Welcome to the ninth block reveal

for the Sew Let’s QAL

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

Presenting: In Stitches

This delightful block pattern was created by Kathleen McCormick of Kathleen McMusing. You can download it free on her blog here from now until September 24th, 2019. After then, the patterns in this QAL may not be available anymore or may be available for a small fee. Don’t delay, download them today.

Tips and Tricks to Constructing this Block

1. Don’t worry if you don’t have a lightbox to trace the applique. I taped the letter page to the window and then held the fusible web over the top and traced the letters.
2. Save on the fusible web and trace the letters close together.
   

   I save the leftovers from other projects and use them whenever I can. I then cut off the excess fusible web on the bottom and right sides, removed the backing, and adhered the letters to the fabric. Finally, I cut out the letters. I used the trick I learned in first grade to make nice smooth curves by turning the fabric in my left hand while cutting nice smooth strokes with my right hand (reverse this procedure if you are left-handed) rather than moving my scissors around the letters.

3. Cut the background square an inch larger. This allows for any shrinkage in size because of the applique process. 
   

   I cut the background square to 9.5″.

4. Place the template under the background square.
   

   I laid my letters on top. Disregard the circles inside the Os in the picture above. This picture was taken during the pattern testing and sewing of this block.

5. Set your stitch length to 1.5 and sew very close to the edge of the letters.
   

   Oops! I forgot to sew around the E. I did so before I trimmed the square.

   Pull the beginning and ending threads to the back. When I’m finished with the applique, I knot each set of threads and snip them off.

   

   It wasn’t until I turned this square around for photographing that I discovered the E still needed to be stitched down.

6. Trim the background square to 8.5″ after the letters are appliqued and then continue with making the block following the pattern directions.

See These Hosts for More Construction Tips

Kathleen  @ Kathleen McMusing — The designer of this block.

Look for bi-weekly inspiration from these bloggers.

Sandy @ SandyStar Designs

Abbie @ Sparkle On!

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

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

Segment 2: May 21st to July 16th

Jennifer Fulton @ The Inquiring Quilter

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 is divided into three segments. Segment one consisted of 5 blocks. Segments two and three will each have four blocks.

Share a picture of your block on our Facebook page, or on Instagram with the hashtag #SewLetsQAL. We want to see them. At the end of each segment, post a picture containing all the blocks in that segment. A prize will be awarded at the end of each segment. At the end of all the segments, a grand prize will be selected from among the pictures that contain a finished quilt top or finished projects containing all of the blocks from this QAL (one picture containing all of the 13 blocks finished into either a quilt top or several projects).

Segment 1: March 12th to May 21st

• March 12th – Block 1: Sandra @ Sandra Healy Designs — Find Block One There
• March 26th – Block 2: April @ JANDA Bend Quilts —Find Block Two  There
• April 9th – Block 3: Sherry @ Powered by Quilting — Find Block Three There
• April 23rd – Block 4: Bobbi @ Snowy Days Quilting — Find Block Four There
• May 7th – Block 5: Abbie @ Sparkle On! and Segment Project Suggestions
• May 21st – Segment 1 Prize Winner Announced! Congratulations to Ethel Brake

Segment 2: May 21st to July 15th

• May 21st- Block 6: Jennifer @ The Inquiring Quilter — Find Block 6 There
• June 4th – Block 7: Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats — Find Block 7 There
• June 18th – Block 8: Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting — Find Block 8 There
• July 2nd – Block 9: Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing — Find Block 9 There
• July 15th at 11:59 pm EDT – Last day to enter for the giveaway. Post a picture of all 4 blocks either on the linky party (find it on any of the blogs), Partners in Design Facebook page, or Instagram with the hashtag #SewLetsQAL.
• July 16th – Segment 2 Prize Winner Announced!

Coming July 16th: Segment 3 — The last 4 blocks in this series.

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

Enter to Win

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 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 one picture of all of your blocks by 11:59 PM EST, July 15th 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 2: Prizes and Sponsors

• A Warm 100 queen size batting from the Warm Company.
• A fat quarter selection from Dear Stella
• Three printed table runner patterns from Shabby Fabrics, the Vintage Series

AND

A free PDF pattern of your choice from each of these Partners in Design: Powdered by Quilting (up to $10) and The Inquiring Quilter

Choices!!!

You choose what you want to make: A quilt or several smaller projects. The sewing machine, revealed in segment one, is the only block that will be large. The rest will be 12.5″ unfinished. We have several hosts who will offer suggestions as to 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 (but it doesn’t have to be quilted) quilt top or several projects that use all of the 13 blocks.

I’ll be making several projects for my sewing room. I completed a mini quilt using one of the blocks from the first segment. You can read about it here. The remaining blocks from the first segment as well as a couple from the third segment will be used for a sewing machine cover. So I really can’t show you this project until those blocks have been revealed. Plus it gives me some extra time to complete it.

You will notice that my fabric has changed for this segment. I have other plans for the blocks from this second segment.

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

Segment 1: 

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

Tu-Na Quilts: On Pins and Needles – A look at my fabric selection. It varies with each segment of the QAL.

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

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 2 — Quilt Along Mug Block

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 3 — Ruler

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 4 — Spinning Spools and Thread Tales

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 5 — Quilt Shop

 

Tu-Na Quilts: Segment One Wrap-Up and Project Idea

Segment 2:

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 6 — Binding Clips

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 7 — It’s a Pressing Issue — This is my pattern. The post also contains Tu-Na’s Tried and True Easy Guide to Pressing Matters.

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 8 — Pin Cushion

Tu-Na Quilts: Sew Let’s QAL Block 9 — In Stitches

What I Learned Today:

1. I know very little about fixing modern technology such as my computer.
2. I rely a lot on modern technology. According to my son, my desk top computer isn’t so modern anymore.
3. When my computer isn’t working, I’m not happy.
4. Tu-Na Helper likes to keep my happy. It’s a good thing he knows how to fix a computer or at least attempt to fix it.
5. While I enjoy using modern technology, everything I know I taught myself by trial and error.
6. The trial and error method takes a long time to learn.
7. Alaskan salmon and halibut sure taste delicious. Tu-Na Helper returned from his fishing trip with 45 pounds of fresh, frozen fish!

Question: When you have issues with modern technology, such as your computer, who fixes it? 

I’ve been late posting this block because I’ve had several issues with my desk top computer while Tu-Na Helper was on a fishing trip. I’ve also had major issues with my email program which might be why this computer has become so slow.  I’ve had issues with it since we returned in June. It completely went dead during his absence and I wasn’t able to work on my posts.

Although I prefer a desk top, it might be time to upgrade to a laptop. Tu-Na Helper copies my files to a hard drive so we can take them south with us in the fall and then north in the spring to download onto my desk top computers at each house. I’m beginning to think a laptop would be easier and less frustrating for both of us. 

Linking to:

Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Let’s Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts

Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilt

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts