Gravity Quilt Along {Block 3 Orbit}

Today we're beginning Block 3 in the GRAVITY Quilt Along!  I am excited to have you quilting along with me or watching from the sidelines!

   Cheers  erupt,  confetti  falls,  and  happy  dance  begins!!  

GRAVITY QUILT ALONG SCHEDULE:

March 8, 2015 Announcement!

March 10, 2015  Alternative Fabric Ideas

March 13, 2015 Using Your Solids Stash for a Gravity Quilt

March 16, 2015 - Schedule and Sponsors

March 17, 2015  Sponsors and Prizes!

March 24, 2015  Template Tips

April 17, 2015  Block 1 Horizon

May 1, 2015  Block 2 Constellation 

May 15, 2015  Block 3 ◄ You are here!

May 29, 2015  Block 4

June 12, 2015  Block 5

June 26, 2015  Block 6

July 10, 2015  Block 7

July 24, 2015  Block 8

August 7, 2015  Block 9

August 21, 2015  Background Blocks

September 4, 2015  Finished Quilt Tops

September 18, 2015  Finished Quilts
November 20, 2015 Last day to enter the Finished quilt link-up.

 ♥ Block 2 Prize Winners! ♥ 

A special Thank You to the sponsors for today's giveaway!  

The first prize package from our sponsors includes:

• $25 Gift Certificate to Scarlet Thread Quilt Co.
• Jaybird Quilt's Glimmer quilt pattern
• Cluck Cluck Sew PDF quilt pattern 

The first prize package winner is entry #6 Erin Eamer on Flickr!

The second prize package sponsored by Busy Hands Quilts includes:

• Angles with Ease by Heather Mulder Peterson
• Triangler ruler
• Seven coordinating fat quarters
• Two Riley Blake Vintage Verona charm packs. 

The second prize package winner is entry #4 Cindy of Falling Into Quilts!

Today's winners were chosen randomly from the entries who have not won in previous GRAVITY QAL drawings in order to spread the prizes around more evenly. Hopefully other quilters will join us and the drawings will revert to being truly random.  The final Grand Prize Drawing of completed quilts will be random, and all previous winners can win that amazing package!

 ♥ Visit the QAL Sponsors to Get Your Supplies! ♥ 

 ♥ Block 3 Orbit Construction ♥ 

Julie of Jaybird Quilts has shared color selection tips for Block 3 Orbit.  This will help you know which colors from the stack to use if you are making your GRAVITY quilt exactly like the original, which I am.

Here are my previous tips for creating your GRAVITY Quilt:

• Starch fabrics with Best Press or similar high-quality starch.
• Allow fabrics to completely dry before cutting due to potential shrinkage from the starch.
• Read the instructions carefully several times.
• Press seams open.  This is new for me but really makes a difference in this quilt.  Run fingernail along the seam ahead of the iron to fully open it.
• When piecing, pin the end of the pieces closest to you to keep them lined up.

Design boards come in handy for keeping block pieces in the right place when moving them to the sewing machine.  You can view my Design Board Tutorial - the Duck Tape Version for tips on making some for yourself.

Here are my finished block 3's.

 ♥ ♥   Prize Package Giveaways!  ♥ ♥ 

Oh, boo!  Since there are so few entries, I am not providing prize packages for the remainder of the Quilt Along.  There are plenty of prizes from our sponsors to go around.  I really was expecting a lot more than eight entries.

Please visit our sponsors and show them some love by purchasing from their shops, bookmarking their storefronts for later shopping, and signing up for their newsletters.  Be sure to tell them you are visiting their shop from the GRAVITY Quilt Along!  Let them know sponsoring Quilt Alongs is advertising that works!

The following prize package will be given away to one entrant on May 29th when Block 4 is posted. 

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Connecting Threads buys their exclusive fabric collections directly from the manufacturer to cut costs.  They have recently added designer fabrics to their inventory.  They also stock batting and thread.  Free shipping is given on orders over $50.   Connecting Threads is located in Washington State but ships out of Ohio, thereby reducing shipping rates with a more central US location.  Connecting Threads is generously donating a $50 Gift Certificate!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew is donating 10 PDF patterns! Each prize drawing will include one PDF pattern of the winner's choice. Stop by her shop and take your merry time deliberating over which pattern you'd choose!  Allison has over 40 patterns to choose from, so you're sure to find just what you need.  Cluck Cluck Sew is located in Washington!  Here's a sampling of her patterns.

 Share Via Flickr, Social Media, & Your Blog! 

Please post your pictures to the Gravity Quilt Along Flickr Group!

Please share about the Gravity Quilt Along on social media!

#GravityQAL and #GravityQuilt

Please share the GRAVITY QAL button in your blog post.

<a href="http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/p/gravity-qal.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt214/hearts4homeschooling/Gravity%20Quilt%20Along%20at%20Busy%20Hands%20Quilts/GravityQALButton_zpsiu1mtrzn.jpg" title ="Gravity QAL at Busy Hands Quilts" /></a>

 ♥ ♥   Link-Up Your Block 3's!   ♥ ♥ 

The link-up will be open until the Quilt Along ends.  To qualify for the prize giveaway, you must complete two Block 3's and add your link by Thursday, May 28th, 2015, 11:55 pm Pacific Coast US time.  You can link to a blog post, Flickr, Instagram, or Facebook.  Just make sure to link up before Friday, May 29th to be entered in the prize package giveaways!

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Please link to the GRAVITY Quilt Along in your post!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to:
/ Creative Goodness / Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?! / Needle and Thread Thursday / Fabric Frenzy Friday / Crazy Mom Quilts / Pet Project Show / BOMs Away / 

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