Saturday, 9 July 2016

Finish A Long 2016 - Quarter 3 Proposed Finishes Link Up

2016 button 250 best

I'm in complete denial at how quickly this year is speeding past. And somehow we are already at the beginning of the third quarter of the 2016 FAL. This means 2016 is half way over!!! As you are already aware, the 2016 FAL has gone global - a community of bloggers across the world, jointly hosting the FAL. Our hosts are:
For those of you who are new to the FAL, it is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete those unfinished projects that are hanging about becoming UFOs. Every quarter you post a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months, and then at the end of the quarter, you post a link from your blog, Flickr or Instagram of each successful finish from your original list. Each finish is an entry for wonderful prizes from our sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list long or short, as you wish. The 2016 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent FAL page, please let me know if you have any questions.

 Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q3 of the FAL - you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo (think about visiting them and saying thank you):


As you may recall from the previous, there was a return of tutorial week at the end of each quarter, between the opening of the link for finishes and the day that link closes. We have had a great range of tutorials shared by our hosts so far this year, so if you haven't done so already it's worth checking them all out. These tutorials will take place each quarter. Each host works hard to put these together so I hope you are visiting their blogs to encourage them. If you have a tutorial that you would like to share, please let me or another host know.

 It's time to round up those projects you want to finish over the next three months, take a photo of where you are now, and make your list. Please ensure that you have at least started your projects - pulled fabric with a pattern or plan, and remember that it is finished projects that will get you entry toward the above listed prizes. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, usable project.

If you are linking up via Instagram, it is very helpful if you tag your Q3 list as #FALQ3yourname. The 2016 Q3 link for your list of proposed finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs. You only link your list once, on one blog - and that link will show up on all of the blogs. If you are using Flickr or Instgram, link a mosaic and put your list in the description. Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link-up if you have need it. We also ask that you become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others and visit and comment on their lists. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done, so please share some of your own too.

 When creating your list there is one thing to remember - there are no deductions for not completing something so aim high! I'll be sharing my Q3 list in a few days, and no doubt it will include a few more quilts than I actually expect to get finished ;o). I would encourage you to do the same - who knows what you'll feel like working on this quarter?

So, get those lists together and get linked up. The Q3 linky party will stay open until 11 pm EST, July 16th - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link. Remember: you only need to link up on ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs.




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Friday, 1 July 2016

Adding Mitred Borders to Quilt Blocks {A Tutorial}

I've been working on a quilt top over the last month or so, that has involved adding mitred borders to each of my blocks. These can be a little intimidating, so when I had to decide on what my tutorial as part of the 2016 Finish A Long would be, I decided it would be a great topic to cover.



Mitred (or mitered, depending on your country) borders are borders that are joined at a 45 degree angle at the corners of the block or quilt. They can be really effective - especially if you use a directional fabric, such as a stripe.

To add mitred borders to a block, you will need to do a simple calculation to figure out what sized borders you need to cut.

1. Decide what width borders you want to add to your quilt block. 

For example, if you want an 8" x 8" quilt block to finish at 12" x 12", you will need to add 2.5" borders to each side. This calculation is:

(Desired Block Size - Current Block Size)  +  0.5"
                                                                             2

which is:

(12 - 8)    + 0.5"
                                                                          2

2. Calculate the length of the border strips.

 Your border strips will be cut with enough overhand on both ends to enable you to sew a 45 degree angle. This calculation will give you strips that are a lot longer than you'll need, but it's far easier to

To calculate the length you'll need

(Current Block Size) + (Border width x 2) + 2"

So for the example above, the calculation would be:

(8") + (2 x 2") + 2 = 14"

Adding Mitred Borders

Once you've cut FOUR border strips, you're ready to add them to the quilt block.


  1. First take your block, and mark a point 1/4" in from both edges at all four corners. 



 2. Take your block, and finger press a small crease at the centre of all four sides. Take one border strip, finger press a small crease at the centre of the strip, and align this with the crease on the quilt block. Sew between the points marked on the block, leaving 1/4" unsewn on both ends of the seam, keeping the block on top as you sew the border strip. Stitch a few reverse stitches at both ends of this seam.


3. Continue around the edge of the block, adding border strips and aligning the centre as per step 2. You will need to fold back the edge of the first strip and take care not to catch it as you sew each subsequent strip to the block.


4. Once you've sewn all four border strips on, you'll have an interesting looking piece, with bits hanging out at the corners... Don't press anything yet!


5. Take a ruler, and line up the 45 degree line along the outer edge of your border strip, and align the edge of the ruler with the mark 1/4" in from the corner of your block.

Mark this line on all 8 ends of your border strips.


6. At each corner, fold the block diagonally in half, and carefully align your drawn lines, and pin.


7. Starting right at the point where the seams around the block meet, sew along the marked line, securing the start of your seam with a few reverse stitches. Repeat for all four corners.


8. Take your ruler, and trim 1/4" away from each of these seams.


The wrong side of your block should look something like this after trimming.


9. Now it's time to press your block! First, carefully press the corner seams open.



And then carefully press the borders away from the block.




And there you have it, a block with mitred borders! I'm hoping to properly share the quilt I've been working on using this technique very soon - but this is a sneak peek...



Hopefully it won't be so long between blog posts from now on - I have quite a few things to share, once I get my shit together and take some decent photos!

xx Jess







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Thursday, 30 June 2016

2016 Finish A Long Quarter 2 Link Up

I have well and truly failed at the regular blogging thing over the last few months, so much so that I totally forgot that the end of Quarter 2 of the FAL was upon us. I haven't even had a chance to share my one and only finish for this quarter yet - I promise that will happen before the linky party finishes! I've made major progress on another of my Q2 proposed finishes too - something I hope to share over the next week or so as well.

2016 button 250 best

This year the FAL is being hosted by a global group of bloggers:
It's time to link up the projects on your 2016 Q2 FAL list that you finished. First, a huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors:
For the 2016 FAL, we also will feature a tutorial week. Here is the schedule so you can visit them all:
The 2016 Q2 link for your finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs - you only need to link on one blog for your finish to appear on each blog.

 Link-up "rules"
  • Add one link for each finish. If you want to link a round up post of all your finishes, use that link to enter one of your finishes and then link the rest of your finishes separately. Please, only one link per finish, as your link is an entry into the randomly drawn prize draws.
  • Please use the 2016 FAL button or the hashtag #2016FAL
  • Please ensure that the photo or blog post you link up contains a link or reference back to your original list so that we can verify your entry (make sure it is from the appropriate quarter)
  • Please become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others and comment. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other. The 2016 FAL Facebook page is here and follow us on Instagram @finishlong and tag your photos #2016fal and #falq2yourname (substitute your name - this makes it easier for us to match your finishes with your lists.
  • Our hosts will also link their finishes to share in the community, but they are not eligible for any of the prizes.
The Q2 Finishes link will stay open from now thru July 7 - link up your finishes early and if you have a last minute one, add that one later so you don't miss out. The prizes will be awarded as soon as we can verify all the entries and do the drawings. We will post the winners on each hosts' blog. Also, start making your Q3 FAL lists as the Q3 list link opens on July 8!



I hope to be back very soon with some quilts - and I'll be back in a few days with my promised Mitred Borders tutorial :o) 

xx Jess
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