Country Charmer QuiltAlong

 

 

 

 

I joined in this quilt along as I just love this pattern and being able to get some wonderful tips from the designer along the way - bonus.  Lynn of  Sew'nWildOaks is the gracious designer who is posting hints and tips twice a week to help us out.  This venture was collaborated with Lesley of The Cuddle Quilter and Sue of Quilt Times.

There are 53 pieces in each 8.5" unfinished block - but I love how Lynn has this wonderful layout sheet in the pattern.  You just lay out your cuts, so handy to see if your fabrics and colors work.  And just concentrate on one section at a time.  I found that if I stay to working each section in a clockwise direction I stay on track.

I have to admit, I had trouble in the beginning, something that never bothers me as a scrap quilter - pulling fabrics and putting them all together to work in harmony.  But for some reason I just couldn't get it to work!! Scrappy was looking crappy!!  I actually STRESSED - I never stress when quilting - what was wrong?

Now I would have taken a long walk to sort my brain out, but we had a horrible wind storm (trees down, but the roof and all the windows are intact).  And TA DA, Lynn post some tips on how to chose colors here on post #3.  After that it was like a lightbulb moment.

Although I have lots of scraps, I felt I needed a 'base' fabric line to help with this  - so I pulled a layer cake - Harvest Moon.  Now my scraps are starting to click into place.  I, also, decided to stay with one constant background fabric for the blocks.  Gosh, why didn't this sink in earlier?

 

 

Even my SIL got into the act of matching up some fabrics.  This block was what she pulled together for me.  I love paisley!  I had to swat her away - she is suppose to be working on her own quilt!

 

 

And I have a thing for plaids, too.  So I pulled another block together around this center.  Thank you Lynn for tip #3 or I would still be lost in a pile of pulled fabrics and scraps - although my furries thought it was fun. 

 

 

So three blocks were made in a day after being lost for almost 3 weeks!  This is a low pressure quilt along - work at your own speed - take advantage of getting a free class from a well known designer and quilting teacher - don't be afraid to ask for help (note to self).  And at the end of each month, Lesley will have a linky party for us to show off our progress - and there is a flicker group HERE.   And Lynn says there are plenty of patterns back in stock at Inbetween Stitches Shop - hope you join us.

 

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon