Day of Sharing

Welcome to Colonial Quilt Lovers Round Robin project...

To complete the project you will need a copy of the rules (see below)

This Round Robin recipe is a basis for a beautiful medallion quilt. Whether you build yourself or with a group from Colonial Quilt Lovers. I am absolutely sure that you will find it exciting, challenging and satisfying.

JUNE - Round Robin Recipe

CENTER BLOCK: Make a square block (paper pieced, appliqué, traditional, contemporary) any size so long as the finished center can be divided by 2 plus a 1/4 inch seam allowance. The block must be ready to pass on by July 2, 2011.

HELPFUL HINT: Don't attempt something that is too complex. Simple is better and often more striking than a block that's difficult to assemble. Revisit your basic quilt block patterns and choose a simple traditional block...spruce it up with the fabrics if you want a quilt that has a non-traditional look. Remember, the fabrics you choose for your centre block will dictate the style of the whole quilt.

JULY - Round Robin Recipe

ROUND TWO: Add a 3" border incorporating triangles, plus 1/4 " seam allowance. Again, so simple...

The quilt center must be ready to pass on by August 20th.

HELPFUL HINTS

Use a gridded design sheet to help you extend the lines of the block you are working on. Draw a scaled version of the center block on your drafting sheet leaving enough room to extend the design.

Remember to design without seam allowances and only add the 1/4 " seam when you are ready to cut your pieces.

Next month the center piece will be turned on point!

AUGUST - Month 3, Round Robin Recipe...

ROUND THREE: Turn the block on point and fill the four corners. You may add a "floater" strip at this stage(optional) plus 1/4 " seam allowance.

Have this round ready to pass to the next person on Saturday, October 1st.

HERE'S HELP and a HOT TIP...

Consider, taking photos after each round, It's a great record for the owner of the quilt.

Turning the block on point really changes the look of your quilt.

Corner Triangles

Take the finished block size and divide by 1.414

Note: Round up to the nearest dimension on the ruler.

Add 7/8" to that number

Cut two squares the size determined above.

Cut each square in half diagonally for the four corner triangles.

Example #1:
Finished block size = 18"
18 / 1.414 = 12.730 (Round to 12.75 = 12-3/4")
12-3/4" + 7/8" = 18-5/8" (Round to 18-3/4") squares to cut for Corner Triangles

http://www.quiltbug.com/Articles/on-point.htm has a quick reference chart.

OCTOBER - Month 5, Round Robin Recipe

ROUND FOUR: Add a 2 inch border incorporating squares. Plus 1/4 inch seam allowance

Pass on to the next person on Saturday, November 19th, 2011.

I'll let you in on a secret, next month is a breeze, you only have to do a top and bottom border incorporating pinwheels and/or stars!

HELPFUL HINTS...

This border will be a piece of cake...simple squares, but don't forget to echo the previous design lines or squares if possible.

OK! OK! here it is....don't drive yourself crazy trying to work out difficult measurements..., design and make up your 2" wide checkerboard or 2 " wide sections incorporating squares and then adjust size of the middle section of the border to make it fit the side of the quilt.

Remember to measure the quilt carefully. The measurement of the center should be the same as the edge measurement. Don't just sew strips to the edge...measure the length required (opposite sides should be the same measurement) and pin in the center and at the ends to match.

NOVEMBER: Month 6, Round Robin Recipe

ROUND FOUR: Add a 6 inch border (only top and bottom) incorporating pinwheels and/or stars and don't forget the standard 1/4" seam allowance.

HELPFUL HINTS...

Hmmm! Star or pinwhells or both...perhaps too many options. do you hae any idea how many star patterns there are? No, Me neither!

Get out that drafting pad and the old basic pattern book to see what you can come up with.

The floater strips are very much optional in this round.

HOT TIP this month...its almost too late for tips, but remember your basic patchwork and look everywhere for inspiration. Yes, even old magazines and books.

Important to stop wavy borders...measure the quilt carefully...remember the measurement through the center should be the same as the edge...measure the length required (opposite sides must be the same measurement) and pin in center and at ends to match.

This border (only top and bottom) should not take too long to finish, but the results will be great!

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JANUARY: Month 8, Round Robin Recipe...

ROUND FIVE: Add two floater strips, if required...

then add a 5" decorative border incorporating piecing and/or applique or both. don't forget the standard 1/4" seam allowance.

Pass it on to the next person on Saturday, March 3rd, 2012.

HELPFUL HINTS...

This decorative border is the most fun...stretch yourself with hand, machine, or decorative applique...but make sure that the techinque you use really suilts the quilt. Look at the "whole" quilt, not jut the part that you are working on.

My HOT TIP this month is...don't delay starting this decorative border, There can be a reasonable amount of work in it especially if you're planning on hand appliqueing the design. So get motivated, get started and you'll have a delightful month. Imagine the look on the owners face when she sees her magnificent medallion friendship quilt.

 MARCH 3^RD – COMING SOON

APRIL 21, 2012 DAY OF SHARING – ALL ROUND ROBIN TOPS DUE!

ROUND ROBIN RULES               

What is a Round Robin Quilt Exchange?

The basic steps of a Round Robin Quilt Exchange are:

1. You design the starter block for your quilt. The starter block is due July 2.  This establishes the color choices and theme of your quilt.
2. You give your block to another person in your group. They work on your quilt while you work on a border for another member of the group.  Each person in the group is working on someone’s quilt. There are often instructions for each “round” of the Round Robin Exchange that guides your border choices.
3. You anxiously await your completed quilt top (the one with your starter block) to be returned to you. You have not seen your quilt along the way, so it is with great anticipation you wait to see what was added to your starter block! This will be returned to you at the Day of Sharing meeting.

Why participate in a Round Robin Quilt Exchange?

• The Challenge!  Part of the fun is putting your design skills, color choices and general creativity to the test. 
• The Social Fun!  Meet new friends via your Round Robin Group.
• The Learning! Working on quilts that others have started will likely lead you to working with new colors, designs, or techniques.  Each new experience will help you learn how to bring out the best in a quilt. 
• A limited investment of time!  Each quilt you work on will provide a number of learning experiences which would otherwise be gained only through creating many quilts on your own.
• The Emotional Growth!  What? Yes, you will likely experience excitement, bewilderment, frustration, ah ha moments, deadline pressure, a sense of accomplishment, pure joy, and many others.  Each is a stepping-stone in the learning process.
• Just for the adventure! You never know when your favorite quilt will be the one you created working with others.

What “participants beware” should be considered before signing up?

• What if you don’t like your quilt when it comes back to you? That is always a possibility, and one that will happen on occasion.  Study the quilt and determine what you don’t like.  Learn from what doesn’t appeal to you.  The quilt is yours, so maybe you choose to make some changes to a few sections or to colors to “finish” the quilt to your liking. Maybe you can get creative in how you quilt it  - use thread coloring or another embellishment to change what you don’t like, or quilt a section more heavily to “shrink” a border that doesn’t quite lay flat.  If the colors just don’t appeal to you, complete the quilt and donate it to one of the many charity quilt projects or a charity auction.  On rare occasions your completed quilt won't be as you desire, but more often than not, your quilt will delight and amaze you.
• There are costs to participate.  The costs are fabric, a possible mailing, and possibly embellishments. Other participants will be investing in your quilt just as you invest in their quilt.
• There is a time factor for participating in Round Robins.  We think we will have time, then, oops, it just got gobbled up in some black hole!  You must commit to completing each round on time!  A few weeks can go by very quickly.  Your delay in turning in your quilt on time will impact others in the group.  Reminder messages will be emailed to each group so there will be no,” I forgot” excuses! 
• We don’t always control life’s changes.  If there is a major unexpected change in your life (health issues, death in the family,…) that requires you to not complete a Round Robin Exchange, notify your group and me as soon as you are able. Your quilt will be returned to you before the next round in your Exchange.  You will be dropped from future rounds in that Exchange. You will have the responsibility to mail the quilt you are working on to the next participant “as is”.  The next participant will have the choice to 1) disregard or take out work not completed and just add the current round’s instructions, 2) complete the work started instead of the current round’s instructions, or 3) complete the previous work and add the current rounds instructions.  Hopefully major unexpected negative changes in our lives will be minimal!
• Your quilt or someone else’s gets lost, got eaten by the dog, or burned down with the house!   I wish I could say these will never happen, but sometimes Murphy’s Law will apply and What Can Happen - Will.  As the numbers of Exchanges grow, random bad luck will occasionally happen.  There is nothing anyone from Colonial Quilt Lovers or your Exchange group can do to replace your quilt.  Notify your group and me as soon as you are aware of any problems. We will work together to see what, if anything, can be done.

It can sound all doom and gloom after reading the above. It definitely isn’t!  All the possible bad things that can happen are rare and not nearly as numerous as all the great quilts, friendships and learning that will result with every Round Robin Quilt Exchange.

OSTRICH ROUND ROBIN

  This is the person who would prefer to make the whole quilt themselves.  You may follow the guidelines and rounds and make your own quilt.  You may choose this option if you are planning on traveling for a length of time.  To me this option wouldn’t be as much fun but you will still have the fun of showing your quilt at the Day of Sharing. 

Ready to venture forward?  Sign up by contacting Robin Caruso at sevenpines@roadrunner.com or 252-333-1807.