its 1am here and im off to the basement to sort out fabrics from my stash.
Thanks Amandajean

Angie said...

So exciting - I love following your blog. This is my first quilt-along with you. I am looking forward to it.