2019 Finish-A-Long Quarter 2 Goals Link Up

Hello everyone! It is time for Quarter 2 of the Finish-A-Long (FAL)!

As you can see, a new quarter of the Finish-A-Long is starting today.  If you missed participating at the beginning of the year, you can join us now for a brand new start. Those of you who did join us for the first quarter, thank you and I do hope you finished some things and plan to continue on with us for Q2.

So let's get to it!
You can now link up your list of projects that you want to finish in Quarter 2 of 2019. We are hoping that the FAL community will inspire you to work on your unfinished projects this quarter, and to get them finished!

Our 2019 Finish-A-Long Hosts

The 2019 FAL is hosted by a great community of bloggers. This year our hosts are:

• Sandra - Sew of Course - Ireland
• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA Louisiana
• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada
• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA Georgia
• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA California
• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA Maryland
• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada
• Sarah G - Sarah Goer Quilts - USA California
• Sarah Z - Cedar Fork Stitches - USA Montana
• Julie - That’s Sew Julie - USA Iowa
• Sharla - Thistle Thicket Studio - USA Kansas
• Nicole - Handwrought Quilts - Canada

For those of you who are new to the FAL, here is an explanation: The Finish-A-Long is a community aiming to motivate and encourage each other to complete those unfinished projects that are hanging around, sometimes for far too long. At the start of the quarter you post and link up a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months. Then, at the end of the quarter, you link up each successful finish from your original list.

Each linked up finish is an entry into the draw for wonderful prizes from our sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list as long or as short as you wish. The 2019 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent 2019 FAL page, let me know if you have any questions.

Our 2019 Finish-A-Long Sponsors

Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q2 of the Finish-A-Long. you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo. Please think about visiting them and saying thank you for their their support of the FAL.

Winner's Choice of 1 Large 12 Spool Collection

$80 Gift Certificate

$50 Gift Certificate

$50 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

1 Six Month Subscription

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Fabric Voucher

Make your Q2 List of Unfinished Projects

So now it is time to sort out the projects/UFOs/WIPs that you want to finish over the next three months. Take a photo of each one and make your list. If you like you can use our Finish-A-Long Planner to list your projects and keep track of progress. It also has all link-up dates for the year, and the hashtags that we would use. Or use any method that works for you. Please ensure that you have at least STARTED your projects - pulled fabric with a pattern is considered a project started - and remember it is only a FINISHED project that will get you an entry toward the above listed prizes. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, usable project.

Post Your Q2 List

Post your list either on your blog, on Instagram, or on Flickr if you prefer. If posting on social media (Flickr, Instagram), it will be very helpful if you tag your list with #2019FALQ2yourname (where yourname is unique to you). Using the same hashtag over the quarter when sharing project progress or finishes helps the host to make the connection to your original list quickly and easily.
IMPORTANT: Don't forget to link up your finishes at the end of the quarter! We will be posting a reminder on the blog and on Instagram, but do keep an eye out...

Link-up Your Q2 List

The 2019 Q2 link for your list of proposed finishes is now open below, on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs. You need only link your list once, on ONE host blog, and the link will show up on all the host blogs. If you are using Flickr or Instagram, post a mosaic of your projects and put your list in the description. Don't forget to include your unique hashtag.
If you need a little help, Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link up if you need it, and Marci has a post on how to link up from Instagram.

Join the FAL Community

We also ask that you become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others - visit and comment on their lists. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done, so please share some of your own too.

If you want you can follow us on Facebook: Finish-A-Long and/or on Instagram: @finishalong, too. We'll post encouragement during the quarter and reminders when the finishes link up opens at the end of the quarter.

When creating your list there is one thing to remember - No deductions for not completing something so - Aim High! Nothing to lose!! Well now, get that list together and get linked up.

LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Feel free to use and share the FAL button at the top and this one too:

Remember: you only need to link up at ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs.

An InLinkz Link-up

~Sharla

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Q1 Finish-A-Long Link Up Reminder

Today I'm popping in for a quick reminder that the Quarter 1 link up for all your finishes closes on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 11 pm EST.  So you still have a few more days to finish that project or two and link them up to be eligible for prizes.  The link up can be found HERE or on any of the 2019 FAL hosts blogs.


A few reminders for linking up:

• Please only one finished project for each post that you link up, so that each finish can be an entry in the (random) prize draw. 
• Please include a link to your original list in each post of your finishes (on Instagram the link is the unique tag #2019FALQ1yourname to be used in the Q1 list post, and in any Q1 finish post).
• Please visit some of the other participants and leave a friendly comment, we all love to get those! 

I also wanted to share with you that we just wrapped up "Tutorial Week" which has been part of the Finish-A-Long since it's inception.  The tutorials are varied, interesting, and usually helpful, so take some time to investigate and visit the blogs below!

• April 2, 2019 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course - Playing with Log Cabins
• April 3, 2019 - Sarah of Cedar Fork Stitches -  Easy Gingham Potholders
• April 4, 2019 - Sharla of Thistle Thicket Studio -  Easter Bunny Zipper Pouch
• April 5, 2019 - Nicole of  Handwrought Quilts - How to Bury Your Thread Ends

And whether you had a lot of finishes, or none at all this quarter, or you missed Finish-A-Long Q1 altogether, you can always join in for Quarter 2 which is taking off on April 10th, with the link up opening for your List of Proposed Finishes. We hope you will join us!

~Sharla

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Q1 FAL Tutorial: Easter Bunny Zipper Pouch

For Valentine's Day, I made a Heart Shaped Zipper Pouch for the Valentine exchange at our quilt guild so for Easter I decided to up my game! I'm so excited to share my Easter Peeps Bunny Zipper Pouch Tutorial for the 2019 Finish-A-Long Tutorial Week. This pouch is the perfect package for a little Easter gift for your favorite little peeps.

Fabric & Notion Supplies:

• Cut from Outer Fabric:
• One 4" x 8" rectangle (bunny bottom)
• One 6" x 8" rectangle (bunny top)
• One 8" x 10" rectangle (bunny back)
• Two 6" X 7" rectangles (bunny ears)
• Cut from Lining Fabric:
• One 4" x 8" rectangle (bunny bottom)
• One 6" x 8" rectangle (bunny top)
• One 8" x 10" rectangle (bunny back)
• Cut from Thermore Batting:
• One 4" x 8" rectangle (bunny bottom)
• One 6" x 8" rectangle (bunny top)
• One 8" x 10" rectangle (bunny back)
• One 6" X 7" rectangles (bunny ears)
• 1 zipper at least 9" in length
• 3 small black buttons for eyes and nose
• 505 Basting Spray
• Zipper foot

Sewing Instructions: 

Note - All seams are 1/4" unless otherwise noted.

1. Print the 'Peep' template by clicking the link HERE.

2. Cut out outer and lining fabric pieces and batting pieces according to cutting instructions.

3. Spray baste each batting piece to the wrong side of the corresponding outer fabric pieces.

4. With 4"x8" outer fabric facing up, place zipper, right side down, along 8" side of fabric. Ends of zipper should extend past fabric on both ends.

5. Layer the 4"x8" lining fabric, right side down, on top of the zipper and pin.

6. Using a zipper foot, sew through all layers.

7. Turn lining over to the back and press outer and lining fabrics away from zipper. From the front side, top stitch 1/8" from seam.

8. Place the zipper section right side down on top of the 6"x8" outer fabric along 8" edge.

9. Layer the 6"x8" lining fabric, right side down, on top of the zipper and pin. Using a zipper foot again, sew through all the layers.

10. Turn lining over to the back and press outer and lining fabrics away from zipper. From the front side, top stitch 1/8" from seam.

11. Trace bunny ears onto the back of a 6"x7" outer fabric. 

12. Place right sides together with the other 6"x7" outer fabric with the glue basted batting. Pin layers together.

13. Stitch on the line through all layers. Leave the straight edge at the bottom of the ears unstitched for turning.

14. Trim batting as close to stitching as possible. Trim fabric 1/4" from seam. Clip curves up to the stitches without cutting into thread.

15.Turn ears right side out, pushing edges out and smoothing seam. Press. Top stitch 1/4" from edge.

16. Using ear pattern, trim bottom of ears along dotted line.

17. Trace bunny body onto the lining side of the zipper segment, aligning the line on the pattern with the zipper. Mark the two dots at the top of the head.

18. Place 8"x10" lining fabric face down. Layer the 8"x10" outer fabric on top face up. Layer the zipper piece face down on top. Pin layers together. Place pins on either side of the zipper on the opening side. Slide zipper pull down so that it is between the two lines and 2/3rds of the way open. Sew on line starting at one of the dots near the top of the bunny and sew all the way around to the other dot, leaving the top of the head open. Be careful when sewing over the zipper. Stitch back and forth over zipper several times to re-enforce seam.

19. Trim excess fabric 1/4" from seam. Slip bunny ears between the front and back layers and pin along the opening of the head. Ease ears around curve, pinning as you go. Sew on line to close opening.

20. Trim excess batting close to seam. Clip curves. Turn and press. Top stitch 1/4" around bunny body.

21. Sew buttons on face for eyes and nose.

22. Embellish as desired.

If you haven't had a chance to visit the other tutorials yet for the Finish-A-Long Tutorials Week, here is the schedule:

• April 2, 2019 (Tue) - Sandra of Sew of Course
• April 3, 2019 (Wed) - Sarah Z of Cedar Fork Stitches
• April 4, 2019 (Thurs) - Sharla (Me) at Thistle Thicket Studio
• April 5, 2019 (Fri) - Nicole of Handwrought Quilts

Happy Sewing
~Sharla

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Couched Burlap Table Runners

I just returned home from a couple of weeks of visiting my daughter and her family. It's always great to be able to kiss and hug and spoil my grandsons for a few days, and spend time with my daughter and her husband. While there, I realized that I never shared photos of the yarn couched burlap table runners that I made and gave for Christmas gifts. Pictured is the one that I gave her and she has it displayed on her rustic dining room table.

I found the table runners at Michaels last fall on sale and I loved the ruffles on the ends. Since I had just seen a video on Facebook of someone doing yarn couching on burlap table runners using their Statler longarm machine, I knew I had to give it a try. I used Bernat blanket yarn that I also purchased at Michaels. 

I made table runners in three different colors of yarn but used the same quilting pattern called Paisley Feathers by Anne Bright on all three. I chose this quilting design because is sews continuously from edge to edge and it does not stitch over itself. 

I pinned the table runner directly on my leaders and couched the yarn on top of the table runner. I think if I do more I will try basting the burlap table runner to a tear away stabilizer as the burlap runner waffled a little with the couching and doesn't lay completely flat after stitched.

I'd love to hear from others who have done yarn couching and any tips you may have to share!

~Sharla

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Finish-A-Long Q1 Finishes Link Up

We have reached the end of Quarter 1 of the 2019 Finish-A-Long already!!  Of course, that means it is now time to link up those finishes from the list you linked up in January. We had a record-breaking 233 lists linked up for Q1, and we hope that you have been able to complete a bunch of the UFOs on your list. If you haven't, we'll do it all over again for Quarter 2...

The 2019 FAL is hosted by a great community of bloggers. This year our hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA Louisiana
• Sandra - Sew of Course - Ireland
• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada
• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA Georgia
• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA California
• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA Maryland
• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada
• Sarah G - Sarah Goer Quilts - USA California
• Sarah Z - Cedar Fork Stitches - USA Montana
• Julie - That’s Sew Julie - USA Iowa
• Sharla - Thistle Thicket Studio - USA Kansas
• Nicole - Handwrought Quilts - Canada

Each finish you link up will be in the draw for great prizes, so let's give a huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors:

Winner's Choice of 1 Large 12 Spool Collection

$80 Gift Certificate

$50 Gift Certificate

$50 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

1 Six Month Subscription

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Fabric Voucher

The 2019 Quarter 1 link for your finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs - you only need to link on one blog for your finish to appear on all host blogs.

Link-up "Rules":

Add one link for each finish.  If you want to link a round up post of all your finishes, use that link to enter one of your finishes and then link the rest of your finishes separately.  Please, only one link per finish, as your link is an entry into the randomly drawn prize draws. 

Please ensure that the photo (Instagram or Flickr) or blog post you link up contains a link or reference back to your original list so that we can verify your entry (make sure it is from the appropriate quarter, too). On Instagram the best way to do that is to tag your photos with #2019FALQ1yourname (where yourname is unique to you), this makes it easier for us to match your finishes with your list, which also should have this tag.

Please become part of the FAL community.  Check out the links of others and leave a comment. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other.  The 2019 FAL Facebook page is HERE and you can follow us on Instagram @finishalong.

Our hosts will also link up their finishes to share in the community but they are not eligible for any of the prizes.

The Q1 Finishes link will stay open from now thru 11 pm, EST, Tuesday, April 9, 2019 - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link. You can also see how much time is left below the linked up images on the right.  It is best to link up your finishes early and if you have a last minute one, add that one later so you don't miss out.  The prizes will be awarded as soon as we can verify all the entries and do the drawings.  We will post the winners on each host's blog.

Lastly, don't forget to start making your Q2 list as the next LIST link opens on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.

2019 Q1 Finishes Link Up:

An InLinkz Link-up

~Sharla

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