Snowalong Week 6!

This is it folks!  Here’s Snowflake 7, the last snowflake block pattern in the Snowalong series.  I’ve included 4 versions for this one.  Again, all the versions use the same set of paper piecing templates.



This pattern and last week’s combined pattern for Snowflakes 5 and 6 are available free in my Payhip store.  Snowflake 7 will be free through November 16.  Snowflakes 5 and 6 are still free through next Monday.

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Update June 23, 2019: Snowflake 7 is now available as part of the Snowflakes Sampler Set 3 or Snowflake Blocks Complete Set, both available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

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There is a change in plans concerning the Snowalong linky parties.  My Linky Tools free trial subscription is coming to an end and while I was happy to pay for a subscription to enable sharing in the Snowalong,  I’m less inclined to do so when there isn’t much sharing happening.  So, I’ve updated the Snowalong page to reflect that there will not be any more linky parties.

HOWEVER!!!!

Some of you have let me know that you plan to make some blocks in the future but just can’t fit it into your busy days right now.  I know how that goes!  (Let’s not look at the list of projects I want to start.)  I’d still love to see what you make when you find time to make them, so please leave a comment or send me an email (address is on the sidebar) when you have a flake to share, and I’ll be happy to share a link to your post in a post here on my blog.  Also, the Facebook group will remain, and you can post there anytime.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the snowflakes I’ve shared as much as I’ve enjoyed designing them!

Snowalong Week 5!

Let’s have a few cheers for Judy and Sandra who both linked up last week!  I hope you popped over to see their eye candy.  Over in the Facebook group Deanna posted pictures of her 4 lovely snowflakes, and Cindy showed us her first one – her first ever paper pieced block too!  Whoot whoot!



You’ll find extra options for week 5 of the Snowalong.  Adding just one line to the Snowflake 5 templates created new designs and I couldn’t resist.  Snowflake 6 is just Snowflake 5 plus one extra seam line, so I went ahead and lumped the two together this week.  You could use Snowflake 6 templates to make Snowflake 5, but I included both sets anyway.

I included 4 variations for snowflake 5:



There are at least 3 variations for Snowflake 6:



Download the patterns here.  This pattern will be free for two weeks.

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Update June 23, 2019: Patterns 5 and 6 are now available for purchase as part of Snowflakes Sampler Set 3 or Snowflakes Blocks Complete Set, both in my Etsy shop.

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We’re almost done!  There will be one more snowflake pattern next week. How many have you tried?  Any pictures to share?  Link up to your blog post or post pictures in the Facebook group.

Snowalong Week 4!

We’re already halfway through the Snowalong Sew-along!  Be sure to go have a peek at the snowflake blocks other quilters have shared.  So far we’ve seen a few flurries over on the Facebook group. Tracy, Sisi, Linda, Tanya, Deanna and Deb have all shared at least one snowflake.  Here on the blog, Deb (who also posted on FB!), Judy and Sandra have shared as well. Thank you all for participating! I’m hopeful that a few more of the 850+ folks who have downloaded a pattern will be inspired to share their efforts as well!  (Pretty please?  I’d really love to see them!)

Before I share the link to the week 4 pattern, I have just a few things to share about paper piecing.  I know some of you have had your blocks finish smaller than intended, and I have been racking my brain looking for clues about what might cause this and how to avoid it.  Here are a few ideas.  I don’t guarantee they’ll solve the problem, but if you’re tearing your hair out because of shrinking blocks, these might be worth a try.

1. Press at each step, but hold the steam.  Steam can make your paper shrink, and that will alter the size of the printed template.  Even a small loss can add up to measurable loss over several patches.

2.  Choose your paper carefully.  Thick paper results in a thick fold at the seam allowance where pieced sections are joined.  That thickness eats up a little bit of size. Again, a little bit of loss adds up over several sections.

3.  Alternatively, if you don’t have thinner paper, consider removing the paper from the seam allowance before you sew pieced sections together, to remove the thickness that way.  Just remember to sew with a 1/4” seam allowance, and to handle the sections carefully to avoid stretching anything out of shape.

4. I am sure you all do this anyway, but I’ll repeat it just in case. Check that the templates printed out at the correct size.  To test the size, measure the test block that prints out on each template page.  It should measure 1 “ square.  If it doesn’t, you’ll need to adjust the scaling, either by setting scaling on your printer, or by enlarging or shrinking the page on a photocopier.  I’ve been told that printing from an iPad results in losing 1/8.  To correct that you would need to print at 114%. (I think that’s right.  Be sure to check your results before heading off to the sewing machine!)

If anyone else has any tips to add, please share in the comments below!

Now, on to Snowflake 4. The block at the top of this post is this week’s snowflake. It's available here. 

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 Update June 23, 2019:  The Snowflake 4 pattern is now available as part of the Snowflakes Sampler Set 2 or as part of the Snowflake Blocks Complete Set in my Etsy Shop.

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I suggest 4 different versions of this one.



Finally, here’s my snowflake sewing for the week.



I had a request earlier in the Facebook group for fabric requirements and directions for this runner.  Leave me a comment and share a snowflake (in the linky below if you have a blog or in the FB group)  if you would like me to share this.  If there is enough interest and participation, I’ll take the time to write up the pattern.

Link up!

Snowalong Week 3!

My sewing machine was in the shop all last week, and refused to misbehave there, so we still don't know why it had fits of temper.  It is now home again and behaving for the time being, so I hope to catch up with my snowflake plans.  I really had hoped to have enough red and white snowflake blocks by now to make a Christmassy runner.  I know it's only mid-October and there's still plenty of time.  I was just planning ahead!

I did manage to make a sample of this week's block, Snowflake 3.

I came up with 3 versions for this one, again all by changing color placement.  I really need to make version 2...but 3 looks tempting too.  There just are not enough hours in a day!

You can go here to download the pattern (free for the next 2 weeks).  Patterns for Snowflakes 1 and 2 are still available there as well, with Snowflake 2 still available for free till next week.  See the Snowalong Week 1 post if you need details about how to access the patterns.

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Update 23 June 2019:  Snowflake 3 is now available for purchase as part of 

Snowflakes Sampler Set 2 or in the Snowflake Blocks Complete Set, both in my Etsy Shop. 

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All 4 versions of snowflake 1

All 4 versions of snowflake 2

Here are my blue snowflake blocks so far, Snowflakes 1, 2 and 3, version 1 for all of them.

  

Now it's your turn to share.   It's a busy time of year, and not quite winter yet, so there may not be a snowstorm (I was definitely off with last week's forecast!) but please do share any flurries occurring in your sewing room.  You can share on the Facebook Snowalong Sew-Along group anytime, or if you have a blog, write a post and link up below.  I'll leave the linky open all week.  If you are linking up, please make sure the link is to the specific post about your snowflake so that we can find it easily.

Snowalong Week 2!

Judging by the number of Snowflake 1 pattern downloads there have been this week, there should be more than a few fabric snowflakes floating around.  I’m excited to see which versions of the snowflake other quilters have made, and what fabrics you chose to set them off, and whether any of your blocks have been incorporated into projects yet! Be sure to link up your snowflake post at the bottom of this post if you have a blog, or share your pictures on the Facebook  Snowalong Sew-along group.  Be sure to go see and kindly comment on what others have created too!

Here’s mine

If you checked out my freezer paper piecing tutorial last Tuesday you already saw my block for the week.  It’s version 2 of Snowflake 1.



I had planned to make at least one more, but my sewing machine got sick.  It really shouldn’t race then keep sewing all by itself.  The feed dogs shouldn’t stay still while it does that, either.  Sigh. As you have probably figured out, the machine is now at the sewing machine hospital.

A snowflake project idea

Before things went awry, I did manage to make a small project with a snowflake I had made earlier.  (This particular snowflake will be the week 5 pattern.)



I’m pleased with how it turned out.  If you’d like a pattern, pop back in on Tuesday.  I’ll share a short tutorial on assembling the top.  I made it into a pillow, but it would make a cute little wall quilt too, or a table topper.  You could even treat it as a single block in a larger quilt.  If you need help figuring out how to turn it into a pillow like I did, come back again on Wednesday for those instructions.

The next free pattern

Snowflake 2

If you’re ready to tackle Snowflake 2, or just now stumbled onto our Snowalong and want to catch up with last week’s Snowflake 1, both patterns are both still free this week.  If you’re new to the Snowalong you can go to last week’s post for information on how it works.

******Update June 23, 2019:  Snowflake two is now available for purchase as part of Snowflakes Sampler Set 1 in my Etsy shop. ******

Please note: There has apparently been confusion about measurements listed in the cutting guidelines.  Everything is in inches.  1.375" = 1 3/8".  If you guessed 13/4" instead, don't worry. Paper piecing doesn't require precisely cut pieces, just pieces cut "big enough" to cover the intended patch plus 1/4" all around.  3/4 is bigger than 3/8, so you're still OK, it will definitely cover what needs to be covered. 

Now link up!

For those of you new to blogging and/or linky parties, a linky party is a list of links to posts on other blogs, often with a theme.  Anyone reading this blog can click on any of those links to be taken to those posts.  Our theme, of course, is snowflake blocks.

If you have a blog, write a post about your week’s snowflake sewing then come here and click on “click here to enter” at the bottom of this post. Follow the directions to add your post to the list of links.  Just be sure to link to the particular blog post, not to your blog in general.

For example, if I entered “http://www.canuckquilter.com”, the link would take you to my blog’s home page, where my most recent post is.

The more specific “http://www.canuckquilter.com/2014/09/snowalong-week-1.html” will take you directly to last week’s “Snowalong Week 1!” post.

To find the correct URL for your specific post, just click on the title of your post.  You’ll be taken to a page with only that one post on it, and the text showing in the navigation bar will be the URL for that post.

I’d appreciate a link back to this page in your blog post so that your readers can easily find the list of other bloggers sharing their efforts.  Another option is to add the Snowalong blog button to your sidebar.  You can grab the code for that on the Snowalong page.

Finally, remember it’s a linky party.  Please try to visit a few other blogs on the list, be sociable, mingle, leave a kind comment or two!

Let the snowstorm begin!

Snowalong Week 1!

Welcome to the Snowalong Sew-along!  The first snowflake pattern is ready to share and I’m excited to see what you create with it.

First, let’s review the Snowalong basics.

1. You don’t need to sign up.  Just download, sew and share.

2. I will write a blog post every Monday, today through November 3rd, sharing a link to one of my snowflake paper piecing patterns.

3. Each pattern will be available free of charge for two weeks.  Please note that the patterns are for your personal use. If friends would like a copy, please encourage them to come download their own copy. Thanks!  (The pattern link will stay active past the two week period for anyone who is late to the part and would like to purchase the pattern.)

4. Sew up as few or as many snowflake blocks as you wish.

5. Share! Every Monday starting next week, the weekly Snowalong post will include a “linky”.  Those of you with blogs can write a blog post about your snowflakes and share a link to them in the linky so we can all go admire your work.  If you have piecing tips to share, by all means include those too.  I’ll include instructions on how to link up in next weeks’ post.

6. Those of you without blogs can join the Snowalong Sew along Facebook group and share pictures and tips there.

7. Have fun! (This is an important one.)



OK, now for the technical “how to get the patterns” part

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UPDATED June 23, 2019:  The patterns are now available for purchase as part of Snowflakes Sampler Set 1 or Snowflake Blocks Complete Set, both in my Etsy shop.  

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Easy!  If you run into problems, email me or leave a comment and I’ll try to help.  Just remember that if you comment anonymously or are a “no-reply” blogger, I can’t reply privately.



Finally, because we’re all chomping at the bit to get sewing, let’s talk about the pattern

1. The templates include a 1/4” seam allowance around each section.

2. Make sure to set the printing to “no scaling” or actual size.  The box on the template page should measure 1”.  If it doesn’t, the size and the seam allowances of the templates will be off.

3. Depending how you place your colors, you can make at least 3 different versions of the block.  There are diagrams showing you the 4 versions I came up with for this week’s pattern, but I’d love to see any others you come up with.

4. You'll need about 1/8 yard of white for the snowflake per block, and about 1 yard of background for every 5 blocks (1/8 yd per block is not quite enough, but 1/4 yd is much more than you need.)

5. Don’t feel you have to stick to blue and white!

6. You can use whichever paper-piecing method you like.  Come back on Tuesday if you would like to see the freezer paper method I am using.  And if you want to cut the templates apart for individual patch templates and then sew all those pieces together in the traditional way…you’re much more ambitious than me!

One template design, 4 different snowflakes!

Enjoy!