You Can Quilt Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Welcome!  Today is my turn to share about a chapter in the book "You Can Quilt! Building Skills for Beginners".  I was excited to be a part of this hop because I am really passionate about helping beginning quilters learn the basics.  This book covers a lot of great topics and would be a perfect start for a new quilter or for anyone who wants to brush up on their basic techniques.   I even learned a thing or two, and I've been quilting for a long time!

My chapter was Number 11 - Inset Seams.  Also known as the dreaded Y-seam.  I thought it was neat that one of the blocks used English Paper piecing which is a great way of working with those inset seams as well as adding a great hand piecing technique that is really popular right now!  The instructions were easy to follow and I love how my block came out!

I learned a new way to use freezer paper for the applique as well - and it worked better than the way I usually do it!  I guess you can teach an old dog a new trick from time to time :)

The second block was a Mitered Frame Block.  Again the instructions and illustrations were great, and my block came out the perfect size with no puckers or waves at all!  You need to know how to do this technique - mitered borders on a quilt are such a classic touch.  Once you get the hang of it you can totally do these in a flash.

The final block was a bit more involved, but once again, easy to make by following the directions in the book. It is a Mini Lone Star block.   It also came out the perfect size as and looks great!

I really like how the colors flow in this block!  The fabrics I used in my blocks are part of a new collection by Island Batik - Caribbean Splash.  Doesn't it look like a sunny tropical beach?  Love it!  The setting triangles are one of their Screen Prints.

Guess what I made out of my blocks?

I'll bet you guessed it's a table runner, right?  Well, you guessed wrong!

It's a pillow cover!

I've been wanting to cover a body pillow my daughter had to use for a bolster on the guest room bed, and thought these blocks would be perfect for that.  And I was right!

I just added two overlapping panels to the back before I sewed the binding on, making an envelope back so I could put the pillow inside.  I'll try to get a better picture tomorrow - the daylight was gone before I knew it today, thanks to the end of daylight savings time last night!

Now for the fun part! 

At the end of the blog hop we will randomly choose 4 winners. Each winner will receive a copy of You Can Quilt! and a fat eighth Island Batik fabric bundle. See the Rafflecopter below and enter the giveaway!

Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to US residents. If you don't win or if you can not wait you can purchase a copy of You Can Quilt! you can get a signed copy from Marlene it is also available through AQS (as a hard copy or e-book) and Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Many thanks to AQS and Island Batik for sponsoring this giveaway!  Here is the list of participants as well so you can see their posts if you are just now catching up:

Oct. 9 – Ch. 1. Basics - Leila Gardunia http://sewnbyleila.blogspot.com
Oct. 12 – Ch. 2. HST - Tammy Silvers http://www.tamarinis.typepad.com/
Oct 14 – Ch 3. QST - Connie Kresin Campbell http://www.conniekresin.com
Oct. 16 – Ch 4. Flying Geese - Maryellen McAuliffe http://teachpany.blogspot.com
Oct 19 -- Ch. 5. Wonky - Christine McCrann Martinez http://madeinscraps.blogspot.com
Oct. 21 – Ch. 6. Improvisation - Connie Kauffman http://kauffmandesigns.blogspot.com
Oct. 23 -- Ch. 7. Foundation Paper Piecing - Joan Kawano http://moosestashquilting.blogspot.com
Oct. 26 – Ch. 8. Curves - Marlene Oddie http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com
Oct. 28 - Ch 9. One-Patch Blocks - Bea Lee http://www.beaquilter.com
Oct. 30 – Ch. 10. Applique - Barbara Gaddy http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com
Nov. 2 – Ch. 11. Inset Seams - Pamela Boatright http://pamelaquilts.blogspot.com/
Nov. 4 – Ch. 12. Challenge Blocks - Linda Stewart Pearl http://www.onequiltingcircle.com
Nov. 6 – Ch. 13. finishing – Marlene http://kissedquilts.blogspot.com