The Sunflower Sampler Quilt-a-Long Begins Today!!!
Good Morning, Quilters!
For a little change of pace this month we are replacing our Motif Tuesday Tutorials with The Sunflower Sampler Quilt-a-Long!
The finished quilt shown here, is a quilt I stitched several years ago on a piece of hand-dyed fabric. This will give you a general idea of what we are making, but some of our motifs will be different. Furthermore, I will offer options for motifs along the way, so your quilt may look quite different.
ROADMAP
This is the roadmap for where we will finish this week:
There are step-by-step photos of each part, so don’t worry–it’s child’s play!
BEGIN WITH A QUILT SANDWICH–ANY SIZE
How big you say? Any size! This projects works for any size quilt. I had a piece of orange fabric that was 21 x 23 inches…so that’s where I started.
If you have a fat quarter–use that. If your fabric is bigger–that’s fine too! If you want to make a square–no problem. If you need a quilt that is 40 x 40–you can do that too!
Make a quilt sandwich.
I used a light cotton batting and spray basted it with Sulky KK2000 Temporary Adhesive Spray (Sulky’s KK 2000 is my new favorite basting spray–it’s odorless, ozone friendly and sprays more accurately than other adhesives.)
MARKING
Now you are ready to mark…
Draw a one inch border around the entire quilt. Do not quilt past this line. This will give us room for squaring and binding.
I like to mark my quilts with chalk–it’s easy to see and easy to erase. This is the Dritz Quilting Chalk Cartridge Set
Next, add a 1-1/2 inch border on the inside of the outer (no-quilt) line.
Align a long ruler from corner to corner and mark the diagonals.
Draw the horizontal center line of the quilt by drawing a line perpendicular to the sideline and through the center point of the quilt. (To find a perpendicular line–place any line of the ruler over the drawn sideline.)
In the same way, draw the vertical center line. Your quilt should now look like this:
Add “tick marks” along the horizontal axes–3 inches to the right of the center and 3 inches to the left of the center.
Add tick marks along the vertical axis–4 inches above and 4 inches below the center point.
Sketch in an oval using the tick marks…
This does not have to be perfect. Once we add the Sunflower’s Petals–it won’t matter at all.
When you are finished, your sandwich should look something like this:
Now the fun begins…
The Quilting!!! Can’t wait, can YOU???
Lots more quilting, doodling and The Dog and Quilt show this week. Stay tuned!
SunnyFlower,
Lori
PS…This post contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase (at no additional cost to you), I may receive a little “pin money” to offset the costs of The Inbox Jaunt. Thank you for supporting…
PPS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Love it !
Do you have time to sew? Do you have a lot of clean up after the storm?
Beautiful! I moved house this Summer so, I haven’t had the time yet to get back to practising my FMQ, this may be the perfect way to get started again! Thank you so much Lori! Off to get my fabrics marked out now! Christine x
Yes!
I can do my Swoops!!
Yes!!!!!! How’s your big project coming along?
Thank You! I LOVE your Quilt Along Tutorials and I LOVE Sunflowers! I can’t wait to get started – perfect!
Woohoo!!
Question: I may have missed something (or forgotten- I’m getting old, LOL). Do you pre-wash your batting?
No I don’t. But your project may look different after washing.
It’s beautiful! I can’t wait to get started!
Hello! Beautiful sunflower. One question, is there a backing fabric on your sandwich as well?
This is just the project I’ve been needing to stretch my quilting skills. Thank you.
I’ve been a reader for a little while and am in awe of your creativity.
So glad to see you back in my inbox.
Hurrah. I love sunflowers and this is a great way to practice FMQ. I’m off to find some suitable fat quarters. Thank you.
I can’t wait! I’m off today to get my materials!
I’m excited. This is my first attempt at doing a quilt along tutorial.
Love starting my day with your message. This sunflower is beautiful. Will get my fabric ready today! Thanks
You make this look so simple…thank you…I’ve been receiving your emails since I joined about 2 weeks ago. I’m new to this.
Love sunflowers. This WILL be done?
I’m new to machine quilting and can’t wait to give this a try.
Hi Lori, looks like fun. Can you give us an approximate timetable? Will this be done in 2 weeks, or 2 months?
Approximately six weeks. But I think you will get the idea and be able to work ahead if you need to.
Can’t wait to join and try this beautiful project. Never machine quilted like this so will certainly be a challenge but got to try as
Looking forward to starting this one – love the fact colors and sizes can be just about anything! Thanks for bringing this one together. Another wonderful way to learn new techniques and ideas that can be used again and again.
I LOVE sunflowers! This will be a great project. I keep thinking of Shelly’s sunflower design from your class at JCCFS and wishing I could stitch along with her.
Do you have suggestions for thread? 50 wt? 40 wt? This is perfect timing. I have a table runner I have been nervous about quilting. I’m hoping this will give me the practice I need!
You have me inspired with this sunflower. Have been ‘watching’ your free motion tutorials Without ever getting down to doing them. Here I go! Thank you so much for your inspiration
I am excited about this project. Thanks!
Beautiful FMQ Sunflower. Great tutorial. Thank you Lori.
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
I’m excited. This is my first attempt at doing a quilt along tutorial ever.
Greetings from Germany/ Berlin
LOVE the sunflower and your designs. Looking forward to working on this project! (I have to restrain my use of exclamation marks in my comments on your blog or every sentence would have one.)
–Greetings to the Folk School grads-
So lovely. I’ll be watching, but not sure I’ll be doing the actual sewing. Do you have a button that I can post on my blog to let my friends know? Or can I copy the photo and link it back to you as a button on my sidebar?
Please link as you like. No button at this time
I’m gonna give this one a try. I would like to make my own porch flags and this is perfect for fall of course.
I’ve not been brave enough to attempt one of your follow along projects. Think it’s time I dived in!
Sorry, me again. I’m a total beginner, have only done some practice FM and one FM quilted child’s wallhanging growth chart for my husband’s granddaughter, which I was happy with. I would love to join in on this for more practice. Upon taking out a fat quarter and ironing it with steam, the vertical fold lines will not totally come out. Is there a secret? 🙁 Thanks so much, this looks like so much fun. I love looking at your emails and someday will get to more of them. We’ve just moved a few months ago so much other to be done first. Used to live in Forest Lake, MN, and here just before we moved I learned you are in Stillwater!
No secret. Sometimes it is impossible. Do your best then move on!
Here are some things I have used:
1) a solution of 1 part vinegar to 1 part water, or
2) Procter & Gamble’s Downey Wrinkle Releaser
Test on small area first to see if it stains or alters the fabric in any way.
Spray on the crease to saturate, then press with iron set at temperature appropriate for the fabric.
I had another product that worked very well – wish I would have bought more because I threw out the bottle when it was empty and now I can’t remember the name. It was not easy to find. Perhaps it is no longer being made. Maybe ask your local professional laundry service for hints if you live in a larger community that has one.
Thanks Holly. I’ll try that. I now live in the middle of nowhere in Arkansas. Beautiful views and serenity, no laundry. LOL
HI Carol. I have found that the best way is to spray the crease with water and then let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the water before you press with an iron. Best Press also works well.
Thanks Denise, I will try the Best Press. I’ve tried the water and iron. Just not working. I am not too happy as I’m wondering if this is going to happen with alot of my fat quarters. Wish I had a better way to store them, but there is only so much room in a house and folded keeps things neat. I have some panels I want to “play” with making wall hangings and sure hope they don’t do this, altho I’ve stored them open as much as possible with less folding, but even they have to have some folds.
I’m in the process of moving and won’t be sewing again for awhile. Will I be able to access this in a month or two? I love Sunflowers and this is just what I need to make! Thank you.
Yes!
I love sunflowers! I will get it ready tonight!
Got my machine all ready to FMQ and was actually disappointed that today was only marking. But ahhhh, looking forward to the fun and learning. Another quilt top is just sitting and waiting for me to get some practice under my belt before I tackle it. Gotta Divide and conquer that quilt top. Doing a Quilt-a-long made me stop all projects and just join you! Yay!
Yay!!
Oh! This is going to be fun. I love sunflowers!
I’m on board! This is perfect for fall.
Just wondering if the blocks will be assembled by a quilt as you go method. Very creative block or is it just one block?
Just one block.
Beautiful! This is my first attempt at doing a quilt along tutorial.
First I have to dye some fabric.
This is great! Have an idea for a sunflower quilt so this will be perfect! Also looking forward to the doggy and quilt pics later this week! Thanks! We are in New Bern, NC and weathered Hurricane Matthew. The river is very broad here but towns about an hour away (Kingston with the Neuse River) and Greenville (Tar River) are in trouble with the rivers not completely crested yet. A very slow moving disaster in the making. Please keep these people in your prayers – very sad.
Praying today!
Oh… what a wonderful challenge … I’m just starting with FMQ … you are so inspiring!! Will look and see if I have everything to quilt alond woth you all!!
Hi, got my sunflower project ready for the next step. Is this a weekly lesson or did I miss something. I am excited to get started. Thank you Elaine
Weekly
Thank you, Lori. Can always use FMQ instruction.
Beautiful. I am going to attempt this one. Thank you.