Yay!! It’s the last week of blocks and then next week you will get the finishing instructions!
This week we will be making 3 of the Large Star blocks! If you are making a larger size make sure to check the cutting instructions located in the Quilt Along Group!
I’m so excited to see everyone’s Mountain blocks!
Make sure to join The NQC Block Challenge Facebook group OR Post your photos on Instagram using the hashtags #HappyCloudCreations and/or #NQCQuiltBlockChallenge
This week we will be making 6 Mountain Blocks for the throw size quilt! If you are making an alternative size, make sure to check the fabric requirments to see how many blocks you will need to make!
I’m so excited to see everyone’s Mountain blocks!
Make sure to join The NQC Block Challenge Facebook group OR Post your photos on Instagram using the hashtags #HappyCloudCreations and/or #NQCQuiltBlockChallenge
This week we will be making 6 Small Star #2 Blocks! This block is similar to last weeks block, but it had a different center and made up of different colors.
I’m going scrappy with this quilt. So I will be making 2 of each of my color combos this week. Each color combo is different than last weeks combo.
I’m so excited to see your blocks this week! Make sure to post them in the The NQC Block Challenge Facebook group OR Post your photos on Instagram using the hashtags #HappyCloudCreations and/or #NQCQuiltBlockChallenge
Welcome to the NQC Block Challenge Quilt Along using the Starlight Mountains quilt that I designed! This will be a 5 week long quilt along. So you will have a finished quilt in no time!!
Fabric Requirments My Blog – Explaining this Quilt Along September 7th – Week 1 – Small Star Block #1 (Make 6) September 14th – Week 2 – Small Star Block #2 (Make 6) September 21st – Week 3 – Mountain Block (Make 6) September 28th – Week 4 – Large Star Block (Make 3) October 5th – Week 5 – Quilt Borders and Assembly
I’m going scrappy this time!! So I will be making 2 of each of my color combos this week.
I’m so excited to see how your quilts turn out!!
Make sure to join The NQC Block Challenge Facebook group OR Post your photos on Instagram using the hashtags #HappyCloudCreations and/or #NQCQuiltBlockChallenge
My Happy Flower Garden Quilt is one of my favorite quilts. It may be because this is the quilt I snuggle with on my couch. I love flowers and this is a great way to be around flowers year round.
I had posted a survey in my Quilt Along Facebook Group. Several people expressed interest in using this pattern for a Quilt Along! I think it will be a great quilt a long pattern, since it’s kind of a sampler quilt and it’s perfect for spring!
The original pattern only included a baby and throw quilt directions. I have recently updated my pattern to also include a queen and king size version.
I had ask my quilter followers if they prefer big block or more blocks of a smaller size. The answer was pretty 50/50. So when you purchase the pattern you will receive 2 pdfs. One is for a small block version and one is for a large block version. Here are the different layouts.
Most of the Flying geese in this pattern are made using the 4 at 1 time no waste method. With my last quilt along I noticed some of the participants were having trouble using this method. So I made a supplemental pdf that will give you cutting instructions so you can make all the flying geese using the 1 at a time method or half square triangle method. If you decide to use these alternative methods, I would recommend purchasing a little extra fabric just in case. The fabric requirements are for the piecing in the original pattern. These cutting instructions only replace the pieces used to make the flying geese. So you will need to make sure to omit cutting the piecing from the original pattern.
I asked in the quilt along group when the best start date for the quilt along would be and the final winning date was May 1st! So from now until May 1st, you can download your pattern and pick out your fabrics! Post pictures in the Facebook Group or on Instagram with the hashtag #happyflowergardenQAL
So here’s the quilt along schedule:
May 1st – Week 1 – Cut your Fabric
May 8th – Week 2 – Make your Half Square Triangles
May 15th – Week 3 – Make your Flying Geese units
May 22nd – Week 4 – Make your Bottom Rectangle Blocks
May 29th – Week 5 – Make half of your Tulip Blocks
June 5th – Week 6 – Make the other half of your Tulip Blocks
June 12th – Week 7 – Make your Corner Tulip Blocks
June 19th – Week 8 – Make your Star Flower Blocks
June 26th – Week 9 – Add Sashing and Cornerstones (Finish Star Flower Blocks if needed)
July 3rd – Week 10 – Baste, Quilt and Bind
I am so happy to be quilting along with you! I’m so excited to see your fabric picks!! Make sure to share your progress photo’s on Instagram with the hashtag #HappyFlowerGardenQAL
You can also join the Facebook Group and post your photo’s there! Join me in the Facebook Group today at 10:15 am PDT (West Coast USA) for a Live Video to go over the quilt along and fabric selection!
Wow! It’s already the last week of our Aloha Ripple Quilt Along! It has gone by so fast. Last week we put our quilt tops together, this week we will Baste, Quilt and Bind our quilts.
Â
Basting Your Quilt:Â Spray baste: My favorite way to baste my quilt is by using Spray Baste! It makes basting so much easier. If you have allergies, this is probably not a good option for you.
Find a place where you can lay out your quilt. Make sure to tape the backing fabric taut to the floor (or large table).
Here’s great spray baste tutorial by Cluck Cluck Sew: Spray Baste Tutorial
Pin basting: You can use safety pin about 3 to 4 inches apart (about the width of your hand). I like to use the large curved basting pins. This takes a little longer than the spray basting, but is a great option.
Quilting your Quilt:
This step is totally up to you! I like to straight line quilt my quilt with my walking foot on my domestic machine. With my floral Aloha Ripple Quilt I quilted from the center out following the seams, so there was only about a 1/4 of the quilt in my sewing machine throat at a time.
Hand Tie your Quilt: Some prefer to tie there quilt.
Here’s a tutorial on how to do this on Craftsy.
Machine Quilt using your Walking Foot:Â
Emily Dennis from Quilty Love has a great tutorial on how to Zig zag quilt your quilt with a Walking foot. Click here I love this method of quilting, it give your quilt great texture.
Free Motion Quilting:
Free motion quilting can give you great texture and if you aren’t great at quilting straight lines, this would be great for you. Suzy Williams from Suzy Quilts has a great Free Motion Quilting Tutorial. Click here.
Binding Your Quilt: Binding is the fabric strip that goes on the edge of your quilt. It covers all of the unfinished edges and rounds out your quilt.
You will want to make sure to square up your quilt before you attach the binding. Cut off the extra batting around the edges and make sure your sides are straight.
One of my favorite binding tutorials is by Suzy Williams of Suzy Quilts. Go check it out!
Since I was using stash fabrics for my Baby size Aloha Ripple Quilt, I decided to go with a scrappy binding. I didn’t have enough of one color, so I used all the colors!
Join me LIVE!! If you have any questions, make sure to join me for my LIVE VIDEO. Today (Tuesday March 13th) at 10:15 am PST (West Coast USA) I will be filming a LIVE video in the Facebook Group to go over tips and answer any questions.
Make sure to share a photo of this weeks step on social media with the hashtag #AlohaRippleQAL or join the Facebook Group and post your photos!!
You can follow me on Instagram here: Instagram.com/HappyCloudCreations
You guys! All our blocks are done and it’s time to assemble our Quilt Tops! Yay! Cloud is even excited about it!! (See above, he loves to help!) If you are just finding this quilt along now, you can get the free pattern here!
If you had consistent seams and you pieces were cut accurately, everything will line up correctly.
Make sure to lay out your blocks in the correct order.
You will then match up (nest) the seams with the block next to each other. This is why we pressed our seams in specific ways. Now they will match up and interlock nicely.
I like to pin a lot! Pin next to each interlocking seam and then in between.
I like to work in rows. Sew the top three blocks together, the middle three blocks together and the bottom three blocks together so they form 3 rows. Then you nest your seams in the three rows, pin in place and sew them together! Wah Lah! I love how fast this quilt goes together.
Join me LIVE!! If you have any questions, make sure to join me for my LIVE VIDEO. Today (Tuesday March 6th) at 10:15 am PST (West Coast USA) I will be filming a LIVE video in the Facebook Group to go over tips and answer any questions.
Make sure to share a photo of this weeks step on social media with the hashtag #AlohaRippleQAL or join the Facebook Group and post your photos!!
You can follow me on Instagram here: Instagram.com/HappyCloudCreations
Welcome to Week 7 of the Aloha Ripple Quilt Along!! This week we will be making our last blocks! Can you believe it! This quilt along is going so fast!
We will be making 4 Stacked Flying Geese blocks. 2 of them will have 5 flying geese in them and 2 of them will have 6 flying geese in them.
Making your Stacked Flying Geese block:
First I like to layout all my flying geese in the correct order. Then I like to sew two flying geese together at a time, until you sew the whole row together. Make sure to press your flying geese block according to the arrows on the pattern! This will ensure that your seams nest when you go to sew all your blocks together next week.
2 of these blocks will have an additional flying geese sewn to the top! These blocks will go together super quickly!
If you have any questions, make sure to join me for my LIVE VIDEO. Tomorrow (Wednesday Feb. 21st) at 10:15 am PST (West Coast USA) I will be filming a LIVE video in the Facebook Group to go over tips and answer any questions.
Make sure to share a photo of this weeks step on social media with the hashtag #AlohaRippleQAL or join the Facebook Group and post a photo of your stacked Flying Geese blocks!
You can follow me on Instagram here: Instagram.com/HappyCloudCreations
Welcome to Week 6 of the Aloha Ripple Quilt Along! This week we will be making 2 of the Corner Block B. This block is a mirror of the block A. (Pattern)
If you made the corner block A already, this weeks blocks will be a breeze!
Tips for making your points line up:
*Accurate cutting of pieces
*Accurate consistent seam allowances
*Press your seams in an alternating direction once the rows are created so you can nest your seams
Making your Corner Block B:
I like to lay out all of my pieces next to my machine how they are in the pattern diagram.
The throw size pieces barely fit on my kitchen table next to my machine, but I make it work. I like to keep the pattern next to me as well, so I can make sure I am sewing them together correctly.
Then I chain piece the pieces together, starting with two squares from the first row, then two squares from the second and so on. Once I get to the last row, I start a adding one square from the first row, then second and so on. I keep doing this until all my rows are complete.
Once you have all your rows done, you will want to press your seams in alternating direction from the neighboring row (See pattern for pressing arrows, so that this block connects to your Flying Geese blocks correctly).
Then you will nest your seams together (butt them up against each other so they interlock). Pin them in place and sew! I like to keep my pins in when sewing even though it is a no no. It helps my pieces stay in the correct spot and helps your points line up correctly. Make sure to sew slowly over the intersecting seams. Yay! You’re Corner Block B is done!!
Yay! We only have 1 more week, then all of our blocks will be done!!
If you have any questions, make sure to join me for my LIVE VIDEO. Tomorrow (Wednesday Feb. 21st) at 10:15 am PST (West Coast USA) I will be filming a LIVE video in the Facebook Group to go over tips and answer any questions.
Make sure to share a photo of this weeks step on social media with the hashtag #AlohaRippleQAL or join the Facebook Group and post a photo of your Corner Block B!
You can follow me on Instagram here: Instagram.com/HappyCloudCreations
Starting January 2nd: Download Pattern – Select your fabric and post a photo! Week 1: January 16th: Cut fabric Week 2: January 23rd: Make the Flying Geese Week 3: January 30th: Make the Half Square Triangles Week 4: February 6th: Make the Center Block (1) Week 5: February 13th: Make Corner Blocks A (2)
Week 6: February 20th: Make Corner Blocks B (2)
Week 7: February 27th: Make the Stacked Flying Geese blocks (4)
Week 8: March 6th: Assemble your Quilt Top
Week 9: March 13th: Baste, Quilt and Bind your Quilt!
Welcome to Week 5 of the Aloha Ripple Quilt Along!! We will be making our Corner Block A!
Now that all our pieces are ready, the next few weeks will go by so quickly. You will need to make 2 of the Corner Block A. They look similar to Corner Block B, but they are different. So you can NOT make 4 of Corner Block A and call it good.
I like to lay out all of my pieces next to my machine. Then I chain piece them together, starting with two squares from the first row, then two squares from the second and so on. Once I get to the last row, I start a adding one square from the first row, then second and so on. (Watch my LIVE Video in the Facebook Group today for further explanation). I keep doing this until all my rows are complete.
Once you have all your rows done, you will want to press your seams in alternating direction from the neighboring row (See pattern for pressing arrows, so that this block connects to your Flying Geese blocks correctly).
Then you will nest your seams together (butt them up against each other so they interlock). Pin them in place and sew! I like to keep my pins in when sewing even though it is a no no. It helps my pieces stay in the correct spot and helps your points line up correctly. Make sure to sew slowly over the intersecting seams.
Yay your block is done! Now wasn’t that easy!
Things to keep in mind:
*Read ALL of the pattern directions
*Make sure ALL of your Half Square Triangles are trimmed to the correct size
*Make sure you are sewing a correct Scant 1/4 inch seam. (See the basic directions in the pattern).
*Don’t stress out if it is not completely perfect! As you can see mine below is not completely perfect. Once it is all quilted, washed and dried, it will be all crinkled and you won’t notice tiny imperfections.
LIVE VIDEO: Join me today (Tuesday Feb. 13th) at 10:15 am PST (West Coast USA) for a LIVE video in the Facebook Group to go over tips and answer any questions.
Make sure to share a photo of this weeks step on social media with the hashtag #AlohaRippleQAL or join the Facebook Group and post a photo of your Corner Block A!
You can follow me on Instagram here: Instagram.com/HappyCloudCreations
Starting January 2nd: Download Pattern – Select your fabric and post a photo! Week 1: January 16th: Cut fabric Week 2: January 23rd: Make the Flying Geese Week 3: January 30th: Make the Half Square Triangles Week 4: February 6th: Make the Center Block (1)
Week 5: February 13th: Make Corner Blocks A (2)
Week 6: February 20th: Make Corner Blocks B (2)
Week 7: February 27th: Make the Stacked Flying Geese blocks (4)
Week 8: March 6th: Assemble your Quilt Top
Week 9: March 13th: Baste, Quilt and Bind your Quilt!
