Bundle Up QAL Day 2 - Shoo Fly and Star Blocks

 

***The Bundle Up QAL is now over but the complete Bundle Up pattern is available in my Etsy shop.***

Hope you're still with me after all of that cutting!  But doesn't it feel good to have it out of the way?  Now we get to move on to the fun part—piecing!

We'll start small with the Shoo Fly and star blocks.  We'll be using a quick 8-at-a-time method for the half-square triangles, making them all at once for both types of block.  Easy peasy!  The only thing to look out for is to be sure to lay out and piece one of the star blocks as a mirror image to the other two.

Ready to get started?  Here's a link to today's instruction sheet:

I've had a few questions about the QAL schedule from quilters who are working at their own pace with the complete pattern but would like to post pictures of their progress on time.  During the QAL, we'll be working in the same order in which the pattern is written, specifically:

• Monday, 11/21 - Day 1 - Cutting
• Thursday, 11/30 - Day 2 - Shoo Fly/Star Blocks
• Monday, 12/4 - Day 3 - Pinwheels and Snowflake
• Thursday, 12/7 - Day 4 - Brrr - B and Rs
• Monday, 12/11 - Day 5 - Hat
• Thursday, 12/14 - Day 6 - Mittens
• Monday, 12/18 - Day 7 - Socks
• Thursday, 12/21 - Day 8 - Assembly

Have fun making your Shoo Fly and star blocks and have a great weekend!

—jen

Helpful links:

Bundle Up complete pattern

The Bundle Up Quilt-Along Starts Today!!

***The Bundle Up QAL is now over but the complete Bundle Up pattern is available in my Etsy shop.***

Happy Holidays and welcome to Day 1 of the Bundle Up QAL!!

Today we're going to start with cutting.  Brace yourself, because unlike last year, we’ll be doing all the cutting at once.  You’ve got this!

The prints and solids referenced in the cutting instructions are based on the sketch of the Bundle Up quilt.  The background fabric and white solid are self-explanatory, but if you’ve chosen to use colors that vary from the project sketch, here’s a little guide to help you sort your fabrics.

• Blue print = socks, mitten cuffs, hat stripe
• Red print = hat, berries, heel, toe and cuff (socks)
• Turquoise print = mittens
• Green print = holly leaves, trees

To help you stay organized, I’ve included a designation within the cutting instructions to indicate how each piece will be used in the quilt.  As you cut, you may want to sort your pieces according to their use using the following groupings:

• Shoo Fly/Stars
• Pinwheels
• Snowflake
• Brrr (B and Rs)
• Hat
• Mittens
• Socks
• Assembly

Ready to get started?  Here's a link to today's cutting instruction sheet:

If you haven't had a chance to gather your materials yet, don't worry, we won't start piecing until Thursday so there's plenty of time to catch up.  Jump in whenever you can—the instruction sheets will be accessible throughout December and the complete pattern will always be available in my Etsy shop.

Good luck with your cutting.:)  I'll be back here on Thursday with Day 2 and instructions for our first blocks.  So exciting!

—jen

Helpful links:

Bundle Up complete pattern

Bundle Up Quilt-Along Coming Soon!

 

I'm so excited to announce that the 9th annual Jen Daly Quilts Christmas Quilt-Along will start on Monday, November 27th.  This year's project was inspired by New England's winter weather and the cozy clothes we bundle up in to keep us warm when it's cold outside.

We'll be making a 26¾" x 53¼" sampler quilt.  It's a bit longer than a typical wall-hanging—more like a banner—but it's the perfect size to hang on a door.  We're going to celebrate the cold by making a knit hat, merry mittens, snug socks and four different "snowflakes"—and for a little extra chill (and because I had so much fun piecing letters during last year's QAL!), we'll throw in the exclamation "Brrr" for good measure.

The Bundle Up Quilt-Along will begin on Monday, November 27th.  It's free for all and there's no need to sign up.  Every Monday and Thursday through December 21st, I'll release an instruction sheet for a different part of the project.  Instruction sheets will be posted on the quilt-along page and email subscribers will receive emails containing links to each day's instructions.  If you'd like to sign up for email notifications, you can do so on the quilt-along page.  The instruction sheets will be available through the end of December.

**For those of you who'd like to work at your own pace or finish the project earlier (it would make a great gift!), this year I'll also have the complete "Bundle Up" pattern available for download/purchase in my Etsy shop on November 17th.**

I'll do regular posts on Instagram and Facebook using the hashtag #bundleupqal.  If you post pictures of your progress, be sure to tag me @jendalyquilts and use the hashtag #bundleupqal—I'd love to see what you come up with!

Ready to get started?  Here's a link for the QAL materials page:

Have fun choosing fabrics for the project!  If you have any questions, feel free to email me at jendalyquilts@gmail.com.  Can't wait!

—jen

Glad Tidings Quilt-Along Day 8

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

 

It's day 8 of the Glad Tidings QAL and today we're wrapping things up.  I've seen a few finished quilt tops already on social media and they are BEAUTIFUL!  If you'd like to see what your fellow quilters have come up with, check out the hashtag #gladtidingsqal.

I don't have an instruction sheet for you today, but I would like to share some ideas for other ways you might use the Glad Tidings blocks.  While making my quilt, I couldn't help but think that the rows of blocks would lend themselves so well to pillows.  I'd hoped to make one for today, but, alas, Christmas.  Instead I sketched some ideas for when I do find the time—here are the best of the bunch:

First up are straightforward Joy, Noel, and Peace pillows, all 12" x 20":

Then I thought it might be fun to replace the wreath in the Joy set with the ornament (12" x 20"):

Here's a peek at what it might look like to combine Joy and Noel.  I added a holly block for extra cuteness (18" x 18"):

Which led me on to the non-letter blocks.  They're different sizes so it was a little harder to find a symmetry that I liked, but I think these two do the trick (16" x 16"):

And finally, here's the pillow that I'm hoping to make - Joy with extra borders (12" x 20"):

I think I'll try a different color palette this time.  The word "Joy" has me thinking of sweets and a little pink might be just the thing!


Now on to the Glad Tidings QAL Giveaway....Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our winners: Cyndi (@cyndihomewisconsin) and Tammy (@basketnut1)!!! 

Finally, thank you so much for quilting-along with me this year.  Your response to the Glad Tidings QAL has been wonderful, and I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing pictures of your blocks and quilts on social media, reading your lovely comments, and connecting with so many of you.  I can't wait to do it all over again next year!  

In the meantime, I wish you a joyous and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

All my best, 

—jen

Glad Tidings QAL Day 7 - Pieced Border and Assembly

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

Welcome back for day 7 of the Glad Tidings QAL!  Today we're making pieced borders and assembling our quilt tops.  Today is the reward for all of our hard work!

I've given you the instructions for making the pieced border first, because you'll be finishing up the charm square cutting.  But if you prefer to audition the placement of the pieced border squares around your quilt before making the actual borders, you should absolutely feel free to assemble your quilt centers first.

We're not quite finished with our Glad Tidings quilts yet, but I've so enjoyed hearing from you and seeing your progress on Instagram and Facebook.  Your response to this little quilt-along has made my month!  To thank you all, I'm going to have a Glad Tidings QAL Giveaway on Instagram.  I'll be giving away two prizes:  second prize will be a copy of Charmed by Moda Bake Shop, the gorgeous book that helped inspire the Glad Tidings quilt, and first prize will be a copy of Charmed by Moda Bake Shop AND a charm pack of Christmas Stitched by Fig Tree & Co., the fabric that I used to make my version of the Glad Tidings quilt.  Sound like fun?  Here's a link to the Giveaway post.

Have fun assembling your quilt tops!  I'll be back on Thursday for day 8 with a little show and tell and to announce the winners of the Glad Tidings QAL Giveaway!

—jen

Helpful links:


Glad Tidings complete pattern

Glad Tidings QAL Day 6 - Heart and Gift Blocks

 ***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

It's Day 6 and today we're making the last of our blocks—hearts and a charming little gift!

I've had so much fun piecing the little blocks for this project, and today's blocks were no exception.  I especially love the heart blocks—so simple, but so sweet.  Feel the same?  My Bless Her Heart lap quilt is a fun project that's great for showcasing (or using up!) your favorite charm squares. 

I made mine with three different charm packs of Regent Street Lawns by Moda that I'd been saving for a while.  I paired them with Moda Chambray, backed the quilt with a cozy flannel, and named her (yes, she's a she) "Bless Her Heart."  She's a favorite quilt in our house now—broken in, soft, and beloved.  

The pattern for Bless Her Heart is available for download in my Etsy shop, just in time for Valentine's Day.  Lol, just kidding!!  Let's slow down and enjoy Christmas before we move on. :)

In the spirit of savoring Christmas, have fun this weekend making the last of your blocks.  Monday we're moving on to assembly and borders—so exciting!

—jen

Helpful links:

Glad Tidings complete pattern

Glad Tidings QAL Day 5 - P, E, Tree, and C Blocks

***The Glad Tidings Quilt-along is now over, but the complete Glad Tidings pattern is available in my Etsy Shop.***

Welcome back for Day 5 of the Glad Tidings Quilt-Along! 

Today we're making the last of our letter blocks and the cutest little tree!  If you decided to cut and make the two E blocks for today already, you're ahead of the game!  If not, I've included the pattern for making the E blocks again in today's instructions.

We got a little snow last night here in New Hampshire, and it's got me in the mood for snowmen!

My little Frosty Fellows snowman ornaments are made with scraps of felted wool and homespuns.  They're made entirely by hand using simple embroidery stitches—the perfect handwork for a cozy winter's night.

They're also so much fun to personalize!  You can use embroidery stitches, little buttons, or tiny bells to to embellish the snowmen—whatever you like or have on hand.

The pattern for Frosty Fellows is now available for download in my Etsy shop.

Have fun making your Day 5 blocks!  I'll be back here on Thursday for Day 6 and the last of our blocks—nearly there!!

—jen

Helpful links:


Glad Tidings complete pattern