Welcome to the Friends & Companions Sew-Along!!

Welcome to the first stop of our first ever Marcus Fabrics Designer Sew-Along!  I'm so glad you're here!!  

For those of you who may not know me, let me tell you a little about myself.  I'm Pam Buda and my company is.... 

I've been designing quilt patterns since 2004 and love traditional quilts using Civil War reproduction and country style fabrics.  Click here to visit my website to see all of my pattern offerings.

I'm also the creator of The Prairie Women's Sewing Circle Club.  The club includes historic, anecdotal stories of what life was like for ordinary "prairie" women, c. 1840-1900, who would sew daily of necessity.  The club features small quilt patterns, and lessons of how they "made-do" in all aspects of their life, and in their quilts as well.  My prairie style is reflected in the fabrics I design for Marcus Brothers: sweet, traditional prints with simple country style.  

My newest fabric collection, called Prairie Gathering, was designed especially for my new Quilt of the Quarter program (think BOM) by the same name.  A Prairie Gathering is not your typical Block of the Month program in that it's a Medallion style quilt with pieced borders that are constructed "as-you-go".  It is only available through participating quilt shops starting January, 2015.  

You can click here to see all of my latest fabric collections.

If you've just heard about our Marcus Designer Sew-along and want to participate, you can 
click here for all the details.  It's not too late to join us!

Let's get to sewing our first block.  My block is called.....

 Union Forever

Cutting Instructions:

Light print  (1038-0188)

          *Cut (2) 2⅞” squares.

          *Cut (4) 2¼” squares; crosscut once diagonally.

Black print  (1035-0112)

          *Cut (2) 2⅜” squares.

          *Cut (1) 3¼” square; crosscut twice diagonally.

Green print   (1702-0116)

          *Cut (1) 3¼” square; crosscut twice diagonally.

Blue print   (1109-0150)

          *Cut (6) 2⅞” squares; crosscut (4) squares once diagonally.

         

Cheddar print   (1033-0128)

          *Cut (2) 2⅜” squares.

Red print   (1034-0111)

          *Cut (2) 2⅞” squares crosscut once diagonally.

Directions:

*Sew the black and green print 3¼” crosscut triangles together; press to the black triangle.

*Sew the red print triangles to the previous units; press to the red triangles.

Make (4) units measuring 2½” unfinished.

*Sew those units into a Pinwheel; press to create opposing seams.  Make (1) unit measuring 4½” unfinished.

*Draw a diagonal line on the wrong side of the (2) cheddar 2⅜” squares.  Match each with a 2⅜” black print square.

*Sew ¼” on each side of the drawn line; cut apart.

*Press to the black triangle.  You will have (4) Half Square Triangles 

measuring 2” unfinished.

*Trim each Half Square Triangle to 1 15/16” by simply placing the left and bottom edges of the Half Square in between the 1⅞” and the 2” mark on the ruler as shown. 

(I hope this doesn't freak anyone out.  It's really pretty easy.  Just position the Half Squares as shown in the photo, trim the right side and the top, and it will be alright. This little bit of trimming makes a big difference in the outcome.) 

*Sew (2) light print triangles to each side of a black & cheddar print Half Square Triangle unit; press to the light print triangles.  Make (4) units.

*Sew (2) blue print triangles to the previous unit: press to the blue triangles.

 Repeat to make (4) Flying Geese units measuring 2½” x 4½” unfinished.

*Use the same technique as described above for Half Square Triangles.  Using the (2) 2⅞” light print and blue print squares, make (4) Half square triangles that measure 2½” unfinished.

*Arrange the units for the block as shown.  Sew together into rows; press for opposing seams.

Sew rows together; press seams open.

Your block should measure 8½” unfinished.

I hope you have fun making my Union Forever block.  

If you're lovin' the fabrics you see, just wait until you see the whole quilt with them!! There are a few more kits available.  You can order them from Paula & Mary Ellen at Red Crinonline Quilts or Sarah & Dolores at Homestead Hearth.  

To make this whole process even more fun, each of us will have prizes to give away!  Yay!  

Please post a comment right here for a chance to win my give-away.  Let us know what kind of fabrics you love.  What's your favorite color(s)?  Love a certain genre or love them all?  We'd love to hear from you!  I'll choose a winner the morning of August 4th.  (Please do not email your comments as only comments left on the blog will be eligible.)

Mark your calendars to visit Paula Barnes' blog next Friday, August 8th, to see the original block Paula designed just for you!  Here's the complete list of dates, designers, and blog addresses.  

8/1                        Pam Buda ~ Heartspun Quilts                                  www.HeartspunQuilts.Blogspot.com

8/8                        Paula Barnes ~ Red Crinoline Quilts                     www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

8/15                      Sarah Maxwell ~ Homestead Hearth                      www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com              

8/22                      Pati Violick ~ Marcus Fabrics                                 www.MarcusMentions.com

8/29                      Gloria Parsons ~ Olde Green Cupboard               www.OldeGreenCupboard.Blogspot.com  

9/5                        Nancy Rink ~ Nancy Rink Designs                           www.NancyRinkDesigns.com/blog

9/12                      Mary Ellen Robison~Red Crinoline Quilts          www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

9/19                      Dolores Smith ~ Homestead Hearth                       www.HomesteadHearth.Blogspot.com

9/26                      Lisa Shepard ~ Marcus Fabrics                               www.MarcusMentions.com

10/3                      Red Crinoline Quilts ~ Quilt Revealed!                www.RedCrinolineQuilts.Blogspot.com

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today, and I can't wait to read your comments!  See you right here on August 4th for the winning comment!