Welcome to Week 2 of the SAHRR 2021! I am the host for the 1st Round of prompts. Before that, let me recap what’s going on.
A few bloggers are joining Quilting Gail for the 2nd edition of Stay At Home Round Robin. I joined Gail last year for this fun QAL and finally that quilt is loaded and ready for quilting!
This year 7 bloggers have chosen a prompt for the rounds and we will show you how we interpreted each suggestion. You will keep your Round Robin in your possession and use your own fabric to make the rounds. There’s no shipping your center block to others, it’s all done in house. At the end of the 7 rounds you will have a flimsy that is ready for quilting! And maybe it won’t take you 7 months to finish!
- Round 1: Jan 18th Chris @ Chrisknitssews
- Round 2: Jan 25th Emily @ The Darling Dogwood
- Round 3: Feb 1st Anja @ Anja Quilts
- Round 4: Feb 8th Roseanne & Sue @ Home Sewn by Us
- Round 5: Feb 15th Wendy @ Pieceful Thoughts of my Quilting Life
- Round 6: Feb 22nd Susan @ Quilt Fabrication
- Round 7: Feb 28th Gail @ Quilting Gail
Be sure to visit the other designers to see how they use my prompt. And then link up your version. Each link party will stay open until the next round.
I callied the first round and chose Piano Keys. I used PKs on my first SAHRR and thought it would be a great way for you to dip your toes in the water. Simple, easy, and fast. Hmm, maybe I should have used these at the end when the piecing is more involved?
I mock up all my designs in EQ8, it’s a great way to audition colors and designs. For this round I determined how wide of a border I wanted. Knowing that small was the key word for me, I decided a 1.5″ finished border was the way to go.
EQ8 Mock Up
Before designing my round I needed to add a “coping” border to the center block. This gives your eye a resting spot, but it can also even up your center to fit the next border. Our math may be precise, our sewing isn’t always as precise. Any extra fabric in your coping border can be trimmed down to fit the borders perfectly.
Sometimes you need a little extra!
I determined 1″ coping strips would give me breathing room for the block to border gap.
I did the math and knew I needed 14 keys on the first side and 16 for the next side. I alternated my 3 colors with my black background to create a bold contrast.
EQ8 Mock Up
I want my borders to start slim and grow as I move out to the other rounds. I also decided 2 sides would constitute my “round”. So it was doubly fortuitous that I chose to go first, now you can see alternate ways to handle your rounds. Remember, it’s YOUR project, make it work for you,
My numbers were:
Center Block: 10.5″ square
Coping Border: 1″ strips on all 4 sides
Piano Keys: 1 strip of each color cut 11″x1.5″, 3 strips of black cut 11″x1.5″ These strips were paired and sewn together and subcut the strips into 2″x2.5″ pieces. Wait, that’s not square! I know. It’s my trick for accuracy when making small! Over cut, trim to size. So those subcuts get trimmed to 2″x2″
As close to precise as I can make them!
Then you just sew those pairs together in whatever color combo you want, add them to your sides and Ta-Da! Piano Keys!! Play me a tune!
Some trimming of the coping border occurred to even up the sides.
Next week I’ll tell you all about the mistake these photos contain, but that’s for another day!
So, now it’s your turn! Show me what you got!!
Linking with
Design Wall
Monday Making
chrisknitssews 
Hi Chris! Love, love, LOVE the way your quilt is coming together. Of course, with those fabric choices it can’t help but be fab. It will be fun to see the next Round added. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thanks! I hope no one is too disappointed at such an easy border! > >
Looks great. I may have taken my creative license in my interpretation…. LOL
Thanks. I hope you did!!! It will be wonderful to show everyone how interpretation makes the quilt! Off to check out everyone else’s makes. > >
I got my center block made and I’m ready to work on piano keys! Some quilty math will be involved – thanks for the details about how you put yours together. I’m thinking a coping strip is a good idea for my block, too.
I can’t wait to see your fabrics!!
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Your block and piano key border is so pretty! I wish I could’ve read your block before I added my border. You have some great tips that would’ve helped me out, but I made it work!
Thanks! You know, it might be good to share our progress as we go with the design group. That way we can see how others overcame issues as they worked.
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Good idea!
What an interesting beginning. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes. Looks like you’ll be having plenty of fun over the next month.
Thanks! It has been fun and will continue to be as we see how others interpret our thoughts. > >
I’m going to join in –a bit of a late start but sometimes it happens! I love what you did but I will go much bigger! Fun!
Yay! I am sure you will catch up quick! > >
I heart your dark background, and your alternating piano keys!!
The background will consist of 3 different prints, because I only had 1/4 yard pieces of several. But it was the best choice for these bold colors. > >
I love that you are alternating with the black background fabric! I’m intrigued by your now off-set center, can’t wait to see how it continues!
Thanks. It was born of necessity, since I didn’t want as large a quilt as I made last year! LOL > >
Your piano keys on only two sides is sheer genius. What a way to interpret the concept of a RR and make it your own. Love your fabrics and the project is stunning. Looking forward to your next round and the next and……
Thanks. That’s the fun thing about this RR, we can make it our own and see where that leads us. > >
Beautiful center block and those piano keys are perfect. I’ve been trying to decide if I’m going to join in with SAHRR or not. I have a couple of orphan blocks that might make a good center for it.
Join us! You can make it your own and fit it to your schedule!
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Oh boy… I think I have to join in. I found an orphan block of a castle while picking things up…. now to go find it and add round one. Thanks for firing the creative juices…. and giving that poor block a place to shine.
Do it!!! You will have such fun!
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So beautiful and that center block is amazing!
Thank you! It was a great start!
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Aren’t you clever? To just put borders on 2 sides of your quilt!!! They look absolutely fantastic! And the little coping strip gives the eye a place to rest … and makes the colours pop! Lovely!
Thanks! The coping strip was easier than making the piano keys fit! 🤣
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Your block looks awesome, and I love the idea of a coping border. I may have to use one in a future project!
Thanks. It definitely helps when you are in need of a little more! > >
Beautiful colorway! I’m looking forward to watching how your project evolves. I’m not real familiar with using asymmetrical quilt layouts.
LOL! I am so not good at asymmetry!! But I’m going with it.
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I love the colors you are using. This was a fun round
Thanks! It’s a simple one but a great start!
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Cool. I snuck in some time to get my keys on yesterday afternoon. I’m glad I did because work is crazy and I probably wont have any more time to sew this week
Oh, can’t wait to see how you interpreted the keys! > >
Hi Chris, it’s Sunday afternoon and I’m trying to link up, and it says “the linky party has ended”. I thought each linky stayed open until the next round?
Can’t stop looking at your block!
Oops! It might have expired this morning instead of tonight. I will see if I can change the timing. Sorry! > >