Today's the day for Block 8 of the QAL By the Sea! It's also the end of Segment 2, which means you have an extra week to catch up and a chance to win some prizes! If you're sewing along, be sure to read the Segment 2 post!
This week is a paper pieced Mariner's Compass block by Kathleen of Kathleen McMusing. The pattern and tutorial are on her blog HERE.
This is the eighth of twelve blocks in the QAL By the Sea. There is a new FREE block pattern released each week throughout the quilt along, and there are prizes you can win for joining the fun! Be sure to join the QAL's Facebook group so you can encourage other quilters and get the links to all the patterns!
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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!
For all of my QAL By the Sea blocks, I'm using an ombre stack of Kona solids and coordinating Aurifil 50wt thread. You can read more about those on this post.
The Mariner's Compass block is written for six colors plus a background color - which is exactly how many aqua colors I'm using!
This block is paper pieced, which makes the points of the star nearly perfect every time. I did decide to cut my fabric pieces a bit oversized from what was written in the pattern (i.e. 2 1/2" x 7" instead of 2 1/4" x 6 1/2"). That extra helped me have a bit more wiggle room when sewing.
I pieced the whole block with 50wt Aurifil #2021 White this time. (Remember to reduce your stitch length so it's easier to remove the paper! I used 1.5 on my Juki.)
After assembling each quarter section, I removed the paper just within the seam allowance and pressed the seams open. I also did this when sewing the quarters together. This really helped the block to lay flat and have the least amount of bulk possible in the center.
Only after the block was completely assembled did I remove the rest of the paper from the back.
Oh, and remember my saga with two different whites a couple blocks ago? Well, I *thought* I knew which white was which, but (rookie move) didn't actually take the bolts outside to check. So this week I used what I thought was the white I wanted for the whole quilt, but turns out, nope! Sigh. So in case I forget again, PLEASE remind me to use the bolt of Kona White from now on!
I do love all the blocks together though!
Want to quilt along?? Find the pattern for Block 8 HERE! There's still plenty of time to make the first eight blocks!
The QAL is divided into three segments, and it's time to enter to win the Segment 2 prizes! Complete blocks 5-8 from Segment 2 by 7:59am EST on October 13th to be entered to win prizes! Be sure to share a picture of your finished blocks 5-8 in the Facebook group or on Instagram. You must use #QALBytheSeaUS or #QALBytheSeaAbroad in the caption of your post in order to be entered to win.
Segment 1
August 4 - Block 1 - Becca at Pretty Piney Quilts
August 11 - Block 2 - Jennifer at Inquiring Quilter
August 18 - Block 3 - April at JANDA Bend Quilts
August 25 - Block 4 - Sherry at Powered by Quilting
September 8 - Segment 1 winner announced!
Segment 2
September 8 - Block 5 - Sandra at Sandra Healy Designs
September 15 - Block 6 - Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting
September 22 - Block 7 - Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts
September 29 - Block 8 - Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing
October 13 - Segment 2 winner announced!
Segment 3
October 13 - Block 9 - Karen at Tu-Na Quilts
October 20 - Block 10 - Sandy at SandyStar Designs
October 27 - Block 11 - Abbie at Sparkle On!
November 3 - Block 12 - Karen at Tu-Na Quilts
November 10 - Segment 3 winner announced!
December 1 - Grand prize winner announced!
There are prizes for both US and international participants!
USA Fat Quarter fabric bundle of the Island Batik line Cascadia by Claudia Pfeil.
https://islandbatik.comandQuilters Dream Poly batting; a throw size 60” x 60”. Dream Black is a beautiful true black quilt batting that enhances the integrity, richness, and warmth of vivid and dark fabrics and ‘quilts like a dream’.
https://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/products/quilters-dream-midnight-black-poly
https://islandbatik.comandQuilters Dream Poly batting; a throw size 60” x 60”. Dream Black is a beautiful true black quilt batting that enhances the integrity, richness, and warmth of vivid and dark fabrics and ‘quilts like a dream’.
https://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/products/quilters-dream-midnight-black-poly
https://www.makemodern.com.au/andA PDF pattern of your choice up to $10.00 from these designers:Laura of Slice of Pi Quilts
https://www.etsy.com/shop/SliceofPiQuiltsSandra of Sandra Healy Designs
www.sandrahealydesigns.com/shop
Be sure to look at all the different versions of Block 8 made by the QAL hosts!
Let's all quilt along!
UGH! Put a bit fat note on those bolts. Your block looks super.
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