Before I share our final PDF, once again Sharon and I are asking for all SBS makers to take the 8-answer survey we've prepared! This quick questionnaire is completely anonymous and the answers will give us better insight into how you've enjoyed this sew-along. To ensure the most accurate results, please only take the survey once. A BIG thanks to those of you who've participated in the SBS questionnaire already! If you've not yet had a chance to take the survey, please do so as soon as you can, we're only keeping it open now through the end of the SBS sew along. The link provided on both our blogs will link to the same survey. So, if you access the questionnaire from either Sharon's site or mine, your answers are compiled to the same place. Thank you in advance for your help!
For my version of the Sewcial Bee Sampler I have used Art Gallery Fabric The Denim Studio Soft Sand Linen for each of my block frames and for the final sashing I'm using AGF's Solid Smooth Denim in Cool Foliage, a vintage looking blue that pairs perfectly with the colors I love to use when coloring my fabric collections! The photo below is a recent one I took of several of my collections together. Using prints from each of the five collections I've released so far is one of the many reasons I loved making this quilt so much!
Before I began adding my sashing strips to connect my blocks and rows, I had to remake just one block, my week 17 block: Spools. I knew this one would need remade as soon as I laid it out with the previous week's blocks. The eggplant purple is so pretty, and although I did include this print and color in other blocks throughout my sampler, including such a dark print as a star fabric, rather than a supporting print was just too much eye-catching eggplant purple. This lighter, brighter selection of prints works so much better with my other blocks and I was thrilled to add a little Soulful to my Sampler!
Once you're happy with your blocks and arrangement of each, it's time to connect your blocks and rows together! I left my Sampler arranged almost in exact week order, making just one swap of my first and sixth week blocks. Feel free to layout your blocks in any order that makes you happy and finds the right balance of color and pattern before adding the sashing. Once you're ready, the Quilt Assembly and Finishing PDF includes everything you need, with many bonus images and info on Sharon's blog today, as well! To add my sashing I began by sewing my denim sashing strips between five blocks at a time to make a vertical row, until I had all five vertical rows sewn together.
Once my rows were complete, I used my long lengths of sashing to connect each vertical row together. Simply pin to attach the long strips to the length of each vertical row and sew the vertical sashes alternately together with the block rows until your quilt top is complete!
Now that my Sewcial Bee Sampler quilt top is finished, I'll be sending my top off to Lady Belle Fabrics, my friend and long-time sponsor who will be adding a brand new long-arm service to her amazing shop soon! For my Sampler I'm planning to choose an all-over floral quilting pattern to pair with the prints I used, something simple not to take away from these beautiful blocks! All that's left for me to do now before boxing up my SBS top to send off to Brooke is to choose and prepare my backing fabric. Again, I'm leaning towards a pretty floral print! Lady Belle Fabrics plans to have their long-arm service info up in a week or two, so if you'd like to send your quilt top to be long-arm quilted as well, feel free to leave me a comment or to contact them for additional info!
I can't wait to see all of the finished SBS Quilt tops this week! Be sure to visit Sharon's blog today to see her beautiful versions and for her post that's full of helpful finishing info! Be sure to stop back for details on how to enter this week's special Sewcial Bee Giveaway Friday with the Circa 15 Studio!
Happy SBS sewing, friends! XO Maureen 
