ABC BOW

Here is the lowdown on the "S is for Stitch" ABC block of the week quilt-a-long.  I will add links below as we go, as well as tutorials and other helpful bits and pieces.

I intend embroidering and sewing up one block a week, so it is ready to put together easily at the end.  We can link up each week on Sunday evening to show off our work for the week - that will give you a chance to stitch over the weekend!

I will let you know what lovely motivational giveaways we have as we go along - although of course the best gift will be your beautiful finished ABC quilt at the end!

Flickr

I have set up a Flickr group for all your photos - find it here.

Getting organised

First up, you will need to gather the following materials:

• "S is for Stitched" by Kristyne Czepuryk (I found it at Kristyne's blog Pretty by Hand, Amazon, Book Depository)
• a small embroidery hoop
• needle and embroidery thread (standard cotton 6ply floss - e.g. DMC or Cosmo)
• marker pen
• fabric (mwah ha ha - an excuse to shop - more about this later)

Because I'm super geeky, I am going through the book and photocopying each of the 26 alphabet designs I want to use and putting them into a plastic sleeve folder. This saves the fuss of having to do photocopying each week, and will give me a place to store each block when it is done until it is time to sew the quilt top together.

Choosing your quilt pattern

There are two gorgeous quilt patterns in the book and the material requirements, both of which will be perfect to follow.  However I want to change my quilt up a little, and use a different method of putting my blocks together.  If you don't want to follow the book quilt designs exactly, here is some inspiration for different ways to put your quilt together.  You will need to do your own fabric calculations if you intend doing a quilt that isn't in the book.

Ahhh Quilting Salt Air charm quilt, Craftsy member charm pack quilt
Mama Love Quilts ABC quilt, Eye Spy ABC quilt paper pieced by Lakeside Quilters Guild

Timeline

Getting started - cutting your fabric

Block A

Block B

Block C

Block D

Block E
Block F
Block G
Block H
Block I
Block J
Block K
Block L
Block M
Block N
Block O
Block P
Block Q
Block R
Block S
Block T
Block U
Block V
Block W
Block X
Block Y
Block Z

Text Block 1

Text Block 2

Text Block 3

Text Block 4

Putting your quilt top together

Finishing

Showing Off

Helpful tutorials

S is for Stitch has all the details regarding materials and stitching, but here are some additional tips.

Choosing a hoop - remember the blocks are cut 6" square, so a small hoop is best.

Stem stitch 

Back stitch

Lazy daisy stitch

Colonial knot

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