SoChick QAL {Anchors Aweigh: Week 4, Row 6 & 7}

***As I was editing this post, my computer crashed and I have lost all of my photos and documents for the QAL and more.  I am sharing what I have for Row 6 as it was written.  At the bottom of the post, I have included notes for Row 7, including pattern corrections.***


Welcome to week 4 of the SoChick Quilt Along featuring the Anchors Aweigh Quilt Pattern, and Salt Water fabrics, by Tula Pink.  We are almost finished with the rows for this quilt top... eeek! How exciting!

Here's some quick links to previous posts for this QAL, if you are just joining in:

Original QAL Post

Cut & Prep

Week 1: Rows 1 & 8

Week 2: Rows 2 & 3 *I have noted a pattern correction in this post*

Week 3: Rows 4 & 5

At the end of the QAL you'll be able to enter to WIN a Free Craftsy.com class for Quilting your large quilt... and this is a large quilt, on your home machine!  To enter, you just need to share a photo of your finished quilt top... more details to come on the giveaway as the QAL draws to a close.

Thank you to Craftsy for generously sponsoring the SoChick QAL! This lesson is valued at $39.99 and is full of very useful information, plus it's yours to keep and watch whenever; over and over again!  Stop by Craftsy.com to check out the Indie Pattern Shops (like, mine) as well as great deals on supplies, tips, their blog is great, too... I totally think you should join in the Craftsy fun!  P.S.- You can catch some lectures from QuiltCon 2013 for free, too!

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And here we go... Week 4:
 I fully intended to have both Row 6 and 7 in this post, but these last two rows incorporate a bit more piecing and so to save on a huge-o-long post, I've decided to give each row their own post... aww. *wink*  No worries, though, if you finish this one soon, I won't make you wait another week for Row 7! *Keep reading for Row 7 details, thanks to my computer crash, gah!*

Anchors Aweigh, Row 6
Before you cut, you will need to make the following corrections to the pattern:

Row 6 Cutting Corrections

And, of course, I've laid out all of my pieces and pulled all of my square prints that I will need for this row.  I promise you, that even if I weren't photographing for the QAL, I'd still lay all of my pieces out... it's sew helpful to ensure you're staring with everything you'll need... less time spent looking around for supplies = more time sewing!


I started with the smaller sections and worked my way into the center of the row.  The first two stitched were Row 6 Sections 2 and 8. (R6S2, R6S8).  I didn't chain piece for these sections.  Be careful to use a consistent 1/4 in seam allowance.  Press all seams open and nest your seams as you stitch the strips within the section together.  Start by piecing the top of the section, then attach to the bottom solid piece; press seams open.

Starch and press, starch and press...

Next, I worked on R6S3 and R6S7, these are where I discovered the cutting error in the pattern, so if you've made the corrections, you shouldn't have a problem.... if not, well, this part may take you as long as it took me. *wink*

I noted the measurements of the solid pieces, as they are cut, to show where the corrections go, etc... quite a bit of ripping went into these sections, mostly S3, as you can tell by all of the threads and the kinked seam on the far left... be sure to trim any threads off of your sections as you finish with them.  I did, after I took the photo...

Row 6 Section 5 I was able to chain-piece as I did in the last QAL post.  I completely forgot to photograph this Section, but it was the quickest stitching of Row 6, for me.

The final sections, Section 4 and 6, are different from Sections throughout the quilt in that they are almost broken down into sub-sections, which are then attached to a larger solid piece to complete the Section.  I hope that made some kind of sense, with the major use of the word "sections".

Row 6 Section 4, Anchors Aweigh

This is the lower part of  Row 6 Section 4, where I've sewn the "sub-sections" together.  Next, I attached the solids to their corresponding pieces, then attached all of the "sub-sections" to complete the lower half of R6S4.

Lower portion of R6S4

Once the lower half is complete, the larger solid fabric can be attached.  If you are using a 1/4in seam allowance, your solid piece should line up exactly with your lower section.  However, if you notice the ends of the solid extend slightly beyond, or end slightly short, of your pieced section, you should be okay, the difference will be absorbed in the 1/4in seam allowance when you join all of the sections in the row.

*** This is where my computer dies, along with all of my photos, so I apologize for not having any pictures of the last Rows, and their completed sections.

After stitching Row 6 Section 4, I moved on to Section 6.  I made sure to give each of these sections individual attention (instead of sewing them at the same time as I did with the others).  The "sub-sections" can get a little tricky. 

I pieced Row 6 according to the pattern, again, I did not trim anything down. So far, any slight variations in length/width of the sections' edges has been absorbed in the 1/4in seam allowance when sewing the sections together.  Basically, when sewing the sections and rows together, I have tried to keep everything within the 12 1/2 in length of the finished row... so if a section is slightly smaller, due to my piecing/seams, I just center them best I can, pin and stitch to the next section.  So far, none of the variations have been large enough to warrant ripping stitches or caused any fabric to be missed in the 1/4 in seam.  I'll stop rambling about that now. If you have a question about this, just ask in the comments, I'll do my best to answer/explain. *wink*

On to Row 7:

*Before cutting, make the following corrections to the pattern:

-You will be cutting fabric J and not K, as written in the pattern.

Cut your solid fabric (fabric J) and lay them out; pull out all of the squares as called for in the pattern.

Row 7, Section 3:

  For this section, I sewed the bottom pieces (K, E, C, I, K) together, then chain pieced the top portion.  Once I completed the chain piecing of top portion and joined those, I joined the bottom piece to that.  Press all seams open, trim all threads. Starch and press, starch and press.

Row 7 Sections 2 & 4:

Much like Row 6's Sections 4 & 6, these sections are made up of "sub-sections" which are attached to a larger solid piece to finish them; I worked these two independently as well.

Once these sections are completed, press and starch them, then attach them to complete the final row of your Anchors Aweigh Quilt top!   Yay!!!!

I realize that these Rows, while fairly simple, are a bit time consuming; I will do my best to explain how to attach your Rows in the next post.  I am also going to move the Giveaway for the Free Craftsy Lesson in to April.  I think this will allow time for everyone to complete their Anchors Aweigh Quilt tops, which gives everyone a shot at the Giveaway Prize! Thanks for bearing with me as I deal with my computer issue and moving!  

XxOo~ Melissa