Sew Let's Quilt Along Block 11
We are on Block 11 for the Sew Let's Quilt Along! Only two more after this one, and I am excited that my block 12 design will be released next time.
This time, for your fabric shopping pleasure, Becca Fenstermaker has designed a fun block titled By the Bolt. You can download the block pattern on Becca's blog Pretty Piney Quilts.
designed by Becca Fenstermaker.
Color Value and Fabric Choice
Your fabric choices will really shine in this block. Rainbow, monochrome, themed, bold, soft, or scrappy! I would call my fabric palette for this block bold and scrappy. Check out the other QAL hosts (links below) to see a wide variety of color approaches.
Color value is one of the most important considerations in choosing fabrics. Value is simply the lightness or darkness of a color. For an effective color design try choosing fabrics with distinct variations in value ... light, medium, and dark.
One of my favorite tips for assessing value is to take a photo of fabrics and use a greyscale filter to view the image. By viewing the image in greyscale you can focus on the relative values without being distracted by the colors. Most photo apps have a greyscale or a black & white filter, so you probably already have this tool at hand.
For this block I auditioned a number of the Blueberry Park fabric scraps from my previous QAL blocks. I looked at several combinations in grayscale before making my final choice of fabrics. The grayscale images also helped me choose the final order of my fabrics since color value can appear darker or lighter depending on which fabrics are placed next to each other. Scrappy sounds like you just threw those fabrics together doesn't it? But scrappy can be a deliberate design process!
Community
The absolute best thing is sharing and seeing what everyone is making. Even if you are not keeping up with the schedule or posting for the prize drawings we still want to see what you are making!
You will find announcements and plenty of other quilters to cheer you on in the Partners in Design Facebook Group.
On Instagram you should use #SewLetsQAL on your posts. Be sure to follow the hashtag so you can see what everyone else is making.
More Blocks and Tips from Hosts
Visit the hosts for this block to see a variety of sewing tips and fabric choices from the Partners in Design team.
Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
April Adams @ JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Bobbi Bridgeman @ Snowy Days Quilting
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting
Amazing Sponsors
We are lucky to have amazing sponsors on board with some fabulous prizes for this QAL! In addition, many of the block designers are donating quilt patterns for the prize packages.
Prize Drawings
There will be a prize drawing at the end of each segment and then a grand prize drawing at the end of the whole QAL. The prizes are open to participants who are at least 18 years old.
Segment Prizes
To be eligible to win a segment prize, you need to make all of the blocks from that segment. Then share a photo (or photos) of your blocks in a single post to be entered in the drawing at the end of each segment. This block is part of Segment 3, which includes Blocks 10-13 and runs through Sept. 9.
Grand Prize
To be eligible to win the grand prize, you need to make all 13 blocks and turn them into a quilt top or other projects. Quilt tops don't need to be quilted, but projects do need to be finished. Share a single post at the end of the quilt along that shows all of the blocks in a quilt top or other projects. It doesn't matter how many projects or what projects you make, or how many blocks you use in each project, as long as you show that you have used all 13 blocks in a finished quilt top or projects.
How to Enter the Prize Drawings
There are three places you can share your blocks to be entered in the random prize drawings. Each participant will only be entered once in each drawing, even if you post in multiple places.
- Facebook - share your blocks in the Partners in Design Facebook Group
- Instagram - Share your blocks with hashtag #SewLetsQAL
- Blog Linky - The hosts will share a link-up on their wrap-up posts at the end of each segment.
~Sandy