Sunday 5 February 2012

Stained QAL begins

I do apologise for this QAL being way behind schedule already and its barely even started.  I suppose it was only to be expected for me, I have been falling asleep too much to be any faster!

Right, down to business.  It has to be said that this quilt IS a fairly straight forward quilt to put together.  It also has to be said (more than once apparently) that it is a complete PAIN to cut.  I've been trying to sort out cutting instructions for almost 2 weeks now, and everything I try just looks overwhelmingly complicated.  I can only apologise for that too...  I'm sure someone who knows what they're doing would sort it out, but you're stuck with me!  If most of you back out now, I'll totally get it... frankly at the cutting stage it looks a nightmare!  (But once that's over, its not I promise)  Its all about being organised and taking it slowly.  And feel free to email me or use the flickr group if any part of it is not making sense and I'll do my best to clear it up.

First of all I would like to, well for want of a better word, dissect the quilt clearly so you know what you are cutting for and how things will go together.
If anyone wants to get their colouring pencils out and play with what fabrics will go where, I've done a blank layout for you which you can view and print off HERE

This is the rough EQ7 guide of what my quilt 'should' look like...


And as separate blocks it looks like this....

oops, that 4c on the bottom left should be 4d....

What I would recommend very much is to be as organised as possible - I get 4 ziplock bags (one for each block type 1-4) to keep the cut pieces in, and another thing I've tried which was very successful, was to get quilters masking tape (low tack) and then I could put a wee bit of tape on each cut bit and that way write on it what block it was for.


*edit 12/02/12  in Fabric One, the 2.5 x 4.5 should be for block 4c and in Fabric 10 the 2.5 x 2.5 should be 4d.*  Sorry!

To explain what's there, and help you choose which to go with, they are as follows.
Cutting mapped out on Fat Quarters.  - I took my 11 different prints, and have drawn out exactly how I cut each one up.  This also tells you exactly where each piece goes.  I spent ages being fussy trying to get no two prints the same next to each other....  Use this guide if you don't want to have to do that!  Also, if you want to get the most from your fabric and not waste anything, and if you have NON DIRECTIONAL PRINTS you can just do one FQ at a time and cut as per the diagram.  
If you are using FQ's but want to just cut things your own way I have included a list of all the sizes to be cut from each fat quarter.
If you are working from scrap stash and have many many prints to use, I have included a list of cutting by block.

The in block sashing cutting instructions are per block cos that's the simplest way...  

I've added a widget that is meant to enable you to print this page simply, its at the bottom... see below... 
I'm off to bed now as my head is positively swimming with 11 x 3 and 6 x 2.5 and whatnot.  Fingers crossed when I get up tomorrow there wont be any "the google link doesn't work" emails!!  I've got a lot of cutting to do!

37 comments:

  1. Good luck with your QAL Sarah - would love to join in but snowed under at the moment. I shall watch with interest and it`s bound to be a success.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Exciting!! Off to have a look at the link.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant, I shall look in more detail tomorrow but you've clearly done a lot of work so thank you!! Can't wait to begin :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful. I am trying to decide between using a bunch of scraps or maybe some other wonderful fabrics. I will pull out the possibilities and try to decide. The instructions are clear and will not be hard to execute I don't think but I am going to get some baggies and tape out, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This looks like it could be a lot of FUN! Trying to decide what fabrics to use : )

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is fabulous and a lot of work on your part! I am loving this quilt.

    No matter what I do or how much I curse at my printer, it will not print the cutting diagram for fabric 5 and fabric 7. Can you send them to me? Or help with the diagram?

    Aughhhh!

    glen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow, Sarah, this must've taken a dogs age! It all opens up fine, and I'll try printing later today. But I've still got no fabric to cut up yet, so no problem that it wa a bit late!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh this looks brilliant and such hard work (for you!!). Let me get my Feb block finished and I'll sharpen my rotary cutter!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I know the time it can take to produce instructions for quilts - it's obvious how much work you have put into this project, well done you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great stuff! might just need to pop over this arvo so you can help me with the Cutting Out. ok? ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is brilliant S! Fab instructions! Well done! Can't wait to get started. Jxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fantastic instructions Sarah! What a lot of work you've done! I need to get a few things out the way, and go find an 11th fabric to go with my stack of 10! Then new blade at the ready! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is so exciting! Get cutting, girls!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Very well written. Thank you so very much!!! I will be cutting this evening, I hope!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. The instructions look great Sarah! Now I really need to pick some fabric!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fabulous instructions - it must have taken you ages! I didn't realise you were behind, I wasn't expecting to start until next week so I'm behind before I even start!! I can't wait to see what everyone makes!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ahh, there's a greatness to your lateness :oD I shall have to print out and then work out my layer cake cuttings...

    ReplyDelete
  18. The cutting instructions are great! I laid out my grid and noticed a few things – can you confirm or let me know where I went wrong.

    Fabric 1 for block 3a and 3 b should be switched (6x4.5 for 3a and 6x5 for 3e)
    Fabric 7 – there should also be a 4.5x3 piece for block 1a
    Fabric 9 for block 4b should be 2.5x4.5 (not 2.5x4)
    Fabric 10 – there should also be a 2.5x2.5 piece for block 4d

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your help! I went over it all, made the corrections (re-wrote some of it...) and it should be okay now. Thanks again!

      Delete
    2. Everything looks awesome! You have done a really great job!

      Delete
  19. oh sarah, i don't think i am going to be able to play along right now, unless you stay on the late train and keep falling asleep. my to do list it pornographic in it's obscenity!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have been pondering what fabrics to use for this and I think inspiration may have just struck. I don't have 11 FQ's so may have to improvise a bit too, but thats cool.
    I havn't peeked at the cutting instructions yet: it will probably be the weekend before I do. Well done, for putting all this together!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sarah this pattern is gorgeous! So sad I am not quilting along, but I can't take on another quilt, there's a queue forming already! I will be following along for moral support though!

    ReplyDelete
  22. This looks fantastic - wish I could join in!

    ReplyDelete
  23. It won't let me look at your document....wahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. The instructions are great. It must have taken you ages to do it. I'm sorry I can't join in, but I'm still cheering along on the sidelines.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Well, shite. How the fork did I miss THIS?!?!? I even took pictures of my fabric at the weekend in anticipation! Doofus. Your destructions all look amazing and like they took a bajillion years to do! I salute your dedication, comrade.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I haven't been able o start yet, but I will be joining you - I am in awe of the work you are putting in! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh my, lady, you have been busy. Better pull my finger out! x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for all of this, Sarah, and especially for providing the blank layout. I'm not sure that I could have made my fabric decisions without it. Not to mention the praise that I received for doing "a really good job of colouring in, Gran". And the cutting instructions are really clear. I think that I'll start with the sashing and work my way up to the more challenging bits.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh my giddy aunt, you have written this up beautifully as well as a lot of work in the links etc, just amazing. And that quilt looks gorgeous, Im so bad at starting things and never finishing them but I will follow this with great interest :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'm so late to the party but I think I'm going to do this with my precious Salt Air layer cake, I might just need to tweak the size a little :) That will give me something to think about at work today....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you want to join in! Sorry the pattern doesnt exactly suit a layer cake. Its the 11" pieces...You could always just cut them 10" and add an extra 1" to each piece? Or if you could, get another one or two fqs of Salt Air for the 11" pieces. Or you could make the blocks and just trim them down to 10" square? I dont know whats best to do there!
      Best of luck!!
      Sarah

      Delete
  31. How big is this quilt? Lovely pattern! Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The basic pattern comes to 44.5" x 55.5". Just fitting Crib size batting. (In the end I put a 5" border around mine.)

      Delete
  32. I sent you an email, but after reading through the directions, I see, the black is 1 inch, sorry to have bothered you about this! thanks, Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  33. Noooo this looks so wonderful I may not be able to pass up….. I have a fat quarter bundle of Robert Kaufman Bella Mariposa….. this may be a lovely quilt to showcase the fabric!

    ReplyDelete