Sew-A-Long Part 1 Introduction

Welcome to our first Sew-A-Long--the Italian Shoo Fly:

Making this small and simple quilt will teach you:

   how to perfect your piecing
   how to work with two blocks in one quilt
   how to make an on-point setting quilt
   how to add borders that will make your quilt square and true
   the basics of simple quilting
   how to add a binding by machine for both hand and machine finishing

This will be a "teaching tutorial"--I want to help you learn the basics of good quiltmaking practices so you can improve all your quilts in the future. This finished quilt is just a bonus.

Instructions will be posted each Friday for 5 weeks:

  January 6  Introduction with Fabric Requirements
  January 13  The Shoo Fly Block--Tips and Tricks
  January 20  The Old Italian Block--Tips and Tricks
  January 27  On-Point Setting How-Tos
  February 3  Finishing:  Quilting and Binding
  February 10  A Link-Up Party--Share Your Progress and a Giveaway

The sample is approximately 32" x 40".  Changing border sizes allows you to make it the size you want.  More on changing the size will be presented in Part 4.

Today we talk about fabric selection/requirements.  You can be totally scrappy, using fabrics you have, make all the neutral backgrounds different OR you can use a limited set of fabrics for a more planned effect.  Here are approximate yardages for each style:

                                            Scrappy                                Planned
Neutrals for Blocks
     12   Shoo Fly:               24   3" squares                       1 Fat Quarter
                                           48  2.5" squares                     1 Fat Quarter
      6  Old Italian:               6   5.5" squares                     1 Fat Quarter

Colors for Blocks
     12  Shoo Fly:               24   3" squares                          1 or 2 Fat Quarters
                                          12   2.5" center squares    
       6 Old Italian               24   2" x 5" rectangles              1 Fat Quarter
                                            6   2" center squares

Perimeter Triangles:          1/3 Yard                                  1/3 Yard
  and Corners

NOTE:  If you want ALL your neutrals to be the same fabric, both in the blocks and in the perimeter triangles and corners, 1 Yard will be sufficient.  This will make your colors in the two blocks more prominent, as they will appear to "float" on the background.

For my Step-Out Photos I'll be making a second version, using fabrics from Stella's Splendid Sampler:

This will give you an idea of a scrappy look:

From the two shoe boxes I used to store the many fabrics used in Stella's Splendid Sampler, I selected a soft yellow for the perimeter triangles and corners.  Why?  Because I had 1/3 yard and that is what I needed.  Done.  I think the polka dots will be the neutral backgrounds, I may add one more that is similar.  The gold and orange are the "zingers", the deep red and darkest blue are the "deep darks". I think I need to add a darker green as well so I'll shop in my closet for that.  It may be the fabric for the X in the Old Italian Block.

TIPS for making a Scrappy Quilt look less "chaotic":

Select 3-4 color families, i.e. Red. Blue, Green, Yellow
Select 3-4 fabrics for each family: light, medium, dark
Add at least one "zinger" and one "deep dark" to add brightness and depth
Select 2-3 similar background prints, mix them up if you like. Keep the "tone" the same, like gray, tan, white, or cream--don't mix tones to keep things looking cohesive

I hope you'll join me on this journey as we make a small quilt together.  AND please tell your friends who may want to join us.   This will be like taking a class without leaving your home.

Let's Quilt!

Barbara

Part 2 The Shoo Fly