Camden Road QAL ~ Week 4!

We're continuing to make blocks this week and Cheryl is sharing her progress at Meadow Mist Designs.

Cheryl and I differ in our approaches to quilt making in that she loves the efficiency of assembly line piecing and I like to make one block at a time.

I need the instant gratification of seeing a block and sometimes often change my mind as I go. Although I do admit to assembly line piecing as I get to the end as I'm ready to finish and get on to the next project! :)

How about you?

Camden Road QAL ~ Adding a Border

A great way to make a quilt a bit larger is to add borders. The current trend in modern quilting is to omit any borders, so today I have an idea that may help.

In order to add some width and height to a quilt, without using traditional borders, how about taking a portion of a design element into the border. It's exactly what I'm doing with my Camden Road and it's a nice technique to add some size to many quilts.

It's also a great way to make a quilt the size that you want. In this quilt I made the side borders 5" and the top and bottom borders 2 1/2". It got me to a 40" x 50" quilt that is still visually pleasing.

Start by looking for a design element from the block that could be carried into the border. I decided to continue both the inner and outer background colors. You could even add additional Flying Geese into the border!

It helps to sketch out the design on paper or use quilt design software like EQ. See mine below...

For this quilt, I added the side borders first. Refer to the arrows in the diagram and measure the finished size of "B" for the top and bottom of each border piece, "C" for the inner background, and "D" for the outer background. Adding 1/2" for seam allowance, use your measurements to cut your pieces by whatever width you'd like the border.

Piece and attach the side borders.

For the top and bottom borders, you'll use the same measurements "C" and "D" for the inner and outer backgrounds. You'll need to measure "A" for the four end pieces. Add seam allowances, piece and attach the borders to the top and bottom.

Hope you find this idea helpful and maybe it will come in handy again sometime!

Camden Road QAL ~ Directional Prints

It's Week 2 of the Camden Road QAL! Are you using a directional print? Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs has you covered today!

Camden Road QAL - Cutting

It's time to start cutting out your Camden Road Quilt! {if you haven't already}

You may remember that I'm doing a six-block kid's quilt. I really only need 3 fat quarters to make my 6 blocks, but I think a scrappier version with more fabrics will be more interesting.

Totally scrappy, using any and all colors, would turn out great! But I've limited my colors to navy, green and aqua. 

Here's how to cut the quilt from smaller pieces or multiple fabrics: Refer to the cutting instructions and cut 1 large square from one fabric and 1 large square plus 4 smaller squares from a second fabric for each block.

I like to organize my blocks in piles to get a nice visual of what my color combinations will look like and to make sure I have the right proportions of each color that I want.

So put in a new blade and get your Camden Road cut out this week!

Split Sunburst

If you've been around for a while, you may remember the Sunburst quilt pattern I created for McCall's Quilting Magazine many years ago. It was also published in the book Best Wall Quilts and you can see it here.

It's actually an old design that I found in Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Quilt Blocks, and right next to the original is a version where all of the diamonds are split. I've had in the back of my mind that I would love to try that some day - but wow - it cannot be strip pieced and there are tons of points to match and try not to chop off!

A few months ago, I decided to give it a try when I spotted Ruby Star Society's Speckled fabric at my local quilt shop. I knew I had the perfect fabric for the design and also that it would be either a big win or a big fail!

And it turned into a win in my book!

An interesting note: my original plan was to use a white background (instead of the navy) and have the half diamonds "float" on the quilt {which is actually very pretty}. But as I was coloring the binding in EQ8, I accidentally clicked on the background and turned it navy. I texted my friend, Cheryl, to get a second opinion and we both liked the navy better.

It was a lot of points to match! But, I took my time and most of them turned out pretty well :)

For the quilting, I decided to do a spiral, using the width of my walking foot for spacing...

I'm so glad I gave it a go!

Camden Road QAL - Choosing Fabric

Today is the official start of the Camden Road Quilt Along that I'm co-hosting with Cheryl from Meadow Mist Designs!

Assuming you have your pattern - the next step is choosing some fabric. Today both Cheryl and I are sharing the fabric we're using for our own Camden Road quilts. 

I'm making a 6-block quilt and adding borders to create a kid's quilt for charity. I pulled navy, green and aqua from my stash for the blocks and will be using white and aqua for the backgrounds.

You may notice that I have way more fabrics than I need for just 6 blocks, but I thought it would be fun to make it scrappier and I may eliminate one or two as I go. 

Next week I'll be sharing how to cut a scrappy version and prepare your blocks for piecing.

Have you chosen your fabrics yet? I've seen a few great combos pop up on Instagram! Be sure to share your fabrics there #CamdenRoadQAL, in the Facebook Group or leave a comment to tell us what colors you're using.

One of the great things about this pattern is that there are so many possibilities!!

Camden Road QAL Prizes!

In one week we'll be kicking off of the Camden Road Quilt Along!  It's a fun quilt to make and I hope you'll be joining Cheryl and I!  You can find out all about the quilt along here and you may want to join the Facebook group.

Now is the time to get the pattern and you can still get it for 25% off through January 28th using the code CAMDENROAD. The code will only work on the Camden Road pattern and only in the shop (not on Etsy).

Camden Road Digital Pattern

Camden Road Printed Pattern

It's also a good time to be thinking about what fabric to use to make your quilt as we'll start cutting next week. I've decided to make a charity quilt for the Greenville MQG's Quilts for Kids program. I'll be making 6 blocks and adding borders that compliment the design. Stay tuned for more info on that!

I've chosen fabrics from my stash and intend to use a variety fabrics and make it a bit more scrappy than the original. Here is what I've pulled in navy, green, aqua and white. Here's a tip: You want to be sure that your colors and fabrics contrast well with both of your background fabrics.

And here is the mock-up of what I'm going for...

And now for the prizes!!

We have some wonderful and very generous sponsors lined up.  All prizes will be given out randomly to those who enter the reveal parade link party at the end of the quilt along.

Without further ado, here are the sponsors in random order...

Quilting Jetgirl

Prize: Two winners of 2 pdf patterns each

Yvonne blogs at Quilting Jetgirl and is an awesome pattern designer, quilter, and technical editor. She has been quilting for 20+ years and credits quilting with helping her feel balanced and connected to both her local hometown community and a larger global community. Her patterns are available through her shop.

Needle & Foot
Prize: $25 gift certificate

While Needle & Foot has been around since 2014, Bernie began stocking fabric in January of 2017. She strives to carry a wide variety of quilting cottons.  In her Etsy shop, you will find a large selection of small fat quarter bundles, an affordable way to have a collection of pieces from one line without having to buy the entire fat quarter bundle.  Also, Bernie has recently expanded and now carries a selection of voiles and stretch knit fabrics for sewing garments. Providing individual help is a pleasure for Bernie so don’t hesitate to contact her with questions or concerns when selecting fabrics.

Needle & Foot created some super fun quilt kits for the Camden Road QAL which make up a baby or lap sized quilt.

Bear Creek Quilting Company

Prize: $25 gift certificate

The Bear Creek Quilting Company started in 2011 as a family business based out of Lebanon Oregon. Over the years they have grown and the online shop now has thousands of yards of fabric available. Bear Creek Quilting Company offers a flat shipping fee, quick shipping, and every order includes a surprise gift; everyone loves something exciting and free.

The Bear Creek Quilting Company created some beautiful quilt kits for the Camden Road QAL which make up to a twin size.

The Electric Quilt Company

Prize: Printable fabric (US addresses only)

The Electric Quilt Company makes EQ8, the premier quilt design software.  EQ8 makes designing your next quilt quick, easy, and fun.  Play with the design on the computer until you love it without having to cut a bit of fabric!

Aurifil

Prize: collection of 12 large spools of thread

Aurifil is a favorite of quilters for their high quality, wonderful colors, variety of thread weights. I love Aurifil's thread colors and weights (and my machine loves Aurifil thread)! Aurifil thread is made from the finest cottons grown in the Mako region of Egypt and manufactured in Milano, Italy.

Meadow Mist Designs 

Prize: Two winners of 2 pdf patterns each

Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs focuses on producing innovative patterns with clear instructions by combining her technical writing and math skills with her love of quilting. She loves teaching computer aided quilt design and basic quilting skills to others. You can find all of her patterns in her shop.

See you next Tuesday as we start with cutting and preparing to sew!