Grand Total . . . . . .

Grand Total is one of four plus projects offered by American Patchwork & Quilting for their 2016 APQ Quilt Along.  It's designed by Pat Bravo

 I love the look.  I've been wanting to make a really modern quilt but didn't have a pattern.  Most of the modern quilts I see at shows or online are one of kinds with no pattern.  I was very excited to finally have a pattern to follow.

Then I had to make a fabric decision.

I decided to go with a combo of Flow and For You by Zen Chic for Moda.  This pattern is a breeze to sew, picking out the fabric, it took me hours.  I finally just cut out an assortment of squares and played around with their arrangement on my design wall until I came up with a design that pleased me.

Adding the contrasting detail was very easy once I decided on the main fabric.

And here it is, all done.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 172

It finished at 68" x 68"

The pattern in Grand Total by Pat Bravo

It has approximately 931 pieces.

The print fabric is by Zen Chic for Moda

I went very conservative not he background fabric since the big plus pattern was pretty bold.

I did use two different white on white prints for the background, it's subtle, but it's there.  The background fabric is CarKai and Doe by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman.

Are you following along on instagram?

There are 2014, 2015 and 2016 projects being added every day.  

No sewing for me the rest of this week, I'm heading to Quilt Con!  I'm so excited, it's the first time I've attended that show. I'm equally excited about the weather, it's unseasonably warm in Pasadena right now, which makes up for the 6 inches of snow I shoveled Sunday!

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It All Adds Up Quilt Along

I'm joining the AP&Q It All Adds Up Quilt Along.  This year the theme is plus quilts.  

I started a plus quilt last year but got sidetracked and put it in a project box.

There are 4 different projects available and I was thinking perhaps I could convert my plus start from last year into this project, Plus Postage, designed by Susan Ache.

I've made two blocks.  I enjoyed making them but am not sure it's the best use of my fabric, I think I can do better.

So I'm going to mull this around and either try Susan's pattern again with different fabric or maybe try a different pattern and different fabric.  Stay tuned!

It's all fun.

You should quilt along too.  I'm getting a late start, but my magazine didn't show up until last Friday.  Check out Instagram for some great inspiration and amazing finishes.

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Up Next . . . .

I was so relieved to hear that several of you have a strong aversion to piecing backs just like I do!  Although really, I don't mind piecing one, every now and then, but piecing several over the course of a week is not fun at all.  Which is why I'm going to improve.  I'm going to give 108" backings another try.  Vintage Picnic by Bonnie and Camille for Moda will have 4 different 108" wide prints available, I'll let you know what I think of the quality and feel as soon as I get some.

I'm also going to change my attitude about backs.  A friend told me about a quilter named Diane Woodward who teaches classes on making "Happy Backs".  I don't think she has a blog but she has dozens of clever quilt backs on Pinterest.  She also has an Instagram account with the tag line "I make Mullet Quilts:  Business on the front, party on the back! "  What a great idea!  I've created a few party backs, but I can definitely improve in that area.

With all the backs done it's time to decide on my next project.  I can't make more Village houses if I don't create any scraps!  Have you happened to notice the myriad of sew alongs currently being promoted? Is it just me, or are there 10 times more than usual.  Maybe I'm just in a sew along mood.  I love sew alongs, sometimes I piece a quilt I would never have tried if it weren't for a sew along.  Sometimes I start out thinking the project isn't for me, then see some amazing finishes and jump on the bandwagon, better late than never.   This time of year I stay indoors and don't have much interaction with people, let alone quilters, so sewing with others is a great way to feel connected.

Even if I don't participate, I always enjoy seeing what other quilters create.  I'm following the Fat Quarter Shop's Crossroad's Quilt Along that's benefiting the March of Dimes.   Also the Moda All Stars Row by Row sew along featuring their book All in a Row has some interesting starts.  Pat Sloan is hosting or participating in several other sew alongs, check them out on her blog. And finally, Cindy at Hyacinth Quilt Designs is hosting an Outlined Plus Quilt Along.  Cindy's blocks are amazing, I'm eager to see some other finishes.

Here are some sew alongs that have I have moved from watching to my To Do list.

The Fat Quarter Shop promoted their top ten videos of 2015 with a sew along for each project and the patterns were free.  The Star Cakes Quilt was my favorite.

And these bloggers created some inspiring combinations.

Pat Sloan

Melissa of Happy Quilting

Tina of Emily Ann's Kloset

Cara of That Crafty Cara

Kim of Persimon Dreams

Shruti of 13 Woodhouse Road

Rachel of PS I Quilt

There's even a $100 giveaway associated with this sew along, the deadline is 1/31.

I love the Star Cakes block, and I love the hst's that make up this block, hst's are my favorite.  I was thinking maybe this would be a good pattern for my Christmas quilt goal.  It uses a layer cake and I have two Christmas layer cakes.

 
The only thing that's stopping me is that I don't think this quilt has a Christmas feel.  Do you think if I used Christmas fabric it would?

American Patchwork and Quilting is hosting a sew along called

There are two projects in the April issue of American Patchwork and Quilting, one project in the Spring issue of Quilts and More magazine, and a free pattern online.  This year's theme is Plus Quilts.    I participated in their sew along last year and made 3 projects.  I can hardly wait for my magazine to arrive so I can start sewing along this year.

I love this book, Sister Sampler Quilts, by AnnMarie Chany, and was hoping to make a project from this book this year.

Well there's a sew along for this book going on right now!  (click here)  That's a win win!  I've selected my fabric and hope to get started this weekend, which should be easy, with no football I'll have plenty of time on my hands.

I'm planning to use Basic Mixology by Studio M and Valley by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda.

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