Fall Theme AccuQuilt Blog Hop - Tips, Tutorials & a Giveaway(s)

Welcome to Day 1 of the Fall theme AccuQuilt Blog Hop, where various members of Quilters with Modern Tools will be sharing tips, tutorials, inspiration, and a few giveaways throughout the coming week.

First, I want to share insights about the Quilters with Modern Tools.  This is a group of quilters that enjoy using modern tools to help make quilts, table toppers, wallhangings, purses, etc.  And, they also enjoy sharing insights on the tools that they use, when they blog about it. You can easily identify that you are visiting a blog that is part of this group, as they have a badge that shows the modern tools that they use. And, you can search their blog to find posts that will provide great tips, tutorials and inspiration on using modern tools.  For example, if you are looking for insights on AccuQuilt you can visit any of these blogs and type in "AccuQuilt" in their respective search box, to find a wealth of information.

This is also the 2nd year of the Fall Theme AccuQuilt Blog hop.  We continually have fun creating with our AccuQuilt products, so it just seemed appropriate that we continue with sharing insights on how to create Fall theme projects with the very modern AccuQuilt quilting tools!

Ok, time for me to kick this off.....

Do you ever feel like your fabric "breeds" in your sewing room?  Last year I created a Halloween quilt using the tumbler die. I had a few left over tumbler cuts, and I think they multiplied with some new fabric, creating more fabric.  But, as I do enjoy scrap quilts, I decided I'd make another Halloween quilt using the tumbler die. 

I find the tumbler die a "must have" die for those that want to do serious stash busting.  This die is an easy to use die to make fun quilts in a fast manner.  While I've previously shared tips on using the tumbler die, to minimize scrap, as well as share insights on an easy way to do fussy cutting with your AccuQuilt, I have a few more tips to share. 

For me, the tumbler die is fast and doesn't require pinning.  But, if you have any problems piecingn accurately, I have a couple of steps to recommend for the tumbler pre-cuts:

1) place your fabric, print side facing up, to align your tumbler cuts.(do your best to align corners)
2) place two tumblers print sides facing together, aligning the tops of both pieces

3) pivot one piece, to align the angle of the tumbler. (keep the corners aligned)

4) sew your rows of tumblers together, then sew the rows together.

In step #3 you may want to place a pin in the corner, approximately 1/4" in the center.  As you do this, you'll soon build expertise to where you do not need to use the pin and eventually, you'll not need to pivot your fabric.  The step to pivot is really a good check on your alignment, to ensure your "row" will be even. 

This lap quilt was so easy and fast to make.  I also liked using the black Halloween prints as the first border for this quilt.  To minimize scrap, I cut the tumbler pieces I wanted to use in the border in half (top to bottom) for the sides and half (middle cut) for the top and bottom of the quilt.  Then, I cut tumbler pieces in quarters for the corner portions of the border.

I need to square up and this week I'll add another border to this quilt.  I hope you'll come back to see what I do with this border.  It is a new technique for me, but I think it will really make this quilt even more special.

Did I mention this post is part of a blog hop?  The line up for this blog hop is:
Monday, September 26th

• Darlene (SewCalGal)

Tuesday, September 27th

• Terrie (Bits & Pieces) 
• Sharon (Craizee Corners).  Sharon also has a related giveaway.

Wednesday, September 28th

• Katrina (Sunshower Quilts)

Thursday, September 29th

• Connie (Quilting by the River)  
• Mary (the Tulip Patch)

Friday, September 30th

• Polly (Polly's Porch) www.auntpollysporch.blogspot.com

Did I mention a giveaway?  First, I want to clarify that this blog hop is not sponsored by AccuQuilt.  As much as I think this would be a great PR opportunity for them to sponsor, and it would be fun to have a giveaway for an AccuQuilt product, you'll find a few of the blogs in this blog hop will have a giveaway that they are being generous to give on their own.  But, all the participants are sharing wonderful tips, tutorials and inspirations in this blog hop, all with a Fall theme, so I hope you'll visit all the stops in this hop.  Plus, they are all wonderful quilters and have delightful blogs.

As, the fabric in my stash has a breeding problem, I am offering a giveway in this blog hop.  The prize is Halloween fabric pre-cut using the AccuQuilt tumbler die to make a lapsize quilt.  Fabrics will be similar to the quilt shown in this post.  If you are interested in winning these pre-cuts simply leave a comment on this post to let me know you'd like to win the pre-cuts.

For those that like extra ways to win, here are some ways you can get extra entries:
1) Be a follower of SewCalGal,
2) Be a member of the Quilters with Tools,
3) Be a blogger that is participating in the lineup of this blog hop,
4) Follow all of the blogs participating in this blog hop {leave one comment on this blog showing you qualify for this extra entry}.

On October lst, SewCalGal will randomly draw a winner and announce on this post, as well as a new post.

This Fall Theme AccuQuilt blog hop is all about fun.  SewCalGal hopes you have fun visiting all the blogs participating in this blog hop and be inspired.