Churn Dash progress

These churn dash blocks go together quickly!

I'm making them in three sizes - the largest (12'') is the blue one in the middle and it is surrounded by the middle size (9'') blocks in the photo.

I've made 12 blocks in all but could only round up 9 of them for the group photo shoot.

Has anyone seen where in my quilting space I stored my first 3???  I seem to have lost them.

Maybe I'll offer a reward if they are found and returned unharmed unwrinkled.

You can read more about my plan - or lack thereof - for this quilt on my post from last week.

Have a wonderful day! Patty

Jacob's Ladder Quilt

Fat Quarter Shop is kicking off a fun tutorial and QAL today for a Jacob's Ladder quilt. You can find information about the pattern, a tutorial for the block and several options for sizes of quilt on the Jolly Jabber blog.

The pattern calls for 12 1/2 '' square unfinished blocks.  Please visit the Jolly Jabber blog for block assembly instructions.  Their directions are excellent!

I wanted to use a bunch of leftover layer cake squares for my Jacob's Ladder quilt.   Since layer cake squares are 10'', I downsized the pattern to produce (unfinished) 6½'' square blocks.

I quilted my table top mini quilt with diagonal lines resulting in a diagonal checkerboard effect.  my quilt finished ~14''square.

To make my mini, I paired a dark and light layer cake square together and cut as shown below.  Each pair of layer cake squares yield two (2) blocks.

From each layer cake square, cut the following -

• One (1) strip 3'' wide, sub-cut to three (3) 3'' squares
• One (1) strip 3'' wide, sub-cut to one ( 1) 3'' square and two (2) strips, 1 ½ x 7''
• two (2) strips, 1½ x 10 '' 

Each of the HST and 4-patch blocks will be 2 ½'' (unfinished).

Technically, to get 2½'' HST blocks, you could cut the squares for the HST at 2 7/8''.  Since I'm cutting from a layer cake square, all that yields is tougher line to find on my ruler and makes that waste piece just a smidgen bigger.  (See HST math plus tutorial.)

I've got plenty of leftover layer cake squares.  Once I finish my stash busting churn dash quilt, I'm making some more Jacobs Ladder blocks from my layer cake stash.

Please visit the Jolly Jabber blog for block assembly instructions.

My Jacobs Ladder quilt will be linked up with  Main Crush Monday's,   Freemotion by the River,   WIP Wednesday's,  Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers.  Fabric Frenzy Friday,  Finish it Up Friday and Finished or Not Friday.   I will also be linking up with Tips and Tutorials Tuesdays.  This quilt is finish #6 for 2017.  All of the finishes (so far) have been mini quilts.


Have a wonderful day! Patty

play - improv QAL Kickoff!

  (Click Here to go to the One Monthly February Linkup Post)

For additional information, please visit the play event page

How will the play QAL work?

The QAL will feature weekly posts, each Monday - February 13 through April 3.  Each post will contain:

• a prompt for an improv block or technique
• sequence of photos for that prompt
• finished mini quilt for that prompt
• sneak peak at the following week's prompt

On April 10, we'll discuss tips for assembling all your pieces into your final quilt top.  During the actual QAL, I'll also be making my own improv blocks to be be assembled into a final quilt to be revealed during the parade.  (A parade? !!!)


How do I play along?

You can try some, all or none of the weekly prompts to play along with play.  The objective is to experiment with the art of improv.  The prompts and photos are there to inspire you to unlock your own creative possibilities.

Although I'll be sharing mini quilts along the way, you don't need to make each mini quilt or a mini quilt at all.  Just make at least one improv quilt of any size and share!


How to I get ready?

• gather your scraps and fabric.  I'll be using my collection of American Made Brand solids.

• find some colorful thread for your FMQ.  Here is my Aurifil collection.

• look around you for inspiration 
• come ready to quilt without rules

Schedule for sharing -

• Share anytime in the Elm Street Quilts QAL Facebook Group
• Share anytime via Instagram #playimprovqal  and @elmstreetquilts
• Share in the progress - blocks, bit and pieces, whatever you have done - in a linkup March 13 through March 27
• Share your final quilt top (quilted or not) in the linkup April 10 - April 30
• Submit your favorite piece by May 1 via email for the parade post on or about May 3.  More information on the parade will be available in April.

There will be prizes!

American Made Brand has supplied lovely precuts for prizes.  Aurifil has supplied three thread packs for prizes.

• Prizes will be randomly awarded to participants who share their projects in the April linkup and/or the Elm Street Quilts QAL Facebook Group and/or the play parade of finishes.  See overall event page for more specifics on prize packages.

• There will be five (5) winners, selected on the day of the parade post and announced in a blog post once each winner has confirmed their prize.  Winners will notified by email and requested to acknowledge and confirm their prize within 48 hours.  If I don't hear back from them, another name will be randomly chosen.  

Can't wait to get started!

Here is your sneak peak of the clue for Monday February 13

Have a wonderful day! Patty