Welcome Quilty friends!!
Today is the day for the
"Bee Prepared"
post that I do in preparation for my
new fabric collections!
This is the point to start gathering
your supplies and order
your quilt kits for the sew along.
This Bee Prepared post is for the
MERCANTILE SAMPLER SEW ALONG
and I'm so excited for it to start!
We will be making the
Mercantile Sampler Quilt
which finishes at
88" x 88"
It consists of 25 pieced quilt blocks.
Some are traditional blocks and some
are blocks that I have designed
specifically for this quilt.
After we piece them we will then
turn each block
into a 12" circle and applique it
onto a pieced 4-patch background.
Because the pieced blocks become circles
we are able to turn some of them
in different way than we normally
could when piecing traditionally
and it really adds interest to
the quilt and let's you see the
block in an entirely
different perspective.
This was my goal for this quilt
and I think its sew fun!!
Each block finishes at 14" x 14"
after the piecing and appliquéd circle.
The scrappy sashing and borders are a
simple machine pieced setting
to compliment the blocks!
The collection that we are using
for the Mercantile Sampler is of course...
MERCANTILE!!
Inspired by my own dear memories
of growing up in a small town
where my grandma owned
the only store there was.
It was right in the middle of
Main Street and was called
The Herriman Mercantile
and we all called it
"The Merc"
Mercantile fabric was designed by me...
and produced and distributed
to quilt shops everywhere
by the amazing
If you would like to know everything about Mercantile
to view the entire storyboard.
I am very proud of how the
Mercantile fabrics turned out and
I love how it stands on its own but also
blends well with my other collections.
Here you can see how it looks with
my previous collection HOME TOWN:)
While we are talking fabric...
a note about pre-washing.
This is a personal choice and up to you.
I do NOT prewash my fabrics.
I did used to years ago
but now we have such nice
quality fabric available to us
I do not find it necessary.
So let's chat about the
MERCANTILE SAMPLER Quilt Fabric Kit.
Several shops are stocking the kit...
both brick and mortar shops
as well as online quilt shops.
The fabric and notions as well
have already shipped
to quilt shops everywhere
and will continue to ship as
each new item 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 January 29th...
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 and should stay that way!
And if you are just deciding to join in
Just do a quick google search of
"MERCANTILE SAMPLER Quilt Fabric Kit"
to find one...
google is your best friend lol...
easy peasy!!
And speaking of sewing...
like I always say...
you do not need a
fancy shmancy sewing machine
to make the applique circles
or to piece the quilt blocks.
Just a good straight stitching
machine is all you need...
at just a bit shorter than
regular stitch length.
It really is a matter of
personal preference and what works
best for you but I would suggest
doing a smaller stitch
rather than larger.
As usual...
I am using one of my vintage
Singer Featherweight machines
for making this quilt.
With that being said...
now let's talk more about
the quilt and the supplies!
The following are supplies I'll be using
and are needed to piece the blocks.
Very handy and helpful when cutting my
pieced blocks especially are my
Sew Handy Stickers
I will show you how I use them
when I make my pieced blocks
for this sew along.
Of course you will need good scissors
and a good rotary cutter.
For pressing I use my
Quick Press Seam Roller
and a good iron.
I always use a vintage iron
which I tell you all about on my
YouTube channel
but of course you don't have to
use a vintage iron but if you are
interested you may find my video helpful.
Also...for trimming segments during
the piecing process I use my
SMALL Cute Cuts Cutting Mat
These are the sizes of the
Cute Cuts Trim-It Rulers
needed to make blocks in this quilt.
5 1/2" 4 1/2" 4" 3 1/2" 2 1/2" 2 1/4"
Some are used more than others
but ALL are used.
The 2 1/4" and 4" size are new
but the other 4 sizes have been
available for years and I use my
Cute Cuts Trim-It Rulers
EVERY time I piece quilt blocks...
As well as for laying out applique blocks.
We will use the 14 1/2" Trim-It to trim our blocks and also for laying out the circles.
Besides my Trim-It Rulers
for laying out and trimming blocks...
You will need cutting rulers and
of course a cutting mat
to cut out your fabric pieces for each block.
I have a variety of Cute Cuts Rulers
in 3 different colors and shapes and sizes
and the same goes for my cutting mats.
I have a big variety for cutting and of
course to make your sewing room look cute!
These rulers are the ones that I use
to cut all of my fabrics for everything...
including all of my pieced quilt blocks.
I have designed several sets of Washi tape
to use and so I have several to choose from.
Here you can see my Mercantile set:)
I use my washi tape to temporarily tape my
Seams Sew Easy Guide
onto my sewing machine.
I use my SEAMS SEW EASY GUIDE
for piecing all of my blocks.
It is an accurate 1/4" seam allowance
essential for me and also
essential for me when sewing
Easy Corner triangles,
Half square triangles,
Quarter Square triangles
and Flying Geese
all of which we are doing for this quilt.
Also on another note...
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
easily peeled off without leaving
a residue on fabric or your sewing machine.
To make the pieced blocks into circles
we will be using the new
14" x 14" Sew-In Interfacing Squares
along with...
Bee in my Bonnet 12" Circle Ruler
Clover Point to Point Turner
and
Busy Bee Mechanical Pencils
for tracing the circle onto the
sew in interfacing and for marking
some of the pieced block segments
using the new
Cute Cuts Marking Rulers
For piecing the blocks and appliquéing the circles you will need
Bee in my Bonnet Design Boards.
These are the new Mercantile ones!
In addition to the Circle Ruler and the
Design Boards when laying out and basting
the circles onto the background
I will be using:
Sue Daley Glue
Bee in my Bonnet Pretty Pins
(applique set)
Bee in my Bonnet
Flower Power Pin Holder
Bee Vintage Measuring Tape
Now let's talk thread for applique!
This is my brand NEW collection
of thread for Aurifil called
HONEY BEE ESSENTIALS
It has 32 - 50 wt and 13 - 80 wt
100% quality cotton spools...
both of which I use for
either machine or hand applique.
Either method will work
for the circles in this quilt.
to watch my video on BOTH methods.
I also use 50 wt. when piecing blocks.
***TAKE NOTE***Because I always match my thread colors
with my applique pieces...
and we are only appliquéing
circles for this quilt...
in these four backgrounds...
you will only need one color
to applique and you could choose either
color 2000 or 2311
If you are going to hand applique there is sure to be a needle
that you will love in my needle card.
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
Embroidery...hand sewing...
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 all work just as well and
there are several sizes
to choose from within each tube.
I will also definitely be using my
STITCHY READERS
I use several strengths of magnification
depending on the task.
Each color is a different magnification:)I could not do what I do without them!
Okay...for right now just a few words about the sew along guide.
There is no pattern to purchase...
because basically the
Mercantile Sampler
Sew Along Guide
AND
My weekly tutorials
are the cutting and then the
instructions
on how to piece each block
are shown weekly here
on my blog or YouTube channel
for week one
during the sew along.
My new fabric collection Sew Alongs
always take place here on my blog.
For this sew along each tutorial
will be on Monday's and Friday's!
and I will do a video on my
YouTube Channel
for week one.
The Mercantile Sampler Sew Along starts
January 29th and you are invited!
My wish is that you will join us
in making the quilt!
I have learned at a very young age
that sewing along with others who have
the same interest as we do
is so much fun...
it makes our sewing time even
that much more special!!
How do you join the sew along?
1.You simply grab yourself a
Mercantile Sampler Quilt Fabric Kit
2. You will need the
12" Circle Ruler and Trim -It Rulers
in sizes I just told you about
and of course
the Sew Along Guide
3. Gather up supplies needed
to make the quilt
4. Come HERE to my BLOG every
Monday and Friday
during the sew along
(starting January 29th)
where I will give you the
free step by step tutorial for one of
the blocks on each of those days.
*remember for week one block
I'll be doing a
video tutorial on my YouTube channel
and I will also be doing a
week one blog post here as well.
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 blog posts here 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.
After purchasing the fabric kit and
the rulers you will
need to download the handy dandy
Mercantile Sampler
Sew Along Guide
for the free download.
Because there are 25 different pieced blocks
I have also provided for you a
separate and detailed cutting guide
for each individual block
For your convenience you may also
download and/or view a
larger photo of the quilt.
I will be keeping my sew along guide in the
MERCANTILE
BEE KEEPER BINDER
to keep everything organized
and handy all in one place...
all of the info needed at my fingertips:)
I use sheet protectors to
hold each page of the guide
for easy peasy reference!
Once again...
The Mercantile
Sew Along Guide
is not a pattern!!
Yes...it is very handy and very full
of information but to find out
HOW TO
make the blocks during the sew along
is when you come here on my blog.
and my YouTube channel
on the first week.
So to re-cap...
the tutorials are the instructions
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 havethe 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 several pages of
instructions for cutting each and every
piece of fabric in your kit!
All of this is very helpful information.
This way you can cut ahead of time
if you would like to
and make individual block kits for
your quilt and have them all
ready to go for each tutorial!
As with any sew along...
organization is really the key.
I like to have this information
ready for you 3-4 weeks ahead of time
so that you can have each block cut
and ready to go...
So that each week you can
simply make the block or blocks!!
You will also find a diagram of the pieced blocks in rows, sashing,
and instructions for the quilt borders
for when it is
time for you to finish your quilt
and sew it all together!
And as always there is a page
for "Mercantile Notes"
so that you can
jot anything down from my blog posts
or video tutorials
during the sew along.
I recommend using these pages to
write down the tips
that I will be giving you during
the tutorials for each block:)
You can print as many
note pages as you would like
to take as many notes as you want
so you could print a page for
each block if you wanted to!
If you would like to watch my
Virtual Spring Market Video
from 2023
where I show you these 3 storyboards
including ALL about Mercantile
and this sew along...
BIRTHDAY CAKE BLOCK
MERCANTILE SAMPLER
So here is a sneak peek
of what is to come January 29th!
Again...
during the first week I always
do a video tutorial.
The first block is the
BIRTHDAY CAKE BLOCK
and I'll be doing that tutorial 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.
A while ago blogger changed their format
and since then I have not been able
to put a button on my blog
for you to get email notifications
or to follow me here.
But remember that google is your
best friend and all you have to do
is type in the name of my blog
or the name of my sew along
and it will bring you right here!
I have been using my blog exclusively
for my sew alongs for several years now
except for the week one video.
I like to be able to write everything
down here for you such as the pieced
block measurements and applique info needed
but I also like the visual of
actually showing you how I do my methods.
That's why I do the first week
on my YouTube Channel.
Using both my blog and my channel
for these sew alongs is a perfect pair!
I do many other tutorials
on my channel as well.
So...If you would like to know
what I am up to on a regular basis...
check out my videos on my
YouTube channel.
There I talk about what I've been doing
and new things happening:)
If you are new to my 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!!
to watch week one tutorial for
Chicken Salad Sew Along
to watch my week one tutorial for
My Happy Place Sew Along
to watch my week one tutorial for my
PRIM Sew Along and
to watch week one tutorial for my
Flea Market Flowers Sew Along
to watch my week one tutorial for my
Prairie Meadow Sew Along
to watch my week one tutorial for my
Calico Garden Sew Along
to watch my week one tutorial for my
Bee Vintage Sew Along
to watch my week one tutorial for my
Home Town Sew Along
and finally...
to visit my channel and to
watch all of my tutorials:)
OH!! My Goodness!!
That is a lot of information
but it's all very important and meant
to be informative and answer all questions
so that you can Bee Prepared
as much as possible.
As for me...
I will be doing what I always do
while preparing for a
sew along which is...
Cut my fabric and make kits for each block
so that every week I am ready to go!
I cut each block kit and label each piece
using my Sew Handy Stickers
with the co-ordinating letter
in the cutting guide.
I then place each cut block on a
separate 10" Design Board
and then stack them up neatly
where they stay nice and safe...
waiting patiently until it's their turn
to be made into a Mercantile Block!
I am SEW excited to make my
MERCANTILE SAMPLER Quilt with you:)
I will meet you right back here
on Monday January 29th for the
Week One kick off!!1
Sew with you soon...
xx
Lori
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