Transparendo Sewalong - Week Four

Hi everyone and thanks for joining us today. Here we are again to share with you the fourth week of our sewalong. Over the next weeks, Verena from einfach bunt Quilts are here to support our quilting community with tips and tricks and well as soon good old fashioned quilting fun with our Transparendo Sewalong (#transaprendosal). Are you looking forward to it? We are too! 

 This week's hashtag is #transparendosalw4 for Week Four. 

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

The Pattern Book

Today is our foourth week of the sewalong. If you don't have the pattern, you can order from my Etsy webshop - Transparendo The Transparency Sampler Quilt from Karen Ackva - Etsy.de. If you live in Germany, you can also pick up some great coordinated fabrics packs especially curated by Verena for the sewalong - einfach bunt Quilts. We highly encourage you to get the book! There a lot of helpful ideas listed including coloring pages to color your own design.

Sewalong Schedule

What is in store for you over the next fifteen weeks? Take a look at our line up. Each week there is a fun, new assignment to complete. The blocks accelerate in skill level with each new block and build upon previous blocks. Learn all types of new skills such as flying geese, nesting and twisting seams, and cutting extra-large pieces of fabric for squares and triangles.

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 photo assignment Week Four or

Email Verena with your photo assignment Week Four.

Weekly Prizes

In Week Three, we have a set of Taylor Seville Magic Pins, 1 x Fork Pins and 1 x Extra-ong Pins sponsored by Steidl & Becker (Wholesale Distributor) 

 

 

 

and one Art Gallery Fabrics - AGF Pure Solids Color Card to reference all of your future quilts sponsored by Adlico. 

 

In Week 3, we worked on our half-square-triangle (HST) skills. I love to press my HSTs open. Pressing directions for all blocks are rows are listed on the pattern for easy reference. Read more about half-square-triangles in the Transparendo book.  

Week 4 - Jewelry Box

The Jewelry Box block is constructed using the stitch and flip method of sewing. A square is sewn on top of another square or rectangle across the diagonal, trimmed back to the 1/4" seam allowance and the seam is flipped to one side rather than pressed open. A lot of great patterns and quilt blocks use this method of sewing to create animals and other objects. 

 

When using this method, you should take extra care to sew a scant seam to the right of the drawn diagonal line. If you sew directly on the line, your patch will shrink in size and not line up with the other patch. Sewing a scant seam allowance is also crucial for a succesful point match when piecing in general. 

When sewing rows together, sometimes the interlocking, nesting seams get caught in the sewing machine. Be sure to fix them to allow your seams to lay flat.

You do not have to unpick the whole seam to do this. Unpick or unsew about two to three inches of the area that needs to be improved. Sew over the original seam by backstitching or simply sewing over the original seam, sew the correction, and finish by sewing over the other end or backstitch.

 

Don't worry if you make silly mistakes like me. Some days we just love to sew more! ; )

This is what the block really looks like when all rows are sewn together correctly. : )

Here is the breakdown of the fabric placement. After a few blocks, you won't have to look at your key anymore, the placement will come naturally to you. 

 

The transparency in this block may not jump out at you. I created a quick animated gif to see how the transparency process works. As you may notice, I didn't use gradient colors created with the two-color scheme of reds and blue but changed it up by using color values of turquoise and yellow instead. Isn't it fun to explore?

Jewelry Box - Block Three in the Transparendo Sewalong - #transparendosalw4

I love a pinch or pop of color in this design. It really brings it to life! 

 

This Week's Tip

Correct your seams when you accidentally sew over them. It really is rewarding when block seams are pressed correctly to one side and the block lays flat. You will be rewarded when it comes time to quilt your quilt top. 

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:

• Quilter's Dream Batting
• Steidl & Becker / Taylor Seville
  
• Adlico - AGF
• Goldschmied Klär

 

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 Kerstin! 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 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

Next week we will be working on Block Five - Translucent Argyle. I don't know how many times I have misspelled the word translucent. I always want to put an extra "s" in there - transluscent. I guess I have lived too long in Germany. : )

Please leave a comment below about anything you would like to share with us. We would love to hear your thoughts. Take care of yourself and keep on sewing happy. We look forward to seeing you next week!