Splendid Sampler on the Move!

Posted on January 6, 2018 by edges

Finally, I am moving forward with my Splendid Sampler quilt. I wrote about it here and here.

I would like to say that I completed all 100 of the blocks, but alas, life happens and I am a firm believer in stopping while I’m ahead. At first I did every block that came my way, regardless of the techniques.

I quickly realized that I never want to sew hexies. I mean *never*. Especially not 1 inch ones. And I realize that I may make enemies this way, but not everyone likes the same thing and that is just fine. If you love tiny hexies, bless your heart. If you like bunnies and squirrels on your quilt, bless your heart as well. And if you really love tiny paper-piecing, you’re probably going to heaven too.

It is laid out in our foyer, and I am finalizing the way to finish it. As you can see, I was pretty strict about the color palette. Thankfully, I still love the colors. Something about the neutrality of it makes it slightly less traditional. As you can see, I’ll probably stick with the dark inner border and a “piano key” outer border. I have so many scraps left over, I will easily be able to use them up as the border. I gain a little size there too.

I vowed a long time ago not to make quilts that are larger than twin size because:

I have no room to store them.
I don’t want to pay someone else to quilt them and I absolutely cannot handle queen size on my domestic machine, at least not with any quality.

But I did learn some new techniques. And I reignited a love of hand embroidery, which is quite popular right now.

It really does take a lot of time. As you can see, the left side is done by hand, the right side I just digitized and stitched out in machine embroidery. Sometimes the new block would be announced and I would think (I’m being honest here), “Not another hand embroidered block. I don’t have time this week.” At that point I was reminded of Indiana Jones in the scene with the Samarai wielding the giant sword. Indy, exhausted, whips out his gun and shoots him. After days of finishing one hand-stitched block, if another came up, I just went to the computer, digitized it in software, and within an hour, machine embroidered the next block. It’s cheating, I know.

But it looks great.

Over 20,000 quilters started this project back in February 2016.

I would love to know how many finished a quilt!

Splendid Sampler — Half Way Home

Posted on August 3, 2016 by edges

Are there any Splendid Sampler participants still out there?

I know there are. We were in the neighborhood of 20,000 strong when we started last February. I know many of you are up to date and still participating…and many, many more of you, like me, are hanging on…barely.

We knew when we started that this would be a long and unpredictable journey. A yearlong commitment to any project is risky, and in this one, we really had no idea what blocks would be thrown our way.

My special thanks to all the designers who have donated their time and effort to these wonderful blocks. While I have deep respect for all of you, I may not sew out a few of your blocks. Please don’t be offended. Sometimes the stress of learning a new technique, combined with time constraints, just has me putting off a few blocks. Also, in fairness, If I had the same taste as all 75 or 80 designers, I wouldn’t have much of my own. So, every now and then, a block just isn’t my thing. That’s OK. I still appreciate the work, and I probably would take the time to do them under different circumstances.

But, hey, it’s my quilt, and at the end of the day, I reserve the right to be a little choosy. That said, I have ventured into many an area I never thought I’d enjoy–like hand embroidery. Believe me, I still fall back on machine embroidery when I fall behind…or when I don’t really want to do any applique. Then I just digitize the whole block.

But a few of them I’ve done by hand, and while time-consuming, they have that unmistakable “slow stitched” look.

No matter how you look at it, I am still proud that at the end of this year or the beginning of the next, I will have an amazing, interesting, unique and lovely quilt all pieced and ready to be assembled. It will be both a tribute to fellow quilters and a learning process on my part. In this picture, I left the blocks in their cellophane sleeves so they don’t begin to fray from too much handling.

Now back to the business of filling in some of the blocks I missed along the way.

If you are inclined to join, feel free to hop on board. You can find the block patterns and all you need to know right here.

The Splendid Sampler Facebook page is also a great place for inspiration and community–see everyone else’s projects!

New blocks come out every Sunday and Thursday, and bonus blocks are plentiful. The patterns will be available for free for a year and then they will all be assembled in a book. (You know we’ll all want the book!)

Keep going Splendid Sampler lovers…we’ve rounded the corner!

Splendid Sampler Update

Posted on May 1, 2016 by edges

I love a good visual.

So I thought I would open with a map of all the participants in this project. Pretty impressive, right? Here’s a link.

According to Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson, the coordinators and people who apparently never sleep, we are now somewhere between 20,000 – 30,000. Could that be right? Many are not following on Facebook, but are making the blocks at their own pace. (Just an aside, I ran into Pat Sloan at the local Panera while in Paducah. She is absolutely as tireless and upbeat in real life as she seems online…and she looks just like her pics!)

A few observations…Japan and South Korea are in the house, but no one from China…a reflection of their internet access? So odd, because a disproportionate number of modern day sewing machines distributed here and around the world are built in China.

And no one from Greenland. Or Kazhakstan. (I know there are quilters there.) No one from Mongolia or from the middle of Africa. Much of the middle east is silent.

A surprising number from South America. I did not know we had so many quilters in that area. Australia and New Zealand, no surprises there.

Still not on board? If you are mildly curious, here’s a link to all the block patterns so far. They come up every Sunday and Thursday. If nothing else, it’s a great way to become familiar with new designers and block patterns.

We are somewhere around 22 blocks at this point.

Those are 6 1/2 inch blocks. As you can see, they are getting harder and harder for me to fit into one frame.

Lessons I’m learning about myself:

I like to piece. Easy, repetitive, simple piecing is unbelievably relaxing for me.
Paper piecing needs to be done in the morning or afternoon, but not after a big meal or if I’m tired or stressed in any way. I need all my focus on getting everything in the right place.
I didn’t realize how much patience I have lost for anything done by hand. Hand embroidery seems like it takes a lifetime. All I can think of is that I could have digitized this and had it done days ago. And yet, I love the way it looks and I love the threads.

This little design took me weeks. Of course, I’m not working on it every minute, just a bit of time here and there. Yet I am loving the texture of this thread.

I found this thread at the Wonderfil booth in Paducah. I’m sure many of you have heard of it before. It’s called Razzle. (Yes, they have a metallic looking thread that is called Dazzle).

Razzle has the weight of about size 8 perle cotton, but it’s a rayon. So for those of you who are cotton purists, you’ll just have to look away. Me, I fell in love with the sheen and the weight of it. It was a pleasure to use for hand embroidery.

This project is only about one fifth of the way done. Eighty or so more blocks to go.

Will my stamina hold up? Will I have the patience to learn more new techniques? Will I lose interest in the color scheme half way through? Will I actually create a setting for these blocks after the project is complete and finish the quilt instead of leaving the blocks neatly in their cellophane pockets in the binder?

I don’t know. I really don’t. A lot of life can happen in the next 8 months. We’ll both have to wait to find out.

Stay tuned.

The Splendid Sampler — An Update

Posted on March 18, 2016 by edges

Since this project goes on for 100 blocks, I thought I would give an update every 10 blocks or so.

For now at least, I am really looking forward to every block, searching for the time to make it before the next block rolls out. (New blocks come out every Sunday and Thursday). Even more than that, I am enjoying seeing all the other work that others are creating, on the Splendid Sampler Facebook page.

Here is a look at my blocks so far. This grouping includes one of the bonus blocks which I did before the group even started.

They include everything from hand embroidery to digitizing and machine embroidery, as well as needle-turned applique and raw edge applique. I have not done any paper piecing, though some of the blocks have made that available. I am holding out for a slightly more complicated block…one that would be more difficult to piece traditionally than to paper piece. Maybe a little flower or something like that. With 90 or so blocks to go, I’m sure something will come along!

Luckily, I’m still finding time to do some of my own work as well, which I will share in an upcoming post. I’m really into neutrals these days, with a pop of color, so I see a theme emerging. A peak at my next project.

The Splendid Sampler — The Beauty of Sewing With Others

Posted on February 28, 2016 by edges

I am loving the Splendid Sampler. If you’re not on board, jump in at any point, the water’s fine. So are the people–from all over the world. And everyone’s blocks are all so different! I was afraid we’d all end up with the same quilt, but everyone’s personality is shining through.

Here’s your link to jump in.

Here’s the Splendid Sampler Facebook page.

Because of recent happenings in my life, I got started a little late, and many people haven’t started at all. Some are just enjoying looking at others’ blocks.

I’ll share with you where I am so far.

I am missing one of the blocks which I haven’t had time yet to go back to, but another block came in today that I think will be fun to add. The fourth block, the vase and flowers (kudos to Jen Kingwell) probably inspired some of the most creativity so far. The blocks have been stunning and all different.

I created mine in Bernina Embroidery Software, but many others stitched theirs out by hand or did machine applique.

Like others, I am keeping a file of all the blocks and their instructions.

While I am in love with the color story of “Black Tie Affair” which I have been using, I am also adding some little touches from my own stash. As Bonnie Hunter reminded folks, a quilt is always more interesting when all the fabric doesn’t come from one collection. I agree.

In fact, I also did the little vase block in a whole other color story, just to see how I’d like it. It’s a little more ‘folksy” as I free motioned it, and I think it has it’s own charm. So maybe I’ll run some parallel blocks with these brighter colors too!

Truth is, anything can happen this year! I intend to do as much as I can, when I can.

A few things I’ve learned:

Don’t try to keep up with everyone else.
6 inch blocks sound easy. They’re not. They take more time than many 12 inch blocks.
Slow down and enjoy the process.
Enjoy everyone else’s blocks: get inspired, be challenged, but do your own thing.
Try new techniques.
Purchase the designer’s books. (Pat Sloan has 2 great books — one on applique and one on triangles)
SHARE! We really do want to see what you’re up to! On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram #thesplendidsampler

Participating in The Splendid Sampler

Posted on January 27, 2016 by edges

Why am I participating in this project?

Partly, I think, because I like the designers who are contributing, partly because it sounds like a great way to slowly put together a quilt and share ideas with others.

6 1/2 inch blocks sound doable to me. Even 2 a week. But if you were to tell me I need to create 100 blocks and do this sort of “surprise” mystery quilt, I might not have signed on. But 2 blocks a week sounds like a doable discipline. Care to join me?

Here are the details for anyone who wants to participate.

Also, here’s a link to the blog.

The project begins Feb 14, so you have plenty of time to get ready. Although all you really need in order to start is a decent stash of fabric.

I am going back and forth about which color scheme to use.

Black Tie Affair by Basic Grey for Moda

I love the neutrals. They would make an elegant and timeless quilt. But another part of me wants to use more colorful fabric and go with more of a “farmgirl” theme.

Morningside Farm by Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman

Here I would use the scenic fabric as a border with all the other fabric as the piecing in the middle.

What do you think? They are both so different. I will probably wait til the block patterns start coming in to make a decision.

Dust off your sewing machine, and get ready to join in this creative collaboration. The project will have a Facebook page too, The Splendid Sampler, moderated by Pat Sloan.

I’m sure you’ll have access to plenty of online show and tell, so why not be a part of it? All the patterns will be available throughout all of 2016 for free, but then they will be put into a book in 2017.

Even if you never sew a stitch, it’s fun to watch the process. What are you waiting for?

Edgestitch

Sewing is life. Life is art.

Category Archives: The Splendid Sampler