Follow the Leader

(Trying to ) Follow the Leader

In the beginning of May, I  saw a pretty quilt block on  Blossom Heart Quilts , made by Alyce.  It is called Follow The Leader, and is made with flying geese . Alyce is an awesome quilter and paper piecer.  I am always in awe of her projects!

She wrote  that  And Sew We Craft  is hosting a Modern Blocks Quilt A Long, using the book,  Modern Blocks, compiled by Susanne Woods. The  'Follow the Leader' block came from this book. And it hit me.... I HAVE THAT BOOK!  yay!

The book used for patterns in the Quilt A Long

Modern Blocks Quilt Along hosted  at And Sew We Craft  

This is the schedule of the blog posts for each block:

May- Follow The Leader with And Sew We Craft

June- Spool with The Crafty Mummy

July- Megan’s Star with Anorina of Samelia’s Mum

August- Quatrefoil with Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts

September- Escalator with Cate of Life Behind the Purple Door

October- Best Friends with Anorina of Samelias Mum

November- Pogo Stick with Ros of Sew Delicious

December- Crosswalk with Amy of Actually Amy

January- Everything Equal with Alyce of Blossom Heart Quilts

February- Parisian Star with Tonya of Crafty Mummy

March- Binary with Cate of Life Behind the Purple Door

April- Stacked Squares with Ros of Sew Delicious

Each month, they  will be sharing a tutorial for the block as well and  a linky  will be open all month for you to link up your blocks. Plus,there will be prizes each month.

Since I have the book (and fabrics stacked stocked up)...
I took that as "a sign" to hop in, and sew along with this group to learn some new quilt block techniques.  :)


I like this kind of Sew Along, because it gives me ideas I would never have thought of before, it gives me deadlines  , and  I can get inspiration from  other talented quilters. Another important benefit is that I can get tips and help from their blog posts.  I just can't understand some sewing terminology on my own.  (I am a late-starter quilter.)

Just "sew " you know....I am stepping WAY out of my comfort zone in doing this , so I can learn to piece some blocks that I have ran shied away from in the past.
I am admittedly a BEGINNER.  I won't be able to "light a candle" next to these talented quilters in the group.....
My  blocks in this sew along will never be "perfect",
and  many seams will not line up properly.  Things will be a little uneven, I am sure. 
And I know I will be late some months.  (We all know that, "Life happens."  )

So, here we go on my journey of learning and practice...

Fabrics I am using

Fabrics:  FQ bundle of Stitch Floral Square  by Michael Miller
              Happi   by Dena  Fabric Traditions
            White-    Garden Pindot  white  by Michael Miller

Happi       not sure if for backing or sashing or binding yet....

May Block :  Follow the Leader    design by Sherri Mconnell

Chain piecing the flying geese

I picked 4 colors to make the flying geese with.

Follow the leader  block

Some of my "better" geese

Notes to myself:  

•  Try to get all triangles the same size
• One improvement- I got the top points of all of the triangles pointed.  (Last year, on my first attempt of flying geese,  a lot of the top points were  caught in the seams.) 
•  I did not use steam to press them.  
• I think I will use starch on the block pieces in June.

There is a linky hook- up for blocks being made at:  And Sew We Craft Modern QAL Block One.

 I am excited to learn new blocks and join in with a new group of talented quilters!  I can't wait to "Follow the leader" on this journey into sewing!  I need the practice, that's for sure!

I'm off to my sewing room!