Garden Steps :: Gathering Supplies

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Welcome to the kick off for the Garden Steps: Stitch & Quilt Along!  Today we’re going to discuss supplies.

First of all, I’d like to show you the quilt block.  As you may have gathered from the title, we’re doing a variation of the courthouse steps block.

The block has a larger center for embroidery, and then the traditional courthouse steps piecing.  Here is my sample block {complete with Embroidery}:

This quilt will have two size options, as I mentioned before.  The large quilt will consist of 12 blocks, each with a unique, garden themed embroidery.  The blocks measure approximately 17″ square, so without sashing the quilt will measure 51″ x 68″, so a generous size throw quilt.  Here are two sample layouts of the throw quilt to show what the finished quilt will look like {more on layout later}:

Fabric Requirements:  To make the full size quilt, you will need 12 fat quarters and 1 additional fat quarter for your embroidery centers.  Since we are using a courthouse steps block, I recommend that you choose your fabrics with two colorways rather than mixing the fabrics together.  Here are the fabrics we will be using {note: you do not have to purchase any kits to participate, these are just options that our lovely sponsors have made available to you, and we love to support them!}:

Good Fortune by Kate Spain {left} & Poetica by Patricia Bravo {right}

I will be using Good Fortune by Kate Spain {find the kit here} and my mom will be using Poetica by Patricia Bravo {find the kit here}.  Our friends at Sew Lux Fabric & Gifts and at Five Monkey Fabrics have put some great kits together, if you’d like to use either of these lovely bundles, and they’ve included a discount through 2/29 too, here is the discount info:

Good Fortune at Sew Lux Fabric & Gifts:  Use the coupon code fortune10 for 10% off the kit, mini kit, perle sampler, and coordinating yardage.

Poetica at Five Monkey Fabrics: Use the coupon code CVQAL for 10% off the kit, mini kit, perle sampler, and coordinating yardage.

Mini Kit:  If the full 12 blocks seems too ambitious, we’re also including a mini quilt option with 6 blocks.  For the mini quilt you will need 6 fat quarters plus one neutral fat quarter for the embroideries.  The mini quilt will allow you to choose which six embroideries you’d like to use for your quilt.  Without sashing the baby quilt measures 34″ x 51″

Poetica by Patricia Bravo {left} & Good Fortune by Kate Spain {right}

Find the mini kit of Poetica here and of Good Fortune here!

Threads:  We’re using Finca Perle Cotton size 8 for this Stitch & Quilt Along {you can read more about thread types here}.  We’ll be using 10 different threads for this project, with a variety of colors for our garden themed embroideries.  Here are the colors we’re using:

Good Fortune coordinating thread {left} & Poetica coordinating thread {right}

We used Finca Perle cotton size 8 for our Embroidery 101: Stitch & Quilt Along and it has held up well in the wash so far {I have to small children, my quilts get washed often!}.  Our sponsors have put together some Perle Cotton Kits if you’d like to try these threads without investing in the whole threads.  Each kit contains 10 yards of each color for the coordinating fabric, which should embroider the whole quilt.  You will find the Good Fortune perle sampler here and the Poetica perle sampler here.

Interfacing:  For this project you will need 2 yards {20″ wide} light to medium fusible interfacing {I am using Pellon 880F Sof-Shape}.  This type of interfacing should be available at your local fabric or craft store.  Note: This yardage is updated, sorry for any confusion!

Sashing Option:  I haven’t decided whether I’m going to use a sashing or not.  However, for a 1 1/2″ sashing between blocks you will need about 1 additional yard of fabric for the throw quilt and 1/2 yard for the baby quilt.

Backing:  For a traditional backing on the throw quilt without sashing you will need about 4 yards.  My favorite backing method uses one piece of backing print and a solid to cover the back.  For that option you will 2 yards print and 1 yard solid.

For the baby quilt without sashing you will need 1 1/2″ yards of backing.

For the throw quilt backing with 1 1/2″ sashing you will need an extra 1/2 yard backing or an extra 1/4 yard print and 1/4 yard solid.

Binding:  You will need approximately 1/2 yard binding fabric for the throw quilt, and 3/8 yard binding for the baby quilt.

Spread the Word:  Grab one of our buttons and wear it proudly! Also, the button will link back to the Garden Steps index page, which will have an index of links to each post and our approximate timely, so you’ll always be able to find the info you’re looking for.

Show & Tell: What’s the fun of a quilt along if we don’t make new friends and see each other’s progress? So, please feel free to join the Flickr group! Also, if you write a blog post about your fabric choice, link up below so we can check it out {there will be a weekly linky for each step of the quilt along!}.

Prizes:  We’ll be having some little giveaways along the way, you may link up your blog post or Flickr photo to each weeks linky to be entered into the drawings {note: not all giveaways will be announced, some will be surprise!}.  For this linky we’ll be giving away an embroidery index card, some embroidery scissors and needles!

Well, I’m proud of you if you’ve made it through all this info, I’ve tried to keep it short, but I tend to be wordy…

Don’t forget to show and tell in our Flickr Group! Did you blog about the quilt along, your fabric selection, or threads? Share your post here {please link to a specific post or Flickr photo}:

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25 Comments

  1. Hi Jennie
    more exciting about our Quilt a long!!!!

    I have another question … Usually I enbroder with DMC mouline and not with the Finca Perle that I used for hand quilting.If it is a problem I’ll use the Finca Perle otherwise I prefer to use the DMC Mouline ….

    I’m going to choose my 12 FQS ^__*

    Hugs and tomorrow I’ll tell about the QAL in my blog ^__^
    Gabriella

  2. I’ll have to look in my stash and see what I’ve got…for the baby quilt, will the blocks be smaller than the 17″. I’m wondering if I can put a few less rounds on the courthouse steps to make the blocks smaller?

    I’ll try to remember to link up tomorrow! =)

    1. Leslie, to use a jelly roll you will need 4 Jelly Roll strips for each fat quarter {so, for a 12 block quilt you will need 48 strips – or one jelly roll and 2 fat quarters}. Also, about half of the strips will need to be cut down to 2″ wide. So, there might be a little extra waste. But, if that’s okay with you then it should work great!

  3. I’d love to join in. I was a bit nervous about the hand embroidery–I haven’t done much at all. However, by coincidence, someone brought home a huge book on hand embroidery for me to have a look at on the very same day. What are the chances of that?

    I can use whatever fabric I want to, right?

    Thanks for doing this quilt along!

  4. I LUV the Good Fortune line and I think courthouse steps is a pretty design. I would like to participate…but, I’m not much into hand embroidery. Would the quilt be pretty without embroidery? or maybe some simple machine embroidery or machine applique?

    hugZ,
    annie
    anniesrubyslipperz.com

  5. I love this! A friend and I are getting together today to cut our fabrics and maybe sew a block or two. So exciting…thanks so much!

  6. I have signed in twice but my link is not showing up. I am so looking forward to this. I love the freshness of your work.

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