Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long - Schedule, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes!!!

******  Note - The Corrected Fabric Requirements are now in this post.  Please note that these are different from the original posting.  (See here for explanation)  Again, I am so incredibly sorry for the inconvenience this is causing, I wish I could make it so like it never happened.  Please, please, do not hesitate to email with any questions you have.

It's here!!  The Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long officially starts today!!!  Today's post is going over everything you need to know to Quilt-A-Long.   There will be a post each Wednesday from January 29th until March 12 with weekly assignments and then there will be a Parade and Grand Prizes on April 2nd.  So . . . onto a little rundown on how it's going to work!!



THE HOW TO

The Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long is my own quilt design and I hope you enjoy putting it together.  The quilt-a-long will include 6 different sizes for the Star Light Star Bright block giving you multiple layout options.  You can also choose how many blocks you want in your quilt.  You can do a  1 x 1 block layout, 2 x 2 block layout, 3 x 3 block layout, and/or a 4 x 4 block layout.  This quilt will not be made by making one block at a time but rather a more assembly line process.  Once the units are done, then the blocks will be created.   I broke down the construction of the quilt into 7 weeks and then added an additional 2 weeks to get it basted, quilted, and bound.  The schedule will be as follows

Jan 15 - Intro, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes Announcement
Jan 29 - Cutting
 Feb 5 - Flying Geese
Feb12 - Half Square Triangles
Feb 19 - Building Block Centers
Feb 26 - Building Block Sides
Mar 5 - Building Block Corners
Mar 12 - Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky

April 2- Star Light Star Bright Parade and Grand Prize Winners

So count on checking back each Wednesday to see what the next week's assignment will be.  You will want to try to keep up weekly as there will be prizes along the way!!   Be sure to take a picture of your finished weekly assignment so that you can link it up for the weekly prizes :)  Oh, and if you are new to quilting, no worries, this will be super beginner friendly! I will go through each step in great detail in the Wednesday posts.

CHOOSING A SIZE BLOCK AND BLOCK LAYOUT

So to start, you need to make some choices.  What size project do you want to make and with what size blocks. Check out this chart below to help you decide what size project you want to make and with how many blocks in it.  A 1 x 1 layout is 1 block, a 2 x 2 layout is 4 blocks, a 3 x 3 layout is 9 blocks (Kits provided for this layout) , and a 4 x 4 layout is 16 blocks.


Alright, have you chosen a size project.  Great, let's see what fabrics you are going to need.

THE FABRIC REQUIREMENTS

Regardless of what quilt you want to make you will need to choose fabrics to make your "star" which I refer to as print fabrics and fabrics to make up the background of the quilt ie . . background fabrics.   You will also need binding fabric and backing fabric for when you are ready to finish up your quilt :)  (Because we area all about finishes, no wip's here :)

Print Fabric Requirements



Use the chart below to determine the amount of print fabrics you will need.  In all layouts except the 1x1 layout the total number of fabrics are the same the number of blocks in your quilt.  The size of each fabric depends on the size of your project.  In the 1x1 layout, you will need to select 3 different fabrics.  The "Main" fabric is the fabric that makes up the "diamond" around the star.  The 2 star fabrics are the fabrics that will make up the star in the center of the quilt ;)


Background Fabric Requirement
  See the chart below for the amount of background fabric you will need for your particular size project.  ( I will be showing everything with a white background fabric, but you don't have to use white, feel free to choose any color you like for the background)



Binding and Backing Requirement
Refer to the two charts below for the requirements you will need for binding and backing for your particular project :)




THE STAR SURROUND QUILT-A-LONG KITS

I have asked my wonderful friend and sponsor Julie from the Intrepid Thread, to put together some custom bundles together for Star Light Star Bright Quilt-A-Long.  And as always, she came up with some stunning options for you.   The Kits are made for the 3 x 3 layout and can be found in all 3 sizes (baby, picnic, and queen) in that layout.  Julie even gives you the option of choosing your background color :)    I went ahead and put each bundle into the quilt layout so you could get an idea of how they will look in the quilt. 

 And as before, These bundles are at a special Quilt-A-Long discount price, but  Julie didn't stop there. Use the coupon code HAPPYQAL10 at your checkout and receive and extra 10% off your order.  Yup, that's additional discounts on your purchase that you can use on your binding and backing as well as your already low priced kit, Yippee Skippee!!!    Thanks Julie!!

Anthem Quilt Kit

        



        

  

        


        
         



        


Aren't these just fabulous. Julie has impeccable taste in fabric!! Good Luck choosing a favorite!! It was a super hard choice for me, but in the end I decided I am going with Anthem.  I am so excited!  And like I mentioned, you can choose your color background as well.  So don't be afraid to do something other than white, look how adding a background color changes up these kits ;)  Stunning!!!!

Carry the Torch with Grey

Winter Games with Navy


THE PRIZES

I am so very excited about the Prizes for this Quilt-A-Long!!  I don't know about you, but I know that I am highly more motivated to keep up and finish when there are prizes at stake ;)  So how about this for a little motivation.

All those that finish their quilt top will be eligible for the Grand Prize.  The Grand Prize's are sponsored by The Intrepid Thread and Fat Quarter Shop and huge Thank You goes out to Julie and Kimberly for their generosity in these prizes.  Wan't to know what they are???

A $75.00 Gift Certificate that you can spend as you like!!  There will be 4 lucky Grand Prize winners, 2  winners will receive a Gift Certificate to The Intrepid Thread and 2 winners will receive a Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop.  Talk about some fun Shopping Sprees!!!  And if that whopping amount of fabric goodness isn't motivation, then I don't know what is!!

    


But . . . Sometimes it is hard to keep motivated when the end is so far away.  So for that . . . We have a little Weekly Motivation.  Each week you will be able to link up (You don't have to have a blog to link up, you can link to a flickr picture :) your completed assignment for a chance to win the weekly prize.    These Weekly Prizes will be sponsored by several of my Sponsors and will be so fun!!!

    


   


So ya,  there is lots of wonderful fabric to be won!!!  So keep up and sew on!!!

THE BUTTONS AND FLICKR

 Now down to the last of the nitty gritty.  First, If you are Quilting-A-Long and have a blog, It would be wonderful if you added the button to your blog :)   It really helps to spread the word and  the more that Quilt-A-Long the better!!!  If you have already added the button, thank you!!!

 
 

Second, I would love it if you joined the Happy Quilting Quilt-A-Long Flickr group.  You can post your fabric here, your progress, ask questions, ect.   And it is a super fun place to get to chat along with everyone participating :)  


LET'S GET GOING!!


So that just about wraps it up!!! You have two weeks for this assignment, round up your fabric.  On Jan 29th you will be getting your cutting assignments.

Now I know that was a lot for one post, so if you have any questions at all regarding the Quilt-A-Long please do not hesitate to email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com.  I don't want anyone to not participate because they are confused by my rambling :)  And one last thing, please feel free to make your quilt your own.  If you want a different layout, great!  Want to add a border, perfect!!  What ever you envision, you make it, all will be eligible for prizes :)  Now . . .  Let's get Quilting-A-Long!!!
Pin It!

45 comments:

  1. Hurray!! I'm going to go all the way - 16 - 24"x24" blocks - Queen size. Can't wait to get started. Thank you! The prizes sound amazing. Here's to hoping to win one! :) lol
    We've got a group of 10 now. So excited to make this quilt with friends. :)

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  2. Thanks so much for doing all of this. Added the button to my blog. Now to go fabric shopping!!!

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  3. YAY it's going to be great. Now the hard part of a) picking a size and b) picking fabrics.

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  4. I've never done this, but I'm going to give it a try. I need a project! I'm going for the 3x3 72" and am definitely going for a colored background. Fun! Now, to figure out Flickr.

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  5. If the yardage requirement is a half yard (like the 3x3 lap size), can I use fat quarters instead? So for that quilt it would be 18 fat quarters rather than 9 half yards? Or do I need to use half yards? Thanks! I'm excited!!

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  6. I'm so excited for this! I know what layout I want to do, but I'm changing your plan a little bit. I want to use the same fabric for each surround--the inner diamond and triangles at the sides of the corner chevron wings. Is there a way for me to calculate this second "solid". I'm guessing 2-1/2 or 3 yards like the background. The center star and the outer corner chevron wings will be scrappy. I know you're probably groaning inside, but I appreciate your help. I think I'm going to draw it out on graph paper today and hope that helps the accuracy of my guess. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. I was going to ask a similar question, I would like to make a two color or three color (and background) quilt. Similar to the winter games design.

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  7. Looking forward to quilting along!

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  8. I don't have time to add another quilt to my schedule but I don't think I can resist making a 1x1 pillow!

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  9. Wow, that "Carry the Torch" with the gray background is gorgeous! I didn't think I'd have time to QAL, but I'm thinking I can squeeze in a 1x1 for a wallhanging. Now, to pick my fabric. Thanks for the time you take to create & host these events!

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  10. I am going for a 3x3 picnic blanket. I've been thinking I need a picnic blanket for our new house with our HUGE backyard. I've been going through the 1/2 yard bundles I've bought from the IT trying to figure out what colors/patterns I should go with. Good thing I have 2 weeks to get this figured out, I need to to go the store!

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  11. I'm so excited about this! Going to buy my fabric tomorrow, once I've decided if I'm going to do a 16" 4x4 or a 24" 3x3...

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  12. Ooooooohhh!! Doing the Happy Quilting Dance! Yay!!

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  13. Yippee - so excited to see this quilt along. The Intrepid Thread bundles are all so pretty! I'll be adding the button to my blog today.

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  14. I forgot to ask before. Is this QAL for overseas as well or just open for the US? I tried to find info about that but either I'm blind or it wasnt stated. If I missed it I'm sorry and i hope its ok that I ask again. Thanks for organizing this anyhow. ;)

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  15. YAYAYAYAY!! last quilt a long i did a 4x4 layout, this time I think I want to either do a 3x3 or perhaps a 2x2 queen! Im so excited!! I just need to hurry up and decide so I can pick out some fabrics......sadly Ive pledged a fabric fast this year...so i cant buy any fabric except for backing and background!! This quilt should empty my overflowing stash a little!!
    Jessica

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  16. Super excited finally a quilt that I won't be using white for the background. I'm liking that gray!

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  17. Oh, so glad you are not starting the weekly posts til after Road to California! Choosing fabrics is such fun!

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  18. Oh my! Carry the Torch with grey background, and Winter Games with navy are perfect ! I love Anthem and Finish Line, but something seems missing in both--can you come up with alternate background colors for those, too???

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  19. loving the fabric choices you've shown but I think my batiks are calling me for the lap quilt. Now to hunt out some fabrics

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  20. So very exciting, I can not wait to pick out my fabrics. Thanks again for hosting the QAL Sarah xo

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  21. I'm debating on which size.... and which fabrics.....

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  22. Ok I think I got it. Right now a two by two picnic. I have the best fabric and want to use it and that matched what I hoarded. Oh I mean stashed!;-)

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  23. Hello Melissa! I'm excited about your quilt a long. Is it open internationally? Thank you!

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    1. Yes, this is absolutely open to international players ;)

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  24. Is there any "extra" calculated into your fabric requirements above? I like to wash all my fabrics before cutting and there is always about an inch per yard of shrinkage after washing, so I want to make sure I have enough.

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  25. I am excited and ready to pick fabrics! I'll be sure to get the button on my blog.

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  26. Thank you for doing this! It takes a lot of work and you are so generous for sharing with us. Thank you thank you thank you! (Stop beating yourself up!!!!!)

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  27. Question, with the new background totals, does it matter if I just go back and get the extra I need, which would be about a yard, I bought a little extra. I'm doing the 1x1 picnic size. Thanks! Don't beat yourself up about the miscalculation. It happens.

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  28. I could never have figured out any of those calculation myself! So I think you're just wonderful for doing that and I appreciate you owning up to your mistake and glad you caught it before we all got too far down the line. Somehow I lucked out though, I must have either told the lady cutting fabric the wrong amount or she just cut the wrong amount but on the biggest difference I have the right amount! What luck. I do have to go buy some of the other one but that's ok. It's not like the fabric I bought originally won't be used or anything. Thanks for all you do.

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  29. Don't worry about the miscalculations! I know that doing the math for quilts is my least favorite part. I could never come up with all the different size block options, let alone an accurate yardage estimate. Thanks for sharing your amazing quilt alongs. Your patterns are all so beautiful, I wish I had time to make them all. Thanks for everything and don't be upset, we all make mistakes!

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  30. Hey all good, I am with most you do a great job with calculations, I would not be able to get do them.
    This just means I get to now do a 3x3 in the king size which I am very excited about. Now this week is shopping time whoop whoop, and a groan is heard from my husband. . He he he he he.

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  31. Hey all good, I am with most you do a great job with calculations, I would not be able to get do them.
    This just means I get to now do a 3x3 in the king size which I am very excited about. Now this week is shopping time whoop whoop, and a groan is heard from my husband. . He he he he he.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hey all good, I am with most you do a great job with calculations, I would not be able to get do them.
    This just means I get to now do a 3x3 in the king size which I am very excited about. Now this week is shopping time whoop whoop, and a groan is heard from my husband. . He he he he he.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hey all good, I am with most you do a great job with calculations, I would not be able to get do them.
    This just means I get to now do a 3x3 in the king size which I am very excited about. Now this week is shopping time whoop whoop, and a groan is heard from my husband. . He he he he he.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hey all good, I am with most you do a great job with calculations, I would not be able to get do them.
    This just means I get to now do a 3x3 in the king size which I am very excited about. Now this week is shopping time whoop whoop, and a groan is heard from my husband. . He he he he he.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi Melissa, I'd like to join in the quilt-a-long but I want to make a different size than you suggested. Will I still be eligible to win the prizes if I change it and make a quilt with 16in blocks, 2x2 layout, wallhanging size?

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    Replies
    1. never mind - I just saw the answer at the bottom of the post.

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  36. Ok, I've made up my mind...I've never made a 40" block before, so I'm going to make the 40" 2X2 (queen quilt with four 40" blocks). I always add borders to my quilts, so if I end up doing that, will that take away from my chance to win a prize?

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  37. OK, I want to do the Anthem colorway from my stash... the 16 inch block x 9 for a baby size quilt 54" x 54". I joined the group on Flicker. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com.

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  38. I am new to quilting and thought this might be a fun idea. Also, I live 1,000 miles away from my mom and thought it would be fun if we could attempt to create quilts together via this QAL. :) Of course, I just bought my fabric this afternoon, moments after you sent out the corrections. lol (MURPHY'S LAW!!) Back to the fabric store I'm going to have to go! :) (The trouble is, everything is 40% off as they're closing, so it's a dangerous place to be!!)

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  39. Must use stash fabrics....must use stash fabrics! LOL - happily, I have some fabulous bundles to break open!

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  40. I need some black or white for background.... but have my fabric chosen..... Or maybe I will use pink!

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  41. Ooh, I should dig around and find my Pat Bravo stash, and make a matching pillow to Starburst!

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments. I just love hearing from you!!
Have a Happy Quilting Day :)

Melissa