The weeks are flying by! It's already time for the 4th block of the QAL By the Sea! (It's also the end of segment 1. That 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 1 post!)
The first three blocks were all raw-edge applique, but this block from Sherry at Powered by Quilting is a mix of traditional and paper piecing! Find the pattern and tutorial HERE!
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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!
After I finished the first three blocks, my husband said I should try to use all of my colors in every block. I agreed that would help the final quilt have a cohesive look, but that presented a challenge with this block! (Don't tell him that I didn't use one of the colors in block three!)
I'm making all of my blocks with a stack of Kona solids in a range of aqua/teal and coordinating 50wt Aurifil thread (read about that HERE).
In order to use all of my colors, I decided to use the two lightest colors for the center of the sun, the remaining four colors for the rays, and white for the background/sky. I really hemmed and hawed over which color to use for the sun's eyes and smile. Sherry's example used a dark color, but ultimately I chose my lightest shade.
I chain pieced my paper pieced sections. I'd sew the next fabric on all the pieces, then take them all to my cutting table and trim all at once. It really helped so I didn't have to start and stop so much!
I was super excited that I got to use my sewing machine laser for this block too!
My laser is probably my favorite notion that I have! It sticks to my machine with hook and loop tape when I need it. I just quickly adjust the laser to be in line with the needle, then I can sew from corner to corner without having to draw a line on my fabric! (I use it for lots of things! You can read more about it on THIS POST.)
I left the paper in my pieces until my whole block was sewn together.
I haven't paper pieced for awhile, so this block was a great chance to exercise those skills again!
I kept up with my tradition of taking the block to our local lake to photograph it!
I'm so stoked with how these blocks are coming together!
Want to quilt along?? Find the pattern for Block 3 HERE!
The QAL is divided into three segments. Complete all four blocks from Segment 1 by 7:59am on September 8th to be entered to win prizes! Be sure to share a picture of your finished blocks in the Facebook group!
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!
There are prizes for both US and international participants!
US
Dream Green 60" x 60" batting from Quilter's Dream. An earth friendly polyester batting made from 100% recycled plastic bottles!
https://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/products/dream-green/AndA Fat Quarter fabric bundle of Island Batik "Kismet."
This line by Tammy Silver of Tamarinis has a bohemian vibe with vibrant colors!
https://islandbatik.com/
International
A 6 month subscription to the e-magazine Make Modern. A magazine for quilters, by quilters, filled with beautiful patterns and articles to inspire quilters like us to make more modern quilts!
https://www.makemodern.com.au/AndA PDF pattern of your choice from these Designers!prettypiney.com/shop http://www.inquiringquilter.com/shop payhip.com/poweredbyquilting
(a $10.00 shop credit)
Be sure to look at all the different versions of Block 4 made by the QAL hosts!
Join the fun! Let's all quilt along!
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The blocks do look cohesive. So clever to use a monochromatic color palette. You did a great job on the Sun block!
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