Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 1 – Sewing Machine

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Welcome to the first block reveal for the Sew Let’s QAL.

Button

This QAL is brought to you by Partners in Design: Where Friends and Fabric Meet.

Partners in design

tunaquilts 2a

I still need to insert the needle, thread the machine, and applique around the buttons. I’ll add several buttons to the right of the panel once I’ve quilted this top. For those of you who are concerned that I didn’t use enough of the cactus fabric, rest assured my final project will have a lot of it. But you’ll find a bit of this cactus fabrics in each of the blocks in this segment.

This block was designed by Sandra Healy of Sandra Healy Designs. You can download the free pattern here on her blog from now until September 24th, 2019. After then, the patterns may not be available anymore. Don’t delay, download them today. 

Tips and Tricks to Constructing this Block

  1. Take a deep breath!!! There are a lot of pieces. Don’t let that discourage you or intimidate  you. You CAN do this! 
  2. This is not a race. Don’t let the size of this block (24.5″ x 18.5″) discourage you or intimidate you. You CAN do this! Take your time. Do sections at a time. Cutting will take time.
  3. There are a lot of pieces. Don’t let that discourage you or intimidate you. You CAN do this! To help keep track of the cutting, check off the pieces (on your downloaded and printed pattern) after you cut each one.
tunaquilts 4a

I also suggest making labels for each piece with the letter or number assigned for the piece and pinning the label on the piece right after cutting. 

4. Read and follow Sandra’s great instructions. 

tunaquilts 3a

And check off the steps after you complete each one. When you’re called away, you’ll know just where to pick it up when you return.

5. Sandra refers to cotton reels in the pattern but I call them thread spools. What do you call them?

See These Hosts for More Construction Tips

Look for bi-weekly inspiration from these bloggers.

Sandy @ SandyStar Designs

Abbie @ Sparkle On!

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

Jennifer @ The Inquiring Quilter

In addition to those listed above, look for inspiration from these bloggers during: 

Segment 1: March 12th to May 21st

Sandra @ Sandra Healy Designs – Designer of this block

Kathleen @ Kathleen McMusing

Quilt Hosts

Look for bi-weekly inspiration from these bloggers as they turn their blocks into a quilt.

Bobbi @ Snowy Days Quilting

Sherry @ Powered by Quilting

April @ JANDA Bend Quilts

Becca @ Pretty Piney Quilts

Join this QAL

You can join in anytime. Every other Tuesday, a new block will be released until all 13 blocks have been released. You can find the full schedule on my post here. This QAL will be divided into three segments. Segment one will consist of 5 blocks.

Share a picture of your block on our Facebook page, or on Instagram with the hashtag #SewLetsQAL. We want to see them. A prize will be awarded at the end of each segment.

Segment 1: March 12th to May 21st

Block patterns will be free from the designers and available on their blogs until the date of the Grand Prize announcement September 24th, 2019.

Entering to win the prizes below is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

  1. Everyone (You must be 18 to be able to enter to win prizes) gets to participate because International entries are welcome! You do NOT need to have a blog to enter.
  2. Make all of the 5 blocks in this segment provided to you free of charge for this event. Use your own fabrics and embellish them as you like. If entering the giveaway, the blocks should definitely be recognizable as made from these free patterns.  Take one picture with all of them included.
  3. Post a picture of all of your blocks before 11:59 PM EST, May 20th, 2019 either on the Facebook page, or on Instagram with the hashtag #SewLetsQAL, or on the hosts  blog Linky party at the end of each segment.  You are welcome to post a picture on each of the sources but it will only count as one entry.

Segment 1 Prizes and Sponsors

Prize sponsors

A newly released item from Omnigrid® (a Prym Company)
Large Folding Cutting Kit

that includes 18 x 24″ mat, a 3″ x 18″ ruler and a 45 mm rotary cutter

Timeless Treasures Tonga Treat Strip Jr. “Orchid” -20 pc 2 1/2″ strip pack

2 Shabby Fabrics Vintage Blessings printed table runner patterns

and a packet of Sunflower laser-cut appliqués (small.)

One Free PDF pattern from each of these “Partners in Design”

Sandra Healy Designs   Janda Bend Quilts  Powdered by Quilting *up to $10.00

more prizes

Choices!!!

You choose what you want to make: A quilt or several smaller projects. This is the only block that will be this large. The rest will be 12.5″ unfinished. We have several hosts which will offer suggestions what you can do with your blocks if you don’t want to make a quilt. Not sure what to do? Just start making the blocks and decide along the way. A grand prize will be offered for a completed quilt top or several projects that use all of the 13 blocks. 

I’ll be making several projects for my sewing room. I’ll use all of the blocks in Segment one for one project. Any guesses what it might be?

Don’t Miss Out on My Previous Sew Let’s QAL Posts

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL – Introduction

Tu-Na Quilts: On Pins and Needles – A look at my fabric selection

What I Learned Today:

  1. I should follow my own advice. Labeling these pieces is a good suggestion. I spent more time remeasuring each piece to find the one I needed. On two occasions, I grabbed the wrong piece and recut it causing me to have to cut yet another one. I should have taken a few minutes to make labels. 
  2. “Do as I say, not as I do.” That statement has a lot of merit.
  3. I don’t know everything. Shhh, don’t tell Tu-Na Helper.

Question: Have you ever made this large of a block before? I’ve even made larger. But this is the first sewing machine that I made out of fabric. I think this will be a fun QAL.

Linking to:

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

BOMS Away at Katie Mae Quilts

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

28 thoughts on “Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 1 – Sewing Machine”

  1. Pingback: Sew Let’s QAL Block 1! – Powered by Quilting

  4. elizabeth

    rsrsrs tambem chamo de carretel de linha. bobina é a que fica por dentro da maquina.
    só fiz 2 almofadas de aplique e duas de caleidoscopio pra dar de presente. mais nada. achava essa técnica de hoje muito complicada, mas com as explicações de voces já estou achando fácil.
    estou encantada com as inspirações que estou recebendo de voces. e desculpa o tradutor, ele falha as vezes. moro no Brasil e escrevo em portugues!
    até o proximo comentario!

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    1. Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats Post author

      Here’s a translation of Elizabeth’s comment:LOL also call reel line. Coil is the inside of the machine.
      I only made 2 appliqué pads and two caleidoscopes to give away. Anything else. I thought this technique was very complicated today, but with the explanations of you I’m already finding it easy.
      I’m delighted with the inspirations I’m getting from you. And excuse the translator, it fails sometimes. I live in Brazil and I write in Portuguese!
      To the next comment!

      Like

      Reply ↓
  5. thimblepie2012

    Ok speedy gal! Nicely done. Very nice. I like the cactus center and your color choices. I will learn from your comments. I have made lots of this style of pattern, and yes, labeling helps. How fun to see a finish. I am excited. My pattern is printed, fabrics out, now to get to it.

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  6. dezertsuz

    I call them spools, too. Your block looks great! It doesn’t seem like all that many pieces for such a large block. I like the bit of Tucson landscape (or Phoenix – Southern Arizona, anyway) you inserted in your machine. Clever!

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  13. Leslie Schmidt

    Your sewing machine is so cute! I like your bit of cactus fabric as the screen. I’m going to be really eager to see how you incorporate it into all your blocks. I’ve never made a block that big, but it certainly looks doable. Thanks for the hints and tips.

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  15. joymcd305716439

    Looks great! I did download the pattern and was going to go look for fabric, but then I got distracted… who knows what with!! xx

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