Fall into a QAL Quilt Along: Block 9: Postage Stamp Turkey!

Postage Stamp Turkey, Design by Karen Thurn

 
​Block 9 is Postage Stamp Turkey by Karen Thurn at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats.  Can you believe we are three-quarters of the way finished? Time has flown for me.
Karen's pattern and tutorial can be found at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats.  As a host for the Fall into a QAL quilt along, I am presenting my version of her block and my tips for completing it.  All 12 of the blocks in the Fall into a QAL quilt along will be  available free of charge on the designer's  web site until November 13, 2018 at midnight EST. I will be offering links to the released block patterns on my Quilt Alongs page until then. Collect them all!

In addition, I will be showing my version of the block every two weeks here on my blog. Want to keep track of all of the released blocks? Subscribe to the JANDA Bend Quilts Newsletter. You can also join our Partners in Design Facebook Group to follow the block releases and see the blocks of others.

This block was bitter sweet for me because we lost our pet turkey just this year. He was 14 years old!  I had no idea that a turkey could live that long. We got him as a chick, and my whole family became attached to him. We could not bear the thought of inviting him to our Thanksgiving Dinner.  Instead, we called him Mr. Turkey (because he was always so dignified) and treated him as a pet. I am dedicating my version of Karen's block to him. We really miss him. When ever I came aound he would greet me with a "Gobble, Gobble!" His photo is below.

Mr. Turkey

​Usually, I show you my fabric pull, but this time I chose fabric as I went along. Somehow that made sense to me. I started with the body and background. then as I cut out fabric, I added my choices for the tail feathers, wings, wattle, neck and head, and then the feet.  I taped small pieces of fabric to the table on page 2 of the pattern. I also checked off pieces as I cut them. Karen provided a handy sheet for this purpose. I found this very helpful. See left-hand photo below..

After I cut out the fabric pieces as directed in the pattern. I took Karen's suggestion and labeled each fabric. I found this very helpful when sewing Half Square Triangles (HST) and the other turkey parts. See right-hand photo below.
​

Fabric Choices

Organized and Labeled

In her pattern, Karen has  an excellent tutorial on how to  make Half-Square Triangles (HST), so I will not duplicate that here. However, I will add that I did not have the ruler Karen used, so I substituted the Quilt in a Day Square Up ruler. It worked well. Just be sure that you place the ruler so that you can trim all 4 sides to square the patch to 2" by 2". Let me just say, that making sure all of the patches are 2" by 2" is extremely important.  Really monitor this. See photos below.

Align Diagonal on Ruler with the Diagonal on the HST.

Trim 2 Sides.

Turn Patch 180 Degrees and Trim Remaining Sides

I highly recommend laying out all of your patches before sewing. That is how I found out that my wattle patch was reversed. I was able to fix it before I sewed it in the row. Pay close attention to the pressing directions. I was hesitant to press seams open because I do not usually do this. However, it was helpful when the directions recommended it. The seams pressed flat. My completed block is shown below.

Completed Block

Where Can I Find the Pattern and the Designer's Tutorials?

Go to Karen Thurn at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats for the pattern and designer tutorial.

What Are the Giveaways for Block 9: Postage Stamp Turkey?

Block 9 Prizes

Two printed “Vintage Blessings” exclusive mini patterns from Shabby Fabrics;   Vintage Pumpkin Wall Hanging. 
and Vintage Schoolhouse Table Runner. 
Please help us support our QAL sponsors.  Visit Shabby Fabrics 
to request their latest mail order catalog or view the digital version!

and

Warm Company 34” x 45” Warm & White craft size Cotton batting

How Do I Enter to Win the Giveaway for Block 9?

There are three ways to enter. Do one of the following by September 17, 2018 at 11:59 pm  EST:

1. Upload a photo of your finished block to one of the host's Linky Party. Note: Usually we have you link up on the Designer's Linky Party, but she is on vacation. So you can link up on one of the host's Linky Parties. You can chose to link up on any of the Hosts' sites and be entered. Please only link up once. Here is the Link:​

To see the link-ups or to add your link-up click on the blue frog button.
​

     2. Upload a photo of your finished block to the Partners in Design Facebook Group

​     3. Upload a photo of your finished block to Instagram using #fallintoaqal

​How Will the Winner Be Chosen?

The winner will be randomly selected from those who post photos of their completed blocks by the deadline. Although creativity is encouraged, the block must follow the design for this two-week period. You must be 18 to enter.

I Want to See More Versions of the Block. Who Are the Other Hosts?

Abbie at Sparkle On 
April at JANDA Bend Quilts (That's me!)
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter 
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Sherry at Powered by Quilting 
Vanda at Quilting with Vanda 

I Have Questions. Who Can I Ask?

You can ask me in a comment to this post or in an email, or you can ask the designer at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats.

When Will the Next Block be Released?

September 18, 2018

Where Will I Be Able to Find Block 10 on September 18, 2018?

You can find Block 10 by Sandra Healy at Sandra Healy Designs. My version of the block and a link to her site will right here on my blog! All block locations will be available on the Partners in Design Facebook Group or on any of the Host's blogs which are listed above.
​
What Group Is Organizing This Quilt Along?

Fall into a QAL is brought to you by Partners in Design.  All the bloggers in the Partners in Design Group met through the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop. The bloggers  are:
 
Abbie at Sparkle On (Host + Block 11 Designer)
April at JANDA Bend Quilts (Host + Block 2 Designer) That's me!
Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting (Host + Block 7 Designer)
Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter (Host + Block 8 Designer)
Karen at Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats (Host + Block 9 Designer)
Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing​ (Block 5 Designer)
Sandra at Sandra Healy Designs (Block 10 Designer)
Sandy at Sandy Star Designs (Block 4 Designer)
Sherry at Powered by Quilting  (Host + Block 3 & 6 Designer)
Vanda at Quilting with Vanda (Host + Block 1 & 12 Designer)

We are a group of quilt designers and bloggers who are friends and who like to work together.

Who Are the Sponsors of This Quilt Along?

​The following members of Partners in Design are providing prizes as well:

Abbie at Sparkle On 
April at JANDA Bend Quilts That's me!
Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing​ 
Sandra at Sandra Healy Designs 
Sherry at Powered by Quilting  
Vanda at Quilting with Vanda

Click Here to See My Version of All of the Released Blocks

​Thanks for joining me and Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published at JANDA Bend Quilts.