Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #20

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #20

Can you believe we're finishing the fourth row? Block #20 out of 25 and our sampler quilts are really taking on shape! 

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As we near the end of this incredible journey, my co-host, Maureen Cracknell and I are looking to future collaborations together. The success of the Sewcial Bee Sampler (SBS) has been phenomenal and mostly because of your participation and the remarkable community you've created out of this sew along.  

To help us better understand your future needs in a sew along, Maureen and I have prepared an 8 question survey. This quick questionnaire will give us insight to better serve your needs as a quilter. To ensure the most accurate results, please only take the survey once. The link provided on both our blogs will link to the same survey. So, if you access the questionnaire from either Maureen's site or mine, your answers are compiled to the same place.  

We still have a few new Makers joining our sew along and Maureen and I couldn't be more proud of all the gorgeous blocks and the remarkable community that's being built from this sew along. Anyone just joining us may want to take advantage of the in-blog tutorials for the different patchwork techniques used throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler. Pick up tips and block variations beginning with the first blog post The Start of Something Sewcial.

Time to get sewing this week's block #20--Irish Chain Variation. Download the free PDf for the blocks on my Sew Along page.

An Irish Chain block is an old design that really shines when multiple blocks are sewn together and a new secondary chain is created. I like the diagonal element this block it brings to our sampler quilt as well as being a great basic block with simple piecing of squares. 

I'm using prints from my Bountiful fabrics collection from Art Gallery Fabrics and deviated from the PDF pattern by adding a third fabric and reducing some of the single squares into rectangles for less piecing. If you'd like to make this variation you will need to cut:

  • (4) 2-1/2" x 6-1/2" rectangles fabric A

  • (4) 2-1/2" squares and (8) 1-1/2" squares fabric B

  • (5) 2-1/2" squares and (8) 1-1/2" squares fabric C

Photo by Alexis Wright

Photo by Alexis Wright

To find online shops that carry Bountiful as well my other Art Gallery Fabrics collections, visit my Shop Fabrics page. 

Don't forget that this Friday's Giveaway Friday and this week Maureen be hosting the giveaway from her blog. We've got a great giveaway planned you won't want to miss!

Week #19 SBS Giveaway

Week #19 SBS Giveaway

Each Friday, throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along, which Maureen Cracknell and I are co-hosting, will be a Giveaway Friday. We've coordinated special giveaway prizes with our amazing participating sponsors for each and every week! If you've happened to miss any of the Sewcial Bee Sampler posts, take a look back from the first post The Start of Something Sewcial to get caught up to the present. Feel free to start sewing with us at anytime--it's never too late to join in, and it's free! 

TODAY'S FEATURED SEWCIAL BEE SAMPLER SPONSOR IN THE INTREPID THREAD!

With over 15 years of experience in e-commerce, The Intrepid Thread is a family owned business employing five amazingly creative quilters and sewists. Julie, the owner, is dedicated to offering quality quilting fabrics at competitive prices and takes special pride in knowing her customer receive unparalleled service!

SHOP  *  BLOG  *  FACEBOOK * We hope you enjoy visiting The Intrepid Thread! 

For this week's Sewcial Bee Sampler giveaway, Julie at The Intrepid Thread is offering a $20 gift certificate to spend however you'd like at her shop!

{THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED}

CONGRATULATIONS TO Jessica FOR BEING THE WINNER OF THE SEWCIAL BEE SAMPLER $20 Intrepid THREAD GIFT CERTIFICATE!

xxxx Sharon

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #19

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #19

Are you ready for our 19th block? We're coming down the home stretch and there's plenty more excitement to come, so stick with us till the end and pretty soon you'll be snuggling under a beautiful quilt! 

Next Wednesday my co-host Maureen Cracknell and I will (hopefully) have a survey in place on our blogs so we can get a better indication of exactly how many of you SBS Makers there are out there plus some questions to help us gauge your skill level and what you'd like to see in a possible future Sew Along. Be watching for that starting next week. 

We still have a few new Makers joining our sew along and Maureen and I couldn't be more proud of all the gorgeous blocks and the remarkable community that's being built from this sew along. Anyone just joining us may want to take advantage of the in-blog tutorials for the different patchwork techniques used throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler. Pick up tips and block variations beginning with the first blog post The Start of Something Sewcial.

With no further ado, let's get to this week's block #19--Circle of Friends. Download the free PDf for the blocks on my Sew Along page.

Circle of Friends is a beautiful block that looks way more complicated than it really is. It's made using 8-at-a-time Half-Square Triangle (HST) units we've been using throughout this sampler quilt with the addition of (4) 2-1/2" squares for the center of each "friend". If you need a refresher on how to make 8-at-a-time Half-Square Triangle units, read more here. If you are using directional prints and want to keep everything running the same way, read about how to control print directions in an earlier tutorial, here.

I thought it fitting I include the lovely necklace given to me by the talented and sweet Paola of @loveoffabrics she made with fabric from my Bountiful Scenic Blue Sky print. Our virtual community is indeed a Circle of Friends.

Block Variation

I deviated from the PDF pattern this week and added a fourth fabric to this block. If you'd like to make this variation you will need to cut:

  • (2) 5-3/4" squares fabric A
  • (4) 5-3/4" squares fabric B
  • (2) 5-3/4" squares fabric C
  • (4) 2-1/2" squares fabric D

Each quarter of this block is made exactly the same and a fun overall pattern is created once the four quarters are sewn together. I've used prints from my Bountiful fabrics collection for Art Gallery Fabrics. Shown are Prairie Crimson, Scenic Blue Sky, and Gather Rustic with the addition of Art Gallery Fabrics Pure Elements Snow solid. 

I was excited to see a full page feature of my fabric collection in the latest issue of Pretty Patches Magazine issue 36. Be sure to check out this gorgeous publication for the projects plus how to enter for a chance to win a 20-piece fat quarter bundle of AGF fabrics!

Don't forget that this Friday's Giveaway Friday and this week I will be hosting the giveaway from this blog. We've got a great giveaway planned from Intrepid Thread you won't want to miss!

Week #18 SBS Giveaway

Sewcial Bee Sampler Friday Giveaway!

Each Friday, throughout the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along community event that Maureen Cracknell and I are hosting together, we've lined up a special Giveaway with one of our amazing, participating sponsors! If you happened to miss the launch of our Sewcial Bee Sampler you can follow this link for all the info and can join us anytime - it's never too late to jump in!

Today's featured Sewcial Bee sponsor is Lady Belle Fabrics!

Lady Belle Fabric is run by husband and wife team, Rob and Brooke. In their shop you'll find both bundles and single cuts of hand picked fabrics that are fresh, modern, and fun! Designer fabrics include many of our favorites -- Art Gallery Fabrics, Cotton + Steel, Free Spirit, and Moda, just to name a few! Lady Belle Fabric's goal is to offer the most gorgeous fabric as quickly as they can! 

Shop  *  Instagram  *  Facebook  *  Pinterest  We hope you enjoy visiting Lady Belle Fabric!

For this week's Sewcial Bee Sampler Giveaway, Lady Belle Fabric is offering the winner a generous fat quarter bundle of Maureen Cracknell's brand new collection for Art Gallery Fabrics, Soulful! This bundle will include a fat quarter cut of each of the TWENTY prints that make up this pretty new collection!!

You're all invited to checkout SOULFUL with a special discount throughout this Giveaway of 20% OFF in the Lady Belle Fabric shop, available in both fat quarter bundles and as half yard bundles! Be sure to visit this amazing shop!! 

In addition, Lady Belle Fabric is having a wonderful BUNDLE SALE! With 30% to 40% off clearance bundles, be sure to visit Lady Belle HERE --  http://www.ladybellefabric.com/

Enter to win! 

Maureen and I have taking turns hosting Sewcial Bee Giveaway Fridays, so this week I'm sending you to the Maureen Cracknell Handmade blog to enter!

A BIG thanks to all of you who are joining the Sewcial Bee Sampler sew-along and to those who enter our Giveaway! 

♡ Sharon