Collaborating on the TN Row by Row Experience

Hooty Owl in the Pumpkin Patch
Free-motion quilting by Veronica Hofman-Ortega

This year, Tennessee quilt shops will be participating in the national Row by Row Experience. What is the Row by Row Experience, you ask? It's a nation-wide Quilt Shop Hop (and even some shops in Canada!), where quilters travel to participating quilt shops and receive free "row" patterns that they combine to make a row quilt. They can also win prizes. The Hop kicks off tomorrow, July 1!

In my travels as a fabric rep, I heard about this program over a year ago and thought it would be a fun event. I was excited to hear that the Tennessee shops are participating this year. The 2014 Row by Row theme is "Sew a Season."

One of the Chattanooga quilt shops, Pins and Needles, asked if I would help draft the design of their row pattern. How cool is that?!? Stacy, the shop's owner, chose to illustrate Fall—her favorite season.

Detail: Pins and Needles Quilt Shop row.

The design, drafting and creation of Stacy's vision for her Fall row quilt was a collaborative effort. The "Row Team" consisted of the fabulous pattern designer, Maria Flora, who wrote the pattern from her studio in Arkansas; I drafted the paper pieced barn; a local quilter, Debi, did the appliqué; Stacy did the other piecing and assembly. Then, I was thrilled when Stacy asked if I would free-motion quilt it. So here it is. What an amazing collaboration on an adorable row pattern! It turned out so cute, don't you think? (You should see it in person… and you can... stop by to pick up the pattern!)

Pins and Needles Quilt Shop 2014 Row by Row Experience row.

This row has it all: piecing, appliqué, and the red barn is paper pieced!

If you want to get a jump start on making this row, I'll be teaching "Paper Piecing the Red Barn" on July 1 and again on August 13.

"The Red Barn" Intro to Paper Piecing class: July 1 or August 13.

Stacy has kits available at Pins and Needles Quilt Shop for the row itself, and with a finishing kit (including the two borders, backing and binding!) if you want to make it as a table runner/wall hanging.

So, are you ready to hop???
The Row by Row Experience officially starts Tuesday, July 1. See the Row by Row web site for details, shops and how you can win fabric and prizes. Visit YLS (your local quilt shops) for patterns, kits and extra projects (I hear several shops have great things in store). Then hit the road to collect more.

There are even two Tennessee Row by Row BUS TRIPS planned that will leave out of Chattanooga heading east and north. Contact Pins and Needles for info about the Bus. Get quilting!