MODA Friendship Quilt Along

Today is my day on the Friendship Quilt Along! Welcome!

... our upcoming collection, AVALON. A fresh, summer feeling collection with beautiful reds, soft greys, buttery yellows, spring greens, all on an ivory background with a wonderful pop of navy blue! Due out in stores next month! We are so excited for this one we can hardly stand it!

 

A FEW INTRODUCTIONS

For those of you who are new over here, my name is Joanna and this is the home of Fig Tree & Company. We are so glad that you are here to see what we are up to. If you want to follow along our regular "goings on", then subscribe to our newsletter or follow us on our new FACEBOOK page! Click HERE to go to our page or LIKE us from the left sidebar.

 ... one of my favorite brand new patterns, LOLLIPOPS, made up in the AVALON collection with 1 Jelly Roll and some background and border fabric. There are no sewing templates in this pattern. I promise! Its a fantastic method that we have loved for years!

 

ABOUT THE QUILT ALONG

For those of you who are regulars over here but aren't quite sure what this QUILT ALONG is all about, here are some pointers:

• Each day [starting last Monday and going through March 1st], 3 different MODA designers are blogging about the Quilt Along and are sharing their own block with you. You can see the list of designers blogging each day at the end of this post. Each block can be easily downloaded on each designer's blog as a pdf.

• Each designer is also having a MODA fabric giveaway [courtesy of the wonderfully generous MODA mothership] of one of their collections so if you enter at each blog, you will have a great chance of WINNING something. Free blocks and free fabric, is there anything more perfect?!

• All of the blocks finish at 9" and would all work wonderfully in a sampler quilt. The instructiuons are all simple strip pieced and they all the blocks can be made from Fat 1/8's or large scraps so its perfect for your scrap bucket too.The directions for the blocks are all from Fat 1/8's.

 

• Warning: This could be a bit too much fun. We have gotten a bit addicted in just 3 days time!

 

HAVING A LITTLE FUN

Now I have to tell you that I just couldn't get into the Farmer's Wife quilt along [the one that swept the web last year] for a couple of reasons... the blocks were so small and they were all templates. Two things which I really don't love. So personally I enjoyed that one from far away. They were beautiful but I was happy to watch it go by.

This one... however.. is 9" blocks, which are just much more my speed, and no templates.That's right, not a template in site.

When I tell you that you can easily do all 3 of each day's block in that afternoon, I really mean it. Because I have kind of been doing it. Not all of them, but most of them....

This is our block... which I cut and pieced in under an hour, both of them.

It's Block #15 in the Quilt Along. I'm a bit addicted to it and plan on making it in several other color combinations and sprinkling it about my sampler or even making it every other block.... I guess we'll have to see how it goes. The flying geese are quite fun to make when you know yoiu only have to make eight! And it looks good in so many different fabric combos!

CLICK HERE FOR THE PDF OF OUR BLOCK

Now to visit some of our friends who have shared since Monday, since this is a Friendship Quilt Along after all... 

Here is Barb and Alma's block-

Here is Bonnie's block-

Here is Anne's block-

 

Here is Basic Grey's block-

 

Here is Camille's block-

Here are all the blocks we've made so far.... just looking at them is making me a bit giddy right now.

 

 

A FEW TIPS FROM OUR SEWING:

TIP #1: Many of these blocks use the method of sewing a square onto a rectangle, on the diagonal and then trimiming out the excess fabrics underneath. Whenever I use that method [which I love and use often], I trim out only the extra side of the piece on top and not whatever fabric was used for the bottom rectangle. This is because if you leave the bottom piece intact, it acts a foundation of sorts for your block. You cut that piece and it should be exactly the size you want it to be whereas the piece on top has been sewn and is often slightly irregular, coming out a bit shy of the shape or a bit large. The piece on the bottom will always be accurate and will help you with easier piecing as you build your block. The bulk of the extra piece has never been a problem for me or my quilter. The only time you can't use this method is when the piece that is being added on top is white/light and the piece underneath is dark. You must them trim out both pieces.i Try it and see some great results.

Tip #2: On Anne's block we didn't want to fuss with the thin bias tape so we used a 3/8" bias tape maker, made a small piece of bias from the end of the fabric strip, ran it through the maker and affixed it to our triangle with little dots of Roxanne's Glue Baste It. It was quick and easy.

We plan on making many more blocks as more of our friends share them so check back over here throughout the QUILT ALONG to see how they are turning out! We might even make more tomorrow!

... our SAIL AWAY pattern. All of those boats are made from one Layer Cake. Can you believe it? We love, love this quilt.

GIVEAWAY

As we mentioned above, we are of course having an AVALON GIVEWAY. So leave us a comment about which color or specific print of Avalon you are looking forward to most. To see the entire collection, click on the AVALON button on the right sidebar so you can see all of the fabrics [we've fixed all the collection links so you can click on any of them if you like].

... a styled shot of our SAIL AWAY pattern. Can't you just channel the beach when you look at those boats?

Two lucky winners will be chosen, one for a DESIGNER ROLL and one for a LAYER CAKE. We will also add a third winner for a grouping of all our AVALON patterns and a charm pack!. Be sure to comment to be entered.

Thanks for quilting along with us. Can't wait to see some of your blocks!

Here is the schedule:

FEB 18th

Barbara Brackman

Basic Grey

Barb & Alma- Blackbird Designs



FEB 19th

Bonnie- Cotton Way

Brigitte- Zen Chic

Anne- Bunny Hill



FEB 20th

Camille- Thimbleblossoms

Deb Strain

Eric & Julie Comstock



FEB 21st

Jan Patek

Joanna-Fig Tree & Co.

Jenn Ski


FEB 22nd

Kaari-French General

Lynne-Kansas Troubles

Kate Spain


FEB 25th

Kathy Schmitz

Edyta- Laundry Basket

Lauren & Jessi Jung


FEB 26th

Lisa- Primitive Gatherings

Malka Dubrawsky

Barb & Mary- Me & My Sister


FEB 27th

Laurie & Polly- Minick and Simpson

Pat Sloan

Sandy- Pieces From  My Heart


FEB 28th

Sweetwater

Stephanie Ryan

Vanessa- V & Co.


March 1st

The Cutting Table

 

 

Comments

[Melanie Diederich]

My favorite has to be the candy apple red small floral. Guess what my favorite color is! They are all beautiful!

[Elizabeth]

I'm particularly looking forward to the sweet little cherry print, and also the dark blue! But most of all, I can't wait for the Sail Away kit I pre-ordered during your 12 days of Christmas sale--I know my 2 year old son is going to LOVE that quilt!

[dee]

I adore Fig Tree and Avalon line - the sail boats are ADORABLE. I don't think I can pick just one of this line as a favorite, althought, I am a red girl - but the blues are such a stunning accent. Just finished a quilt using your Breakfast at Tiffany - Love it too. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy this line.

[Sandy M]

Your blocks look fantastic. I think i should start sewing a few of these myself.
My favorite colorway from the new Avalon line is the Mimosa. robin's Egg is right there with it, but Mimosa is my fav.

[Lynn b]

I am really like the combo of flowers and dots and stripes. I think my fav is probably the small print flower/rose in pistachio or mimosa. I also love the cherries on robin egg. So sweet. Thanks for designing such beautiful color ways!

[Izzy]

I love the red in all of the prints! Red is by far my favourite colour, but in this collection, the red is absolutely fabulous! I even signed up for the Fat Quarter Shop's 2013 Designer Mystery BOM just because the fabric this year is Avalon. :-)

[Debbie]

I love the robin's egg blue. I love the sail boat quilt.

[Wendy]

I love all your fabrics, but I am really falling in love with Avalon. I am most excited about the dark blues in this collection (I think you are calling it Nantucket)...and my favorite print is the one with the little white flowers on the blue background (#20207). Thanks for the generous give away!!!

[Erin Baker]

I've been following the Moda quilt along, and can't wait to *hopefully* work on some of the squares this weekend! I LOVE the navy blue + white polka dot in the Avalon fabric line! For some reason I find it difficult to find a lot of navy, which I love! Thanks for the chance to win!

[Mah Quilter]

Hi Joanna,
I love all of them but there are two I am looking forward to working with. Both are Wicker Gray. Numbers 20215 13 and 20203 13. Wishing all who read this a great day.

[Lynn b]

By the way I can't wait for Avalon to come out!

[Anita K]

Oh Boy how to choose, I'm crazy about them all, however I really really love the Wicker Grey with the cherries. A great giveaway, Good Luck to everyone!!!

[Trina]

Love the color combinations in the new Avalon! I think my favorite is the small flower prints (20207), especially in the Robins Egg blue. The print reminds me of the scrappy fabrics my grandmother used.

[Tina in Nevada]

I can't wait to see all of the Navy in Avalon. It's such a wonderful surprise of color! Love your fabrics!!

[Bertie]

Thank you for the block, they are all fabulous. I love to enter for the reds or creams, thank you.

[Sandra Timmons]

Your sailboat pattern is a cutey and would make any child happy to have it in their possession. Being a lover of Valentine's Day and a birthday this month, I love red fabric or solid as well as blue. Your giveways are just awesome and will make one of us quilters so very happy to win. Thank you for the chance to win and hope 2013 brings you lots of wonderful things to come.

Sandi Timmons
[email protected]

[Deb]

FUN fabric and colors! Hard to choose just one but I would have to go with the Candy Apple Red! Love the block, too! Thanks for sharing!!

[Dianne]

I love those navy dots!

[Julie]

Your block is so sweet and your upcoming collection is a must-have! I love the sweet little cherry print, but honestly it is almost impossible to choose. They are all beautiful!

[Susie Johnson]

Pistachio for sure, I can't get enough of any color of green!

[Karen]

I love the Robin's egg colors. Your fabric line is very refreshing!

[LeslieBee]

Love.... all of them. I think number 20205 is my favorite pattern. It looks so fresh and a little like trellised flowers. I'm having a hard time deciding between the Red and the Pistachio....

[Elaine Satterfield]

I am loving all the Pistachio prints in your Avalon line! This quilt-along is great and I love all the blocks you have made! Thank you for the smart tips!

[Lauren aka Giddy99]

I like 20203 17 in Robins Egg the best! Thanks for the chance!

[Darlene]

I agree with you. Those small blocks are cute but I don't have the patience for them. Might be a hand piecing job while tv watching. I like your blocks.

[Becky Greene]

I love all of the navy prints, but the Wicker Gray is just fabulous also!! Thanks for sharing the great block and the tips. Thanks, too, for the chance to win some wonderful fabric!!!!

[Lisa]

The large floral in either the Robin's Egg or Wicker Gray. I just love them. I love all the prints.

[tiffinee morris]

My favorite is the grey's all of them. I think they are gorgeous! Hopefully I win the chance to make something out of these great fabrics!
[email protected]

[Barbara]

The whole collection is wonderful! If I have to pick, I'd go with the reds, #20205 in particular.I think all the blocks from this hop would look great in the red collection.

[Jill Hicks]

I am looking forward to the Robin's Egg color way. I also like the Pistachio.

[Lou]

I like the Candy Apple reds and the Pistachios....they would be great together!!!!!
Sweet block!!!

[Rebecca S.]

Love, love, love the Nantucket Blue! I'm especially fond of the small floral (and the polka dots). Close tie for second with the Candy Apple Red and the Mimosa (you make the perfect yellows!) Now if I could only find more of the Ocean blue from California Girl I think that would look great with the Nantucket Blue.

[Martha]

Love the blues -- all of them! Can't wait for this line to come out.

[Mary]

It is a beautiful collection and my favorite is the reds - all of them. Your quilt is going to be gorgeous!

[Linda S]

I think that the daisy large floral & the pistachio stencil-like prints are my two favorites...they will look lovely together!!

[Meredith]

I am really looking forward to the Navy!

[Tiffany]

I am looking forward to the yellow. I always love the yellow prints in your collections!

Thanks for the giveaway!

[Jo]

Wow! I love all the Candy Apple Red collection ... in fact all the collection is beautifull lol !

[Samantha]

I love the olive green color way and I love love love the block you share with us :)

[Allison Evrard]

Thanks so much for the tips you posted and for the chance to win. I particularly like those candy apple red prints. Actually, the whole line is gorgeous!

[Sandy D]

Thanks for tutorial I am going to give that a try not cutting both layers of fabric.My favorite in the Avalon LIne is the Candy Apple Red specifically 20202 14 but I do like them all. Thanks.

[Kathy]

I love the blues the best, but the Nantuckets are my favorites - any of the prints will do! I love the background color on your Carnival Lollipops. To me the quilt is a bird's eye view of beach umbrellas on a sandy beach, which will be perfect for the home that we plan to purchase in Florida. You are so talented and so generous to us groupees! I wish you and yours a blessed and fruitful year!

[Paula]

What a great post. I enjoyed seeing the finished blocks and the great tips. I love ALL of Avalon, but this fabric spoke to me. :) 􀉊 20207 17 Robins Egg
Have a great day!

[Sherry]

I have used quite a bit of Fig Tree fabrics in the projects I have done so far as a new quilter. I love the Robin's egg prints and also the Pistachio. This is a beautiful collection.

[[email protected]]

You can never go wrong with the candy apple red!! jmh

[BLT]

Just like your book, you give advice/instruction concerning constructing blocks. Consequently, I have bookmarked it. Love the bright blues!! ...and of red!!!

[Hannah]

So many nice blocks using flying geese....several to try. such springy colors!

[Michele T]

I am loving the small flower prints... such a pretty fabric line!! Thanks for your tips!!

[Lacey S.]

I love the Candy Apple Red & Pistachio colors the best out of the whole collection...all of which is just lovely :) I LOVE your quilt blocks (so far!) that you've put together...the quilt will be just great

[Deb W.]

I love the blue dot fabric. It makes everything just a little bit brighter.