synchronized squares quilt along: finishing

{winners posted below.}

welcome to the finishing part of the synchronized quilt along yall :)


by now everyone should have a completed quilt top.
we're gonna finish this bad boy up now.

there's just a few final steps:
layer, baste, quilt & bind.

after that:
wash & dry your quilt.
when your quilt comes out of the dryer it should have some strings hanging around.
simply clip those strings with scissors.

when you're done...pat yourselves on the back!!!
yall just completed a yummy quilt in 3 weeks.
hi-5!!!

i can't wait to start seeing yall's completed quilts show up in the flickr pool.
:^)


just a reminder:
the synchronized squares quilt along is being sponsored by fat quarter shop.

TODAY is the LAST DAY to get your two lakes at 20% off!!!!!!
just enter "PSLayerCake" during checkout.

about the giveaway drawing:
leave a comment with a link to your completed quilt top pic via our flickr pool.
example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelgriffith/5811639265/
*yall have to provide a link to be eligable*

1st prize = $100 fat quarter shop gift certificate
2nd prize = $75 fat quarter shop gift certificate
3rd prize = $50 fat quarter shop gift certificate

comments will be closed & winners will be drawn within 24 hours.
i know that's quick, but a completed top {not quilt} is all that was needed to qualify.

i hope yall enjoyed this quilt along as much as i did.
:D

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER:
1st prize = lena {here's her quilt.}
2nd prize = debbie {here's her quilt.}
3rd prize = kell {here's her quilt.}
email: rachel {at} psiquilt {dot} com

congrats to the winners.
a special thanks to all yall that joined along.
& a huge thanks to fat quarter shop!!!
:)

♥ rachel

sweet pickins.

yummy summery fruits & yummy picnicky checks...


...make for a yummy summery quilt. <--even though i'm not a summery kind of girl.


but that's okay cause miss lindsey has staked claim to this quilt already.
and speaking of miss lindsey...her 1st tooth has arrived.
so it begins...
my baby is growing into a toddler.
:)

ps - this is my "zero solids" synchronized squares quilt i was telling yall about.
fabrics = sweet pickins by darlene zimmerman for robert kaufman
piecing = karrielyne winters
quilting = darla padilla

oh and i know i'm a big solids girl - but i'm pretty sure i'm more in love with my all prints version.

♥ rachel

synchronized squares quilt along: stitching

welcome to the stitching part of the synchronized squares quilt along yall :)


grab all those squares we trimmed down last week.

take a SOLID square & fold it in half. then in half again.
{making four quarters within your square.}

set aside.


take a PRINT square & fold it in half. then in half again.
{making four quarters within your square.}

lay your PRINT square, right side up, over your SOLID square.
make sure to match your fold lines. <--this helps your square become synchronized.


stitch your PRINT square onto your SOLID square with a 1/4" seam allowance.

after you've stitched, cut your WHOLE square in half. then in half again.
tip: layer cake squares = 10" so you're cutting in half at 5"
this yields 4 little stitched squares.

repeat this process for ALL your SOLID & PRINT squares.
this yields 144 little stitched squares.


mix all the colors & prints up into a layout that pleasing to you.
then sew 4 little stitched squares together to make 1 synchronized square.

repeat this process for ALL little stitched squares.
this yields 36 synchronized squares.


now take those 36 synchronized squares & lay them out in a 6x6 block layout.
stitch them together & you've got yourself a completed quilt top.
easy peasy.

now get to stitching & we'll meet back up next week.

i can't wait to start seeing yall's pics show up in the flickr pool.
fyi: the flickr pool includes a q&a section for those with lingering questions.


just a reminder:
the synchronized squares quilt along is being sponsored by fat quarter shop.

there's still time to get your two layer cakes at 20% off!!!
just enter "PSLayerCake" during checkout.
AND there will be gift certificates awarded to 3 lucky quilt along peeps.
disclaimer: you must have a completed quilt top to go into the drawing.
*tenative drawing date is june 30th*

♥ rachel

signed. sealed. delivered.

well the fresh fabric treats books arrived.
yayyy.

i spent a big chunk of the weekend signing them all.
and i spent the last couple of days printing & taping shipping labels.

consider these books signed. sealed. delivered.
so start watching those mailboxes my friends.

and just in case yall missed it, my project from the book is highlighted HERE.

♥ rachel

pinwheel sampler.

i give yall pinwheel sampler.
:)


one of my favoritest quilts EVER.
a classic in my book.


and after many, many requests...she's officially a real pattern.
patterns are available HERE.


quilt stats:
fabric = simple abundance by bonnie & camille for moda
size = 58 1/2" x 58 1/2"
quilting = darla padilla


i'm really itching to make a two color version of this.
i'm thinking strawberry lemonade. or maybe peaches & cream. mmmm.
what colors/fabrics would yall use???

if you are a shop that is interested in purchasing pinwheel sampler...
email me: rachel {at} psiquilt {dot} com

♥ rachel

synchronized squares quilt along: preparing

welcome to the preparing part of the synchronized squares quilt along yall :)


first things first...
we need to trim all your PRINT layer cake squares down.
your squares will need to be 7 1/2" x 7 1/2"
*do not discard those lovely leftover 2 1/2" strips though*


now we need to trim all your SOLID layer cake squares down.
your squares will need to be perfect 10" x 10" squares.


now's the perfect time to make our binding. <--no groaning!!! :D
if you want a scrappy binding, simply use the discarded 2 1/2" strips from above.
if you want regular binding, simply use 3/4 yards of matching fabric.

now trim those blocks & make that binding.
& we'll meet back up next week.

i can't wait to start seeing yall's pics show up in the flickr pool.
fyi: the flickr pool includes a q&a section for those with lingering questions.


just a reminder:
the synchronized squares quilt along is being sponsored by fat quarter shop.

there's still time to get your two layer cakes at 20% off!!!
just enter "PSLayerCake" during checkout.
AND there will be gift certificates awarded to 3 lucky quilt along peeps.
disclaimer: you must have a completed quilt top to go into the drawing.
*tenative drawing date is june 30th*

♥ rachel

blogger's choice.

i'm loving this stack of lovelies, aren't yall?!?!
get your own yummy bundle here.

yummy things are afoot at the jolly jabber.
scootch on over and check 'em out.
psst: giveaway giveaway giveaway :)

if this was in your stash, what would YOU make???
:)

♥ rachel

to keep or not to keep???

am i the only one that has an insane amount of quilting magazines?!?!
honestly.

do yall keep back issues or not so much?!?!
inquiring minds want to know.

please feel free to share your organization ideas, hints or tips.
i'd love to know what other addicted peeps do. HA.

♥ rachel

summer house.

i have over 7 yards of yummy fabric calling my name.

along with a mountain of laundry, my disgusting bathroom, my kiddos baseball games,
my neglected flower beds, overdue deadlines, my overflowing email, pattern writing,
the post office, a handful of grey hairs & mr griffith himself.

where's mary poppins when you need her?!?!
:D

fabric = summer house by lily ashbury for moda <--a must have in my opinion :)

♥ rachel

synchronized squares quilt along.

welcome to the synchronized squares quilt along yall.

i love christmas SO stinkin' much that i feel the need to be ahead of the game.
meaning i'm a christmas in june kind of girl.
christmas in july is just way too far away.
plus i really, really can't stand summer. ugh.

so to kick off the "i wish it was fall-football-winter-christmas-anything-but-summer" season {lol}...
i'm gonna teach yall how to make your very own synchronized squares quilt!!!
{we'll spend the next few weeks making it.}


this week we will focus on our starting materials.
our quilt will be approximately 55" square.
yep. the perfect "lounge on the couch" size.
:)


i cheated this time and had my quilt finished before the announcement.
how else would i be able to convey it's yummy scruffily come & get me goodness?!?!
*sigh*


materials needed:
1 print layer cake of your choice
1 bella solids layer cake of your choice
3/4 yard binding OR use scraps from your layer cake for scrappy binding
4 yards backing

for those inquring minds, i used:
a flurry {by kate spain} layer cake {get yours here.} <--hi kate. xoxo.
& moda bella solids in pure white {get yours here.}

psst: be on the lookout for my other yummy synchronized squares quilt.
it's all prints. zero solids. doesn't scream christmas. and is yum yum yum delicioso.
i promise i'll share it as soon she's home from my quilter.

i have started a synchronized squares quilt along flickr group.
i can't wait to see everyone's quilts come to life.
:)

a big thanks to...
karrielyne's piecing skills. <--i heart you & your helping hands.
& darla padilla's quilting skills. <--i'm loving the snowflakes.


the synchronized squares quilt along is being sponsored by fat quarter shop.
what's this mean for yall???

first: do yall need to buy your TWO layer cakes for the quilt along?!?!
well quilt along peeps get 20% off at the fat quarter shop!!!
*use code "PSLayerCake" during checkout*
disclaimer: this coupon code is good towards TWO layer cakes of your choice. layer cakes only.

second: how about free fabric?!?!
fat quarter shop is awarding prizes!!!

at the end of the quilt along...
the peeps who finish their quilts will go into a drawing:
1st prize = $100 gift certificate
2nd prize = $75 gift certificate
3rd prize = $50 gift certificate
*tenative drawing date is june 30th*


grab a button, join in the fun & spread the word.
i hope yall are as excited as i am.

so who's in???

♥ rachel

p.s. the internet gave me a bff

hey p.s. i quilt readers it's julie from jaybird quilts
rachel's kiddies got sick...and then got her sick... & since she still a bit under the weather i said i'd step in.

so i'm going to tell you a story of how the internet gave me a bff.

before i had my own blog i read a few regularly, one of which was "p.s. i quilt"
this rachel girl seemed fun, real & i liked reading her posts.
she didn't use capital letters much either... a habit i shared.

i started my own blog & we began to form a bloggy friendship.
not long into that friendship rachel trusted me with her treasured pinwheel quilt & i quilted it for her.
slowly we went from the occasional e-mails to e-mailing every day.

then i remember like it was yesterday getting a really exciting email accepting my first project on the moda bake shop.
 i sent rachel an e-mail to tell her & the e-mail ended with "i'd call you if I had your phone number"
her next e-mail included her phone number & i called her.
we talked for what seemed like forever... commenting on the fact that we both had different voices than we thought the other would have & chatting about everything and anything.
later that night rachel sent me an e-mail that included "we SO talked on the phone."

from there we'd have the occasional phone call to talk... usually about something quilt related.
we planned on going to quilt market together that fall and started to talk more & more often... and eventually we were talking every day.

this photo was taken about 10 minutes after we met in person for the first time.
i immediately felt like i had known this girl forever... she just has that way about her.

fall 2009 quilt market

if our friendship had stayed at that level... i would have been happy.
rachel was a great friend & a person i could trust to give me honest feedback on in-progress quilt things.
we had BIG dreams of designing in the quilt world.

but it got better.
rachel became my bff.
she listened to me day in & out and helped to heal a broken heart.
she has been there when i've lost family members.
she was there when elijah was diagnosed.
she's been there for me in the good times too.
rachel has become the person i can call no matter what, no guards, no fears & i know she'll listen and still be there tomorrow.
{i'm also the same for her}

rachel & i are opposites in many ways... but that has only made our friendship stronger.
she's the triangle girl & i like squares
i love math & she doesn't so much
she's married with 4 kids & i'm just me :-)
she's southern & i'm from philly
i hate cooking & rachel loves it.
while we both have read/watched harry potter & twilight i'm on team potter & she's on team twilight.
{{rachel edit: i'm actually team harry potter & team twilight. i can't & won't pick sides. lol.}}

it was really hard for rachel that she had to miss this past quilt market.
we had grand plans for my booth & the show but hey life happens and we go with it.
rachel could have been all "woe is me i'm not there"
BUT she wasn't
instead she was my PR rep.
via twitter/facebook/flickr and even my blog she kept everyone up to date on my booth & market while i was too busy myself to do any posting.

during setup i spotted her escapde quilt before it got hung up in the kona booth.  i quickly asked candi to snap this pic so i could send it to rachel.
a few people wondered what i was doing... but i knew the photo would make rachel smile.
rachel & i are both following our dreams by designing quilts.

spring 2011 quilt market

i had many goals, hopes & dreams when i started my blog...
but never in a million years did i think that my blog would connect me with people in the incredibly genuine way that it has.
i've made many friends through my blog... but rachel is special.

had anyone told me 2 years ago that the internet would give me a bff i would have laughed.
"how could anyone... especially someone who doesn't see me regularly become my bff."
but it happened.
and i can't imagine my world without rachel.

rachel will be back soon... but in the meantime i hope you have enjoyed this peek inside our friendship.
{and i hope rachel doesn't kick my butt for anything i revealed... but i'm pretty sure i'm good.}

i love you rachel... you are my gayle.

♥ julie

nine months.

today = the nine month old mark.
*insert slight panic attack*

so what's happening in miss lindsey's neck of the woods?!?!
she sings. and at the top of her lungs.
she loves bath time. and loves splashing water with her feet.
she crawls. and crosses the living room in about .2 seconds.
she sits up on her own. and can even feed herself little finger foods.
she dances. and loves to hear her daddy play the guitar. <--takes after her momma :)
she pulls herself up on her knees. and hangs on with her mega kung fu grip.
and today we learned patty cake. lots and lots of patty cake.

♥ rachel