Modern Quilting
Inspirational projects and educational tutorials.
This post is part of the Totally Groovy Quilt. Click here to see all of the posts and learn more about the Quilt Along.
Alright folks, it is officially day one of the Totally Groovy Quilt Along, and I could't be more excited. I wan't to thank all of my blogging friends and sponsors for sharing about this QAL.
Seriously you all blew me away, we currently have 232 people signed up to Quilt Along. I was expecting like 50, so i'm literally shocked. If you haven't signed up yet, but want to quilt along you can sign up here. The 10 pattern giveaway has ended though. I can't wait to get to know you all and see your quilts. Before we get started on choosing fabrics, we need to do a little housekeeping.
Most of the posts for Totally Groovy QAL are scheduled for Thursdays and every single one of the posts will have an amazing Giveaway from one of our wonderful event sponsors. You can see the schedule on the original QAL post here.
There are a few ways to keep up to date with the QAL so you don't miss a post or a giveaway.
I will keep all of these places up to date with the latest Groovy News. Also if you look at my main navigation and go to Events, Totally Groovy QAL l will keep an archive list of all the QAL Posts there.
A very key and important tool during this Quilt Along will be Flickr. If you are not a Flickr user you may wan't to seriously consider it. It's a wonderful place to share your progress and get encouragement as you quilt along. I will be answering all questions during the QAL with discussions in the Flickr Group. So if you are stumped when reading the pattern, or choosing colors or have questions about anything you can stop by the Flickr Group and see if anyone else has asked the same question. If not you can start your own new discussion. I will be keeping a close eye on the group. No question is a dumb or stupid question! All of us quilting along are at difference experience levels and have different strengths and weaknesses. The wonderful thing about quilting together as a group is that we can support each other and encourage each other along the way. So ask anything!
We have already started a few discussions in the Flickr Group. One of which is a meet and greet. So please come on by the Flickr Group, once you join stop by the Introduce Yourself! Discussion and introduce yourself. I am reading every single one of these introductions and it has been so much fun!
You will also see some folks have started adding photos of their fabric choices and progress, so go ahead and add yours too so we can all drool :)
As said above there will be a massive amount of giveaways during the duration of the Quilt Along. At the conclusion of each post will be the sponsored giveaway for you to enter. To keep things simple and tidy I have decided to announce the winners to all the Totally Groovy Giveaways on a separate Giveaway Winners page. This page will not be part of the RSS Emails or RSS Feed, but you will get updates on Facebook and Twitter, and if you are a winner I will email you personally.
The winners of the 10 Groove Paper Patterns and the $75 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop and a Groove Pattern have already been announced over on the Giveaway Winners page.
When I am choosing fabric for a quilt pattern, I like to draw from the theme of the quilt for the color scheme. For the Groove Quilt I new I wanted to stick with a retro color palette, so I began searching for some retro inspiration.
Poster can be purchased at ISO 50 Shop
I have always loved retro themed design, in fact if you look at my graphic design portfolio you will see it has a retro slant. A designer whom I have followed for quite sometime for design inspiration, is Scott Hansen who blogs at ISO50. He designs amazing retro art and has a shop. I came across this retro poster called Vuela in his shop and really loved the color theme he used.
So I pulled out my Kona Color Card and picked out colors that matched well with those in this poster. Let me tell you having a Kona Color card has saved me so much time and headaches!
The Kona colors I chose are Lime(1192), Butter(1055), School Bus(1482), Cayenne(355), and Aloe(197).
One of the absolutely wonderful things about quilting with a group is that we can share wonderful ideas with each other. Caitlin from i don't do dishes fabric shop had posted a new discussion in the Flickr Group with a brilliant idea. Making a Groove Quilt Coloring Sheet, so that we can all play with the colors for our quilt. Isn't that such an awesome idea. So I got to work making a coloring sheet based on the pattern. I made one that is for just the baby size quilt, but it will at least give you and idea. You can download the PDF here.
I didn't have the handy dandy Groove Coloring Sheet when I was choosing my fabric, but I did make use of it when deciding which color was going to go where. So I got my color card, crayons, fabric, and coloring sheet out and went to work.
Before you start shopping for your fabric it will be important to make a color key to go with your pattern. Emily uses 5 colors and labels them A, B, C, D, E. She uses these labels on the cutting and assembly diagrams on the pattern. So I went ahead and made a little chart for each of my colors in the corresponding position they would replace. Here are the colors I am using for each position.
I love working with solids, and it is one of the reasons I chose this quilt for the Quilt Along. But, you are welcome to choose any types of fabric you wan't whether solids, prints, linen, cotton, large scale prints, blender prints. Anything your heart desires, and I am very anxious to see what you come up with. Amanda Woodruff from A Crafty Fox, is quilting along with us and will be doing a tutorial later on for sewing curves with a curve master pressor foot. She loves prints, and will be making her quilt using some monochromatic prints as well as a few solids. Between fabric and quilting choices the possibilties are endless, so even with over 200 some Groove quilts each one is going to be unique, isn't that just awesome!
My daughter and I had a wonderful time coloring in our Groove Quilts. I let her choose 5 colors and she chose silver, pink, purple, hot pink, and blue. Pretty good for a 3 year old!
There is a plethora of amazing quilt shops online to purchase your fabric from. Here is a list of those who have sponsored this QAL and I personally love. They all have wonderful selections and sale items.
This list is in the same order as our giveaway schedule
Pink Chalk Fabrics features quality natural fibers for quilting, sewing, craft projects, handbags, aprons, and more! You'll find colorful fabrics from the big names, Japanese imports, and small, boutique finds. Owner Kathy Mack is always searching out fun materials to work with in the studio. One of her favorite colors is Pink (who knew?) and you'll find a large selection here. Something very unique about Pink Chalk is there large selection of patterns. Kathy is devoted to making Pink Chalk Fabrics THE destination for patterns by independent designers.
Pink Chalk Fabrics is giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to 4!! lucky winners. This will be a great opportunity for the winners to shop for their Groove Quilt fabrics. Pink Chalk has an amazing selection of solids in Kona, Michael Miller Cotton Corture, Free Spirit Designer Solids, Moda Bella Solids, Pure Organics, Quilters Linen, and Essex Linen. And 409 products curently on sale!
Here's how, using the Rafflecopter widget below, folow the step by step instructions. First step is to add a comment to this post and tell me what fabrics and colors you have in mind for your Groove Quilt.
This giveaway will end Thursday, August 9th, at 12 a.m. EST. Mr. Random will choose a winner and I will announce their name on the Giveaway Winners page, later that Thursday. * Note * This giveaway is open to EVERYONE near and far! If you're a "no reply" or an anonymous commenter, remember to include your email address in your comment so that if you win I can contact you!
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY using Rafflecopter Widget
Remember to stop on by the Totally Groovy Flickr Group and share you progress. Also post any and all questions you have! I am really really really excited to be making this quilt with you!
My name is Alyssa Williams, I live in sunny Prescott Valley, AZ. I am a front end developer and avid sewist. I write modern quilting tutorials and share techniques and inspiration here at Pile O’ Fabric. Learn more…
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