Today we're beginning Block 9 in the GRAVITY Quilt Along! It has been a voyage getting this far in our quilts!
Cheers erupt, confetti falls, and happy dance begins!!
Here are all my blocks in color!
If you haven't cut the "dog ears" off the blocks, DON'T; they are very useful when assembling the quilt top!
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 Orbit
May 29, 2015 Block 4 Intergalactic
June 12, 2015 Block 5 Celestial
June 26, 2015 Block 6 Ultraviolet
July 10, 2015 Block 7 Cosmic
July 24, 2015 Block 8 Eclipse
August 7, 2015 Block 9 Voyage ◄ You are here!
August 21, 2015 Background Blocks
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.
November 20, 2015 Last day to enter the Finished quilt link-up.
♥ Block 8 Prize Winner! ♥
A special Thank You to the sponsors for today's giveaway!
Today's winner was 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 9 Construction ♥
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.
- I don't think I've told you before - I'm using gray thread because it blends well with all of the colors.
- The full 10" of fabric is used for one of the colors in Block 5. Be sure to measure carefully before cutting off the pinked edge to be sure there will be enough fabric left for all of the required strips.
- I'm getting comfortable enough with using the templates that I am layering both fabrics with the same letter together before cutting - what a timesaver!
- When piecing, follow the diagrams carefully, paying close attention to how the notched edge of each piece is oriented. They seem to be placed in a way that reduces bulk where many seams come together. This is amazing foresight by the designer. Thanks so much, Julie!
- Don't panic when you notice Block 6 has partial seams! I avoided them like the plague before, but now I know they are super simple!
- Keep calm and sew on!
- In Block 8, be very careful with the orientation of the pieced strips before cutting them into half hexagons. I got confused because the cutting lines in the picture are shown the opposite of how I usually cut, and all my eye saw was the color of the strips, not the direction of the cutting lines. If you happen to cut the first one wrong and realize your mistake, continue cutting them all wrong for that colored block so the design of the block is not broken, i.e., so all the same color strips end up where they should be.
My tips for Block 9:
- You did it! Yeah!
Here are my finished block 9's. Block 9 is my favorite block pattern in the entire quilt! I also love how amazing these two colors look together. Each GRAVITY block is made in two colorways which are on opposite sides of the color wheel, and this set is over-the-top happy to me!
♥ ♥ Prize Package Giveaway! ♥ ♥
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 August 21st when Background Blocks is posted. {I will be a few days late in announcing the winner of this prize.}
The following prize package will be given away to one entrant on August 21st when Background Blocks is posted. {I will be a few days late in announcing the winner of this prize.}
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My Modern Quilt Shop is donating a Jaybird Quilts Mini Disco quilt kit, including the Mini Disco pattern, a Mini Hex N More keychain, and a charm pack of Pure Organic Cotton Solids! This kit is valued at $25. My Modern Quilt Shop ships US orders for $4.95 with free shipping on purchases over $50. My Modern Quilt Shop is also located in my lovely state of Washington!
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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.
♥ ♥ Link-Up Your Block 9's! ♥ ♥
The link-up will be open until the Quilt Along ends. To qualify for the prize giveaway, you must complete two Block 9's and add your link by Thursday, August 20th, 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, August 21st to be entered in the prize package giveaway!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Please link to the GRAVITY Quilt Along in your post!
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4 comments :
This seems to have gone by so fast! Your sample quilt is absolutely gorgeous.
Your quilt sample looks really incredible!
-Soma
The end is in sight. I'm so happy I joined this QAL. Your blocks are fabulous.
Trying to keep up (sort of) crazy sick dog is thwarting my efforts :(
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