Almost a year ago we Elizabeth and I decided that we wanted to create summer quilt alongs…and after much thought decided that we wanted our first quilt along to represent something that symbolizes a part of summer that we love most…and for both of us that part of summer has to do with water.
Growing up I spent part of every single summer on the beaches of southern California with aunts, uncles, and cousins while Elizabeth spent portions of her summer at their family lake house in Illinois. Swimming, late nights, bonfires, walks along the piers and docks, card games, and suntans all along the water’s edge with our families. They are memories that we both love and recall every summer…so with that in mind we put together two quilts for our first ever summer quilt along.
The designs for both quilts are based on the nautical alphabet.
The nautical alphabet was designed as a method for ships to communicate with one another. The nautical flags are made up of 26 different square flags that each represent a letter in the alphabet along with 10 numbered pennants. Along with each of the 26 square flags representing a letter they are also assigned a specific message. For example the flag representing the letter “O” also means “man overboard”.
In a way I think quilts help us communicate with one another as well….when we give a quilt we are communicating with the one who receives it that they are worth our time and our love…and that when they are wrapped in the folds of the quilt they can feel the warmth and support we are sending to them.
With that said we are happy to announce that our first summer quilt along will begin next Tuesday, the 26th with the release of a video that will walk you through how to create the letter C flag (which is also a Rail Fence Quilt Block).
Until then you can:
*Check out more about our Nautical Summer Quilt Along HERE.
*Get all the fabric requirements (or buy a kit) for the Nautical Summer Quilt Along HERE.
AND….
Enter to win one of two summer sewing prize packs (filled with books, notions, fabric and other fun goodies to keep you sewing all summer long)
To enter to win all you have to do is leave us a comment saying what fond memory summer makes you recall (for me, of course, it is the beach) and you are entered to win!
Then…to receive more chances to win leave a separate comment telling us if you follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram and if you subscribe to our newsletter.
That’s it! Easy Peasy.
Good Luck and we hope to see you here Tuesday with the start of our Quilt Along!
Fondest summer memory was the family harvest. It was sandwiches for dinner and then a real meal for supper. It was hot and sweaty and dirty and awesome. Being much smaller then, I really thought the wheat was 6′ tall; it wasn’t. Now that I have been married to a farmer for many years, the thrill of knowing the combines will be running soon, hearing the whir of the turbo, seeing the convoy of trucks with grain trailers, tractors with grain carts and the combines moving from field still brings a thrill to this down-home girl. My grandma and mom quilted, and now my daughter and I do it together too. Quilts are part of a farmer’s life.
I’ve got a family of my own now but my most favorite memories of summer go back to childhood when my family would spend a week on the beach in Cape May, NJ. I live in Texas now but I hope to bring my husband and kids there one day.
My favorite memories are of the fireworks shows my dad used to put on for us as kids! Not sure that would still be legal today…Regardless, I still love a good fireworks show!
My favorite summer memories are on the family farm helping grandma and Aunt prepare meals to take to the harvest field and of course a large meal for evening.
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My favorite memory is going to visit my family in Illinois where we got to catch fireflies and go swimming in the lake! I wish there were fireflies in L.A!
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Growing up in a dysfunctional family, it’s not easy to recall a lot of fun memories, but a few summers when I was around 10, my mom would take us 3 youngest kids camping. I’m not sure how she did it with a pop-up camper and managing to keep us all rounded up, but she did! I remember renting bikes at the campground, going fishing on the banks, and having a fire to ward off the skeeters at night. It was such a great time to get away from the stressors of home. Bless my dear mom!
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Family vacations! WIth eight children in my family money was tight, but my parents always made vacation a priority. We drove everywhere in a giant van, which always broke down. We went to Disneyland, visited relatives, and explored the country. It was amazing!
My summer memories are of visiting my grandparents in the US and traveling the parks, I.e. Yellowstone, arches, Bryce, etc.. I always had a great time . My husband and me try taking our kids to the US and traveling around the country by car every few years.
Going camping with our relatives from Canada at Sebago State Park in Maine!
Summers meant family vacations to Cedar Point ( love rollercoasters) , swim team meets, driving along Skyline Drive & camping, and just reading books outside till “lightening bugs” started. On really hot days, I would spend my day or evening sewing in the cool basement.
I love the idea of your nautical quilt! Thank you for sharing it with us. My summer memory is swimming at the Y with my sister and our friends.
I’ve always loved for summer to come. Being a former teacher, it meant some much needed rest. Now I love it if the whole family gets to go to the beach. We’re seldom all together.
I remember the county fair. It was such agreat time, and our parents mostly let us wander unaccompanied when we were older. Thanks for the giveaway.
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I loved my former home as a single gal-had a roof top pool that NO ONE used.
I had it basically all to myself.
The view was: in one direction Boston, in the other direction the ocean….I spent a lot of time up there reading and relaxing!
My fond summer moments were spending all summer as a child at our family beach home.
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Being a prairie girl, my fondest memory involves climbing on the stooks of bales of hay in the yard and closest fields. Great quilt a long! I look forward to it.
Having friends over for a BBQ and being able to stay up later at night to watch the stars with your company. Also, growing your own vvegetable garder. Thank you for the chance to become one of your winners. Love your quilt alongs.
Sandi Timmons
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Must we choose only one fond memory? I just can’t ! So in no special order, here goes!
Camping In a tent at Bass River, special two week stays in Ocean City with best friend, late nights with the juiciest novels with a window fan on high ( no air conditioning for my parents!), cookouts at grandma and grandpas farm in Medford, catching fireflies, watching fireworks in awe ( still love them at 57), MilleBourne card game at picnic table with bestie and her siblings…..
Ahh summer!
We used to spend a week on the Oregon coast. I loved it. I would love to live there someday.
My fondest summer memories are the road trips to visit my grandparents. I still remember the excitement of seeing my grandmas house, and running around her porch, trying to make all he wind chimes go at once.
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My fondest summer memory is eating a cold slice of watermelon and then throwing the rind to the chickens. ❤️
I am from a big city in Belarus, so my three sisters and I spent most of out summers in the country side at out great grandmas house. My fondest memories now are everything we did there: pulling water from the well, helping with pasturing village cows when it was our turn; making fires and toasting black bread on the sticks; mushroom picking, jumping in ginormous piles of fresh hay and straw before it is put in bakes, watering the garden and feeding the chickens, picking cherries from tall trees in the garden, bilberry picking in the forest, riding a train to get to their village…. and so many more. I loved summers!
Summer always meant camping season. Growing up we didn’t reallh go to the beach, but now my husband and I go on as many cruises as possible..
I am a subscriber!! I havemt done a quilt alone but looking foward to this one as my first!! Im new to quilting and im learning lots!!
My summer memories are of us camping and fishing as much as we could as a child!! We always did every year!! I miss it soo much!!
I went on many camping trips as a Girl Scout. Such wonderful memories I have from Girl Scouts like singing Camp Fire songs and staying up late chatting in the tent. Swimming was also a part of our fun Summer activities. I am now, also, enjoying camping and boating. I truly love the Summer months!
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Fondest summer memory from when I was a kid would be driving from VA to MA and ME to visit family every summer. There was always multiple different adventures that we encountered and experienced.
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Just found you on FB. I am attracted to the simple and modern look of your designs. The nautical alphabet has been on my list to try. It reminds me of days on the lake, skiing and fishing.
Summer was all about my Grandparents’ pool! My Grandmother could do a mean “dead man’s float” that scared us every time, lol!
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My favorite summer memories involve the beach too. Our family and some of our friends and family would camp at the the beach every summer. Best times of my life.
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My summer memories are of camping with my family and extended family. Playing all day with the cousins and having a good time together.
I follow you on Facebook and subscribe to your newsletter. I love you two and saw you in person at The Cotton Shop!! I have one of your signed books!!
I am a wife, mother, and now grandmother. I now also care for aging parents. My life is coming full circle, and yet my childhood seems like yesterday. I grew up in Murray, Utah, with the best parents and two brothers and one sister, where my parents still live in our family home. My grandmother lived next door, along with my aunt and uncle and their four children. The four children in our family and my four cousins were all corresponding ages, so we had the best childhood ever. It was a great time. We did everything together, and I mean everything. Every summer we would travel to Yellowstone together, the two families and our grandmother and spend a couple of weeks at a cabin. We visited the park and saw all the sites every year. It was the best. When I think of childhood summers, this is what comes to mind. We are all adults now, but we treasure those memories most of all. There have been tragedies, divorces, sadness, but we hold onto the happiness we had as children!!
My fondest summer memory was spending two weeks with my grandmother in East Texas. She would sew clothes for me, we’d back, and spend time swimming at Lake Tejas. I miss her but have wonderful memories of time spent together.
Many summers of my childhood were spend on the camping at the beach of carpinteria. Now my kids begs to do the same. It’s the best!!!
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I just to love going to our neighbor’s church for Vacation Bible School. The pastor had stilts that he would bring out after the lesson. It was so fun learning to walk on those things!
Fond memories of the summer I learned to swim at the lake at French Creek State Park in South Eastern Pennsylvania. I was a gangly 11 year older, afraid of the eel grass and what might be lurking in those murky depths but my perseverance paid off.
Every Wednesday my mother and my aunt would cram all 5 of us cousins in the backseat and off we went to the beach for the day. Lunch was always friend chicken . Sitting on the sand for 30 minutes after eating. The smell of Coppertone on the skin in the sun.. The sound of seagulls begging for a snack.Good memories.
Our summers were always spent at the beach. We cruised up and down the beach and boardwalk of Ocean City, Maryland and loved every minute of it. Love this quilt, my FIL was an avid sailor and would love this.
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My fondest summer memories are being at the cottage with my children and grandchildren. There is nothing like waking up in the morning, everyone in their pajamas, having breakfast together out on the deck. Lots of chatter and laughter. Follow your newsletter for a long time. Thanks!
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I love the beach at bear Lake
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