Americana QAL Complete

This morning I got the final borders on and all seams pressed. I really like how it turned out. It is larger than I had planned, It will fit a double bed instead of being a throw, but it will still work as a throw, and cover well.

The colors aren't very good, as my i-pad and camera both have dead batteries and I used my phone camera. The other side is red and white strips the full length, as shown on the pattern.

I will be using the left over fabric from the blue and the white stars, as well as the same pattern in red. I also have some of the border stars that I will add somewhere too, with the "celebrate" fabric to tie it in.

This has been a very fun project and am glad I joined in. My stash of fat quarters for the project is partially used up, and I probably could do a small wall hanging or something with what I have left over. I will have to think about that one for the future.

Final Row

I decided not to do the mountains for my final row. The reason is that my sister, Dorine, gave me this flag many years ago when I was going to do an Americana quilt. As I said before, I never found a pattern that I liked, so never got it made. This was the perfect time and pattern to use the flag, so here is my final row:

Because my quilt is smaller, I made the sashing rows narrower also.

Can't wait for February and the pattern for the side stars.

Yankee Doodle Star Row Complete

The row worked up really fast. I used fat quarters for the background material. I have had them for many years and did not have enough to make all 5 blocks with the same fabric. I looked for more fabric to match either pattern, but was unable to find matching for either, so I went ahead and made them different. I do like how they turned out.

The picture is a little blurred, but the lighter background has flying eagles and the darker has blue stars. The red fabric, the navy blue fabric, and the light blue fabric all have white stars.

Big Star Row Complete

The dreaded big star was not as daunting to put together as it looks on the picture. It was fun top work up, even with the paper piecing. 

The sashing is narrower than the  pattern calls for, and the top and bottom strips are deleted in order to keep the row smaller for the smaller size of quilt. I need to finish the embroidery on the bird house row, then the row will be complete.

Sorry, it is posted wrong. I don't know how to rotate the picture. Deana, maybe  you can fix it for me. Thanks

Freedom Row Complete

This past week I have spent at the sewing machine, but got the entire row finished. Each block had it's own challenges, and since the quilt is a throw instead of a queen, modifications had to be made also. I chose to use the flags from a fat quarter, so appliqued them on. I love how it all turned out.

Cemetery

 Church

 School

 Village House

Freedom Row

Betsy Sue Ross row complete

This row is smaller than the pattern, as I am making a smaller quilt. It measures the same length as the bird houses. The frames are also smaller, as the fabric is from my scrap bins and was already smaller than the width suggested. As I measured and re-measured, I decided that they would work. I loved this row!!

The flags are from a fat quarter that was in my Americana stash, and it does not have 13 stars, but nothing I have has the circle of stars, so I went with this.

Tweet Tweet Row

I have most of this new row complete. Because I am making a smaller quilt, I have only 3 bird houses. The music and stars will be completed after I get the length of the row after we do the big star and adjust the length of this row. 

Americana rows 1 & 2 complete

I have my rows complete. I still have the love/hate relationship with paper piecing, but I still love the finished product. I am doing a throw size quilt, so no spacers between the stars and only 4 sets of flag/hearts. 

As I said before, the fabric is some I have collected over the past several years, and some is left over from other projects, so there is a big variety of pieces. Some of it I got before I learned to appreciate the quality of fabrics, and I can definitely feel the difference while working with it.

My Love/Hate Relationship

I have a love/hate relationship with paper piecing. I love the crisp, sharp points and how the blocks are so beautiful when they are all put together. I hate working with the foundation paper being backward to the fabric, how long it takes to make each block (even if I do more than one at a time), how much thread it takes, and how much fabric I feel that I am wasting. But it all averages out when I get the block completed!!!

Here is the first "Fireworks Star" of the Americana Row Quilt

I have been planning to do an Americana for years. I have had fat quarters and dream squares in my stash for probably 10 years and now I am going to use it!!