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Lake Garden Quilt Sew Along
Week 1
Welcome to Week 1 of the Lake Garden Quilt Sew Along.
Week 1
Welcome to Week 1 of the Lake Garden Quilt Sew Along.
All I can say is wow you guys. They colour combos that have been popping up in the Facebook Group have been amazing. I can't wait to see them all turn into quilts.
This week it's all about preparation, so sharpen your blades and lets get cutting.
The Lake Garden Sew Along will be taking place in both the Facebook Group and on Instagram. If you post in Instagram, be sure your account is set to public so we can all see your posts using the #lakegardenSAL and #lakegardenquilt hashtags.
If you have just joined the SAL, welcome! Make sure to grab the pattern, read up on all the details and choose your fabrics, so you can catch up and join in the fun.
This week it's all about preparation, so sharpen your blades and lets get cutting.
The Lake Garden Sew Along will be taking place in both the Facebook Group and on Instagram. If you post in Instagram, be sure your account is set to public so we can all see your posts using the #lakegardenSAL and #lakegardenquilt hashtags.
If you have just joined the SAL, welcome! Make sure to grab the pattern, read up on all the details and choose your fabrics, so you can catch up and join in the fun.
For my Sew Along quilt I am making a large throw with a fabric selection that I pulled from my stash. Since taking this photo I have cut all the fabrics and realised I needed a couple more blues. I also decided that my Template B would be made using black fabrics. I don't have enough of the metallic black and gold star print so I plan to add more black from my stash and use one star print in each flower centres.
The aqua stripe will be used in the D squares. The stripe in the original quilt just makes me so happy so I defintely wanted to try that again.
The aqua stripe will be used in the D squares. The stripe in the original quilt just makes me so happy so I defintely wanted to try that again.
Before we get started I wanted to share a helpful reminder.
It's very important to keep your Template A piece the right way up when cutting. So watch out if you like to cut fabrics on the fold. It is so very easy to get caught out.
The Lake Garden pattern is designed to be cut with the fabric right side up.
This means if you are tracing Template A, trace it on the right side of the fabric with the template right side up. (writing right side up)
On a side note you don't have to be careful with Template B because it is totally reversable.
Yay, one thing you don't have to worry about.
Just make sure your cut fabric pieces look like the photo below.
If you would like to trace the template onto the reverse of the fabric, just make sure you flip the template, easy!
It's very important to keep your Template A piece the right way up when cutting. So watch out if you like to cut fabrics on the fold. It is so very easy to get caught out.
The Lake Garden pattern is designed to be cut with the fabric right side up.
This means if you are tracing Template A, trace it on the right side of the fabric with the template right side up. (writing right side up)
On a side note you don't have to be careful with Template B because it is totally reversable.
Yay, one thing you don't have to worry about.
Just make sure your cut fabric pieces look like the photo below.
If you would like to trace the template onto the reverse of the fabric, just make sure you flip the template, easy!
MAKING TEMPLATES:
If you have already purchase a set of the Around The Lake acrylic templates you can skip this step. If you would like to purchase a template set, please click here.
There are a couple of ways to make make the templates and cut the curves on template A and B. The acrylic templates obviously make it heaps faster because you can cut with a rotary cutter but there are other options too.
The reason the fabric for both of these templates is cut into a rectangle first, is so the only part that needs to be cut, is the curve. Easy. If you have the acrylic templates then use a smaller roatary cutter (I prefer a 28mm) to quickly cut around the curve. I like to do this standing at a cutting table (or kitchen bench) as the extra pressure gained stops the template moving when cutting.
No templates, no problems!
1. Print out your templates from the PDF pattern or photocopy if you have bought the printed version.
Cut out accurately with scissors.
Pin the paper template right side up on the front of the fabric. Trace the curve using a water soluble pencil or marking tool of choice, and then cut on the line.
Alternatively you can just cut the curve with the paper template still pinned to the fabric. Just like in dressmaking.
2. Trace the template shapes onto templastic using a fine permanent marker. Cut out accurately using scissors.
Place the templates on the fabric and carefully cut with a rotary cutter. Take your time, if you go too fast you can cut the templastic.
I will upload a video to the Facebook Group and you can also check it out on Instagram.
If you have already purchase a set of the Around The Lake acrylic templates you can skip this step. If you would like to purchase a template set, please click here.
There are a couple of ways to make make the templates and cut the curves on template A and B. The acrylic templates obviously make it heaps faster because you can cut with a rotary cutter but there are other options too.
The reason the fabric for both of these templates is cut into a rectangle first, is so the only part that needs to be cut, is the curve. Easy. If you have the acrylic templates then use a smaller roatary cutter (I prefer a 28mm) to quickly cut around the curve. I like to do this standing at a cutting table (or kitchen bench) as the extra pressure gained stops the template moving when cutting.
No templates, no problems!
1. Print out your templates from the PDF pattern or photocopy if you have bought the printed version.
Cut out accurately with scissors.
Pin the paper template right side up on the front of the fabric. Trace the curve using a water soluble pencil or marking tool of choice, and then cut on the line.
Alternatively you can just cut the curve with the paper template still pinned to the fabric. Just like in dressmaking.
2. Trace the template shapes onto templastic using a fine permanent marker. Cut out accurately using scissors.
Place the templates on the fabric and carefully cut with a rotary cutter. Take your time, if you go too fast you can cut the templastic.
I will upload a video to the Facebook Group and you can also check it out on Instagram.
CUTTING FAT QUARTERS:
My best tip for cutting fat quarters is to follow the cutting diagram in the pattern.
Once you get your head around what you need to cut you will discover that it's just as easy to cut the fabric into 4" strips. Then cross cutting them to take make the rectangles needed for the quilt.
To speed things up, I cut 4 fat quarters at a time. Just remember if you do choose to cut multiple layers at once, pay attention.
If you make a mistake you will do it x 4.
My best tip for cutting fat quarters is to follow the cutting diagram in the pattern.
Once you get your head around what you need to cut you will discover that it's just as easy to cut the fabric into 4" strips. Then cross cutting them to take make the rectangles needed for the quilt.
To speed things up, I cut 4 fat quarters at a time. Just remember if you do choose to cut multiple layers at once, pay attention.
If you make a mistake you will do it x 4.
CUTTING SCRAPS AND FAT EIGHTHS:
If you decide to use scraps, fat eighths are a great guide. That's how I made the pink and green version using my stash. I didn't cut multiple layers at once because I was using different sized fabrics, from lengths to scraps so I found it easier to tackle one fabric at a time.
If you decide to use scraps, fat eighths are a great guide. That's how I made the pink and green version using my stash. I didn't cut multiple layers at once because I was using different sized fabrics, from lengths to scraps so I found it easier to tackle one fabric at a time.
PREPARATION FOR WEEK 2:
If you are keen to get going for next week you can mark up the back of your D Squares.
I like to do this using a water erasable pencil and a sandpaper board.
The centre line creates the Flying Geese Unit once sewn and the line to the side creates the bonus Half Square Triangle. I mention these in the pattern but I will also talk about these a bit more next week. You can use them to create cushions, a baby quilt or even use them to make a pieced back. However if you don't want to make these squares you can just skip the step (don't mark the extra line) and add the leftover triangles to your scrap box.
I will also share a way to sew the Flying Geese Units without marking them but instead by using Diagonal Seam Tape by Cluck Cluck Sew. This stuff is magic and you should totally check it out.
If you are keen to get going for next week you can mark up the back of your D Squares.
I like to do this using a water erasable pencil and a sandpaper board.
The centre line creates the Flying Geese Unit once sewn and the line to the side creates the bonus Half Square Triangle. I mention these in the pattern but I will also talk about these a bit more next week. You can use them to create cushions, a baby quilt or even use them to make a pieced back. However if you don't want to make these squares you can just skip the step (don't mark the extra line) and add the leftover triangles to your scrap box.
I will also share a way to sew the Flying Geese Units without marking them but instead by using Diagonal Seam Tape by Cluck Cluck Sew. This stuff is magic and you should totally check it out.
This is a great task to do on the couch in front of the tv. I'm watching the series Castle at the moment and I'm really enjoying it. I remember catching some of the episodes when it was on tv but I have started from the beginning. I love streaming a show that has lots of seasons and this one has a whopping 8!
Do you have any favourite tv shows that you like to watch when sewing?
If I don't have a plan for the triangles I also donate them to my son's school as I do with a lot of my smaller fabric scraps. They use them in art class for collages and all sorts of things. I love that all my fabric scraps get used.
Do you have any favourite tv shows that you like to watch when sewing?
If I don't have a plan for the triangles I also donate them to my son's school as I do with a lot of my smaller fabric scraps. They use them in art class for collages and all sorts of things. I love that all my fabric scraps get used.
That's it for Week 1. Next up we will be making all the Half Flying Geese Units.
Keep sharing your photos in the Facebook group and on Instagram, I love how we can all inspire each other so much.
Emma x
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