Whether
you have years
of experience or have only recently caught the paper piecing bug, I hope
that I have
something for you. I have designed a series of flying bird patterns and
I'm hoping that you will join me in creating a quilt using them.
THE DESIGNS AND LAYOUTS
When I designed these
blocks, I was looking to challenge myself. I tried to design blocks that
were unlike anything that I had done before. I wanted the designs to
speak for themselves no matter how people choose to interpret them.
I think that these are
paper pieced patterns which can be used by all quilters, no matter
their style.
If you choose, you can
keep things minimalist and simple with black silhouettes against a
blue or white background.
You may prefer to use
textured blender fabrics or to create a rainbow of birds using solid
fabrics – the choice is yours!
What about floral
birds? They would look really pretty don't you think?
If you prefer a more
scrappy style, this could easily be added into the designs with
different fabrics used to accentuate the feathers and features of the
birds.
Another way that you
can play is with the sizing of the blocks. Six blocks are
provided as 12” blocks (with formulas included if you want to
resize the pattern yourself). Four blocks are provided as both 12”
and 24” blocks and two patterns are only provided as 24” blocks.
By playing around with the sizing of the birds, you can add to the sense of depth and perspective of the quilt.
I do not recommend minimising the 24" Osprey block, but if you want to make all your patterns 12” you could swap in the bonus pattern that I have included in the pattern bundle.
By playing around with the sizing of the birds, you can add to the sense of depth and perspective of the quilt.
I do not recommend minimising the 24" Osprey block, but if you want to make all your patterns 12” you could swap in the bonus pattern that I have included in the pattern bundle.
I will provide the
layouts for a few different quilts at the end of the quilt-along, but
I guess that what I am trying to say is that I really hope that you
will make this quilt and these birds your own. Don't be limited by what you see me doing.
Have fun and play around!
I really can't wait to see some
creative uses of my patterns.
BUYING THE PATTERNS
For this quilt-along, I
will offer two ways for you to buy your patterns.
For those of you who
like the gradual approach, you will be able to download a new pattern
every 2 weeks. Each 12” pattern will be reduced in price to $2 for
the first fortnight that they are available. After this time they
will go up to the usual price of $3.50. Each pattern which contains a
24” block will be available at the reduced price of $3 for the
first fortnight of release and will go up to $5 afterwards.
If you prefer to jump
in with both feet and immerse yourself in a project, then you have
the chance to buy the pattern bundle. The advantage of buying the
bundle is that it includes a bonus pattern. I was initially very unhappy
with the seagull pattern so I designed a new block. When I came back
to the two patterns later I discovered that I actually liked them
both so I decided to make them both available. Buying the pattern bundle is the only way that
you can get your hands on this block.
The bundle will initially be available for $25 (there are over 200 pages to the bundle so this really is a bargain). This price will be increased to $35 on 1st March 2015.
For the first two weeks, there will be a 20% discount to those who tweet or share the In Flight Pattern Bundle using the share button of the bundle listing in Payhip shop.
Please note that for those of you based in the EU, VAT will be additional to the quoted prices.
The bundle will initially be available for $25 (there are over 200 pages to the bundle so this really is a bargain). This price will be increased to $35 on 1st March 2015.
For the first two weeks, there will be a 20% discount to those who tweet or share the In Flight Pattern Bundle using the share button of the bundle listing in Payhip shop.
Please note that for those of you based in the EU, VAT will be additional to the quoted prices.
FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
For those of you who
are interested in finding out how much fabric to purchase, I have
updated the existing fabric requirements post. I have not altered the PDF downloads, but I have added extra information to the bottom of the post.
Please note that as I suspected, the fabric requirements for the background fabric provided by my computer software are proving to have been very generous.
Please note that as I suspected, the fabric requirements for the background fabric provided by my computer software are proving to have been very generous.
SCHEDULE:
The blocks will be
released on to following dates (or as close to then as humanly
possible):
Event
|
Date
|
Introduction
|
14st
January
|
Block
1- Swan
|
14th
January
|
Block
2- Swift
|
28th
January
|
Linky
|
10th
February
|
Block
3- Seagulls
|
11th
February
|
Block
4- Curlew
|
25th
February
|
Linky
|
10th
March
|
Block
5- Peregrin
|
11th
March
|
Block
6- Swallow
|
25th
March
|
Linky
|
21st
April
|
BREAK
FOR EASTER
|
Break
for Easter
|
Block
7- Duck
|
22nd
April
|
Block
8- Kestrel
|
6th
May
|
Linky
|
13th
May
|
Block
9- Cormorant
|
20th
May
|
Block
10- Buzzard
|
3rd
June
|
Linky
|
17th
June
|
Block
11- Eagle
|
24th
June
|
Block
12- Osprey
|
8th
July
|
Linky
|
21st
July
|
Block
13- Thrush
|
22nd
July
|
Block
14- Wren
|
5th
August
|
Block
15- Hawk
|
19th
August
|
Quilt
Layouts
|
26th
August
|
Final
Linky
|
27th
August
|
Final
Linky Closes
|
9th
September
|
Remember I am in New Zealand, so these dates are probably (hopefully!) up to a day ahead for many of you.
MONTHLY LINKY PARTIES
I encourage as many of
you as possible to join in with the regular linky parties. You can link up using blogs, flickr and even instagram.
The linky parties are
a great way to show how you are getting on, no matter whether you
start with the first block or jump straight in with the more
difficult blocks. Share your successes (and your frustrations- who knows I may be able to help out if I hear of problems).
PRIZES
Now what is a
quilt-along without some prizes?
At each of the monthly
linky parties, a winner will be chosen at random.
They will receive a prize consisting of:
They will receive a prize consisting of:
An Oashott colourshott COTX31-57 5” Charm Square Pack
We all know that I love Oakshott fabrics and it is no coincidence that I chose to use them for the birds of my own In Flight Quilt. I am thrilled to be able to offer a number of you the chance to sew with these beautiful fabrics.
We all know that I love Oakshott fabrics and it is no coincidence that I chose to use them for the birds of my own In Flight Quilt. I am thrilled to be able to offer a number of you the chance to sew with these beautiful fabrics.
and the winners choice of 2 Tartankiwi patterns.
At the final linky
party there will be three prizes on offer:
1st Prize
(This prize will go to someone who has made at least 9 blocks and has at least created a complete quilt top)
(This prize will go to someone who has made at least 9 blocks and has at least created a complete quilt top)
- $25 Fat Quarter Shop token
2nd Prize
The winner of this prize must have made at least 6 blocks and have a complete quilt top or finished item.
The winner of this prize must have made at least 6 blocks and have a complete quilt top or finished item.
Umbrella Prints Mosaic Kit
If you are not familiar with Umbrella Prints fabrics, go and look them up, you won't be disappointed in these beautiful organic screen printed fabrics.
If you are not familiar with Umbrella Prints fabrics, go and look them up, you won't be disappointed in these beautiful organic screen printed fabrics.
3rd Prize
Open to any item created using an In Flight block or blocks.
Open to any item created using an In Flight block or blocks.
I really really hope
that we see lots of completed quilt tops at the final linky.
As a final word, I'd like to take a moment to some very special people who have helped to ensure that this event happened.
Thank you so much to all of my sponsors. I really appreciate your support. I hope to share a little bit more detail about each and every one of them at some stage.
I also have to say a huge huge thank you to my pattern testers Leonie, Raewyn and Jennifer. They have done a stirling job of searching for mistakes in the patterns and helping me to improve the patterns. Any remaining mistakes are all my own fault!
If I have forgotten to
include any details in this post, please ask and I will do my best to answer your
questions.
Wow, great to see this fabulous quiltalong starting, Juliet! I love the blocks and the prizes are awesome!
ReplyDeleteFAB- where do I place my order?
ReplyDeleteI love birds ~ so I'm going to have to do this! Love all your ideas for the birds ~ floral sounds so lovely! Excited to start this quilt along!!!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a wonderful quilt a long. As a bird lover I think this will have to be one for me. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteAwesome going! Big job to organise! I hope you get heaps of crafty folks signing up.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! THIS IS AWESOME! Cannot wait to see all the creations! x
ReplyDeleteOh .. I can't wait to get started, but I'll spend ages deciding on fabric :o)
ReplyDeleteJust bought my patterns and can't wait to get started, I'm going to try some restraint and do this quilt in just two solids, restraint has never been a strong suit in the past so fingers crossed
ReplyDeleteI bought the bulk pattern and am looking forward to this :)
ReplyDeleteWhoohooo I'm in, just bought all the patterns!! Paper piecing is on the list of things to learn in 2015 (expect loads of questions :-))
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to tell myself I really don't have time to take part, but it hasn't worked, so I've succumbed to temptation and bought the pattern bundle. I'll probably drop out before the end (almost certainly, in fact, seeing as in July I'll be picking up another Honours paper), but I can at least play along until then.
ReplyDeleteNow if I could just decide what sort of colours I want to use...
so....my Mom and I apparently missed the first "linky party". Mom posted to the Flickr page (I'm behind, still trying to figure out fabric) and thought that was how to enter, but according to your email today, that was incorrect. So....can you please advise the technologically challenged how to enter the next linky party, and yes, please put the link up now so I can help Mom.
ReplyDeleteOh darn, I missed the $25 deal! :(
ReplyDelete