Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along Finish

Welcome back to Melva Loves Scraps and the final instructions for the Little House Sampler Quilt Sew Along.

Layout your blocks in an arrangement, as you desire.  I chose to keep the blocks in the order of the books... 1 through 9, in a way that the log cabins formed furrow rows diagonally.   If you want to choose to change the order (or layout) for any reason that's up to you.

Cut five 2-1/2" wide strips of a background fabric.  Join strips together to be able to cut 2 strips 48-1/2" long and 2 strips 52-1/2" long.

I used remaining fat-quarter pieces to create the final border that is made up of 4-1/2" x 5-1/2" rectangles.  In the "Laura" quilt (below) I used 24... In "Caroline" (shown above) I used 28.  I chose the juxtaposition of the rectangles reflecting the log cabin blocks on purpose. :)

Cut two 4-1/2" wide strips to make the border long enough to be added to the top and bottom of the quilt.   

Cut two more 4-1/2" wide strips to make the remaining border long enough for the side borders.

My quilts both finished at approximately 60+ inches square. Using more fabric from the FQ bundle that I used, I cut 2-1/2" wide strips to make a scrappy binding.

Sandwich and quilt as desired. :)  You can see that I quilted "Laura" with FMQ feathers diagonally with the furrow rows formed by the log cabins.  "Caroline" was quilted with large Baptist fans. 

If you are interested in using leftover jelly roll strips you can make a border similar to the border on the Sticks & Stones quilt.  

Allison at New Every Morning Patchwork & Quilting recently shared her choice of a simplified Delectable Mountain border here.

I have the final prize in hand and ready to ship.  I selected a Stash Builder Mystery Box from Connecting Threads. It contains two fat quarters, two spools of coordinating threads and two notions.

Everyone who links up a completed top (quilting not required) is entered for the random drawing.  I've been slow in getting the winners selected for blocks 7, 8 & 9... I'll do that at the same time. 🙈  Winners will be selected June 30th.

It's been so fun seeing all the blocks from everyone!  I love the variety of colors and fabrics... I love the creativity of those that modified the blocks for their personal reasons!  I know that some of you may have even needed to do some personal quilting math to make those work. ;) Way to go! 🎊

Thank you so much to all that have participated.  I hope that you've enjoyed the stories, the blocks and the math lessons.  I hope that you found the lessons helpful but more than that...

I hope that you enjoyed the whole process of making your quilt!

I've offered this sew along as a free event.  I've poured more hours than I care to calculate into it.  The very small amount I earn through the sharing of blog links on social media and visits to Melva Loves Scraps is nominal.  Honestly... I'm not in it for the money. LOL!  I love sharing with everyone!  However, if you feel so inclined, any tips through my Buy me a Ko-fi button are greatly appreciated!  The blocks will remain free for a short time longer. 

Anybody else need a support group?  ;)

I've kept you here long enough... go gather your fabric and get the borders on!  But before you go, tell me... 

which block was your favorite?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter

Creatively Crafty at Creatively Beth 

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

I Quilted This! at Quilting & Learning

Thankful Thursday at Brian's Home

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Announcing!! Little House Sew Along & TGIFF Linky Party

It is with great pleasure that I announce the start of a new Melva Loves Scraps Original Sew Along!  This is a sew along that I have been considering and pondering and developing for over a year.  You may have seen some of the development and creation along the way... I hope that it was enough to gain your attention and interest in participating.

I am also hostess of this week's Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday.  This Little House Quilt that I have named Laura is my featured finish.  She measures approximately 57-inches square (after quilting and shrinking just a bit after being laundered).  I used Hobbs Heirloom Fusible batting that is 80% cotton which naturally shrinks 3% after washing to create a well-loved, soft, wrinkly look that many vintage quilts have after years of love and use.

There are only 9 blocks - the center of each block is 6-inches, surrounded by a log cabin frame that brings the finished block to a 16-inch square block, published every two weeks.  The series will begin with the first pattern published next week, February 5th and be finished by June... just before any busy summer-school's out-gardening season plans.  The full schedule is listed below.

"Laura"

The Little House books have been a favorite of mine since I started reading.  I remember getting one of those book order flyers in 3rd grade and seeing that they had the entire set available.  I don't remember the cost of the set, but I do remember that I was very excited when my Mom & Dad said "yes" to my request to buy it.

All these years later, I still have the complete set.  As an adult, I have collected a few more related books.  I'll not be sharing excerpts of the stories as I did in the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail series because of copyright limitations.  If you have never read the books, I encourage you to do so.  Laura Ingalls Wilder paints magnificent pictures with her words as she describes the settings and events.

I used an RBD fat quarter bundle - A Walk on the Prairie - acquired from Modern Prairie for my "sample" quilt (shown above).  It included dusty pinks and greens.  Modern Prairie currently has a FQ bundle called an Evening on the Prairie.  I am using the Butterfly Sonata bundle from Connecting Threads for a second quilt that will be used to photograph the various steps of each block.  (bundle shown here)  If you are interested in purchasing this bundle or anything else from Connecting Threads, you can use the code ACTMelvaLovesScraps for a 15% discount. (Some restrictions do apply.)

I used assorted light/neutral stash and scrappy strips for the backgrounds of the blocks and the neutral side of the log cabins.  I would imagine that a jelly roll of neutrals would be sufficient for the log cabins and most of the blocks.  However, some of the blocks will need units larger than 2-1/2".

"Caroline"

You may recognize most of the blocks in this LH sampler quilt... Most come from previous sew along events... the difference being is that I have resized them.  With each block I will walk you through the steps of the "quilter's math" used to resize them.  Don't be intimidated!  Though, if you are truly not interested in doing the math, I'll never know you skipped that part. ;)  All of the cutting and assembly instructions will be included in the patterns.

Here's the schedule:

February 5 - Maple Leaf

February 19 - Native Star

March 5 - Harvest Basket

March 19 - Shoo Fly

April 2 - Rail Fence

April 16 - Snowflake

April 30 - Kit in the Korner

May 7 - Pieces of My Heart

May 21 - Prairie Rose

June 4 - Assembly & Finish

To summarize the details:

Starting date - February 5

Frequency of block patterns - every 2 weeks

Length of sew along - 4 months - final instructions given June 4

Skill level - beginner to intermediate, skill level gradually increasing

Time required - That is difficult to say, but probably less than 2 hours for each block

Fabric required - 1 FQ bundle is enough for the main blocks and contrasting color strips of the log cabin frame.  You will need 2 yards of assorted neutrals - a jelly roll of neutrals work perfectly for the log cabin strips, plus 1/2 yard for the final border.  3-1/2 to 4 yards for backing.  Leftover FQ fabrics were used for the scrappy binding.  

Finished size - approximately 60" square

A linky party for sharing your finished 16" blocks will be available... and I will have some prizes.  (I plan to use some of my Connecting Threads credits earned as one of their ambassadors to purchase the prizes. Let me know if you have a suggestion of what you might like other than fabrics.)  The final link up will be for finished tops.  Maybe a bonus entry if you get it quilted. ;)

Thanks for visiting MLS and TGIFF.  If you have a finished quilt top or quilt that you would like to show off to everyone via the linky party, feel free!  I understand that there are various stages of "finished" and will simply state that if you have finished it... Join the fun!

I do hope that you'll consider joining the Little House Sew Along!  

Leave a comment to let me know ;)

And... before you go... 

Who was/is one of your favorite childhood authors?

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Share Your Style at French Ethereal

Put Your Foot Down at The Quiltery 

I Quilted This! at Quilting & Learning

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Create, Bake, Grow & Gather at Shabby Art Boutique

Home Matters at Modern on Monticello

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