As of now (9:30 Mountain Standard Time) you have 11.5 hours to link up your FAL list to be eligible to link your finishes at the end of Q1. The link closes at 11:00 p.m. EST - with a global community you will have to check your own time zone if you are down to the wire.
Each finish is a fantastic accomplishment, so join us for some encouragement to get one or more of your UFOs out of the sewing room this quarter.
I will also tempt you with the prizes from our generous sponsors (and more sponsors may yet be joining us...). Each finish you post at the end of the quarter will be an entry into the random draws for these prizes:
The global community of FAL hosts are so excited to see so many of you joining in for Q1 of the 2016 FAL. Today I wanted to answer some questions and share some tips so that everyone can play along with us.
What should my list of proposed finishes include?
All you need is a photo of each unfinished project - you can use separate photos, or add a link to the photo/blog post to your list, or make a mosaic of all the projects and then a short - or longer - list of the projects.
Helen posted long list with a photo and explanation of each project here
Stacey posted a shorter photo and explanation list here
You can also use a photo on Instagram or Flickr of either a mosaic of the projects or a written list. Just include an explanation of what you need to do in the description if you use a photo/mosaic or links or references back to the project photos if you use a written list.
If, after reading this, you want to amend your Q1 list to add some photos or links, feel free to do that - some of our lists are missing these. But this is on your honor - it is ok to clarify your list but it is against the rules to add more projects to your list after the Q1 link has closed at 11 pm EST on January 16, 2016.
REMEMBER there is NO penalty for not finishing something on your list.
Each project from your Q1 proposed finishes list that you do finish will be eligible to be linked up to the Q1 finished projects list at the end of the quarter and each finish is an entry into the random draws for the sponsor prizes, so do try to finish your projects.
I'm new to linkys, how do I do it?
Linking up is easy and takes less than 1 minute. You will need to have published your blog post or flickr photo or instagram photo that contains your list of proposed finishes.
Then go to one of the link up pages on one of host blogs and add your link - you only need to link at one blog and your link will appear on all the hosting blogs.
There are several good tutorials for how to do this:
InLinkz - the link up tool we are using - has this short how to video. If you click the youtube button at the bottom right of that video box you can watch it in a bigger window.
The link is set so you can delete your own link, just hover your cursor over your own link and a trash can appears - to delete click that trash can. If you make a mistake on your photo or your title, just delete and try again.
If you are still stuck after checking these out, then just email me (shecanquilt@gmail.com) or any of the other hosts and we are happy to help you out.
How do I participate in the Q1 FAL community?
You can do any or all of the following, whatever works for you:
Visit the link ups from other participants - click on the linked up photo and check out their projects. Leave an encouraging comment, consider following them and maybe make a new internet friend.
Put the official 2016 FAL button on your blog. Use the hashtag #2016FAL on your social media posts. Follow us on facebook here and on instagram @finishalong.
As you finish each project on your Q1 proposed finishes list, write a blog post or post it on instagram/flickr and add a link to your Q1 list to that post and share it on your blog/flickr/instagram with the 2016 FAL button or hashtag and tag us too. At the end of Q1, you will link each of these finish posts to the Q1 finish link up which will be open from March 31 - April 7, 2016.
Watch for other folks to finish their projects and help them to celebrate those finishes.
At the end of Q1, link each of your finishes (one link for each finish) to the finishes link up, and also visit the other links to help everyone celebrate finishing those UFOs and getting them out of the sewing room.
If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm having fun checking out your Q1 lists, and if you have not joined yet, you have several more days to join in the Q1 FAL, please do so.
It may be difficult to believe but here we are....the first Quarter of the 2016 Finish-A-Long.Thank you to the wonderful Adrianne, from On The Windy Side who hosted the 2015 FAL and to all of you for participating in 2015.
As I've said, the 2016 FAL is going global - a community of bloggers across the world will be jointly hosting the FAL. Our hosts are:
For those of you who are new to the FAL, it is a place to find motivation and encouragement to complete those unfinished projects that are hanging about becoming UFOs. Every quarter you post a list of projects you hope to finish in the next three months, and then at the end of the quarter, you post a link from your blog, flickr or instagram of each successful finish from your original list.
Each finish is an entry for wonderful prizes from our sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing a listed project, so feel free to make your list long or short, as you wish. The 2016 Schedule and the Rules for the FAL are on my permanent FAL page, let me know if you have any questions. Here are the fantastic and generous sponsors for Q1 of the FAL - you can see each of their prizes listed under their logo:
For the 2016 FAL, we will have the return of a tutorial week at the end of each quarter, between the opening of the link for finishes and the day that link closes, so stay tuned for more on that at the end of Q1. If you have a tutorial that you would like to share, please let me know.
It's time to round up those projects you want to finish over the next three months, take a photo of where you are now, and make your list. Please ensure that you have at least started your projects - pulled fabric with a pattern or plan, and remember that it is finished projects that will count. So while we love to see your bee blocks, the "finish" is when they are a completed, quilted quilt.
The 2016 Q1 link for your list of proposed finishes is now open below on my blog and on each of the hosting blogs. You only link your list once, on one blog - and that link will show up on all of the blogs. If you are using Flickr or Instgram, link a mosaic and put your list in the description. Katy of The Littlest Thistle has a great tutorial on how to link-up if you have need it.
We also ask that you become part of the FAL community. Please check out the links of others and visit and comment on their lists. We all need encouragement to get those finishes done, so please share some of your own too.
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That mosaic is my list - just 9 items this time. Putting everything I have to do on my list, like I did for Q4 of 2015 did not focus me, so this time I am selecting specific projects. They are:
Orange Twirl Quilt - this is new to this blog, but I have been sharing it on Instagram. I hope to get the pattern done too.
Improv Trees Table Runner or Pillow
Bee Sewcial Quilt - I am just waiting on one set of blocks and I am keen to finish it
Lion Quilt - I am almost finished the paper piecing now
The Collection Appliqué Quilt - I'm not sure I will finish but maybe
Liberty medallion Quilt
Scrappy Blocks Quilt
Japanese print pillows
Liberty Blocks - there are more blocks in Nicky's pattern but I might just take the blocks I have an make a quilt or maybe I will make more. I figured while I had the Liberty fabrics out for the medallion, I should finish these off too.
Well, 9 projects in 3 months might not be that focused, but wish me luck.
Now its your turn. Get those lists together and get linked up. The Q1 linky party will stay open until 11:00 pm EST, January 16th - as we are global, you might want to check your time zone to determine your last possible time to link. Remember: you only need to link up on ONE hosting blog and it will automatically show up on all hosting blogs. Oh and you can like the 2016 FAL on Facebook here and follow us on Instagram @finishalong, and tag your progress and your finishes #2016FAL.
When I made Pink I was thinking that this pattern or some other variations on the traditional rail fence pattern is a great scrappy quilt idea, so I have added it to my Scraptastic Tuesday list. I am thinking about a number of variations that could be achieved with my overflowing scraps.
Twirl was my second finish from my list - you can read the Ta Da post here. I so love this pattern and am working to finish it for testers right now - I have been making an orange version and I will share my progress soon. I love this modern medallion - plenty of negative space, strong graphic image, bold but not overwhelming secondary designs, dainty yet also industrial, whatever.
On a list of 35 projects to finish, only finishing 2 is not a great ratio of finishes, but on the other hand, having 2 finished quilts is wonderful. So I'm counting it as a win.
