My Finish-A-Long list for Quarter 2

 - follow the link to go straight to the Q2 Finishalong linkup if you want to link up your own list -

It is time to post and link up my list of unfinished projects for quarter 2 of the Finish-A-Long  (follow the link for more information - anyone with an UFO, WIP or similar that they want to finish is welcome to join).
I decided for this quarter to change up my list.

It is not that I have finished any project from last quarter (I haven't - again!), but there are so many projects on the list that I don't even look at during the quarter, and others I have been working on that haven't ever made it onto the list. Time for an overhaul!

This is my list for Quarter 2 of the 2018 Finish-A-Long:

1. Straight in at the top, a project that wasn't on the list before, but that I have been working on recently.

This is for the Cork Textiles Network's  exhibition for their 20th anniversary. The work will be going to the Knitting and Stitching shows this autumn (Dublin, London and Harrogate) and every member is asked to have a piece. The (working) title of the exhibition is "Selfie", and all members have been asked to make a self portrait. It has a deadline, so it should only be on the list for this quarter, let's hope I can do it! There is a lot of stitching on it, good that it isn't large (30 x 40 cm, about 12" x 16").
And no, it isn't a quilt (no three layers), though I will be adding appliqué.

2. Also as part of Cork Textiles Network's 20th anniversary there will be an exhibition with work based on a book. This will be a selected exhibition for the Knitting and Stitching shows, but all work entered will be locally exhibited first, from which the selection will be made.

I have chosen my book, and I have some fabrics, though I need to add some more.
(And yes, that is an ombre fabric, I did fall for them *a bit* recently. Not sure what I will make with the others yet... And ...um... no dots. I know they are really popular at the moment, but I am not really fond of them...)

3. Feathered Star top

Well yes, this still needs quilting, but I really want to finish this one! It is one of my favourite tops.

4. Cubes quilt

This is the quilt closest to a finish. To finish quilting the borders, binding, and a label of course.

5. Sunflowers

The blocks are together for years, I intended to quilt it for free motion quilting practice. The idea is that the riot of colours and shapes will not show up my lack of experience too much... I'm keeping it in here, because I really should get practising my FMQ.

6. Log cabin

The top is finished, and I am very happy with it. I had it basted, and started quilting, but I wasn't pleased with it. The tension of my machine played up, and I disliked the wadding I used. So I have taken it apart, bought new wadding and hope to get it quilted soon.

7. Top

For ages I have a few dress making fabrics in the cupboard, and it is high time I did something with them. I intend to dust off my old dress making skills, and start with a simple top (I meant to make it last summer). There is enough fabric there for a dress, but I cannot see myself head to toe in this colour, so a top it is.

8. Shawl/wrap for myself

Inspired by the wrap I saw at Ireland's online fibre and crafts magazine Olann and called "Mind the Gap" (though I'm leaving out the gaps). The image above was posted on my Instagram ages ago, it now looks like this:

I am well into the decrease so it shouldn't be that long. If only there were more hours in the day...

Linking up with the 2018 Finish-A-Long for Quarter 2 at the post on my own blog.

#2018FALQ2sewofcourse

Sandra

Minor Blog Trouble

How do you follow your favourite blogs? Do you use Bloglovin'? Click a bookmark in your browser? Or are you signed up to receive every new post by email? Or maybe you don't follow any blogs at all?

After publishing my last post, I received a comment saying that the email sign-up on my blog didn't work. So I went off to investigate!
Who knew that behind that simple gadget that you add to your Blogger blog in two clicks, lies so much detail?! Well, maybe everyone knows, but I definitely didn't!! And looking into the problem (with some help and support from a forum) I found to my surprise that there were no "followers by email" signed up to my blog at all...

I could do with some sunshine... and my blog posts have to have an image!

I know that my mum followed my blog by email, and I believe some of her friends did, too. I have no idea how many readers follow-by-email though. I never knew until now that you could even see how many there are. I do know now that they have all gone!

I followed my own blog, too, so that I could see how it looks when a post comes by email. And I haven't received my latest post by email, though I did receive the previous one. Something went very wrong between those two posts, and I don't know how or why. I am not sure if it is even possible to find out how or why. I definitely don't want to spend the time trying.

I also have no idea how to retrieve the followers-by-email that have disappeared. If I'm honest, I love my blog, and I love for people to be following it, reading it, and enjoying it especially. But I am not hung up on how many followers I have. I will tell mum to sign up again though...

If you come across this post (you probably haven't had an email about it!), and you would like to follow the blog by getting a message in your inbox when a post is published, please do sign up. I have changed the look of the sign up, so that you click the text - see on the side bar "Follow by Email" - rather than enter your email address in a box, but it goes to the same service from Blogger. When you click the text you are taken to the page where you can enter your email, and "prove you're not a robot". Then you will get an email to confirm you actually want to sign up. Click the link in that email, and you're all set. Then next time I write a post you will receive a message by email so you don't have to miss anything from me.

With thanks to Dots who pointed out the gadget wasn't working! And for being the first to sign up once it was working again!

And now, back to sewing of course!

Sandra

Link up your list - Quarter 2 Finishalong

Its time to link up your list of unfinished projects that you propose to finish in Q2 of the Finish-A-Long. We are hoping that the FAL community will inspire you again to work on your unfinished projects this quarter (and throughout the remainder of the year) and to get them finished!

The 2018 FAL is hosted by a community of bloggers across the world. Our hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Sandra (also Social Media Director) - Studio Sew of Course - Ireland

• Leanne - She Can Quilt  - Canada 

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA

For those of you who are new to the FAL, it is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete those unfinished projects that are hanging around. At the start of the quarter you post and link up a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months, and then at the end of the quarter you link up each successful finish from your original list.

Each linked up finish is an entry into the draw for wonderful prizes from our sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list as long or short as you wish. The 2018 Schedule and Rules for the FAL are on my permanent 2018 FAL page, let me know if you have any questions.

Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q2 of the Finish-A-Long. you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo. Please think about visiting them and saying thank you for their support of the FAL.

$50 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

$25 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$20 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

3 Six Month Subscr.

$25 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

A Minikins Bundle

$50 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Gift Certificate

$40 Gift Certificate

So now it is time to round up those projects that you want to finish over the next three months! Take a photo of each one and make your list. Please ensure that you have at least started your projects - pulled fabric with a pattern is considered a UFO - and remember it is only finished projects that will get you an entry toward the above listed prizes. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, usable project.

If posting on social media (Flickr, Facebook & Instagram), it will be very helpful if you tag your list with #2018FALQ2yourname (where yourname is unique to you). Using the same hashtag over the quarter when sharing project progress or finishes helps the host to make the connection to your original list quickly and easily.
IMPORTANT: Don't forget to link up your finishes when the quarter closes!

The 2018 Q2 list for your list of proposed finishes is now open, below, on my blog and each of the hosting blogs. You need only link your list once, on one host blog and the link will show up on all the host blogs. If you are using Facebook, Flickr or Instagram, post a mosaic of your projects and put your list in the description. Don't forget to include your unique hashtag. Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link up if you need it.

We also ask that you become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others - visit and comment on their lists. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done, so please share some of your own too.

If you want you can follow us on Facebook, Finish-A-Long and/or on Instagram, @finishalong, too. We'll post encouragement during the quarter and reminders when the finishes link up opens at the end of the quarter.

When creating your list there is one thing to remember - No deductions for not completing something so - Aim High! Nothing to lose!! Well now, get those list together and get linked up.

Feel free to use and share the FAL button above and this one too:

The Q2 proposed finish linky party will stay open until 11 pm EST, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link (you can also see how much time is left below the linked up images on the right.)

Remember: you only need to link up at ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs.

An InLinkz Link-up

Sandra

Finish-A-Long Q1 Linkup Reminder

Popping in today for a quick reminder that the Quarter 1 Link Up for all your finishes closes on Monday, April 9, 2018, 11 pm EST. So you still have a few more days to finish a project or two and link them up to be eligible for prizes. The link up can be found HERE or on the blog of any of our current hosts.

A few reminders for linking up:

• Please only one finished project for each post that you link up, so that each finish can be an entry in the (random) prize draw. 
• Please include a link to your original list in each post of your finishes (on Instagram the link is the unique tag #2018FALQ1yourname to be used in the Q1 list post, and in any Q1 finish post).
• Please visit some of the other participants and leave a friendly comment, we all love to get those!

If you didn't have a chance to visit the tutorials that were posted as part of Finish-A-Long Tutorials Week, here is the schedule once more:

• April 3, 2018 - Marci of Marci Girl Designs - How to Link Up Your Instagram Photos to Inlinkz Via Your Computer

• April 4, 2018 - Sandra (me) of Studio Sew of Course and Marci of Marci Girl Designs - We are sharing a round-up of last year's fantastic tutorials.

• April 5, 2018 - Lynne of Tinking Along - Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags Tutorial

 They are well worth a visit!

Finally, we hope you will be joining us for Quarter 2 to do it all over again!! So get your List ready, the link up for Q2 Lists will open on April 10, 2018.

Sandra

Last Tutorial of this Quarter

- the linkup for your finishes for Quarter 1 is still open -

Just a short message to remind you that Lynne of Tinking Along is posting her tutorial for the Finish-A-Long tutorial week today. Her post is great for anyone wanting to sew packing bags, storage bags, or any sewing with rip-stop fabric really! So go to the "Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags Tutorial", and check it out!

And have you seen the other tutorials this week?
Marci and I posted a round up of last year's tutorials (all last year's tutes in one place), and the day before Marci posted a very clear step-by-step on how to Link up your Instagram photos to InLinkz using your computer. It may come in handy for linking up your recent finishes, or to link up your Q2 list next week!

There are a few more days left for a last-minute finish this quarter, just don't forget to link it up in time!

Sandra

A Round Up of 2017's Finish-A-Long Tutorials

- link up your Q1 Finish-A-Long finishes at the Linkup -
 
Hello and thank you for joining us today, Marci and Sandra here together to share with you a ton of really good resources from last year.  The 2017 Finish-A-Long produced a lot of fantastic tutorials and we thought it would be a great idea to highlight them this year in one feature post.  They are categorized by subject below and all you have to do is click through to get some really great patterns, tips and techniques.

Quilts and Quilt Blocks

• Twister Block Quilt Pattern by Sarah of Sew Me

• Tipi Quilt Pattern and Tutorial for Sewing 60 Degree Triangles by Marci of Marci Girl Designs

• Churn Link Block by Felicity of Felicity Quilts  

• Improv Piano Keys - A Tutorial on Unique Curved Piecing by Marci of Marci Girl Designs

Quilting Techniques

• How to Make Half Square Triangles (HSTs) different ways by Abigail of Cut & Alter 

• Faced Binding by Sandra of Studio Sew of Course

• Binding by Machine by Izzy of Dizzy Quilts

• Taming Seam Allowances by Sandra of Studio Sew of Course

Sewing Projects and Techniques

• Easter Bunny Bags by Judith of Just Jude Designs

• A Polaroid Mug Rug/Snack Mat by Ella of Throw a Wench in the Works

• Easy Framed Accent Strip by Karen of Capitola Quilter 

• Tiny Pumpkin Pin Cushion by Nicky of Mrs. Sew & Sow

• Cord Keeper Tutorial by Lucy of Charm About You 

• Hump Jumpers and Jean-A-Ma-Jigs by Stacey of SLO Studio

We hope you enjoy this look back on the 2017 Finish-A-Long tutorials, there were some real gems in there. And of course we are continuing with tutorials for 2018, too. See our Finish-A-Long pages for more details and a link to this quarter's Tutorial Week post.

Sandra & Marci

First Tutorial of the Quarter

- find the linkup for your finishes for Q1 of the Finish-A-Long HERE -

The first tutorial of this quarter's Finish-A-Long Tutorial Week is up now. Find the post "How to link up your Instagram Photos to InLinkz via your Computer - A Tutorial" at Marci's blog.

In the mean time I am re-checking my list for this quarter, but I am afraid that whichever way I look at it, I have no finish at all this time round... Better get my list ready for Quarter 2, and work to achieve a better result next time!!

Sandra

Tutorial Week

- find the linkup for your finishes in my previous post -

Today kicks off "Tutorial Week," which has been part of the Finish-A-Long since it's inception.  While the link up for Finishes is open, we share some tutorials for you all to enjoy. They are varied, interesting, and usually helpful, so take some time to investigate and visit the blogs below on their scheduled day!

• April 3, 2018 - Marci of Marci Girl Designs - How to Link Up Your Instagram Photos to Inlinkz Via Your Computer

• April 4, 2018 - Sandra of Studio Sew of Course and Marci of Marci Girl Designs - We are sharing a round-up of last year's fantastic tutorials.

• April 5, 2018 - Lynne of Tinking Along - Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags Tutorial

The Quarter 1 Finishes link up opened yesterday, you can find the link up HERE or on any of the hosting blogs. There is still plenty of time to link up or finish those projects as the link up does not close until April 9, 2018, 11 pm EST.

And whether you had a lot of finishes, or none at all this quarter, or you missed Finish-A-Long Q1 altogether, you can always join in for Quarter 2 which is taking off on April 10th, with the link up opening for your List of Proposed Finishes. We hope you will join us!

Sandra

Link up your Finishes for Quarter 1

Can you believe it, we have made it to the end of the first quarter of the 2018 Finish-A-Long and it's time to link up your Q1 finishes.  We hope you have used the first three months of 2018 to complete a bunch of those UFOs on your lists!

Hosts

The 2018 FAL has a community of bloggers across the world jointly hosting and this year's hosts are:

• Marci - Marci Girl Designs - USA

• Sandra (also Social Media Director) - Studio Sew of Course - Ireland

• Leanne - She Can Quilt - Canada

• Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works - USA

• Felicity - Felicity Quilts - Canada

• Karen - Capitola Quilter - USA

• Izzy - Dizzy Quilts - Canada

• Lynne - Tinking Along - USA

Sponsors

Before the link up, let's give a huge thank you to our fantastic sponsors:

$50 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

$25 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$20 Gift Certificate

3 PDF Patterns

2 PDF Patterns

3 Six Month Subscr.

$25 Gift Certificate

$25 Gift Certificate

A Minikins Bundle

$50 Gift Certificate

2 PDF Patterns

$30 Gift Certificate

$40 Gift Certificate

For the 2018 FAL, we continue tutorial week.  Here is the schedule for this quarter so you can visit them all:

• April 3 - Marci of Marci Girl Designs - How to link up your Instagram post via your computer 

• April 4 - Sandra of Studio of Course and Marci of Marci Girl Designs - A Round Up of 2017's Finish-A-Long Tutorials

• April 5 - Lynne of Tinking Along - Ripstop Nylon Packing Bags Tutorial

  

The 2018 Quarter 1 link for your finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs - you only need to link on one blog for your finish to appear on all host blogs.

Link-up "Rules"

Add one link for each finish.  If you want to link a round up post of all your finishes, use that link to enter one of your finishes and then link the rest of your finishes separately.  Please, only one link per finish, as your link is an entry into the randomly drawn prize draws. 

Please ensure that the photo or blog post you link up contains a link or reference back to your original list so that we can verify your entry (make sure it is from the appropriate quarter, too). On Instagram, tag your photos with #2018FALQ1yourname (where yourname is unique to you), this makes it easier for us to match your finishes with your list, which also should have this tag.

Please become part of the FAL community.  Check out the links of others and leave a comment. We all need encouragement so let's applaud each other.  The 2018 FAL Facebook page is HERE and you can follow us on Instagram @finishalong.

Our hosts will also link up their finishes to share in the community but they are not eligible for any of the prizes.

The Q1 Finishes link will stay open from now until 11 pm, EST, Monday April 9, 2018 - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link (you can also see how much time is left below the linked up images on the right).  It is best to link up your finishes early and if you have a last minute one, add that one later so you don't miss out.  The prizes will be awarded as soon as we can verify all the entries and do the drawings.  We will post the winners on each host's blog.

Lastly, don't forget to start making your Q2 list as the Q2 list link opens on April 10, 2018.

2018 Q1 Finishes Link Up:

An InLinkz Link-up

Sandra