Block #1 - Hour Glass

Good morning stitching sisters!  Today starts the official beginning of our project together!  I am excited, are you?

Here are some items you will need as we get started:
Sewing machine
White Thread
3 fabric selections (1/4 yrd of each)
Seam/Stitch Ripper (in the event you need to take out and redo a seam - hey, it happens)
Straight Pins
Sissors
Pattern templates (I will email them to you but first you need to send me your email addresses!)
Iron and Ironing Board

Remember, I am going on the assumption that you know how to thread and use your machines and that you are familiar with how to align your machine for a 1/4" seam.  We will use 1/4" seams for all of our blocks.

The first block we are going to learn is the Hour Glass Block. 

What I love about this block is that while it has an easy construction, it is a fantastic looking block that provides texture and visual movement.  It is a great beginning block for all of those who have never pieced or sewn before and it will teach you the basics needed for each additional block in our series.

The Hour Glass Block design we are using was obtained from About.com and was designed by Janet Wickell. Thanks Janet for such a great block!

For the Hour Glass Block, you will need three fabric selections.  Remember, you will need less than a quarter of a yard of each fabric to construct both your block and your block buddy block.
I chose a beautiful floral featuring roses in light and dark pink and adorned with small blue flowers and green leaves on a deep ivory background.  To pull out the color of the leaves I chose a green fabric that features a small darker green vine pattern throughout and finished off my fabric selection by adding a light ivory fabric with a similar vine design in white throughout.

The Hour Glass block is comprised of seven plain squares and two half square triangles.  This square will teach you the basics of proper alignments and how to construct half square triangles.  Constructing half square triangles is easy and once you've learned how to make them you will open up an endless possibility for constructing future squares.  Are you ready for a peak at our first block? Okay, here it is...

If you haven't emailed me your email address as yet, please do so as soon as possible so that I can email you the written instructions for this block as well as the cutting templates for your squares.  Email your addresses to me at JanWest67@gmail.com  or post them in the comments section below.  When you receive your emails from me with the block instructions they will come from JanEgirl67@sssnet.com

Are you ready to see how the block is constructed?  Let's get started!

The first step in constructing our blocks is to properly cut our material into the sizes and quantities needed.
Accurately cutting our material is essential in constructing a successful quilt block.  Piecing is similar to putting together a puzzle where the pieces must fit perfectly together in order to achieve the finished look.

Tips for cutting your material:

• Make sure your material is ironed neatly and not wrinkled or creased
• When cutting, never cut through more than two layers of fabric at one time
• cutting through multiple layers of fabric can cause your bottom fabrics to slip resulting in improper cuts/size
• When folding your fabric, always align your edges so they meet
• most fabrics sold today have a small strip on one side of the fabric that is white and provides design information and a color key (small circles of color) that is helpful when shopping for fabrics that will coordinate nicely. 
• always place your template away from the white strip and avoid cutting into it too far as it will show in your finished block if your seams are not big enough.
• Always secure your templates to your fabric with straight pins to avoid the template from slipping
• Always use sharp sissors
• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, read through your pattern instructions before cutting so that you know exactly how many cuts you need from each fabric.  (I can't tell you how many times in the beginning I made that mistake!)
• On your written pattern, identify your fabric selections as A, B, C, etc., to help you not only in cutting but placement as well.

For our Hour Glass Block I marked my fabric as such:

• Floral Print - Fabric A
• Green - Fabric B
• Ivory - Fabric C

For EACH Hour Glass Block you construct you will need the following:

• Fabric A you will need (4) 4 1/2" squares
• Fabric B you will need (2) 4 1/2" squares & (1) 4 7/8" square
• Fabric C you will need (1) 4 1/2" square & (1) 4 7/8" square

Ready to cut?  See the picture below for  placement of your templates and cutting

After you have finished cutting all your fabrics from the appropriate templates, organize your fabric as such:

We will begin building our block by constructing the half square triangles.

To construct each half square triangle take the 4 7/8" square from Fabric B and place it with the 4 7/8" square from Fabric C - right sides together* (*right sides together means place the design side of your fabrics against each other - see below)

Fabric B & C- 4 7/8" squares placed right sides together

With right sides together we will now mark or crease our fabrics together along a diagonal line, corner to corner. You can do this by using a ruler and laying it diagonally across your material and using a pencil to draw a straight line or how I prefer to do it is by ironing a crease in the fabric by taking one corner and matching it with the opposite diagonal corner.

Once you have ironed or marked the diagonal line in the material it is time to sew the squares together and make our half square triangle!  To do this, open both pieces of fabric to expose the line you just created and place the squares under your sewing needle with the position of the need 1/4" to the right side of the crease/line.  Stitch from corner to corner as shown below.  **Remember, keep your need 1/4" to away from the crease/line and stitch in a straight line across the fabric corner to corner

Once you have sewn on the right side of the line, rotate your fabric and sew on the other side of the line in the same manner.  Both stitched lines should be 1/4" away from the crease/line.  See the example below:

Next we will separate the materials by cutting along the crease/line in the center.  Once we separate and open the material we will need to press the seams to the darkest side of fabric to avoid "bunching" and to keep our squares straight and even.  It is that simple to create a half square traingle!

Cut along the creased/drawn line

Once Cut you will have two half square triangles

Press the seams toward the darkest fabric



Completed Half Square Triangle Unit

Now that we have our half square triangle units constructed we will begin assembling the three rows that will join together to form our quilt block. Blocks are generally constructed in rows and then completed by piecing each row together in order of its placement in the block.

To construct Row Number 1 we will need:

• (1) 4 1/2" square from Fabric B
• (1) 4 1/2" square from Fabric A
• (1) half square triangle unit

We will start by joining the Fabric B square to our Fabric A Square

• Place the two fabric squares right sides together
• Stitch a 1/4" inch seam up the right hand side of the squares as shown below

Fabric B & Fabric A - right sides together stitch a 1/4" seam up the right side of the squares

Once you have stitched your first seam to join the squares, place the half square triangle right side together with the Fabric A square. **Make sure that when you place your fabrics together the triangle from Fabric C is pointing in the downward position as shown below.  When are square is opened we want the Fabric C triangle to be pointing downward and inward toward the center of our squares.
Join them the same as you did the previous squares by sewing a 1/4" seam up the right hand side of the fabric.

Once you have sewn your 1/4" seam up the side of the half square triangle, open then turn the fabric over and press all seams toward the Fabric A square in the center of the row as shown below

This completes Row 1 for our block.  Now onto Row 2

Row 2 will be constructed in much the same way  except use the following order for your fabric

• Place a Fabric C 4 1/2" square on top of a Fabric A 4 1/2" square with right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam up the right hand side of the squares
• Follow by placing a Fabric A 4 1/2"square on top of the Fabric C square with right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam up the right hand side of the squares
• Open the row, turn the fabric over and press the seams toward each Fabric A square







Construct Row  3 as follows:

• Place a Fabric A 4 1/2" square on top of the remaining half square triangle -right sides together.  **Make sure the Fabric C triangle is pointed up and to the right.  Sew a 1/4" seam on the right hand side of your squares.  Open
• Place a Fabric B 4 1/2" square on top of the Fabric A square -right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam up the right hand side of the fabric
• Open the row, turn the fabric over and press the seams toward the Fabric A square

Congratulations!  You have now constructed the three rows that comprise your block!

Now to finish piecing our block!

• Join Rows 1 and 2 together by placing them right sides together
• Align your square seams so they are even - secure by pinning with straight pins as shown below **Keep the heads of your straight pins away from your sewing maching needle as this can cause damage/breakage to your needle. 

• Stitch a 1/4" seam the length of your row to secure Rows 1 & 2 together.  *Pay close attention to which side you are stitching your seam to insure Row one remains the top row when opened.

• Repeat this process by placing Row 3 right side together with Row 2, aligning seam intersections for a perfect match.  Pinning if necessary and stitching a 1/4" seam the length of the row.
• Once all rows are pieced together turn your block over and press the newly made seams outward and press your block.

Congratulations! You have just pieced your first Friendship Sampler Block!

Now, I don't want you to be concerned if your block is not perfectly straight and if you have some pieces on the edges that seem longer than the rest.  We will square up our blocks by trimming them if necessary before we assemble the blocks into our Friendship Sampler Quilt.  The important thing is that your finished block measures 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" at least.

Once we have gathered all our blocks I will walk you thru trimming and squaring off each block.  I would prefer we do that at the end and before assembling our quilts so that if adjustments need made we can do so at the same time.

Some things to consider as we progress.  A wise investment would be a good heavy ruler or straight edge, a cutting mat, and a rotary cutter.  Please be careful with the rotary cutters as they are very sharp!  We will use these tools to square up our blocks and if everyone has them we may use them as we progress to do some cutting rather than using the templates.  Just a thought.

Okay ladies, how did you do?  You should be proud of yourself for taking this first step!  Now, you have completed Block 1 - the Hour Glass Block.  Time to practice and make your Block Buddy's Hour Glass Block!  I am still waiting on your mailing addresses via email so I can assign your first block buddy.  Please get those to me soon so we can start receiving our Blocks and start meeting one another!

Happy Stitching!

Frolicking in the Fabric

Welcome Friendship Sampler partners and fabulous ladies!  I am very excited to have you participating on the inaugural project from the A Stitch Among Friends Blog.  While we are few in number to start, my hope is that you all will enjoy the next several weeks of stitching together and that through this project we can strengthen the ties that bind and open our hearts to new friendships in the making.  Oh, and of course that we all enjoy the piecing and quilting while learning new skills! 

While this blog is intended to introduce you to quilting and to prove to you that any woman that can spare an hour a week can learn to quilt, I don't want anyone to become overwhelmed.  You will have two weeks to complete each block pattern.  That being said, I don't want to bog anyone down either.  If we find that everyone is working at a faster pace and has completed their blocks within a day or two of the posting, we can and will adjust our pace accordingly.  This project is for you so please do not be afraid to speak up and say "Hey, we need to slow down or hey, I am bored next block please". 

I am so hopeful that you will enjoy this initial project and that others will become interested in what we are doing so much so that they want to join us in the future for additional projects and that you will want to work on future projects together as well.

As we begin, I would like to share with you our block plans for the next several weeks and give you the fabric requirements for each block so that as you begin to shop for your fabric you can plan for each new week as well.  Remember, you will be constructing two identical blocks. One to keep & one to share and none of our block projects will require more than a quarter of a yard of each fabric to complete both blocks.

To make this project not only fun but also a learning experience for you, I have looked at several different block patterns to come up with the 10 blocks that made the final cut (you will end up with 20 blocks - 10 you made & 10 from your block buddies).  What I have attempted to do is to build upon your skill level each week by starting with a basic block that teaches piecing and a half square triangle and then progressively changing block designs weekly to reinforce that which you have just learned and to teach new skills that you will see often in quilt and block patterns.  **Remember you have two weeks to construct your new blocks and send your block to your weekly block buddy but I will post a new block weekly for those that catch the quilting fever and work at a faster pace.  They key to success is to take your time, be patient with yourself and have a stitch ripper handy for those times when you have to start over! (Trust me, I keep mine on standby every time I sew!)

The block patterns used for our project are NOT of my own design.  They are various blocks I have found while searching the Internet for patterns and also a few from a wonderful  reference book I have in my collection the "Quilter's Mix and Match Blocks - A Comprehensive Handbook."  I want to make sure we give credit to the fantastic men and women who designed and shared these blocks through various resources.  I am fascinated by their expertise and design and hope you will be as well!

That being said, are you ready for the list of blocks?  Okay, here goes!

• Week 1 - Hour Glass Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 3  fabrics required
• Week 2 - Double X Block (Quilter's Mix and Match Blocks)
• 2  fabrics required
• Week 3 - Churn Dash Block (Quilter's Mix and Match Blocks)
• 4 fabrics required
• Week 4 - Basket Block (Quilter's Mix and Match Blocks)
• 3 fabrics required
• Week 5 - Summer Winds Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 3 fabrics required
• Week 6 - Pinwheel in Square Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 4 fabrics required
• Week 7 - Road to California Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 4 fabrics required
• Week 8 - Hither and Yon Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 4 fabrics required
• Week 9 - Wyoming Valley Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 5 fabrics required
• Week 10 - All Hallow's Quilt Block (pattern by Janet Wickell - obtained on about.com)
• 3 fabrics required

 And there you have it ladies... the blocks of our friendship sampler!  I am so excited to get started! Are you? Have you started Frolicking in the Fabric as yet?  Time to get moving, Block 1 and meeting your first block buddy begins tomorrow!

Love & Stitches,
Jan

Building a Firm Foundation - Part 2

According to Merriam-Webster.com, a quilt is defined as a bed coverlet of two layers of cloth filled with padding (as down or batting) held in place by ties or stitched designs.

Furthermore, Merriam-Webster defines to quilt as (1b) to stitch, sew, or cover with lines or patterns like those used in quilts. (2) to stich (designs) through layers of cloth, (c) to fasten between two pieces of material,

There are several types of quilts: wholecloth quilts, appliqued quilts, watercolor quilts, and patchwork or pieced quilts are just a few examples.

• Wholecloth Quilts - quilts constructed of a large single piece of fabric (typically white) where the stitches (quilting) make the actual design
• Appliqued Quilts - one or more pieces are sewn to a larger background (usually solid) by hand or machine.
• Watercolor Quilts - quilts with an artistic expression where several different pieces of fabric (usually light to dark) then cut into patterns are used to make a design such as a painting design.  Sometimes referred to as a jig-saw puzzle quilt
• Patchwork or Pieced Quilt -quilts constructed by piecing together "blocks" or sections made from smaller pieces of fabric selections creating different designs/patterns.

For our Friendship Sampler, we will be constructing a pieced quilt by piecing together various shapes/sizes to complete individual 12-inch blocks which will then be pieced together with "sashing" to complete our quilt top.

Each week I will introduce a new block style to build upon your skill level.  Now, please understand some of you may have pieced quilt blocks together before or may be more experienced at sewing than some of our other friends.  To give everyone ample opportunity to develop their skills, we will begin with simple block designs and then progress into more challenging designs as our project continues. 

To provide practice and skill development, you will construct two blocks from each pattern.  One block you will keep and the second block you will send to your "Block Buddy" for their Friendship Sampler.  Due to everyone's busy time schedules and differences in learning abilities, you will be given two full weeks to complete each block design and to send one along to your "Block Buddy".  Please remember that in order for this project to work, each person must be willing to abide by the program.  We definitely don't want anyone to be short on blocks!  In the event of illness or emergency and you find yourself behind schedule, please don't just drop out of the project...talk with me and we will get something worked out. Deal?

Project materials and the postage to mail your block to your "block buddy" are at your own expense.  That being said, take advantage of coupons and sales at your local fabric shops!  One of my favorite places to go each weekend is JoAnn Fabrics.  I must admit, I am in LOVE iwth fabric and never miss a Sunday trip to JoAnns!  if you have an android smart phone you can download the JoAnns app on your phone which will provide you with coupons and sales info.  You can also sign up to be on their mailing list and email list where you will also recieve multiple coupons.  I love coupons!

(Okay ladies, are you ready to dust off those Singer sewing machines, roll up your sleeves, and get started?

Me too, but first a few basics to get us started on the right foot!

I am going to assume, unless you tell me otherwise, that each of you are familiar with at least the basic operation of your sewing machines.  If you aren't please take a moment to read your owners manual and learn about the functions of your machine.

Let's talk about selecting fabrics for the project

I firmly believe that quilting is an art form and as with all art forms, it is an expression of individual taste and characteristics.  That being said, all fabric selections are at your own discretion.  But, please remember that you will be sharing a block with another.  Please no obscene or offensive designs (not that any of you would).  Suggested fabrics for a sampler include small to medium floral prints, calicos, ginghams, solids, and small to medium print designs.  Some block designs can accomodate larger prints.  I will point those designs out as we move along.

When selecting fabric for our projects choose high-quality, medium-weight 100% cotton fabrics.  All-cotton fabrics hold a crease better, fray less, and are easier to quilt than cotton/polyester blends.  For each week's lesson, you will need no more than a quarter of a yard of each fabric required to complete the block.  Fat Quarters are perfect for sampler quilts and run approximately $1.99 each (at JoAnns) but often times depending on the price per yard of fabric you can have a quarter of a yard cut from a bolt for around $1.00-$2.00 per cut.

Project yardage requirements are based on a 44"-45" width.

Care should always be given when working with brightly colored fabric and many suggest that all fabrics be washed, dried, and pressed before cutting and piecing.  In my experience I have found that quilts that are made from fabrics that have not been prewashed are prone to shrinkage and have a more "antiqued" look when washed.  Bright and dark colored fabrics should always be washed, dried, and ironed prior to cutting to prevent bleeding onto other fabrics within your quilts.

Ready to hit the fabric store?  I know I am!

Let's talk about cutting

Precise cutting  followed by accurate piecing is a MUST in quilting.  Just as the pieces of a puzzle are put together, so are the pieces of a quilt block and eventually a quilt. 

Rotary cutting is common with today's quilters and provides a fast and accurate method of cutting to quilters by allowing them to easily cut strips of fabric and then cut those strips into smaller pieces.  Rotarty cutting uses a rotary cutter (very sharp and resembles a small pizza cutter), a cutting mat, and a straight edge guide.  If you are experiened with rotary cutting and have the essential items needed, please feel free to use this method.

Another option for cutting is the tested, tried, and true method of using a template and cutting fabric manually.  This is the method we will use for our project.  Template cutting requires a pattern piece be pinned to your fabric and then cut.  Pattern pieces are easily made using Microsoft Word but to keep things relatively simple and painfree, and to make sure we are all using the same scale templates,  I will email each of you the pattern template each week.  THAT BEING SAID, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT JANWEST67@GMAIL.COM YOUR CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS so that I can email the pattern templates to you.  You can then print them at home using your home printers.  I will use Microsoft Word to email these.  Please let me know if you are unable to open documents in Word.

Beginning with our first block, I will illustrate how to properly place your template and cut your fabric.  Remember, the key to success in quilting is precise cutting and accurate seams!

Do you feel as if you are on information overload?

I think for today we are nearing a good stopping point.  But before we do stop for today, I want to give you a little information on our first block! I am so excited to begin this project with you on Sunday!  For our first block we will be combining simple 4 1/2 inch squares with half square triangles to make  beautiful Hour Glass Quilt Block.  This block will teach you the fundamentals of simple piecing and how to turn two blocks into striking half block triangles for a great look!  These are basic applications which will be used to construct more complex block designs in the future.  For this block you will need three colors/patterns of fabric that work well together.  Remember, small to medium prints, solids, florals are recommended for your blocks and no more than a quarter of a yard of each fabric will be needed to complete the required two blocks.

Don't forget to email me your correct email addresses and also your street address so that I can begin pairing you with your Block Buddy.

Time to frolick in the fabric ladies!!!!

 Love & Stitches,
Jan

Building a Firm Foundation - Part 1

A firm foundation is important to any project - be it building a skyscraper or constructing a quilt.  The foundation on which a project stands needs to be solid and steady to support the weight of the final outcome and for the outcome to truly be admired and respected for all that it is, and all that it entails.

With that in mind, I would like to begin our Friendship Sampler project by first laying the foundation so to speak...

If asked, many of us would claim to know what a quilt is.  We've all seen them.  We've all admired their beauty and intricate patterns and most would agree that we are in awe of the artistry that goes in to making such a beautiful work of art.  But, did you know that the art and skill of quilting actually may date back as far as ancient Egypt?  Or that it was introduced by Crusaders during the 12th Century and began as a garment worn under suits of armour?  In fact, the earliest examples of quilting were not "quilts" as we know them at all.  They were items worn under garments, carpets found in Mongolian caves in Russia, and various other forms handed down throughout history.

It might surprise you to know that the earliest existing quilt was made in Europe around 1360 and that two sections of this quilt survive and are on display at the V&A Museum in Bargello, Florence.  This decorative work is known as the "Tristan quilt" -- part of the Tristan and Isolde story. 

Quilting made its way into American heritage in the late 18th century and early 19th century and was often only affordable to the wealthy as their financial means afforded them the time to leisurely quilt.  With everything we know about our history and evolution, it comes as no surprise then that as technology progressed so did the art of quilting and the affordability of it to those of lower financial status.  Consider how lucky we are to simply go to the fabric store and browse literally hundreds, thousands, of bolts of fabric as opposed to our predecessors who had to construct their fabric through spinning and weaving before even beginning to use it for its intended purpose.

Did you know that quilts played a part in the Civil War and were often made for the purpose of fundraising by abolitionists to end slavery and were also sold by women on both sides of the war to raise money for the war effort and to provide warmth & comfort to soldiers in their beds ? 

I must admit that I didn't know the history of quilting prior to the conception of this project.  In fact, the information above is only a small fraction of what I learned by visiting Wikipedia and searching the "History of Quilting" in order to set the stage so to speak for our project.  I am amazed at what I read and what I had taken for granted on how this beautiful art form originated and how far it has come.  I encourage you to read more on the History of Quilting and further gain respect for that which you are about to embark.

Working in Amish Country the past three years has exposed me to various quilt makers and their creations.  I am always in awe of their mastery of this art form and the precision of their stitches (all done by hand of course) and since dabbling in the art of quilting, I have gained greater respect for the value and worth of a quilt and the efforts of the artist behind the finished product.

What I would like to stress to each of you is that this blog is intended to be fun.  This blog is for YOU the participants to explore the art of quilting.  I am not a professional quilter, nor do I know all there is to know about quilting.  My desire here is to simply share what I can with you while we all learn new skills and grow to appreciate quilting.

I have often heard people exclaim "Oh, they want way too much for that quilt" when looking at a finished piece.  Ladies (and gents) I encourage you as you go about this project to keep a small journal at hand.  In your journal I encourage you to document costs of material and supplies, time spent working on your projects, and any feelings or emotions you have while taking this journey.  By doing so, I truly believe you will gain a better understanding of the "value" of a quilt to the person who has constructed it.  I keep such a journal for all my projects and refer to it often, especially when someone wishes to purchase one of my finished pieces.

Our journey is about to begin and I am delighted to see our current followers!  Welcome to A Stitch Among Friends and this project!  Please feel free to share this blog and the project with your friends who may be interested in joining us. We have a few more days before the start of our first block and the more participants the merrier!

Keep a watchful eye out for my next post "Building a Firm Foundation - Part 2" as I will talk about the basics of quilting, selecting materials, and our first project".  I hope to have that posted either later today or by tomorrow at the latest.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Love & Stitches,
Jan


*Please note, history information included in this blog was taken from the History of Quilting - Wikipedia, and is intended for general learning purposes and not for monetary gain.  For additional information, sources, and further reading please visit Wikipedia and the "History of Quilting".

Where Do We Begin?

Sometimes the biggest challenge of all is where to begin...

Perhaps there is no better beginning than to establish who we are and why we are here.  With that in mind, allow me to introduce myself and set the stage for our journey together.  My name is Jan.  I am a forty-five year old woman that works full-time, has two grown children (Ashley 26 and James 23), enjoys Southern Gospel Music, is proud to be a growing Christian, and enjoys spending time piecing & quilting fabric together to make beautiful quilts.  I am a "quilt-a-holic" so to speak.

I have often heard more than one woman say "I'd love to learn how to quilt, but I simply don't have the time".   To that I say, poppycock!

While Women today are typically busier than our predecessors - working outside the home, caring for children, caring for senior members of our families, extracurricular activities that our children and churches are involved in, etc., there is a way to find time when you are determined and if you really want to.

I am a firm believer that if you truly set your mind to learning and doing something, you will find the time and since quilting doesn't happen overnight but is a process, the time you put in daily, weekly, monthly, is all up to you.  Part of the joy and experience of quilting are those small moments you allow yourself to be free from all else except the fabric and the stitches at hand (or at machine).  A quilt is not constructed overnight!  It is done over time.  The amount of time is completely up to you.

If you have a simple sewing machine and a hour or so to yourself each week, or even a small block of time daily, you can learn to not only quilt but to find sweet release in the time spent doing so.  Yes friends, you heard me correctly.  I did say sewing machine, which brings me to the next point I must make -- hand quilting over machine quilting.

I believe all of us would agree that the gift of a quilt constructed by hand is priceless.  It goes without saying that countless hours are spent piecing fabric blocks together to form a top and then even more hours spent pushing needle and thread through tightly pulled layers to create an heirloom treasure.  What I don't understand is the notion that a quilt that has been pieced and quilted by machine has any less value.  Now mind you I am not talking about mass assembly line quilts.  I am talking about a quilt that has been lovingly pieced together and quilted with love and attention to detail. 

No matter how it is assembled, by hand or by machine, there is considerable thought and planning put into the design and work of a quilt. From pattern design to fabric selection to piecing the top and then adding layers of batting and a backing, someone is taking time and adding love to every thought, every decision, every detail.  And, let's face it; in today's busy world many women would never have had the joy of completing a quilt without the use of a sewing machine.  So dust off those Singers and let's have some fun!

And to have some fun is exactly why we are here...  In this case, fun consists of learning a new skill, meeting new friends, strengthening friendships new & old, and creating a beautiful piece of art that will forever bind us to this journey and to each other.  A friendship sampler.

Over the course of the next several weeks, I will demonstrate the construction of  various quilt blocks that will hopefully build your skill levels and provide a firm foundation for future quilts and projects of your choosing.  First off, I am not a professional quilter.  I am simply a busy woman that found peace of mind and release in the form of quilting.  I will share with you what I have learned and hope we will all learn from each other as well.  Secondly, I am here to have fun and to make sure you are enjoying this art form as well.

My goal is to have enough interest and involvement from those of you following this blog so that we can establish "block buddies" for each new block and each end up with a beautiful "friendship sampler" quilt top that incorporates not only our own blocks but those made by our friends. 

You may be asking yourself "What is a block buddy?"

 A block buddy will be your partner for each new block project.  With each block we begin, I will ask every participant to construct two blocks the same.  One block you will keep for your friendship sampler, the second block you will exchange with your block buddy to add to their sampler.  Not only will this build your skill level as practice makes perfect, but it will also give you an opportunity to meet some wonderful new people along the way. Please note that since this blog and project is open to anyone that is willing to see the project through, you may have to mail your shared block to your block buddy. 

We will rotate block buddies each time we begin a new block pattern so that we have an opportunity to meet everyone and make new friends while strengthening relationships with those we have known for a while.
In the end, our samplers will have two of each block pattern that we learn -- one that you've constructed using materials you select and one each of your block buddies has constructed thus earning the name "friendship sampler".

Making sense so far?

Because I believe material selection is an important element individually - all participants will choose and purchase their own materials for each block bringing their own personality and characteristics to the blocks.

Once all of our blocks have been completed we will learn how to add sashing to assemble our pieced quilt top and then how to add the batting and backing and finally how to quilt and finish our tops.

I will set project deadlines and do ask that only those dedicated to seeing the project through to completion to sign up to become a block buddy in fairness to all who participate.  Remember, at the end of this journey our goal is for each person to have a "friendship sampler" quilt.  Participation is voluntary as is any information you share with your block buddy including providing addresses for block sharing.

If you are interested in participating please email me at janwest67@Gmail.com and sign up to "follow" this blog so you can comment and we can communicate openly as we go along.  Please do not just follow on Facebook. 

This blog is dedicated to the ladies (and gents) out there that truly want to learn how to quilt.  My goal with this blog is to introduce you to a hobby, a craft, an art form that I find truly rewarding and relaxing; in the hopes that you will enjoy it half as much as I do and make some new friends in the process.

Ready to start?