Be the FIRST:)

IT'S HERE!!

After hours, weeks, years of work

 I am beyond excited to bring my

Well-Loved Ladies Sampler

quilt pattern to you!

Lots of information in this post

so please read to the end.

I am just GIDDY!!!!

Imagineered from my collection 

of quilts shared in my 

Well-Loved Ladies Lecture,

it really does show how they might 

have looked in their original time.

Still gorgeous (to me:) in their present 

condition, I know my lecture audience 

is trying to imagine this just as I do

whenever they get a night out on the town.

Now to the QAL:

I am so excited you are here.

My FB group has grown from

71 back in May to almost 300 

so I am looking forward to 

lively participation!

The FULL pattern is available as a 

PDF digital download HERE at an

introductory price of $42 until 

September 4th, 2020

(Reg price $49.95)

Etsy offers tips for printing digital patterns.

Please be sure to print ACTUAL SIZE.

All templates have a 1" square for accuracy.

This is a single-copy purchase for a single user!

Copies may not be forwarded or copied to 

be shared with others!

The pattern is required for the QAL.

My accompanying posts and videos

will not provide any measurements.

I will be providing technique

tips and history tidbits.

The QAL will take place in 

my FB Group with blog posts

adding additional information.

FB has been playing again so 

make sure all your notifications

are turned on so you don't miss anything.

Go to the area circled in orange to click the

 3 dots for a drop down menu.

In the menu (purple arrow) Follow group and in 

Manage notifications choose to get all posts.

SCHEDULE

Looks like a lot but it will go fast:)

September 6th: Block 1-Currants

September 20th: Block 2-Whig Rose

October 4th: Block 3-Oak Leaves

October 18th: Block 4-Pomegranate 

November 1st: Block 5-Turkey Tracks

November 15th: Block 6- Cherry Tree

Giveaway 

(drawing from those with finished blocks)

December 6th: Block 7- Laurel

December 20th: Block 8- Cockscomb

January 10th: Block 9-Apples

January 24th: Block 10- Prince's Feather

February 7th: Block 11- Mexican Rose

February 21st: Block 12- Ruffled Tulips

Giveaway 

(drawing from those with finished blocks)

March 7th: Sashing & Assembly

March 21st: Top & Bottom borders

April 4th: Side borders

Giveaway 

(drawing from those with finished blocks)

April 18th: Finishing

May 2nd: Follow up with a

Giveaway to the FIRST finish!

OPTIONS

*Maybe you will choose your favorite 

blocks to make a 4 block wall hanging...

*Maybe you will make each block

as its own stand alone piece

to change out every month....

I will also be offering a block by block option.

Block 1-Currants will be available on 

September 6th, 2020 for $10.

It will include all the pattern instructions.

Subsequent blocks will be template ONLY for $5.95

Just hearing about all of this?

Follow these links to catch up:)

Introduction

Fabric selection

Supplies

OK, 

Ready ~ Set ~ GO!

See you over on FB

In case you forgot to click over:)

AVAILABLE HERE

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Supplies

We are only 3 days away 

from this fun and inspiring quilt along!

So Exciting!!

Last time we talked FABRICS!

If you are new to the conversation,

go read the introduction HERE. 

We will wait...

Some of my favorite supplies!

Ok, now that you are back, 

let's talk supplies.

I do a lot of hand applique' so

some of these are unique to 

that type of work.

I also like to design a lot

of swirly twirly designs:)

First up, bias vines.

This quilt has a lot of vine work on it.

The blue coil under the pencils is a 

flexible curve ruler and it 

is fantastic for measuring curvy

swirly shapes that my straight 

ruler won't...vines.

Next, bias tape makers...

I have tried various bias tape makers

and the original Clover 

is still my favorite!

I even tried their version that 

applies the fusible web tape as

it presses over the edges-nope-

not for me:) 

It works well enough for shorter

lengths but I personally found

that the web didn't stay on well

enough for longer lengths.

Since I don't use the web tape, 

I wouldn't want to make any

vines without Magic sizing.

I spray my bias vine so

that it is damp.

Your cut length should have

a 45 degree angle at one end.

This is the end that I start

through the maker using a

straight pin to help it along.

As you pull the fabric through

the iron will dry the sizing

and stiffen the vine just 

slightly and help the 

edges to stay closed.

Then because I do not have

fusible web tape on the back

of my vine, Roxanne Glue

Baste-It(R) is my best friend

for applying vines to traced lines.

Other items in the picture are: 

a pencil & metal sharpener- So Good,

the white chalk Bohin 

mechanical pencil is 

fantastic on dark fabrics,

& Karen Kay Buckley

serrated scissors for cutting

my applique' (especially

cutting into V points/curves.

These items make my life 

so much easier.

Let's not forget my new

favorite hand applique'

thread: Aurifil!!

When jobs started cancelling,

I treated myself to this Fab

collection of 50wt threads.

I know how to self-soothe!!

Look at all those 

luscious colors!

I know we all have our

own favorite tools so 

assemble what you need

based on this supply list below:

A bit of border sneak peek too:)

Right click the image to save

to your computer so you can

use it as a checklist before

Sunday.

See you in 3 short days!

~~~

NOW AVAILABLE HERE

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Fabric Selection

FABRICS!

Isn't this why we 

really do this quilting thing??

So, let's talk fabrics!
This pic shows the fabrics I chose to work with.

The pattern supply list will give overall yardage.
Example: Red- # yards

I chose to use a 10" layer

 cake of red prints.

The red value is consistent throughout

with different prints. There were 42

squares in this pack from

 Wilmington Prints

and I used most of them.

For my greens, I pulled 6 that were

anywhere from a FQ to a yard.

When you are doing the QAL with us, 

there is no reason you can't choose

as you go and shop your stash.

Choose a color palette and then

proceed to make each block 

as its own entity repeating

a fabric amongst 2-3

blocks for cohesiveness.

Then pull fabrics from the blocks

for the border applique'

for continuity.

So, I obviously went the traditional 

red, white, green, and cheddar route

to pay homage to my collection of 

lovelies but there is NO rule 

that says you have to follow me.

I will end this post with a series of

other color options for you to ponder

using the first block we will discuss, 

Currants.

Above and below are the traditional colors.

I really like my

 black/orange sample.

That sashing fabric made it!

You could always work in pastels

or brights or batiks.

PURPLE?!

How about darker barn reds, grays, & black?

Have fun choosing your palette

and use your background / border

and your sashing fabrics

as your constant.

If you are just coming to the 

conversation, HERE is a post

that starts the story.

You can start sharing your fabric choices

on our FB group:

Robin's Rocking Needles.

NOW AVAILABLE HERE

Well-Loved Ladies QAL: Introduction

I started collecting these 

Centenarian Sweethearts

pretty soon after I began 

studying to become a

certified quilt appraiser.

The applique' artist in me

was completely fascinated by 

this era of women creating

their own designs too.

I have assembled a collection of quilts 

that are not in the greatest shape but still 

so beautiful in their history and imperfections.

This quilt along has been

well over a year in the making.
Once the Well-Loved Ladies lecture
was finished and being presented

to guilds, requests for a pattern

started and I knew a sampler 

of the different quilts from 

the lecture was the answer

so that attendees could 

bring a little piece of 

the lecture home with them.

Why a QAL?

Now is the perfect time to keep us

inspired & engaged & connected.

The girls aren't getting any 

younger and all their trips

were cancelled too.

When and How?

AUGUST 30TH, 2020

I recently asked about pattern

preferences on my FB page

and thoughts between paper

and PDF were relatively 

split down the middle.

The final decision was made

when I realized all those

full-sized templates may

put you off on shipping.

If you absolutely NEED

a paper pattern, we can 

work something out:)

So, the decision has been

made for me to step into 

the new tech age and 

go PDF on this one!

It will be offered as a 

full PDF or as BOM  

purchased in sections 

with the QAL 

if you choose.

Twice a month starting in 

September, I will present a block

via a post here & FB including 

history, tips, etc. 

The whole QAL will run 

8 months.

You will need a pattern to participate 

in this quilt-along.

Techniques involved will include

applique' (hand or machine), 

general piecing (HST/flying geese)

& bias vines.

Of course there will be some

video assists to help in the process.

We will be doing all the 

discussion and oohing/aaahing

of fabric choices over

at my FB group

Robin's Rocking Needles.

I like to pride myself on quality

(tested with full-size templates)

patterns, bang for your buck

 and having fun; so, in 

the next few weeks, 

expect multiple blog 

posts leading up to our big

day where I will discuss

fabric selection and supplies

so you can start preparing

and be ready to go as

soon as you get your pattern!

There may be prizes along

the way but you'll have to quilt

along with me to find out and

to win:)

Please leave a comment if

you have questions

or email me at 

robin@nestlingsbyrobin.com 

I will be stitching along too

as I make another one

in fusible applique'.

Until next time,

keep stitching~

NOW AVAILABLE HERE

Tea & Crumpets

IT'S HERE!

August brings 

September AQ magazines

to mailboxes all over:)

Soon to be found on 

shop shelves near you.

Within the pages you

will find my cheerful

Tea & Crumpets.

This piece was originally

done in a completely 

different colorway

and in the end we

went with brights!

Before I can order fabrics,

I have to do a test block...

Luckily I had some 

brights laying around 

to play with.

I know paper piecing intimidates

some of you but I would encourage

everyone to have another go at it.

Organization is KEY!

See all the tidy piles and I only 

work on one section at a time 

almost like chain piecing.

Put your favorite movie on

that you know all the words to 

and …...

Add all the blue....

Add all the green...

Add all the red.....

This keeps you focused 

and less likely to goof a piece.

Plus you can play with the parts before 

assembly because you never know

what new shape you will come up with:)

Of course, eventually you will get 

to a step you loath...Mine is trimming!

I dread this step in regular

piecing as well but it is 

necessary to accuracy.

But then....My reward is 

APPLIQUE'!!

Did I hear a, "Nerd!", 

out there somewhere? LOL

YES! I Love it!!

This little flower has been so 

patient, waiting its turn to 

shine in a project:)

Time to stitch it all down 

and get ready for quilting!

I am the first to admit that 

quilting creativity evades me!

It is the dreaded blank page

to me but in recent years

I have started using the applique'

templates to fill in the 

negative space around.

So I start by outlining the 

original applique', then add additional 

leaves and swirls in the quilting.

Also added some contrasting

accents in the red.

So Cute!

(if I do say so myself:)

Meet Tea & Crumpets!!

THANK YOU AQ!

Didn't they do a great job on 

the header?!

Here are a couple of other

color ways to get your 

creative juices flowing.

If picking fabric isn't your thing,

shop for the kit over

at AQS!

Thank you for 

following along

and Enjoy!

Until next time~