easypatchwork with Karen Ackva

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Transparendo Sewalong - Week 13

Happy First Advent or the first Christmas Sunday of four before Christmas.

If you are new here, thanks for stumbling across my website and blog, especially the Transparendo Sewalong. Transparendo is the newest quilting book featuring a modern sampler quilt using transparent quilt blocks to make a comfy-sized sofa quilt ~ 60" x 80".

We are entering our thirteenth week of the sewalong. The pattern is setup with the easiest blocks first followed by more difficult blocks; the difficulty increases with each block. Being in our 12th of 15th week and knowing there are 12 blocks in the quilt, that means we have already advanced the the harder blocks.

Are you sewing along with us? Enter your finished quilt top for the random drawing in Week 15 for your chance to win a full-version copy of EQ8 sponsored by our platinum sponsor - The Electric Quilt Company.

Verena from einfach bunt Quilts and I love sewing your blocks and look forward to seeing your finished quilt top in our Transparendo Sewalong (#transaprendosal).

This week's hashtag is #transparendosalw13 for Week 13, Block 12.

Please sign up for our newsletters to keep on top of the sewalong.

Sewalong Schedule

We are wrapping up our sewalong with just three more weeks to go. You still have time to start and finish the quilt top if you hurry. The following week we will be sewing a bonus block if you prefer and then you still have time to sew all of the blocks together into a quilt top.

Post your progress on Instagram with the hashtags: #transparendosal and the week - #transparendosalw1 (week one, etc.) for your chance to be entered into a drawing. If you don't have instagram, you can send me a photo with your fabric selection at 72 dpi with a resolution of 800 pixels or less. The following Sunday, one lucky recipient will be chosen at random. Our sewalong is open internationally, so get out those sewing machines ladies (and gents)!

Email Karen with your weekly photo assignment.

Email Verena with your weekly photo assignment.

Week 13 Prize

In Week 13, we have a very special prize corresponding to the block we are sewing this week. Verena and I have teamed up with Goldschmied Klär to bring you this beautiful, limited edition, Moon Over Tokyo quilt block bracelet. They are so pretty I just want to give all of my quilty friends one. If you miss out on your chance to win this exclusive bracelet, you can also purchase the turquoise bracelet through einfachbuntquilts or in my Etsy shop - easypatchworkSHOP.

Week 13 - (Block 12) Moon Over Tokyo

The Moon Over Toyko quilt block is to test out your curved piecing skills. I love to sew curves and find them rather easy to sew. I have had a lot of practice sewing curves, though. If you like curved piecing, you may want to take a look at these patterns found in my Etsy Shop.

Retro Circles is a pattern using the Circle Savvy Ruler by Creative Grids. To easily cut the curves, the ruler is placed over the fabric and using a a smaller, 28mm rotary cutter, the fabric is cut through the slits for a perfect curve with no need to make additional templates. The Circle Savvy Ruler creates perfectly round circle cuts. This is different than the Sew Kind of Wonderful circle cutter; those are not perfectly round but rather oblong in shape.

The pattern is available in both English and German for your convenience.

When I designed the Moon Over Tokyo block, I got out the Circle Savvy Ruler to avoid making the templates. The measurement reference point on the ruler are given in the pattern.

According the directions outlined in the Transparendo book, you will sew four patches together to create the INNER CIRCLE of the moon segment. Once you have the segment, verify the strips are one inch wide. Then you can fold the segments in half through the length. Line up the fold line of the fabric segment with the Fold Line on the Circle Savvy Ruler on the left side (if you are using the ruler as a right-handed person) and the bottom of the circle segment with the 1/4" Seam Allowance line of the Circle Savvy Ruler.

Holding the ruler firmly in place, slide the rotary cutter into the 10 1/2" slit (as written in the instructions), and cut the entire quarter rotation in the ruler. Now you can unfold the segment and use as directed.

For the OUTER RING, you will use slot of the Circle Savvy Ruler which is 1 inch smaller than the one we just used. This is because the block is broken down into four quadrants each using a 1/4" seam allowance. Don't concentrate on that number too much. I did the math for you.

Line up the four-strip, OUTER RING segment as shown below aligning the edges with the 1/4" Seam Allowance lines on both sides.

Now cut through the 9 1/2" slit in the ruler using your rotary cutter holding the ruler firmly in place with your other hand. (This demo is for left-handed people.) Make sure you rotate your ruler and use your dominant corresponding hand to make the cuts.

Discard the excess fabric and use as outlined in the direction. There was no need to make the quarter and half circle templates given in the book. If it easier to use the templates, no worries. Copy the 100% scaled templates and cut out as described.

Here is my Moon Over Tokyo finished quilt block using the current fabrics for our sewalong.

Moon Over Tokyo - Block 12, Week 13 in the Transparendo Sewalong - #transparendosalw13

My Tip This Week

If you sew curved segments or enjoy curved piecing, buy a circle cutting ruler. There are a few out on the market. The first three have links and are suitable for multiple sizes. I did a lot of research on curved rulers a few years ago before designing, writing and sewing Retro Circles and wanted one that would be most useful for all of my curved sewing for future projects as well. The Circle Savvy Ruler is my first choice.

The Circle Savvy Ruler by Creative Grids
The Classic Curves Ruler by Sharon McConnell
Cut A Round, Midi 6" - 17" Circles
Sew Easy, Wood Taylor's Designer Ruler, Slash-n-Circle Ruler (Centimeters)
Fiskars Fabric Circle Cutter
EZ Circle Cut Ruler

Our Sponsors

We've been working really hard behind the scenes to bring some amazing prizes to our participants. We are so happy to announce our fabulous sponsors!

Gold Sponsors:

Platinum Sponsor

The Electric Quilt Company

The wonderful folks at the Electric Quilt Company are sponsoring our Finale Prize of one full version of EQ8 at the end of the sewalong Week 15. To enter your finished quilt top with all blocks and borders, photograph and forward to me or post on Instagram. If you would like to purchase the program, we have a PROMOTIONAL CODE to receive 25% off the software. Enter EASYPATCHWORK25 at checkout. If you live outside of the US, you will be sent a physical item in the mail. After you receive the package, you will be informed how to download and install the software on your system. Please follow the Electric Quilt Company on Instagram and subscribe to their newsletter for other great deals.

The winner of this week's drawing is Susanne again! You will be contacted shortly about how to collect your prize. Thank to all for participating. We look forward to seeing your beautiful blocks next week as well.

Please participate in next week's drawing. Take a photo and post for all of us to see on Instagram or send to me info@easypatchwork.de or Verena with a resolution of 72 dpi no larger than 800 pixels. One lucky participant will be chosen at random. The giveaway is open internationally. Void where prohibited. Open to quilters 18 years of age and older. Good luck to all. Thanks for joining us!

Preview

We look forward to seeing you next week, where we will be sewing the bonus blocks. Stay tuned!

Please leave a comment below and tell everyone that your are sewing along. Be supportive and comment and contact other participants. We would love to hear your thoughts. Take care of yourself and keep on sewing happy.

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Transparendo Sewalong - Week 12

Greetings from the home of easypatchwork. My name is Karen Ackva, owner, designer, creater, writer, illustrator, photographer, creative content manager, community supporter and cheerleader. If you are new here, thanks for stumbling across my website and blog, especially the Transparendo Sewalong. Transparendo is the newest quilting book featuring a modern sampler quilt using transparent quilt blocks to make a comfy-sized sofa quilt ~ 60" x 80".

We are entering our twelvth week of the sewalong. The pattern is setup with the easiest blocks first followed by more difficult blocks; the difficulty increases with each block. Being in our 12th of 15th week and knowing there are 12 blocks in the quilt, that means we have already advanced the the harder blocks.

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Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

To some of you that may be wondering, no we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Germany, at least not in the American-style. There is "Erntedankfest" which is more of a religious holiday celebrating the harvest and giving harvested foods as a donation to the church. It sounds like how the original Thanksgiving fest was probably intended by the pilgrims settling in the new colonies of America. Some celebrate and some don't but it isn't a nationwide holiday.

As an expatriate (American citizen living in Germany), I still celebrate the holiday with my bi-national family being the second most important holiday in my year. Since everyone has to work on that day, we move it over to the following weekend. The next Sunday is usually the First Christmas Advent, but not this year. It is a extra special way to celebrate Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas Season.

We will be celebrating later today with a turkey breast with gravy, whole-berry cranberry sauce, creamed peas, rosemary potatoes. We will enjoy a little pumpkin and pecan pie with fresh whipped cream for dessert. All of the food prepared is homemade. I have learned how to make pumpkin puree, pie pastries from scratch. I also know where to go to get pecans and fresh cranberries to cook and bake with them. It requires a little preparation, but is well worth the effort. I am very much a foodie, getting healthier by the day, and love the taste mother nature has enriched us with her bountiful autumn harvest foods such as pumpkin, a large variety of squashes, sweet potatoes, kale, pecans, walnuts, berries, farro, couscous, etc.

I am very grateful that my family supports me, usually on these Sunday mornings, where I write a blog post. I receive fresh coffee brought to my "office" and a sunday breakfast while writing the post.

Thank you family - husband, son and daughter for your continued support.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, hopefully shared with the ones you love and are thankful for. Enjoy life's precious moments with graditute and grace.

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Are you sewing along with us? You still can jump in and make 12 blocks for the quilt top as shown in the book and enter your finished quilt top for the random drawing in Week 15 for your chance to win a full-version copy of EQ8 sponsored by our platinum sponsor - The Electric Quilt Company.

Verena from einfach bunt Quilts and I love sewing your blocks and look forward to seeing your finished quilt top in our Transparendo Sewalong (#transaprendosal).

This week's hashtag is #transparendosalw10 for Week Ten, Block Nine.

Please sign up for our newsletters to keep on top of the sewalong.