Quilt along progress and a holiday giveaway...

 I thought I would share a few pictures and blog links of people who are making the Red, White and True quilt. Dianne is a local friend and quilter and is making this happy, happy version...yes she does like polka dots!.

 Karen blogged about her QAL progress on her blog, Hazel Dell Quilts...check out her beautiful blocks! So did Susan at Hanging on by a Needle and Thread and  Cheryl at Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting. Cheryl is making three! If you have posted a blog post about the QAL let me know, I will post for everyone to see!

Pat, another local friend and quilter,shared this  pic of her project so far

You can see more QAL pictures  on the Red White and True QAL Flickr page. If you haven't added yours to the group page yet, please do so we can all enjoy!

Jo's Axel blocks

I'm quilting along and having fun with my baby quilt version of the Red, White and True quilt...You might remember from yesterday's post that I made some Axel blocks using the border fabric in the corners. I am substituting three like that for three of the Bkgd. Axel blocks in my quilt. So, same amount of blocks in the quilt, but mixing it up a bit for the layout. I'm trying to get this one finished before the end of the QAL. 

Don't forget to enter the QAL giveaway on yesterday's post for the adorable Suzy's Zoo fat quarter pack. They will add playful fun to your holiday project! The giveaway ends Friday.

Red, White and True Quilt Along: Sewing #4 and a giveaway!

Are you all caught up and ready for the next sewing direction in the Red, White and True Quilt Along? Let's get started!

 Remember:Throw/Twin amounts will be listed with the Twin in parenthesis 
     like this: Throw (Twin)

Take out:

   All Background 4.5" squares

   16 (32) Color One Red Stripsets

   16 (32) Color Two Blue Stripsets

    8 (16) Quarter Square Triangles

Assemble 8 (16) Background Axel blocks as shown. Press each of the three rows towards the stripsets, as shown.

When pressing the block rows, press the block rows towards the center on half of the blocks, as shown below. 

Press the block rows towards the outer edges of the block on the other half of the blocks. This will help when putting the quilt rows together. After you have pressed all 8 (16) of your blocks you can relax and kick back until next Monday. Good job!

Not so great picture of the baby quilt background block

Here is the background block for the baby quilt. 

Baby quilt border fabric

I decided to make a few extra blocks using 4.5" squares of the border print fabric in the corners of the blocks instead of the background for the baby quilt. So it will have 4 block colorings instead of three.

Don't forget to play along by posting some pictures of your progress on your blog, or on the Red, White and True Flickr Group page. Let me know if you do so I can take a peek. and link to it on a future blog post. You can download and print the free PDF directions for the Red, White and True Quilt Along: Sewing #4 at my Craftsy store.

Now it's time for a surprise giveaway! Do you like surprises? I love them! Read on:

I have a fat quarter set of five Suzy's Zoo holiday fabrics that need a new home just in time for holiday sewing. If you are making the Red, White and True quilt, comment on your progress to win these cute fabrics.  Which step are you on? Are you printing and saving the directions to make later? If you are not making Red, White and True, comment on what you would make with these cute fabrics if you win them. Please respond in the comments below and I will choose a winner on Friday, July 24. I am using Rafflecopter to keep track of the entries...so please click on the Rafflecopter box Leave a blog post comment to register for the giveaway. Then you can comment below as always. 

Aren't these adorable?

Please include your email in the comment if you are a no-reply blogger. I can't contact you if you win without it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jenelle of Bizy Stitches won the Suzy's Zoo Fat Quarter pack! Congrats Jenelle! Thanks to everyone for participating! There will be a special giveaway at the end of the Red, White and True QAL....stay tuned!

Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #3

Now the fun really starts, as we will be making some blocks today!

"Throw/Twin amounts will be listed with the Twin in parenthesis like this: Throw (Twin)

Take out:
   All Color One Red and Color Two Blue 4.5" squares
   8 (16) Color One Red Stripsets
   8 (16) Color Two Blue Stripsets
   4 (8) Quarter Square Triangles
 
Assemble 2 (4) Color Two Blue Axel blocks as shown.

 Press the three rows towards the Color Two 4.5" squares and the QST (in the center row).

Press the block rows towards the outer edges of the block.

Assemble 2 (4) Color One Red Axel blocks as shown.
Press the three rows towards the stripsets.
Press the block rows towards the center row.

   

Are they looking so pretty? I want to see, so post about your Sewing Step #3 and comment below and I will come visit. OR share the pictures on my Flickr Red, White and True Quilt Along Group. It's ever so easy!

You can also print out the free Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #3 PDF pattern on my Craftsy page.

Baby quilt blue

Here are my blocks for the baby quilt. Hopefully it's true that babies like bright colors! 

Baby quilt orange

Tonight is the first class for the Simply Posies Sampler Group One, so I'm excited to see what fabrics they have chosen to make this quilt.

Simply Posies Sampler 21

Red, White and True Quilt Along Sewing #1

Are you ready to start sewing? If you still need to catch up with the cutting, or need other info, go to the Red, White and True Quilt Along page for all of the details.

Let's get started! Today we will be working with the 1 1/2" Background strips and the 2 1/2" Color One Red, and Color Two strips. So get those out to begin. 

Remember, WOF = Width of Fabric

All seams are 1/4".

Take a Bkgd. 1 ½” WOF strip and sew it lengthwise to one of the Color One Red 2 ½” WOF strips.

 Press that towards the Background, and then sew another one to the other lengthwise edge, as shown. TIP: If you sew your second background strip to the Color One strip starting at the opposite end of the stripset than you started on for the first strip, your stripset will lay straighter. Press that one towards the Color One Red.

Make Three (3) stripsets like this if you are making the Throw size, make six (6) like this if you are making the Twin size. Aren't they so straight and pretty?

Now do the same thing with your Background and Color Two strips. Make Three (3) stripsets like this if you are making the Throw size, make six (6) like this if you are making the Twin size.

Press the seams in one direction, so press one towards the Bkgd. strip, and press the other towards the Color One or Two strip. this makes it easier to dovetail your seams later on as you assemble the blocks. You may still have to repress a few.

 Now cut 4 1/2" squares from the Color One Red stripsets. You will get 8 or 9 from each stripset. You need 24 for the throw, and 48 for the twin size. 

Finally,  cut 4 1/2" squares from the Color Two Blue stripsets. You will get 8 or 9 from each stripset. You need 24 for the throw, and 48 for the twin size. 

 Are your stacks really pretty? You are finished with this step! If you would like the free PDF printout, you can go to my Craftsy page and print out the Red, White and True Sewing #1 pattern. Don't forget to add your photos to my Flickr group as well. 

If you need inspiration for fabrics, check out what Karen is using over at Hazel Dell Quilts. She is using all three of this year's IA fabrics. I can't wait to see how it works up. I will be hosting a Linky Party on Friday, so get ready to post about your Red, White and True Quilt Along progress and link up to my post. There will be a little prize involved...more about that on Friday. So get busy and SEW!

 Do you remember my baby quilt fabric cuts from last week. Here are my pretty stacks for that quilt. All ready for Sewing Step #2 next week!

The green is a truer color in the first picture. It just looks weird here.