Since I’ve been busy this summer driving my kids to and from work at odd hours, and my daughter to and from the college bus stop, no opportunity existed for me to college Row by Row patterns for the summer event that began in June.
When my daughter’s college classes ended the first part of August, she and I decided to drive around Virginia to college free Row by Row patterns for our own mini-staycation.
After making a list of our favorite patterns, and organizing the most efficient driving route, we took off on our quilting jaunt!
MOUNT VERNON
Of course, I had to collect this lovely pattern of Mount Vernon from Hollin Hall Variety Store in Alexandria, east of our house!
Located near the sparkling blue Potomac River, I drove to Great Falls via the George Washington Memorial Parkway, which allowed us opportunity to enjoy the gleaming white monuments in Washington DC.
PENTAGON
After driving past the Pentagon, we arrived at the Jinny Beyer Studio in Great Falls to purchase the kit for her Pentagon row, featuring fabrics she designed.
BIRDHOUSES
Driving westward, we arrived at Oh, Sew Persnickety in Haymarket (just north of our house) to collect this charming birdhouse pattern.
HONEYBEES
Then we drove to Kelly Ann’s Quilt Shop in Warrenton, just northwest of our house, where we picked up this adorable honeybee pattern.
PICNIC
Continuing the circular pattern around our house, I drove to Daffodil Quilts in Nokesville, southwest of our house, where I bought the kit for a picnic, which included lots of cute buttons to include in the quilt row.
VIRGINIA
A few days later, when I drove my son to Ashburn for a conference, I drove to Magarbo for this pattern of Virginia and her iconic symbols.
BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS
A week later I drove to the Blue Ridge Mountains for two other quilt shops with row patterns I really liked.
At The Stitching Post in Lexington, the quilt shop owner had my daughter and I each sew a quick quilt block for a charity quilt she was creating with her customers.
From her we received this gorgeous pattern of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
After a picnic lunch and walk in the historic area of this new-to-us town, we drove east on I-64 to Charlottesville.
OWLS
Arriving at Cottonwood in Charlottesville, I collected this pattern of owls representing University of Virginia, whose nickname is ‘Hoos.
GLAMPING
Since we had just enough time before the store closed, we finished our pattern collecting day at Suzzie’s Quilt Shop in Manassas.
Since her glamping kit was full of adorable buttons, I bought that.
BIRDHOUSE
A couple of days later I drove to The Quilt Patch in a historic home in Fairfax, east of my house, for this birdhouse pattern.
CHECKERBOARD
Then I drove to the western frontier beyond my house to That Little Quilt Shop in Culpeper because I needed this simple pattern for a grand idea brewing inside my head.
SEWING
Finally bitten by the conquer the quilt bug, I started sewing my Home Sweet Home 2016 Row by Row Quilt.
EMBELLISHMENTS
Enjoying the buttons that came with the picnic and glamping rows, I decided to pull cute ribbons and buttons from my own stash to round out the quilt.
Somehow, I conquered this in six days, a huge record for me since I’m always struggling.
WINNING
Since there is only one winner per store, the first to arrive with eight rows gets a prize, and extra prize if used the store’s pattern, I discovered three stores without winners, yet.
Driving to the store nearest my home allegedly without a winner, Daffodil Quilts in Nokesville, the owner kindly told me that they did have a winner a few days before.
Nevertheless, she gave me a consolation prize, a collection of official Row by Row fabric in one of her store mugs. Awwww! Now I have to scheme a quilt around this theme!
Since the next nearest store allegedly without a winner was in Fairfax, I called the store from the Daffodil parking lot.
Unsure whether they had a winner yet, the lady on the phone checked around, returning to announce that yes, they very recently had a winner.
Calling The Little Quilt Shop, the last option on my list, the lady said they didn’t yet have a winner.
After driving to Culpepper, and winning, I was asked by the saleslady if they could hang my quilt in their store.
Walking around town with my prize of 1930s reproduction fabric fat quarters, I walked around the historic area where I found a Magnolia store and enjoyed a fabulous lunch at the Culpeper Cheese Company.
MORE ROWING
Then I drove to Capital Quilts in Frederick, Maryland where I bought this kit for the White House.
