Destination: Quilt Along Block 1!

Today's the day we start!!!! Sandy Maxfield of SandyStar Designs is this week's designer for Block 1 of Destination: Quilt Along.  Be sure to bookmark my quick links page so you have easy access to all the blocks and hosts!  You can also find the quick links page by clicking the button on the right side of my page.

I picked out lots of grunge to make this awesome canyon block!

Here are my top tips:

There are quite a few half square triangles for this block.  I paired up the colors so I could chain piece them together.  Then I used my Clearly Slotted Trimmers to trim all of my half square triangles before pressing them open!

Use a design board when laying the pieces out for the block!  If you don't have a design board, you can purchase one here at Fat Quarter shop or make your own from my video tutorial!

Very carefully sew this block together and check your seam allowances!  With so many small pieces, it's very easy to have the error from incorrect seam allowances stack and you'll end up with an incorrectly sized block.  If you aren't sure how to check your seam allowances, read my tutorial here. The block should measure 12.5" square.

For the applique portion, I used Lite Steam a Seam 2 and a pencil.  Trace the templates onto the paper side of the Lite Steam a Seam 2.  Then iron to the BACK of the desired fabric.

Cut out the shapes and place them on the block, iron in place.  I used Aurifil monofilament thread with white thread in the bobbin to zigzag stitch the applique in place.  The monofilament thread helps me to not need to change thread colors!  This is more of a time saver when there are multiple applique pieces of different colors.

Ta Da!  All finished!

Get the pattern from Sandy's blog post here. 

To be eligible for Segment Prizes, you must complete all the blocks in the segment.  Share a photo or photos in a single post with all the blocks in the segment to enter!

There are several ways in which you can enter to win prizes!

1. If you are on Facebook: Join the Partners in Design, Where Friends and Fabric Meet Facebook Group. Each Designer will be posting links to their tutorials there, and it will be used as a place to ask questions and post photos of your finished block for prizes.
2. If you are on Instagram: Use the hashtag #DestinationQAL on your finished block to be entered to win.
3. Each Designer will have a Linky Party on their block tutorial post so you can link your progress to their blog to be entered to win.

Segment 1 prizes are as follows:

• A 6 month subscription to Make Modern. An online quilt magazine written by quilters for quilters. https://www.makemodern.com.au
• A free PDF pattern of your choice from the inquiring quilter. http://www.inquiringquilter.com/shop

Be sure to visit all of the other hosts to pick up other tips and tricks for this block!

Abbie @ Sparkle On!
Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sherry @ Powered by Quilting <- That's me!

Good luck on your block!  I can't wait to see it!