2019 Finish-A-Long Q2 Goals

It's time to link up your goals for the second quarter of the Finish-A-Long! I didn't complete one thing on my list last quarter so now I have two 'must finish' projects this quarter. I also threw in a few other projects in case I finish up my 'must finish' projects. If you don't know what the Finish-A-Long is, check out my page here.

1. Our Hearts Will Go On Quilt: This stack of Moda Grunge fabrics will hopefully be transformed into this Storm At Sea quilt.....

It will be a wedding gift for my son and his fiancé. Their house is all in neutrals so hoping this color palette will fit in nicely.

2. Quilts Of Valor Quilt: I said this was a must finish project last quarter, but now it really is! I need to get this one finished because it is for a very special Korean War vet - my uncle.

3. Just the Atoms Quilt: I started this one with the scrap fabrics from my Molecules of Moda quilt as a keepsake of that quilt which was sold to Moda's Mark Dunn. It would be nice to get this one done.

4. Modern Marks Quilt: I haven't touched this since arriving home from our winter travels last year. This is a simple design and shouldn't take too long to make if I just put my mind to it. Maybe if I use it as a leaders & enders project I could get this done.

5. Frivols Kindred Quilt: I haven't worked on this one for more than a year, but I have more than half of the blocks completed so after I get my 'must finish' projects done I could knock this one out.

There it is - Five Goals. But I'd be happy if I just get my two 'must finish' quilts completed. I always add a few extra because there's no harm in setting goals and working towards them and that's the whole point of the Finish-A-Long. What doesn't get done this quarter can always be moved to the next quarter - no penalties! And what does get done can be eligible for some great prizes (well, for you if you join in but not for me since I'm one of the hosts). There's only a few more days to get your Q2 goals posted so don't dally! Deadline is Thursday, April 18, 2019. I'll be linking this post up with the FAL Q2 Link Up here. 

~Sharla

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A Scrappy Happy Holidays Mystery Sew Along - Block 4

Yay!! It's time for the reveal of another block in 'A Scrappy Happy Holidays Mystery Sew Along"! Of course, no Christmas quilt would be complete without a Christmas Tree so here is my version. I originally designed my 'Oh Lil' Christmas Tree' block for a Moda Bake Shop Christmas sew along a couple of years ago, but I love it so much I had to include it here.

Of course, I'm still working on three different versions of the quilt, so here is my block in flannel.

And here it is with a scrappy white background.

Mark the alternate blocks at 5.75" and 6.75".

This is a pretty straight forward block to sew. There are a few flip and sew corners to create the star and some sewing of rectangles together to create strips then it's simple starting at the top and sewing the strips together. My tip to keep the trunk lined up down the middle of the block is to mark the adjacent strips where the trunk should be, then line up the trunk seams with the marks and pin to keep them in place to sew.

Happy Sewing!

~Sharla

NOTE: The pattern is not included in the post. The pattern is provided by email to those participants registered for 'A Scrappy Happy Holidays Mystery Sew Along'. Registration for this sew along has closed. 

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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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