Leaves in the Forest - let's get started

This week we are making Block 1(5 blocks) and Block 2a (12 blocks).

My assumption with this QAL is that you already know the basics of foundation piecing.  If you don't, don't worry. I think this is pretty self-explanatory.

ALSO: I will be showing my method here.  It is not the be all and end all of foundation piecing. While the basics are the same, there are lots of different approaches out there.

I hate wasting fabric and this method uses much less fabric than the traditional way, which is a little more random.

Be sure to have your printed block diagrams and fabric at the ready.

The first thing we'll do is score all the diagrams along the seam lines. I use a sheet of card stock but anything about the weight of a greeting card or maybe a little heavier will do.

Lay your diagram face up and place the card along any seam line.  Fold the paper over the card, scoring along the whole seam line.

Repeat this for all the seam lines on the diagram.

When you're all done, your block diagram will look a little like an origami sculpture in the making.

Repeat this for all the block diagrams for Block 1 and Block 2.  It's a fun, mindless, thing to do while watching television if you have a lap tray.

Now we can get to sewing!

Since these posts are rather photo intensive, I'll be back in the next post.

Leaves in the Forest Quilt Along - back on!

Soooo...I kind of feel like 2020 right now - you just don't know what may happen next. I've decided to do a scaled down edition of the quilt-along. My original plan involved carefully edited videos and photos but, given the circumstances, that was a little ambitious.

I will do weekly posts here on the blog with photos. I've been trying to figure out how we can all share our progress and ask questions if need be, and the only platform I could come up with is Facebook. I created a Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/twiddletailsquiltalongs 

You can also email me or leave a comment on each post and I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can.

Since this all starts in just a couple of days, it's time to get everything ready.

Print your patterns

Be sure to print the block patterns "actual" (100%) size. There is a little square on each page for double checking your size. This is VERY important!

For years I just used regular printer paper but I recently found 16lb paper which is quite a bit thinner. It's not easy to find so I'm not sure how much longer it will be available.

Cut your fabric

The pattern addendum has instructions for cutting your fabric into strips for piecing.

This really saves a lot of fabric and I will be showing how I do this for each block.

It's something between cutting actual templates which just adds too much prep time to my liking, and winging it which can waste A LOT of fabric but definitely provides more instant gratification.

Please note that (if you have half yards), the colored fabrics are to be cut along the 18" side of your fabric, not selvedge to selvedge. Background fabric is cut selvedge to selvedge.

You can either cut all your fabric strips ahead of time or one block at a time. I'm going to cut one block at a time but that's my personal preference.

Get organized

This is how I'm keeping it all organized:

1. Cut pages 8 and 9 of the addendum into the individual block images and place each in a separate ziploc bag.

2. Place the printed patterns for each block in the matching bag.

3. Place the cut fabric strips for each block in the applicable bag.

Lastly, a VERY handy tool when foundation piecing is an add-a-quarter ruler.  I am not a gadget person at all but this little tool changed my life. I have a couple so, if you're interested, send me an email and I can send you a PayPal invoice.  The pink ones are $7 including shipping and the yellow ones (which include a tapered edge for folding your paper), $8. This is my cost. (Domestic shipping only)

And that's it until August 31st, when we'll start sewing!

Leaves in the Forest Quilt Along - An Update

After much contemplation, I have realized that hosting a quilt along the way I want to at this point in time would be close to impossible.

I am currently sharing my office/sewing room with my hubby who is a wonderful office mate but it is really hard to sew consistently because his job involves a lot of conference calls.

I also want to provide videos every week because a picture is worth a thousand words.

I've been wracking my brain trying to find an alternate solution for sewing / video recording but have not come up with a solution that would not disrupt the rest of our routine.

Over and above that, we have multiple other unforeseen stressors in our lives right now. It never rains but it pours, right?

With all that being said, I am canceling or at least postponing this quilt along for now.

If you have bought the pattern and/or kit, I will always be available for questions.

I am posting the schedule I had planned for the quilt along below and am going to try and keep up with it myself.

Planned Quilt Along Schedule:

Week 1: Blocks 1 & 2a

Week 2: Blocks 2b & 3

Week 3: Blocks 4, 5a

Week 4: Blocks 5b, 6

Final week: Assemble quilt top

I'm SO sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!

Leaves in the Forest Quilt Along - Introduction

I'm SO excited to be making this quilt and hope to have a bunch of people go through the process with me!

Schedule

now to 8/31: Collect your fabric and supplies and purchase the pattern.

8/31-10/4: Weekly block instructions will be posted on this blog.

How to follow along

I will be posting the instructions on this blog. There will possibly be instructional videos as well if I can get my act together.

I will announce when a new post is available both on Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up below for weekly notifications.

We will be using the hashtag #leavesintheforestqal

The Pattern

The pattern we'll be using is my new Leaves in the Forest pattern.

All the blocks except the maple leaves are foundation (paper) pieced. The pattern does not include foundation piecing instructions but there are many tutorials online.

This is a good pattern for beginners because the segments are not too small.

The quilt finishes at 66" x 66".

(Get 50% OFF the pattern if you purchase the kit as well.)

Fabric Requirements

5 yards of  "background" fabric - I'm using Moda Grunge 30150-91 Vanilla.

1 Moda Grunge 12 Color Fabric Bundle - Fall/Autumn (0.5 yard size)

                                                    or

A total of 6 yards of fall colored fabrics of your choice

Foundation paper for printing or tracing the patterns

General Notes

The pattern includes an extra file with optional cutting instructions.  I will be using these as we go along.

You are welcome to use your own method but the fabric quantities are based on these instructions and you may need more fabric.

Let's go!

Well, that didn't quite work out...

 2020 was going to be the Year of Finishes. And then 2020 happened.

You would think that would be great for getting things done but with everyone making masks, orders exploded. A big thank you to everyone who supported and is still supporting my little business.

I have now developed a system to handle everything and things are much more organized.

I am still up to date on my Temperature Quilt (see details over to the right).

And I'm stocking fabric bundles as quickly as I can. It's never too late to start one of your own.  Or just grow your fabric collection...

I did finish my Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt top - "Frolic".

I also finished my Pecking Order quilt.  I have to admit I "cheated" and had it professionally quilted. (The pattern is from Missouri Star Quilt Company.)

I completed a couple of other things too, so perhaps the year hasn't been quite as unproductive as I thought.

Anyway, I'm about to start another project, which I wasn't "allowing" myself to do at the beginning of the year. Maybe you'd like to join me.

The quilt along will run from 8/31/20 to 10/4/20.

Sign up here for details, coupons, and weekly links to new instructions/videos. I will be posting an intro sometime this week with fabric requirements, etc.

That's it for right now.