Roundabout Quilt Along - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky!!!!

**  NOTE  - This post is part of a series of posts for the Roundabout Quilt-Along.  If you would like to join (and have a chance to win one of three $75.00 Gift Certificates from Fat Quarter Shop ) you can find a list of the post links here :)  Here is the schedule

August 30th -Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement

September 13th - Cutting 

September 27th - Flying Geese

October 11th - Half Square Triangles with Goosed Corners

October 25th - Drunkards Path

November 8th - Building Blocks

November 22nd - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky - That's Today

December 13th - Roundabout Parade and Grand Prize Winners

  

Now, first off for this week, we need to pick a winner for the Building Blocks Assignment.   And great job to everyone on getting their blocks put together!!!   They look amazing!!!!

The Building Block assignment winner who will be receiving 3 Moda Treats of their choice from Olie & Evie is . . .

#4 - Linda Massey!!! - Congrats :)

And here we go!!!  Its time to finish up our Quilt Tops!!!  (And hopefully, get them quilted up :)  So very exciting, it's our 

LAST ASSIGNMENT - PIECING PROJECT TOP!!!

 Now that your blocks are all made you can piecing your quilt top together!!!    So fun!!!!

So there is no way I can get all of my blocks laid out and still in a picture,   so  I am going to use digital pictures from here on out to make it a little easier to work with each layout and so you can see all parts of the instructions.

Start by laying your blocks out in your chosen layout.  Play with the placement of the blocks until you get a color layout that is pleasing to the eye.

SEWING THE ROWS TOGETHER

So first, we need to sew the individual rows into blocks.  Start with your first row.   Place your second block in the row onto your first block with right sides together.  And just like building the blocks, we are going to use some Pin Tricks to help get perfect points!!!

Where the two Goosed HST units meet up (black arrows) you can use the pin trick, and where the two Flying Geese units meet up (white arrows) you can use the pin trick as well.  

So with right sides together, place the pin through the bottom of the Print Fabric V in the Goosed HST unit, and then through the bottom of the Print Seam allowance in the other block.  Straighten the pin and then pin to the side of it.   Repeat for the second Goosed HST unit in the block.  

Then in the center of the block, place a pin directly through the center of the thread X  in the top block and then through the top of the Flying Geese in the second block.  Straighten the pin and then pin to the side of it. 

So now your points are all aligned (white arrows), and you just want to align and pin a few more places.   The center of the HST blocks will align directly on top of one another, and pin them in place.  Then align the edges of the block and pin them in place.   

Now you are ready to sew your 1/4" seam along the edge.  And just like you did when making your blocks, be sure to sew directly along the bottom of those print V's  and through the center of the thread X that you used to align your pin tricks ;)

So now Block 1 and 2 are sewn together and it's time to add block 3 (if you have one).    Place Block 3 onto the now sewn together Block 1 and 2.  Align and pin using the Pin tricks and then sew a 1/4" seam along the edge taking care to sew along the bottom of those print V's and through the center of the thread X.   

Repeat this process until you have sewn all of the blocks in the row together.   Then repeat the Row process for each of the Rows in your Quilt top.  

SEWING THE QUILT TOP TOGETHER

With the rows all sewn, you can now sew them into a quilt top!!!  This is the exact same process of sewing the blocks into rows, just on a much longer scale.

Place Row 1 onto Row 2 with right sides together and use the Pin Tricks to align all your points.  Then align and pin the rest of the row.   Sew a 1/4" along the pinned edge, again taking care to sew along the bottom of those print V's and through the center of the thread X.   

If you have multiple rows, I like to sew them into sets of 2 rows and then sew the sets together as shown below. Or you can just keep sewing the rows together until you have sewn them all together.  

And with all your rows sewn together, you can just sit back and enjoy your beautiful Roundabout Quilt Top!!!

And while your enjoying,  don't forget to add your beautiful Roundabout Quilt Top to the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group and to post it on social media using #roundaboutquiltalong.  I am so excited to see all of your beautiful Roundabout Quilt Tops!!!

And while you are adding your pictures above . . . .

You also need to be sure and and your completed Quilt Top to the Grand Prize Linky!!!!  Yippee, we have made it to the Grand Prize!!!!


GRAND PRIZE LINK UP

Remember this from the start??  All those that finish their quilt top will be eligible for the 3 Grand Prizes.  The Grand Prize's are sponsored  Fat Quarter Shop and huge Thank You goes out to them for the generosity of these prizes.

The three Grand Prize Winners will each receive a $75.00 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop!!!   That is going to be some awesome fabric goodness!!!!

  

         

           

   

In order to be eligible to win the Grand Prize you need to Link Up your completed quilt top (not quilted yet, just the quilt top) at the end of this post!!!  You have until the early, early morning of December 13th to get your quilt top sewn together and linked to be entered :)   Remember, You have to have a link at the end of this post to be entered to win one of the Grand Prizes.  

ROUNDABOUT QUILT-A-LONG PARADE

Now, as just mentioned, you only have to have your quilt top done to enter into the grand prize link up . . . However,  I wanted to encourage you to finish these quilts and not set them in a pile of "to be quilted" so I am planning a Parade for the 13th of December :)  The parade will show off all quilted and bound Roundabout Quilts!!  

So, how do you finish up those quilts??? 

Baste It, Quilt It, and Bind It!!  I know, I make it sound all so simple.  If you are new to quilting, and need some help with these last few steps, you can see my Video Tutorials that go over the basics of how to do this ;)  Also, there are some helpful free motion quilting tutorials if you are stuck on how you want to quilt your project ;) 

Once you have your project Basted, Quilted, and Bound it is ready to be showcased it in the Parade.  In order to have it in the parade, I need you to please send me an email  at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com  with your favorite finished Roundabout Quilt picture attached as well as the your name the way you would like it listed with your photo, where you are from, and a blog, instagram, or flickr photostream link if applicable.  You can email me anytime from now until the evening of December 12th and I will get you added to the Parade!!!  

I am so looking forward to seeing everyone's finishes!!!  You can decide if you would like to add your finish picture to the Flickr group  and Social Media now or wait until after the parade to keep it a secret :)  Grand Prize winners will be announced on December 13th along with the amazing parade filled with all of your beautiful quilts.!!!  I can't wait!!!  I know this is just going to be an awesome parade!!

So, in summary, Link up your finished quilt top (not quilted) at the end of this post by early morning December 13th to be entered for the grand prize linky :)  Email me a picture of your finished quilt (quilted and bound)  with your name, where you are from, and a place to link your picture by December 12th to be part of the parade :)  

Alright, I know that was a lot.  If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com, I don't want any one to miss out on the grand prizes or parades because of confusion ;)

I can't wait to see your finished quilts!!!  Thank you so much for quilting-a-long with me, it has been so much fun and I have loved watching you all stretch and try new things!!!!  Now, off you go to finish up :)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!

It's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day so let's have some fun :)

But first, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!  

The winner of the Farmer's Daughter Jelly Roll  from Fat Quarter Shop  is . . .   Number #27 . . . Congrats Sherry VF!!!   I have emailed you :)        

      

  

  

And on to today's

Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Olie and Evie.  Rhonda new site!!!!  The new site is hoping with the fabric shop we all know and love along with longarm quilting, gift certificates, preorders, and a destash page!!    And along with the giveaway, Rhonda is offering a special treat to all Happy Quilting Readers ;)   20% off all items in the shop with the coupon code HQM20.  So be sure to pop on over and check it out!!!

And Rhonda's has a fantastic Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day!!!!       Olie and Evie  is giving one lucky winner a $50.00 Gift Certificate to use in her shop!!!    So awesome, someone is going to get a wonderful shopping spree :)  

You have two entry chances, the second being optional, and please leave a separate comment for each.  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  

ENTRY 1 - Simply leave a comment that tells me what you are Thankful For ;)   

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Olie and Evie love.   You can follow them on  Facebook, Instagram  or Pinterest or you can visit The Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Olie and Evie Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday,  November 28th when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Spelling Bee Saturday . D, E, & F

It's  Spelling Bee Saturday  and this week is brought to you by the Letters D, E, and F :)

.   

 I am having so much fun with these letters!!!  It is nice making 2 sets at a time (see why in my original post ;)   and I like working on them in large chunks, like 3 letters at a time rather than 1.   So I am not exactly sure when I will be back with more Spelling Bee Saturday from the Spelling Bee Book  by Lori Holt, but I will for sure have a few more letters to share next time :)

Happy Quilting!!!

A Bit Irish Baby Quilt!!

Since I shared my newest block from 100 Blocks Volume 16 yesterday, Today it only seemed fitting to share my finish from my Volume 15 block featured in the Fall 2017 edition of Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks.  It's called a Bit Irish and I just love it!!!

I just love the idea of the Quilts from Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine.   It takes the original blocks and then changes them around or combines them with another block to create all new quilt designs.  So fun!!!

This design came from my original Celtic Tricks Block that, as I mentioned,  was in 100 Blocks Volume 15.  I simply supersized the design and added a few more layers to make it a baby size quilt, all in one block :)   Isn't that just so fun!  And can you see the inspiration behind the quilt name ;)

And of course, because it is Jelly Roll friendly and the piecing is minimal, it goes together super fast.  It makes for a great "go to" baby quilt that is nice and easy for when you are in a pinch.   But it still has a wonderful interlocking design that makes it look like you spent a lot longer working on it :)   I just love quilts like that!!!

I used the pink and yellow prints from Lella Botique's Farmer's Daughter line.  I just love how it makes this quilt "all girl"!!!  But of course, this design would look super in an "all boy" layout as well.  Just pick blue and green stripes.   Or make it your own with your favorite two color layout.  The sky is the limit and picking your fabrics might be the part that takes the longest because there are so many great color combo's :)   

When it came time to quilt mine, I opted for an all over free motion that really adds to the All Girl feel.   It's my feathered swirl, and I just love it!!!   This is such a fun flowing design to quilt and really goes fast.  And my favorite 402 Pearl So Fine thread just blends perfectly.

And I wanted to give this baby quilt a bit more loft, so I doubled the batting, and made sure to keep my quilting at a mid size range.   And I just love how those petals just pop in the quilting.  So soft and such pretty flowing texture!!!

And that is A Bit Irish!!!   It finishes at 48" x 48" so it is great for snuggling up a sweet little wee one :)   And I just love the photography in the Quilts from 100 Blocks Magazine.    It is just precious!!!

And if you make your own A Bit Irish quilt I would love to see it!!!  You can email me a picture at happyquiltingmelissa.com, add it to social media with #happyquiltingwithmc, or add it to my Flickr Group :)  I can't wait to see your A Bit Irish baby quilts!!! 

Thanks for stopping in today and each and every day!!!

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend!!!

And I just realized,  this makes it a Two Finish Week ;)  Today's finish and the finish I shared on Monday :)  Yippee!!!

Linking up to Amanda's, Sarah's and Myra's :)

100 Blocks Vol 16 Block Tour Road Rally

I am so excited!!!  It's time for another 100 Blocks Blog Tour -  Road Rally Style !!!     Time to cruise around and check out the awesome blocks from Volume 16 of 100 Blocks Magazine (details here on the road rally).    My block is called Eight Ball and it is block #1561.  And it's pretty obvious where it got it's name from, so let me share the fun inspiration behind this block ;)

My in-laws have a little cabin up up Cedar Mountain.  It is a favorite place to go and get away from the hustle and bustle of life.  In the loft of that cabin, is an old Pool Table.   

     *This is Eight Ball in a basic 4 x 4 layout with every other block rotated.

            Doesn't it just make a cool modern design.  I love the optical illusion it creates as well.

   

Whenever the kids get tired of hanging out outside, they come in the cabin and head right up to the loft where they throw all of the balls on the table.  The funny thing is, none of them really know how to actually play.  

   * Adding a third color in the corner of the block gives Eight Ball extra depth and really makes the design pop all the more.  Kind of reminds me of records :)

So they create their own games :)   Sometimes they use the cues, and sometimes they use their hands.   Sometimes it's just the Eight Ball and sometimes it's all the balls.   And sometimes it is only a few kids around the table, and sometimes there are so many cousins, they can barely all fit around the table.  And the games begin and the creativeness of game play is never ending.  

   * Putting the Eight Ball block on Point, and alternating 2 colors for the blocks  gives the design an all new look.   It creates an all new modern design with a great optical illusion that is super fun!  

    

But the thing that is the very best about the play is that it is always filled with joy and laughter!!!!   I love to sit and listen to the wonderfully good times that come from that old pool table.  It is an amazing part of just getting away and spending time together having fun!!!  Especially when that fun is making up silly games like one kid trying to get the Eight Ball in the corner pocket using their hands while 12 other kids each use a colored ball to block their attempt.   Let me tell you, those balls get flying around the table and so do the Good Times!!! 

   * And then you can always rotate the blocks on point to give another twist to the design.  Reminds me of that old snake arcade game ;)   Just another way to add another dimension to the design.   

  

And that is the inspiration behind Eight Ball.  It is a wonderful reminder of endless laughs!!!   And it is also a really super fun block to put together.   I hope you want to make up your own Eight Ball block as well, and if you do, be sure and share it with me :)

I just love the 100 Blocks magazine!!!  The amount of creative goodness stuffed in its pages is just incredible!!  This is the 11th time I have had a block in 100 Blocks and I was so excited to find my name on the cover.  What an honor!   You will want to be sure to cruise on over to the The Quilt Company Blog for lots more 100 Blocks Posts, Eye Candy, and of course, lots more awesome Giveaways!!!

But before you cruise over, I have a Copy of 100 Blocks Vol 16 for one lucky Happy Quilting reader!!!!

    

To enter is easy!!  All Entries are welcome, including International Entries.  Please just be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger ;)  One Entry per person please and I will announce a winner on Monday, November 20th ;)

ENTRY - Simply leave a comment that has the number 8 in it  ;)  That's it, super simple!!

Oh, and by the Way . . . If you are stopping by for the first time, Welcome!!   I am so glad you visited and hope you will come back often.  I have so much fun sharing my passion for quilting here with lots of  free tutorials, giveaways, fabric eye candy, and of course, general Happy Quilting times!! And be sure to come back tomorrow for Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day :)

GIVEAWAY CLOSED - WINNER IS #21 LAURA . . . I have emailed you ;)  

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!