Thursday, January 29, 2015

Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long - Schedule, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes!!!

And We Are Ready!!  The Irish Chain Twist 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 Thursday from February 5th until March 26 with weekly assignments and then there will be a Parade and Grand Prizes on April 13th.  So . . . onto a little rundown on how it's going to work!!


THE HOW TO

The Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long is my own quilt design and the quilt-a-long will lead right up to the release of my new book, Irish Chain Quilts: Contemporary Twists on a Classic Design  The quilt-a-long will include  multiple sizes all based on a 3 different 10" blocks.  Each block has been broken down into 2 week assembly assignments.  So there will be lots of time to do whatever size fits your schedule.  There will be a total of 8 weeks for  quilt construction  and then an additional 2 1/2 weeks to get it basted, quilted, and bound.  The schedule will be as follows:

Schedule, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes - Jan 29th
 Cutting - Feb 5th
Improvisational Piecing Units - Feb 12th
Improvisational Piecing Block - Feb 19th
 Twists on Tradition Units - Feb 26th
Modern Patchwork Block - Mar 5th
Appliqued Chains Block - Assembling - Mar 12th
Appliqued Chains Block - Stitching - Mar 19
Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky - Mar 26th
Parade and Grand Prizes - April 23rd

So count on checking back each Thursday 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 Thursday posts.

CHOOSING A PROJECT SIZE

So to start, you need to make some choices.  What size project do you want to make??  In the past we have had lots of block size options but because of the type of blocks we are making this time all of the blocks, regardless of what size quilt you want to make will be 10".  So now it's time to decide.   The chart will give you the finish size and how many of each block you will need to make for that quilt.  And the images below the chart show the layout of that particular project ;)    So . . .  What size quilt do you want to make??






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


THE FABRIC REQUIREMENTS

The Layout

Before I get to how much fabric you will need . . . First you need to decide what type of layout you would like to do.   You have 3 Options and I will provide Fabric Requirements for each ;)   You can choose between a 4 Fabric Layout, a Multi-4 Fabric Layout, or a Scrappy Fabric Layout.  


The 4 Fabric Layout uses 1 fabric for each of the blocks in the quilt and a background fabric.  So an X block fabric, a Square block fabric, and a Petal block fabric.  Of course you can choose any 4 color fabrics you like, but I am just going to show it in the colors from before to give you an idea of the layout ;)



The Multi-4 Color Layout will have the same look as the 4 Fabric Layout only it will use more fabrics for a little punch.   For this layout you will need to choose fabrics that read essentially the same color.  5 prints for the X block, 3 prints for the Square block, and 2 prints for the Petal block.  Here is a mock-up of this layout.



And finally, the Scrappy Fabric Layout.  This is of course is Scrappy!!!  Throw everything to the wind and just have fun mixing it up :)  Here is a mock-up of this layout, and of course, you can change the colors but i just wanted to keep the same look rolling ;)



So . . . Have you Decided on a Layout???  Let's get to those Fabric Requirements then.

Print Fabric Requirements

Use the chart below to determine the amount of print fabrics you will need for your project.  The X represents the X Improvisational block that is Navy in the 4 Fabric Layout picture above.   The Square represents the Square Patchwork block that is Peach in the 4 Fabric Layout picture above.  And the Petal represents the Petal Applique block that is Red in the 4 Fabric Layout picture above.



Background Fabric Requirement
  See the chart below for the amount of background fabric you will need for your particular size project. Note - The quilt kits do not include background, so regardless of what you get for your print fabrics, everyone will need to purchase background fabric as well ;)   Now, I know this is a lot of background fabric for some of those bigger quilts.  Dig into your solids stash and see what you have built up.  If you find you don't have enough, I just might have seen that JoAnn's has a 50% off coupon that is good until Jan 31st, and they do stock Kona Solids.   And if you aren't near by one, you can always go online here and pick your color, your yardage and then use the coupon code TJAT031 to get your 50% off.  Hopefully that will help with all that background :)



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 :)

Binding and Backing Requirement
Refer to the two charts below for the requirements you will need for binding and backing for your particular project :)  You can always do scrappy bindings and backings as well, just another option ;)




THE IRISH CHAIN TWIST 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 Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long.  And as always, she came up with some stunning options for you.   The Kits are made for the Picnic or Queen quilt sizes.   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!!  Thanks so much Julie!!!  Please note, these kits do not include the background fabric, so be sure to see the above requirements and notations under Background Fabric Requirements for that ;)  

These first three Kits are the Multi-4 Color Layout Kits, but they would work just great for the scrappy layouts as well if you wanted to go that way :)

Sunshine On My Garden Quilt Kit
        
        




        
       


  

       

        

And these last 2 Kits are the Scrappy Layout Kits.


         
        



        
        


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 the Sunshine in My Garden and will be making a queen size.  I am so excited!   I showed all of the kits but the Low Volume one (which I love) with a white background,  But don't be afraid to do something other than white, Look how adding a background color changes up these kits ;)  Stunning!!!!

Peach Tea with Grey



Patriot Betsy Ross with Navy


If you are thinking about a color background that I haven't shown and would like to know what it will look like with your kit just email me at happyquiltingmelissa@gmail.com and I can send you a sketch no problem ;)

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 4 Grand Prizes.  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???

The first 2 winners will each receive a $100.00 Gift Certificates to Fat Quarter Shop and the next 2 winners will receive a  $75.00 Gift Certificate to The Intrepid Thread !!!     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 any social media image :) 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 a lot of wonderful fabric to be won!!!  So keep up and sew on!!!

THE BUTTONS, FLICKR, AND HASHTAG

 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 :)

And if you are posting your progress on your social media, be sure and use the Hashtag #irishchaintwistqal   Then we can all easily find and see each others work on facebook, twitter, and instagram as well ;)



LET'S GET GOING!!

So that just about wraps it up!!! You have 1 week to round up  your fabric.  If you are ordering it and it is going to take a little longer than a week to arrive, no worries.  You have a whole week to cut it as well, so that gives you a bit of a time cushion ;)     Watch for that cutting assignment on February 5th.

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 or comment below.  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 yours, all finished quilt tops will be eligible for prizes :)

Now . . .  Let's get Quilting-A-Long!!!
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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Solid Shots

So remember when I said last weekend was crazy busy??  Well, it was crazy busy, but in a good way. In the kind of way when I decide on Friday afternoon, that it would sure be fun if I finished my Modern Building Blocks quilt by Monday morning so it could hang at the Cedar Quilt Retreat this week.   Yup, Marathon quilting weekend!!!  So starting Friday evening and pretty much straight until Saturday evening, I pieced these blocks into a quilt top, pieced a quilt back, quilted for 5 hours, (thank heavens for the long arm ;)  and then attached a binding.   Now these little Denysce Schmidt Solids leftovers are officially scraps because that quilt is done and hanging ;)   So why am I not showing you a picture of he finished quilt??  In a word Rain . . . I will hope for the sun  and get a shot and share on Friday ;)


But those aren't the only solids I have been sewing with lately.  I have also been working on a little Secret Solid quilt using this beautiful rainbow of solids from Riley Blake.  I am so excited with how this quilt turned out and I can't wait to share more.  This one is for Quilt Con so luckily I won't have to keep it a secret for much longer ;)


And of course, since I just finished up and mailed one Secret Solid project, it is time to start another one ;)   This project uses this gorgeous palette of Moda Bella Solids.   So pretty!!!    Time to get cutting!!!


I had to laugh at myself when I realized I was juggling three solid projects ;)  Isn't it funny how you won't use them for a while and then all of the sudden, they are all you want to use.  So now I am curious, does anyone else seem to use solids in an up and down rollercoaster effect or is that just me??

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!
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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Day

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

First, we need to announce the winner from last weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway!!   The winner of the $25.00 Gift Certificate from Cotton Bliss  is . . .   Number 17. . . Congrats June Garner!!   I have emailed you :)
    

    





    
And on to today's


Today's Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is being sponsored by Discover Fabric!!   You will find a wonderful selection of fabrics from a large variety of manufactures at Discover Fabric :)
   


And the Terrific Tuesday Giveaway is for a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Discover Fabric!!!   One lucky reader is going to get a Christmas 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 one thing you want to get done before the end of January ;) 

 ENTRY 2 - Show your Discover Fabric love. You can follow them on FacebookTwitter, or Pinterest.  You can Sign up for the Discover Fabric Newsletter (middle of the page) ,  or you can Visit the Shop and then share a favorite item ;)   Just be sure to leave a comment of how you showed your Discover Fabric Love!!!

And that's it ;)  The giveaway will be open until next Tuesday, February 3rd when I will announce a winner at the beginning of next weeks Terrific Tuesday Giveaway Post :)

Good Luck and Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

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Monday, January 26, 2015

A Little Late

Let's just say it was a crazy weekend ;)  I was so busy, I totally forgot to pick a winner for the Angela Walters Thread Pack Giveaway.   I am so sorry.

Let's fix that right now ;)


We were so close to doubling prizes, just 51 entries away.  Ah well, maybe next time ;)  So, the winner of the Superior Threads Angela Walters Thread Pack is . . . #197 . . . Congrats Helen L.!!!
  



Be sure to check out Superior Threads Facebook Page for the winner over there ;)
Thanks for playing along.  We will have to try that prize doubling thing another time and see if we make it ;)


This week is the Cedar Chest Quilters Guild Retreat.    I am so excited to get to teach 3 full classes, including my Petal Pop (pattern coming to the blog soon) and Wonky Irish Chain classes.  There is also an awesome all night sew and meet the teachers night.  I just love spending time with quilty people.  So much fun!!!!   So the next few days are going to be a little crazy getting ready for it all ;)  Time to print some patterns and make a few more samples ;)  Gotta run ;)



Have a Happy Quilting Day :)



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Thursday, January 22, 2015

Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long - It's Here!!!!

I am so super excited for this announcement!!! The design's all finished and the schedule is all made!!   The Irish Chain Twist Quilt-A-Long is here!!!  The quilt-a-long will lead right up to the release date of my new book Irish Chain Quilts: Contemporary Twists on a Classic Design!!!!  In fact, the Parade of Quilts and Grand Prizes will be announced the day before my book's launch date, so fun!!!  I have heard from so many of you that you have been wanting to make an Irish Chain quilt and I hope you are loving this Twist on the Irish Chain design as much as I do ;)  


I want to tell you a little about how this design came about.   When I first starting working on the idea of my book I knew that I wanted to make it for Quilters. Let me explain what I mean by that by sharing an excerpt from the Introduction of my book.

          I do not define myself as a certain “type” of quilter.  I love design of all sorts.  Some days I feel like no rules and throwing together some fabrics without a plan, and other days I want lots of  precise cutting followed by a wonderfully therapeutic session of chain piecing.  I love creating and being allowed to jump from one type of design to another.  It keeps each quilting day interesting and helps pushes my out of my design “comfort zone”.

         Because of that, this book is divided into four sections: Twists on Tradition, Modern  Patchwork, Improvisational Piecing, and Applique Chains.  Each section features quilts in varying sizes that blend the Traditional Irish Chain criss-cross design these design concepts of today.  Single, Double, and Triple options are expanded to Modern Traditional, Modern, Improvisational, and Applique options.  So now, like me, you can jump from one type of design to another as well. 

So, you see . . . this book isn't for Quilters.  It's for all of us because in the end we are all Quilters!!!  So with that in mind, I took bits and pieces from different sections of the book and have melded them together into what I think is one pretty awesome quilt :) Which means . . .  You are going to do some piecing that is probably in your comfort zone, but you are also going to be Trying New Things!!!  Which is what quilt-a-longs are all about right, trying new things and discovering new favorite techniques and styles ;)


I am so excited!!!   I hope you are excited to join in and quilt-a-long with me!!!  Just like in previous quilt-a-long's there will be lots of size options so you can fit the quilt that fits your needs and time frame best.  I even broke the blocks down to 2 weeks per block so you will have a little more time with some of the possibly new-to-you techniques ;)    And as always, there will be easy step-by-step weekly directions, stunning Quilt-A-Long kits (more on that soon) and  fabulous fabric prizes that include weekly progress prizes and Grand Prizes at the end. But most importantly, there is going to be lots of fabric fun with friends!!!   Here's the schedule . . .

Teaser Post - Today :)
Schedule, Fabric Requirements, and Prizes - Jan 29th
 Cutting - Feb 5th
Improvisational Piecing Units - Feb 12th
Improvisational Piecing Block - Feb 19th
 Twists on Tradition Units - Feb 26th
Modern Patchwork Block - Mar 5th

Appliqued Chains Block - Assembling - Mar 12th
Appliqued Chains Block - Stitching - Mar 19
Piecing Top and Grand Prize Linky - Mar 26th
Parade and Grand Prizes - April 23rd


So what do you say??  Do you want to Quilt-A-Long with me???  Grab a button and get ready for fun!!






Oh, and for easy access, I will be updating the weekly links on the Quilt-A-Long Page as well as this post ;)

Teaser Post
Parade and Grand Prizes

And just for an idea . . . here is what mine looked like when it was all done ;)


Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!


Linking up my finished Design!!  This design probably went through more scratch paper . . . it took a while to get it just right with all of the different elements melding together and I am so excited with how it came out!!!  I hope you love it as well ;)   I am linking to Sarah's and Amanda's :)   If you are popping over from there thanks for the visit. Please consider joining in on this QAL.  It is going to be so much fun and there will be lots of prizes!!!  I can't wait to get started ;)
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