Goin' Crabbin'

This is our row for Row By Row Experience this year. It is called Goin' Crabbin'. As soon as the theme, On The Go, was announced we had a pretty good idea what we wanted to do. We have learned over the years that when we put a crab on something it just seems to sell better. For some reason the people here on the Eastern Shore of Maryland love their crabs. And who doesn't love the old red pick up truck?

So, as I was saying, the crab is very popular. We are located just off of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab can be caught in any of the waterways around here. When the crabs are live they are a blueish color as pictured above. When they are steamed the become reddish orange.  

Here are our rows from previous years.   

2014 the theme was seasons.

"Day At The Beach" was summer on the shore.

2015 the theme was water.

"H2O 4 Shore" showed water each season here on the shore. 

This was the worst year for our row! 

Was it because there was no crab or was it because there were so many little pieces?

2016 the theme was Home Sweet Home. 

"Crab Feast" went absolutely crazy!

We had a crab dye made for the AccuQuilt, 

so the crabs in the kits are pre-cut and pre-fused. 

We are still selling this kit and it is available here.

When I am trying to figure the layout of a row, I print the components on paper and play with the placement. I thought it looked better to have the crab in the foreground to the rear to look like it was left behind. 

Once I have the applique pieces prepared I iron them onto parchment paper. Then I can place the entire section onto the background fabric and fuse in place. 

I prefer to stitch around my applique with a double blanket stitch. This really outlines the shape and makes it stand out. For the crab it is best to stitch around each leg first and then come back and stitch around the shell. 

Chris, one of my team members, suggested the dog and the sign on the truck door. 

I think they are great additions to this row. 

I was having trouble getting a good picture inside, so I took it out and laid it on the porch. 

We have this row kitted, and it is flying out the door. 

If you can't get into the shop this summer and would like to purchase this kit, 

you can order it here and we will ship it November 1, 2017.

We decided last year that our license plate needed a crab too.  

This year's license plate also has a crab and can be purchased here.

I don't know how long people are going to continue running around collecting rows in the Summer, but I hope it continues a long time.

All Together Now

Choosing the sashing fabric was one of the hardest fabric choices I had to make for this project.

Everyone consulted definitely liked this dark gray fabric the best. 

I still need to finish writing up the pattern. 

We will be starting to cut kits soon. 

We look forward to seeing you this Summer when you stop in for your free Row By Row pattern of "H2O 4 Shore".

Fall H2O

For the Fall H2O block I did make a few changes from our monthly mini. The biggest change was I had to stand the little guy in water. 

Some of the fabrics that I chose initially did change.

For this block I did not want a blue sky. If standing in the marsh, the boy would be surrounded by dry reeds and cattails in the Fall, so I wanted the background gold.

The water really would not be blue. I tried several fabrics before coming up with the right one. The background was also not working for me, it was just too dark.

And like the Summer block I needed something else in the foreground. The dog from the monthly mini would not work since he was standing in water. I am very happy with the final fabrics and the cattail.

Summer H2O

Choosing the fabric for the Summer H2O block was a bit easier than Spring, but I had a little more problem with the composition of the block. 

I do believe all of these fabrics made the final cut and then some.

Right off the bat I did like these fabrics.

I also liked the sky and the ocean.

But, something was just not right with the composition. 

This girl does not look good standing in the middle of the ocean all by herself. 

I needed to stand her a little to one side and add something; maybe some birds in the air or a sailboat in the background. 

No, she needed something right there in the foreground with her. 

My daughter suggested the beach ball and that is exactly what she needed.

Spring H2O

Choosing the fabric for the Spring block of our Row By Row was not nearly as easy as Winter.

Some of the fabric here did not make the final cut. 

These boots just were not working.

The blond hair did not show up like I wanted it too.

I do not like that umbrella.

Something is not working here but I am not sure what it is. 

Could it be the hair?

Blond hair is not the answer.

Maybe I just need to put it on the background to see how it looks.

Big NO to the puddle!

I think maybe the umbrella needs to be only one fabric.

I was fortunate to be able to order more of the fabric I used for rain in our April Monthly Mini last year. Don't you think that is the most perfect fabric for rain?

Winter H2O

After I had all of the blocks designed for the 2015 Row By Row then the fun began; choosing the fabrics. 

Actually, Winter was really pretty simple since it is taken for one of our Monthly Minis. 

I really like this monthly mini so I kept the fabrics as close to that as possible.

 There were just a few changes because of fabric I no longer had. 

Stitching around the applique with a contrasting thread using a blanket stitch really brings out the detail.