#100Days100Blocks2017 Blocks 1 – 10 and a Winner
On May 7 we kicked off on the #100Days100Blocks2017 adventure. Last year I launched the #100Days100Blocks challenge as a way to inspire, connect, motivate and stretch the quilting community and I was blown away by the response. To date there’s been over 57,700+ photos recorded against the first hashtag. Because of how much of a success it was and how much the quilting community seemed to get from the event I decided to run it again in 2017 for those that missed out the first time, those that wanted to make another version of the blocks and for those that wanted to start quilting and didn’t know where to begin. I was lucky enough to have two of my best friends, Lisa (of @SweetLittlePretties) and Raylee (of @SunflowerQuilting) come along and co-host the event with me last year and they’re back again this year.
As of today we’re up to Block 15 out of 100 and it’s time to announce our first winner. This year I’ve made it super simple for you to win; there’s prizes for groups of 10 blocks, groups of 50 and for all 100. (Click here to see the full list of prizes and entry requirements.) It’s great for those that come to the event late, those that fell off the wagon last year and for those that have life’s little mishaps spring up along the way. So without further ado, let’s find out who’s won the amazing prize of a $100 Gift Voucher to Amitie Textiles…
Our Sponsor: AMITIE TEXTILES
Amitié Textiles carries a huge range of inspiring fabrics suitable for patchwork, dress making, quilting, home décor and other craft and sewing projects. We specialize in Japanese and international designer fabrics that appeal to the young in years and young at heart. Our fabrics appeal to both the sophisticated and the traditional sewist.
Service for our online and in-store customers is important to us. Because of this, our staff are carefully chosen for their sewing skills, and their commitment to provide the best shopping experience to our customers. Whether you need assistance in choosing a fabric, or help with your latest sewing project, we are always happy to help.
Prize: Amitie Textiles has kindly donated a $100 Gift Certificate.
You can find them in the following places: Instagram | Website | Facebook
Please note: The prize is open internationally. Winner is responsible for own insurance and custom charges where applicable.
Entry Requirements: Completed and posted blocks 1 – 10, used the correct event hashtag #100Days100Blocks2017 on all block photos and followed the full list of sponsors.
Winner: @ruth_mahon
Congratulations Ruth, you have 48 hours to contact me to claim your prize. Unclaimed prizes may be reallocated at the discretion of the event coordinator.
Our next winner will be announced at Block 25 so be sure to keep sewing and posting your blocks.
I’ve had so much fun making these blocks again. I know there’s a small portion of the quilt community that were like “Really? The same blocks again!” but this is why I chose to use the same book again this year – it’s the fun in the fabric combinations. I’m so very lucky and humbled to have Cotton + Steel sponsor this years quilt. I already had quite a substantial collection of their fabrics but they were kind enough to send me the missing bits and pieces as well as some of their upcoming ranges to use in my blocks. It’s been a smorgasbord of fabrics to choose from with each block.
Seriously, the longest part of this event is choosing the fabrics for the blocks. I lose so much time just standing in front of my fabric trying to pick just the right combination to really make the blocks come alive and do the fabrics justice. I’ve been mixing and matching fabrics from all the ranges to try and show just how versatile the fabrics are and how nicely they play across lines. You can easily pick up the new fabrics and have them sit alongside fabrics from the first ever collections.
With this version I’m stepping outside of my comfort zone a little more with each block. I’ve done something I’ve never done before and included the selvedges from the fabrics into the blocks. Cotton + Steel do such great selvedges that it seems like a bit of a waste to not include them in the blocks. My goal is to have every name of the designers that make up Cotton + Steel in the quilt, as well as some of the collection names and details. It’s been a delicious little challenge to have within the blocks.
I was twice blessed when Sulky Threads agreed to come on board for the event as well. Sulky Threads have partnered with Cotton + Steel to create an amazing line of 50wt Egyptian Cotton Threads. (Click here to find out more about Cotton + Steel Thread by Sulky.) In a beautiful twist of fate there’s 100 colours available in the current range of threads which means I get to showcase a different thread colour with every block. It’s been so much fun to pick and choose colours to match the blocks. I’ve been using the thread to make the blocks as well (I’m quite partial to 1236 Light Silver for piecing) and it’s been a dream. No breaks, minimal lint and stitches that disappear – what more could a gnome ask for! I’m also enjoying the hidden delight in finding out what all the names are of the different colours – think Mimosa Yellow, Greige, Japanese Elm and Velvet Slipper to name a few.
As well as including selvedges I’ve also had fun breaking my self imposed rule of matching fabric placement to the number of fabrics and their placement in the book blocks. It’s been a hard “rule” for me to break because fundamentally it’s the seams and the fabrics that make a block a specific block. (This is a topic for another blog post at another time.) Block 7 was the first block where I broke the rule and I’m so grateful for the learning experience. This block is one of my favourites and it looks completely different with the changes to the original block. I should point out that the “rule” is self-imposed and you can go to town and do whatever you like when it comes to fabrics and how you use them. (For the purpose of the entry requirements your seam lines just need to match the ones in either the block diagram or block photo. For more details about entry requirements check out the Frequently Asked Questions by clicking here.)
I’m really having fun with fussy cutting these blocks as well. It’s such a big part of how I work that I couldn’t imagine not adding fussy cut details to blocks. With this challenge it’s like I get two bites of the cherry because I get to see the fussy cuts revealed in each block and then when they’re in the final quilt top the adding of sashing changes them again as it “cleans up” the edges. Once the sashing is added you no longer see the bits of the print that fall in the seam and you get the uncluttered view of the block. It’s like magic.
To help you find these fabrics and threads I’ve collated the information and linked it under each image so you can easily find the prints and threads you’re looking for. Don’t forget to check out our amazing generous and supportive Event Suppliers by clicking here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for send them an email, drop in to see them or give them a call I know they’d only be too happy to help you get what you’re looking for.
Don’t forget to get in and check out your Local Quilt Shop as well. They’re a wealth of information and a lot of the times if you’re having trouble with your blocks, seams, machine, equipment or you just want to add to your stash or take a class they’re there to support you so head on in and support them.
If you’re looking for any more information about this event you can click here. If you’d like to know what other events I have coming up then you can click here. Or if you’d like to get a little bit of gnome in your inbox every Monday AEST then click here to sign up to my mailing list. The next winner will be announce at block 25!
You can buy Tula Pink’s “City Sampler” via these links Book Depository (click here) | Amazon (click here) | Fons & Porter (click here) | Keepsake Quilting (click here) | Interweave Store (click here) and if you do so I will make a small commission on the sale which will go towards helping me to run this amazing event. (Thank you so much!)