Community Sampler Week #10

Community Sampler Week #10

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Welcome to week #10 of the Community Sampler sew along where we not only work on our patchwork piecing techniques but also share our makes on Instagram and have fun with a like-minded community of quilters. My co-host and sister Art Gallery Fabrics designer Maureen Cracknell and I are so happy to have you sewing with us and look forward to seeing your sampler quilt come together.

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We're coming down the home stretch with making our blocks and this is number nine out of eleven. 

Each Wednesday will be a new PDF block release or finishing step for the quilt. If you are just joining us, pick up the Introduction PDF on the Sew Along page and you'll get a material list along with coloring pages so you can get started planning your quilt. Then, work your way through the first Community Sampler post to the present.

Many of the patchwork units (like Quick-Corner, Flying Geese, Half-Square Triangle, and Square-in-Square units) used in this year's sampler have already been oversized to allow for trimming and squaring of units before assembling your block. Please cut your pieces EXACTLY as given in each of the PDF instructions because bumping up the size of the pieces from the measurements give will not bring great results in some cases. Take advantage of my in-blog tutorials for each of the different quilting techniques used in our sampler.

Accurate cutting and use of a true 1/4'' seam allowance is a must for successful patchwork piecing. All your blocks will measure 12-1/2'' square (unfinished). Review how to cut strips, sew with a true 1/4'' seam allowance, and other helpful piecing tips on my "Are You Ready to Sew" post.

Download the free PDF on the free Double-T block from my Sew Along page and let's get sewing!

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Our block this week is all review as far as piecing techniques. I'm sure you can do this in your sleep by now but if you need a refresher, use the following link for review how to make Half-Square Triangle (HST) units and No-Waste Flying Geese units that we've already used in earlier Community Sampler blocks. Accuracy is always our goal so make sure all cut pieces are true to size as you work and maintain an accurate 1/4" seam allowance when sewing and the pieces will go together beautifully.

If you're wanting to use directional prints for either the HST units or the Flying Geese units you may want to check out my tutorial for controlling directional prints that was posted during the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew along. 

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I kept my block real simple this week and love how these Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Element solids look together. If you're curious as to the exact colors I've used I'm including the fabrics name and sku number so you can easily get the same look.

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Other fabrics of interest included in my photos this week are the Splendid Fusions prints from Art Gallery Fabrics (now is shops) that include reprints of my Petally and Woodblock prints (first two from right to left on the above photo). Also, under my Double-T block I used my Mudcloth Blue print from Tapestry as a backdrop. It's hard not to include some pattern in my posts! :)

Be sure to stop over at Maureen's blog to see her lovely blocks being made from her Art Gallery Fabrics Love Story collection. 

COMMUNITY SAMPLER SPONSORS

My co-host Maureen Cracknell and I are continually amazed by the joy and excitement each of you bring to our virtual community. Thank you for making this sew along so special. Please visit Maureen's blog and see the progress she's making on her sampler quilt, using her beautiful AGF fabrics Love Story collection. Be sure to use the #CommunitySampler hashtag when posting your blocks to Instagram and tag both my @sharonhollanddesigns and @maureencracknell so we don't miss any of your beautiful work!

Don't forget that this Friday's a Giveaway Friday on the Community Sampler sew along. Maureen and I will take turns hosting a giveaway each week where one of our generous sponsors will be featured and offering amazing prizes both here on our blogs and also on Instagram. I will be hosting the giveaway this Friday and you'll be instructed how to enter at that time.

Happy sewing!

H-Block Quilt

H-Block Quilt

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Some time ago I did house cleaning on my Free Patterns page to clear out PDFs that were not up to my current formatting and pattern writing standards. Unfortunately, the H-Block baby quilt pattern was one that was pulled. I have been intending to bring this pattern back but it's hard to find the time to devote to a free pattern or get excited about remaking a quilt when new projects keep cropping up! 

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Well, I got a whole bunch of motivation not only to publish a new version of this free pattern but to make a baby quilt for a new grand baby coming this spring! Now I was ready to remake this quilt with renewed love and excitement. 

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The H-Block quilt it simple but so much fun and rewarding to make. It would be an excellent use of jelly roll strips because all the pieces are 2-1/2"-wide. I selected an assortment of prints from my various Art Gallery Fabrics collection: Gossamer, Coastline, Tapestry, Bountiful, and Fusions reprints (of my prints and other designers like Bari J. and Bonnie Christine) from Bachelorette, Woodland, and Floralia. I've also added in AGF Smooth Denim for a lovely departure from solids. See my Fabrics page for online shops that carry my collections.

My quilt uses 8 dark fabrics, 8 medium fabrics, and 6 light fabrics. My daughter wanted an earthy-boho look too the quilt and goes beautifully with her eclectic style of decorating. I couldn't be happy with how the quilt came out!

Download the free PDF H-Block pattern from my Free Patterns page.

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The finished size of this quilt is 46'' x 58'' and a great snuggling size as baby gets bigger. I used a very simple free-form half circle with a loop machine quilting design that was fast and easy to make. I didn't mark out the design ahead of time--just free motioned it and it's not perfect but I love it! 

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For the batting I used my all-time favorite Hobbs Tuscany Silk batting. It's incredible in every way. The batting handles like cotton but it light weight. The drape of the quilt is exquisite and will be warm and soft for years to come. I machine washed the quilt before brining it to my daughter this weekend and dried in the dryer on low. There we no noticeable shrinkage of the quilt so this makes an excellent product for a baby quilt. 

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #9

Hello SBS makers, it's Wednesday!

My co-host Maureen Cracknell and I are having so much fun with this 26-week sampler quilt event. For those just joining, you'll want to start the sew along in chronological order because we build off past techniques and with each new block release I've added helpful, in-blog tips and tutorials. Start with the first SBS post and work your way to the present. 

Did you like last week's post about sewing half-square triangles and controlling the direction of the fabrics? I saw some pretty amazing blocks being posted to Instagram and love seeing your progress. I apologize for not commenting on everyone's blocks but had a very good excuse--I was on vacation in New York! 

While in the Big Apple, I had the experience of visiting Mood! Here I am with a very tired Swatch (the store mascot). 

Time to start sewing block #9--Wedding Ring. Download the free PDF pattern from my Sew Along page.

Wedding Ring uses the 8-at-a-time half-square triangle (HST) technique we've used in several of our blocks so far. If you need a review, follow the step-by-step tutorial, here. Block #9 is another 12-1/2'' (unfinished) block that doesn't require any frames to get it up to size. Be mindful of your seam allowances to keep this block true to size. 

The only tip I have for you this week is number of fabric options. The PDF instruction is written for a 2-fabric block. If you're looking to add more fabrics to your block, here's information for a 3-fabric and a 4-fabric option. 

Remember, if you like to have all your prints running the same direction in your block, visit block #8 blog post here.

3-Fabric Option:

CUT:

  • (2) 5-3/4'' squares, (1) 4-1/2'' square, and (4) 2-1/2'' x 4-1/2'' rectangles fabric A
  • (1) 5-3/4'' square and (4) 2-1/2'' x 4-1/2'' rectangles fabric B
  • (1) 5-3/4'' square fabric C

Sew block per PDF instructions.

Don't ask me why, but with a block name like Wedding Ring, I thought there should be a little bling in the photos so I included some fun vintage jewelry bugs and flower pins. I have two sampler quilts going. This 3-fabric option is made using Haymow prints from my new Bountiful fabrics collection for Art Gallery Fabrics and Pure Element solid Snow for the background. I'm using the same fabric for the background as I would normally use in my frames. 

 

4-Fabric Option:

The 4-fabric option is a perfect place to showcase I fussy cut center square. 

CUT:

  • (2) 5-3/4'' squares and (4) 2-1/2'' x 4-1/2'' rectangles fabric A
  • (1) 5-3/4'' square and (4) 2-1/2'' x 4-1/2'' rectangles fabric B
  • (1) 5-3/4'' square fabric C
  • (1) 4-1/2'' square fabric D

Sew block per PDF instructions.

My second sampler quilt is made from a curated collection of prints from my first four fabric lines for Art Gallery Fabrics and two newly recolored Fusion prints from my Gossamer fabrics. Here I've used prints from Sketchbook and Coastline. 

Aurifil      Circa 15      The Intrepid Thread      Fat Quarter Shop      Omnigrid      Llama Fabrics      Color Girl     Lady Belle Fabric      Needle in a Fabric Stash      Dritz      Knotted Thread    NeedleandFoot      Stash Builder Box

Also, don't forget that Friday is Giveaway Friday and this week I will be hosting the giveaway from this blog. We've got a great giveaway planned from Aurifil I know you'll not want to miss!