Chicken Salad Sew Along - Bee Prepared!!

 

YaY!!

Today is the day for the 

"Bee Prepared" 

post that I do in preparation for my

 appliqué sew alongs using my 

Sew Simple Shapes 

and my latest fabric collection.

This is the point to start gathering

your supplies and order

your quilt kits for the sew along.

This one is the 

CHICKEN SALAD SEW ALONG

and I'm so excited for it to start!

During this sew along I'll be 

making TWO Quilts!!

I'll tell you about the second quilt

at the very end of this

"Bee Prepared" blog post:)

We will be making the 

Chicken Salad Quilt 

which finishes at

 64" x 80"

It has twelve appliquéd blocks

 which we will be using my 

Sew Simple Shapes to make...

and there are borders on the blocks

 and border blocks around the

 entire quilt that are rotary cut 

and sewing machine pieced.

Each Chicken Block 

without the block borders

 finish at 12" x 12" 

My Sew Simple Shapes Sew Alongs

 always take place here on my blog

 and they are on Monday's.

This one starts January 31st

(Updated to February 14th)

How do you join the sew along?

1.You simply grab yourself a

 Chicken Salad Quilt Fabric Kit

2. You will need the

 Chicken Salad Sew Simple Shapes and

 the Sew Along Guide

3. Gather up supplies needed 

to make the quilt

4. Come HERE to my BLOG every Monday 

during the sew along 

(starting February 14)

where I will give you the 

free step by step tutorial 

for that weeks block.

Please read ALL of the information 

within this post telling you all that 

you need to know about this sew along.

Once the sew along has begun...

each of my weekly posts will be 

tutorials about actually 

making the blocks and so I am

 telling you here all about the supplies

 and other things necessary to get started

gathering what you will need.

There is no pattern to purchase...

because basically the

 Chicken Salad

Sew Simple Shapes

 are the pattern and the instructions on

 how to use them for each block 

are shown weekly here 

on my blog or YouTube channel

for week one 

during the sew along.

After purchasing the shapes you will 

need to download the handy dandy 

Chicken Salad  

Sew Along Guide

CLICK HERE

for the free download.

The guide is not a pattern...

remember that the shapes are the pattern

 and the guide is simply a guide.

Why do I create a guide?

It has all kinds of info such as...

In the guide you will have:

 A print out of the finished quilt...

the schedule of what blocks

 we will be doing each week 

during the sew along...

Also in the guide you will find

 fabric requirements for the quilt...

and notion requirements for the quilt

 as well as suggested notions 

that I use when making mine.

You will also find instructions 

for cutting each and every 

piece of fabric in your kit!

It will tell you what that piece is for...

which Sew Simple Shape it is used with

 and what block it belongs to.

This way you can cut ahead of time

 and make individual block kits for

 your quilt and have them all 

ready to go each week!

As with any sew along...

organization is really the key.

I like to have this information 

ready for you ahead of time 

so that each week we can 

simply make the block!!

You will also find the cutting 

measurements of the Sew-In Interfacing 

that goes with each Sew Simple Shape 

so that you can have that all cut

 and ready to go:)

There are embroidery patterns

for the baby chick legs too

and a print out with each 

of my chickens and their name 

so that you know who is who!

And as always I have designed a page

 for "Chicken Salad Notes" 

so that you can 

jot anything down from my blog posts

or video tutorials 

 during the sew along.

You can print as many

note pages as you would like 

for your own personal use...

just keep in mind that 

they are under copyright 

and they are not for re-sale:)

So now you know what the guide includes.

The instructions to make each block 

are detailed step by step

 and I show you here each week

 during the sew along:)

As per usual I put one of my 

Bee Keeper Binder Pocket Inserts

 in there to hold my set of 

Sew Simple Shapes....

for easy access during the sew along!

I also added one of my 

Cook Book Enamel Charms 

to the zipper pull for the cuteness factor:)

This is the COOK BOOK Beekeeper Binder 

that my Sew Along Guide will live in...

and I love it!!

I'm also happy to announce that 

I'll be using this binder 

to make a 

"Favorite Family Recipes Book!"

I designed this set of dividers

 to go into the binder specifically

 for my recipe book:)

I'll be sharing a 

favorite family recipe

 here on my blog every week 

during the sew along.

I love a good recipe 

so I thought you might like them too!

Here are what all 8 dividers look like.

This photo shows you both sides:)

For those of you who are joining me...

as promised I will be showing you

how I am making mine on my 

YouTube Channel

as a paper crafting series.

It's going to be really fun...

and afterwards I will have a 

very special recipe binder

for my vintage kitchen 

that I can use and keep adding to!

I'll be doing this sometime

towards the end of the sew along:) 

Along with the dividers for my 

recipe book I'll be using my 

Cook Book Crafting Paper Pad

for making the recipe cards, pages, cover 

and all kinds of fun things:)

And speaking of recipe pages...

I designed two pages as a free download

for you to use if you are joining me

in my "Family Recipe Book Along!"

CLICK HERE

to download and copy this one

 with the potbelly stove...

 CLICK HERE

to download and copy 

this one with the chickens!

You can print your recipes on these

 or write them on by hand...

(or use a vintage typewriter 

for a true vintage recipe page look)

I'll also be using my 

Cook Book Washi Tape for my recipe book.

Looky at what I did 

with the packaging card...

I made a cute bookmark 

to use during the sew along:)

I simply trimmed off the hanging hole

 that was next to Penny's head 

and then punched a few holes 

with a regular paper punch 

to fit into the top two rings of the binder.

Peek - a - boo Penny!

Look how cute she is 

peeking up at me 

from the top!

Now Penny can help me to 

keep track of where I'm at 

and she can be moved from

 between any pages as necessary.

I'm just having too much fun already

and the sew along hasn't even started!!

Okay...

enough about the guide and the binder...

let's talk about the fabric!

The collection that we are using 

for the Chicken Salad Quilt is of course...

COOK BOOK!!

Designed happily by me... 

and produced and distributed 

to quilt shops everywhere 

by the amazing Riley Blake Designs:)

Can I just tell you something?

I'm super in love with this collection:)

As you all know...

I love vintage vintage vintage!

And especially vintage kitchens:)

I have been working on Cook Book

 for a very long time...

I wanted to get it just right

 and I must say it's exactly 

how I wanted each and every print

 to turn out and I hope you love it too!

So let's talk fabric kit!

Several shops are stocking the kit...

both brick and mortar shops

 as well as online quilt shops.

The Cook Book notions as well as the

 fabric has begun shipping

to quilt shops everywhere 

and will continue to ship as 

each print arrives at the warehouse!

So of course if you have not 

already pre-ordered 

your fabric kit and need one...

it is not too late at all!

The sew along does not begin

 until the end of this month...

and when I say "BEGIN"

that just means it's when I begin

to do the weekly tutorials.

As always...

everyone sews at their own speed,

at their own time and so it simply 

does not matter when you start.

 

Do what makes you happy 

and do what works for you...

because I always keep 

each and every tutorial right here

 on my blog and it never goes away.

The schedule is NOT to keep 

YOU 

on a deadline or stress you out ...

it is simply the schedule for 

ME 

to do my tutorials.

If you will look at my sew alongs that way

hopefully that relieves any stress.

Sewing is FUN!

 So again...

if your kit has not arrived

just know that it's coming.

And if you are just deciding to join in 

Just do a quick google search of

 "Chicken Salad Quilt Kit" 

to find one...

google is your best friend lol...

easy peasy!!

With each collection that I design...

I also design 3 wide back prints 

(108" wide)

 to use for the backings on any and all

 of your COOK BOOK projects...

it's so nice when you don't have to 

piece the back!

Here is the Cook Book Wide Back

 (in the color way Cayenne)

 that I am using for the back of my quilt...

I designed all 3 to look like

 vintage tablecloths 

and so that's what I named them!

You can choose whichever 

color way you would like 

for the back of your quilt...

they all 3 match perfectly:)

Because I am a visual person...

I thought you might like to see 

a photo of each of the supplies

 and notions that are listed in the guide.

 ***The following photos are some

 of my notions and other of my

 favorite notions that I am using 

to make my Chicken Salad Quilt.

Some are listed in the guide

 and some are not ...

but I will explain each one!

You will see me using them in the

 tutorials during the sew along...

 so I thought I would tell you about 

each of them here...

 to answer any questions that 

you may have about them.

You can of course use what 

you would like...

these happen to be my favorites:

The Cute Cuts Trim - It Rulers 

that you will need are the

 16 1/2" - 12 1/2" - 8 1/2"

These rulers are not only to 

trim up the applique blocks 

but also the pieced blocks so that 

they are accurate before 

sewing them into the quilt.

 For me they are also essential to use 

when I lay out the appliques 

and place them where they go 

before basting and applique.

I have several other sizes 

of my Trim-It Rulers 

that come in handy for every 

applique and piecing block that I make.

***NOTE***

(Backgrounds are cut larger to allow 

for working the block and 

then trimmed up later)

You will need 1 package

 of my Sew-In Interfacing.

Since starting my sew alongs that use

 my easy applique method...

 I have developed what I think is the 

perfect strength and thickness of 

interfacing for shaping the appliqués.

One of the things you will need is a package 

of my 1/4" Cute Little Buttons

to use for all of the 

chickens and baby chicks eyes:)

I also use the

 Point to Point Turner by Clover 

to shape each of my pieces...

I could not do without this handy tool!

I pin and then glue baste 

each block for applique prep.

I love love love this glue

 by Sue Daley

 and affectionately nick named it

 "Sue Glue"

It is water soluble...

dries clear...

keeps my pieces in place for 

applique but can be 

pulled off if I need to reposition

...its a win win!

For the sew along...

I'm keeping my smaller supplies

 like these inside my new 

Cook Book Lunchbox!

Here is the 1/4" Clover Bias Tape Maker 

that you will need for this quilt.

It's used along with this 

Bee Cross Stitch 

prints for all of the legs and beaks:)

I keep all of the other sizes

inside one of my 

Bee Organized Storage Jars

to be used with other quilts!

Here is a photo of my NIFTY NEEDLES...

they come in a card with several of each different kind...

and also come in 

individual needle tubes as well.

There are 6 different kinds 

for all stitching tasks...

shown in the tubes are the ones 

that are relevant for this quilt.

Embroidery...applique and binding.

You can also use the sewing needles

 in one of the smaller sizes 

if the applique needles are 

too small for you.

It's really a personal preference...

they both work just as well and 

there are several sizes 

to choose from within each tube.

Now let's talk thread.

I have a Aurifil thread set

called Bee Happy

and it will work for all of the colors in 

COOK BOOK. 

The thread is 50 wt. and 80 wt. 

and is used for

 APPLIQUE and NOT embroidery.

You can decide if you would like to 

machine applique or hand applique...

either way you will need to 

have matching thread for each applique.

This thread works for both!

If you are machine appliquéing

 you would use it for the top thread

 but you would not need to change 

your bobbin color as it would 

not show on the top.

CLICK HERE

to watch my tutorial on both 

machine or hand applique.

Then you can decide 

which you would like to do! 

There is a little bit of embroidery 

on a few of the blocks...

they are the blocks that have baby chicks:)

My PRIM Aurifloss set

 has a dark brown color that you could use

or you can use DMC 08.

P.S. Aurifloss is made by Aurifil and 

is a six stranded embroidery floss 

for handstitching...not for the machine.

You do not use Aurifloss for applique...

I use it for embroidery or cross stitch.

I use my aqua needles to embroider:)

The embroidery patterns for the 

baby chick legs 

are in the sew along guide.

You can tape that page to a window 

on a sunny day to trace directly

 onto the fabric for embroidery 

(I use a .05 mechanical pencil)

 or you can use a light box.

Of course I use my Easy Trace Light Box!

I use my washi tape for 

taping my embroidery pattern and fabric

 onto my light box for tracing.

I don't want my pattern or fabric

 to shift during this process.

For those of you who may not know

 what washi tape is...

it was developed for paper crafting 

and packaging but I also use it 

for sewing and quilting!

Just think of it as cute 

miniature painters tape.

It has a low adhesive so that it 

can hold temporarily and can be 

peeled off without leaving 

a residue on fabric.

Perfect for taping paper 

and fabric to the light box!

I do a set of washi tape designs 

with each fabric collection 

and these are from my Cook Book set:)

I have several different sets of 

Pretty Pins and these are the two

 that I use when making this quilt.

The Double Pins are used when 

piecing blocks to match up seams.

The Applique Pins are used for 

pin basting into the design boards 

and are essential to me!

These are just the right length 

for this task...

which is why I call them appliqué.

I also have "mini applique" Pretty Pins 

that are short and tiny and are 

used for hand applique 

when I don't glue baste.

I use Bee in my Bonnet Design Boards 

when cutting and for pinning and

 glue basting each applique block.

The new Cook Book ones will come in

 four sizes...7" - 10" - 14" and 18"

There are 2 prints for each size.

I use my Seams Sew Easy Guide 

to piece all of the blocks in the quilt.

It's used as an accurate

 1/4" seam allowance and also when 

piecing all of the easy corner triangles 

in my quilt blocks.

You will need sewing scissors 

as well as embroidery scissors.

I use both...these are my

 9" Sewing Scissors 

 and my Stork Scissors.

Besides my Trim-It Rulers 

for laying out and trimming blocks...

You will need all sizes of 

cutting rulers and of course a cutting mat...

I have a variety of Cute Cuts Rulers 

in 4 different colors and shapes and sizes.

These are the ones that I use

 to cut all of my fabrics for everything...

including all of my pieced quilt blocks.

When I am cutting I use my 

Sew Handy Stickers for labeling 

my cut pieces and blocks etc.

They come in 5 different colors 

and are letters and a few

 number pages as well:)

These stickers adhere well...

can be ironed over...sewn over too...

but then they easily peel off 

without leaving any residue.

LOVELY and SEW HANDY!!

And speaking of sewing...

you do not need a 

fancy shmancy sewing machine

 to make the applique pieces from the 

Sew Simple Shapes 

or to piece the quilt blocks.

Just a good straight stitching 

machine is all you need...

at just a regular

 stitch length or just a bit shorter.

As usual...

I am using one of my vintage

 Singer Featherweight machines

 for making this quilt.

You can see my 

Seams Sew Easy Guide

 taped to my machine...

(I use washi tape for that too)

Also...a note about ironing.

I do not use steam in my iron 

and you want to make sure not to

 after you have sewn your shapes

 and are pressing them.

Just a good and dry hot iron works well

 and I have found that a 

seam roller works fabulous for

 pressing my shapes after shaping as well.

I don't like to "smoosh" them down

 and iron them too flat.

I like a little poof in my shapes 

because it gives my applique a nice finish.

CLICK HERE

to watch my video about why and how 

I use vintage irons and where to

 find them and what to look for!

So here are a few sneak peeks

of what is to come!

This is HATTIE and PERCY

For Week One we are doing Hattie

and PERCY comes along 

during Week Two:)

During the first week I always do

 a video tutorial for that block 

and I'll be doing that on my 

YouTube Channel.

I'll of course also be posting 

all about week one here on my blog 

and will have a link to my 

YouTube video here for you 

on my week one blog post.

If you are new to my 

Sew Simple Shapes Sew Alongs...

I suggest that you watch a few 

of my previous week one video tutorials

 because I know that 

they will help a you a lot!!

CLICK HERE

to watch my week one tutorial for 

My Happy Place Sew Along

CLICK HERE 

to watch my week one tutorial for my

 PRIM Sew Along and 

Click HERE 

to watch week one tutorial for my 

Flea Market Flowers Sew Along

CLICK HERE

to watch my entire playlist 

of each and every one of my 

Sew Simple Shape tutorials:)

Okay...

so this is the part where 

I talk about the second quilt 

that I am making during this sew along!

As you know by now...I'll be making the 

Chicken Salad Quilt 

as regularly planned of course...

and for the second quilt

 I am using two of my books

Farm Girl Vintage

and 

Farm Girl Vintage 2

I will be using 12 of the 12" blocks

 that I have designed with

 "vintage kitchen themes"

and using the EXACT same setting

and the same kit

as the Chicken Salad Quilt. 

I just feel like I need 

these two quilts for my kitchen!!

And so I had this in mind 

from the VERY beginning 

and that is why I made sure that 

the chicken blocks finished at 12"

 so that I could easily

just "pop in" those Farm Girl Blocks

into their place.

So as you can see above I have two kits

all ready to go...

and I think that I will use the 

blue tulip print for the binding

 in the quilt with my Farm Girl Blocks:)

I will reveal one Farm Girl Block

that I have sewn each week 

during the sew along and show it to you...

along with the prints from the kit 

that I have used and which book

 of the two that it's from 

and what page it's on.

Of course there are many more of my 

Farm Girl Blocks

 than just twelve I am using

from my Farm Girl Books that 

would be great to use in your pieced quilt

 and so I will talk about them as well.

These two extra projects are fun additions

that I'm looking forward to. 

That makes three super fun things 

that I'll be hosting during the sew along:

1. Chicken Salad Quilt

2. Farm Girl Kitchen Quilt

3. Cook Book Recipe Binder. 

WHEW!!

I can hardly stand it.

I am SEW excited for this adventure to start:)

I will meet you right back here 

on Monday February 14th for the 

step by step tutorial on

how to make HATTIE...

And also show you my first 

12" Farm Girl Block and...

share a favorite family recipe too:)

Sew with you soon...

xx

Lori