Welcome to the third block reveal

for the QAL by the Sea!

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

Presenting: Signal Flag

This 12.5″ (unfinished) block pattern was created by

April Adams of JANDA Bend Quilts. You can download it free here on her blog from now until December 1, 2020 at 7:59 am Eastern time. After then, the patterns in this QAL may not be available anymore or may be available for a small fee through the designer. Don’t delay, download them today.

Tips and Tricks to Constructing this Block

1. Prevent ghosting. To prevent shadows of your background from showing through your applique, fuse white interfacing or white fabric onto the back of any white or light fabric you are using for the applique.
   

   Use an adhesive backed fusible web of your choice and follow the directions for application. I used a white woven interfacing that I had on hand and Lite Steam-a-Seam II.

   

   You can see the difference a bit of interfacing makes. Notice the ghost seagulls on the right but there’s none under the piece of prepared applique square on the left. It’s worth the extra effort.

2. Make it easy.
   • To reduce the number of times you have to refer to the cutting chart, write the color names of your chosen fabrics in the directions.
     

     (To protect April’s copyright, I have removed the size of the pieces. You’ll need to visit her site, to download the pattern.) I also check off each step as I complete it. This allows me to come back to my project hours (or days) later and know just where to start.

   • To make the notches easily for letters A and B, cut out the template and place it on the underside of the prepared flag. Then trace and cut out the notch.
     

     Now, just cut on the line to get a perfect notch.

3. Visit the other Partners in Design blogs (links below). You’ll find inspiration and construction tips on each of the Partners in Design blogs. This is a friendly group of quilt designers from all over the world who like having visitors come and read our blogs. We do not receive any compensation in money or fabric for presenting these QALs, so your comments are appreciated. 
4. Neatness counts. I like a neat and flat block. To help me with that, I use a hand needle after I’ve finished appliqueing a section to pull the threads to the back. I then tie the ends in a surgical knot and thread them under some stitches.  I also press the front as well as the back of the block after I am finished sewing it.  Since I don’t use steam in my iron, I spritz both sides with water using a mister before pressing.
   

   Neat and tidy! It takes a while to do this.

5. Get creative with your block. Find ways to individualize your block. Make it your own. Let it shine with your personality. I’ve been adding a bit of rick rack to my blocks. Not all of them will have it but most will. This block pattern lends itself easily to machine stitching narrow rick rack for the ropes that will be holding the flags. I used rick rack on the Wish You a Merry QAL several years ago. You can find a picture of all of those blocks here.  If you are entering the giveaway, you’ll need to use the given pattern but you are allowed to add embellishments or make minor changes. We should still be able to tell that you used the pattern from the designer to make your block.

See These Hosts for More Construction Tips

Look for bi-weekly inspiration from these bloggers.

Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats — Thanks for stopping by.

Sherry @ Powered by Quilting

Becca @ Pretty Piney Quilts

Sandy @ SandyStar Designs

Abbie @ Sparkle On!

Laura @Slice of Pi Quilts

Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter

Join this QAL

You can join in anytime. Find the complete schedule here. This QAL is divided into three segments each containing four blocks with a two week break between segments for a chance to catch up. Blocks are released on Tuesday mornings at 8 am Eastern time until all 12 blocks have been released. You’ll find the schedule for segment one below.

After you’ve sewn your block, share a picture of it on our Partners In Design Facebook page, or on Instagram with the hashtag #qalbythesea. We want to see them, as well as others who are quilting along, and be able to comment and encourage each other.

Segment 1: August 4—September 8, 2020

(Find the blocks on these Partners in Design blogs)

• August 4 — Block 1: Becca Fenstermaker @Pretty Piney Quilts —She Sews Seashells by the Seashore
• August 11— Block 2: Jennifer @ The Inquiring Quilter —Terry the Turtle
• August 18 — Block 3: April @ JANDA Bend Quilts — Signal Flag
• August 25 — Block 4: Sherry @ Powered by Quilting — Coming soon
• August 25th — Segment 1 Wrap-up and linky provided for prize entry
• September 8 7:59 am Eastern time — Deadline to enter picture containing all four blocks for Segment 1 Prize
• September 8: Segment 1 Winner Announced
• September 8: Segment 2 begins

Segment 1: Prizes and Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for the following prizes for Segment 1!

One U.S. Winner Receives:

• Dream Green 60″ x 60″ batting from Quilter’s Dream. An earth friendly polyester batting made from 100% recycled plastic bottles!
• A Fat Quarter fabric bundle of Island Batik “Kismet.” This line by Tammy Silver of Tamarinis has a bohemian vibe with vibrant colors!

One International Winner Receives:

• A Six-month subscription to Make Modern magazine. This magazine is for quilters, by quilters, filled with beautiful patterns and articles to inspire quilters like us to make more modern quilts!
• A PDF pattern of your choice from these Designers! Click to view their shop items.

 Pretty Piney

The Inquiring Quilter

Powered by Quilting (a $10.00 shop credit)

Enter to Win Segment and Grand Prizes

Entering to win is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Everyone (You must be 18 to be able to enter to win prizes) gets to participate. There will be two prizes awarded for each segment and for the Grand Prize: U. S. and International. You do NOT need to have a blog to enter.
2. Make all four 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. Finished projects or a quilt are NOT a requirement for entry.
3. Post one picture that contains all four of your blocks by 07:59 AM EST, September 8, 2020 either on the Partners in Design Facebook page, or on Instagram with the hashtag #qalbythesea, or on the hosts blog Linky party found in the wrap-up post 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.

The Grand Prize is going to be amazing! To enter just make, take and post one picture that contains ALL 12 blocks (they don’t need to be made into a finished quilt top or projects but if you do, be sure that all 12 blocks can be seen).

Don’t Miss Out on My Previous QAL by the Sea Posts

Tu-Na Quilts: QAL by the Sea Block 2

 

 

 

Tu-Na Quilts: QAL by the Sea Block 1

 

 

 

Tu-Na Quilts: Announcing the Next Quilt-a-Long with Partners in Design—Introduction and a look at my fabric selection.

Coming Soon!

August 25 — QAL by the Sea Block 4

Tu-Na Eats: Time for Tea with the Bride-to-be

What I Learned Today:

1. A week goes by very quickly!
2. I have so many ideas for designing blocks and quilt patterns.
3. EQ8 is very difficult! I think I need to take a class or two.
4. An evening fire is relaxing.
   

   This reminds me of the Bonfire Block from our Fall into a QAL that we did a couple of years ago. You can find my bonfire block here.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to read more about me click here. If you don’t want to miss any blocks for the QAL by the Sea, please consider following me by email, Bloglovin or WordPress; just subscribe using one those options found in the sidebar (or below on a mobile device) on this blog, Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats.

Question: When the fire is hot, do you make S’mores or not? Once the fire has reduced to red coals, Tu-Na Helper and I will often roast a marshmallow or two. Once in a while, we sandwich it between fudge-stripped cookies. But we didn’t last night. I didn’t think about marshmallows. The fire was perfect just by itself!

Thanks for stopping by and do come again.

Karen, Tu-Na Quilts

At this time, I am not affiliated with any of the items, products, services, or shops that I picture or talk about here on Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats. I just happen to like and use them.

©2020 Karen Thurn Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats

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