Fellow Quilters,
Today I join 4 other quilters who are blogging about what home means to them, as we participate in The Road Home Row- along. The Row-along, organized and hosted by Marian of Seams to Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com/ and Amy of Sew Incredibly Crazy http://sewincrediblycrazy.blogspot.com/, has 40 designers from all around the world, each creating a row reminiscent of their “home”. It started September 6 and runs for 6 weeks, with bloggers posting each Tuesday and Thursday. You are invited to collect as many rows as you want, and they are free! There are also tons of prizes – each blogger has a prize, there are weekly prizes, and also some grand prizes, so increase your odds of winning by visiting as many of the blogs as you can. Let me tell you about my row.
I am a Toronto girl, born and raised here. While I now live an hour’s drive north of the city, I still travel into the city to enjoy all that it has to offer – world-class theatre, cuisine from every corner of the earth, top designer boutiques, professional sports teams (including World Series winner Toronto Blue Jays), world-renowned hospitals & universities, all crammed into the city. Despite that, it is a very green city. Toronto is on Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes, and our waterfront is a leisure playground, with lots of boating in the summer months. The best view of our spectacular skyline is from the Toronto islands, just offshore of the waterfront. Toronto is the biggest city in Canada, and our airport is the hub for air traffic to the US and overseas. How do I design a row reflecting these characteristics of my hometown?
Each row is 12” by 24-40”. Now, if you’ve been to Toronto, you know that there is a special building (the CN Tower) that is iconic, and it is very tall – 1800ft! This meant that my row needed to be vertical.
My piecing bits & pieces
I am a piecer at heart, so I needed to include some of that.
My row has storm at sea blocks to represent the lake. I used a selection of Northcott’s Toscana suede-like texture to create my row, including the range of clear blues for the sparkling water.
Storm at Sea blocks
The seams nested together because of the direction that they were pressed (2 opposing corners pressed in, and the other 2 opposing corners pressed out).
I selected warmer teal blues for the flying geese blocks to fill the sky. I randomly arranged them on my work surface, moving them around until I liked the color placement.
Assorting the flying geese pieces
Then I sewed the sky to the lake, inserting the skyline background between the 2 pieced sections.
Putting it all together
Finally, I added the applique pieces that bring the row to life.
My finished row waiting to be quilted
Here is my helper Susanne, preparing the applique pieces.
Susanne preparing the appliques
She is in the Northcott sewing room (we are in the midst of Quilt Market preparations, so she is almost buried in projects).
I hope you enjoyed your visit to Toronto. The free pattern for my row is available on Craftsy (Road Home Row-along Toronto) until the end of October. Marian and Amy have collected lots of prizes, so be sure to visit Marian’s site at Seams to Be Sew http://www.seamstobesew.com/ to enter for a chance to win a lovely 18” x 24” cutting mat from Calibre Arts or a fabulous embroidery disk from Anita Goodesign (embroidery is so popular right now!). These prizes are available for US residents only, so if you’re NOT a US resident, I have something for you too! For a chance to win a packet of Toscana fabrics like the ones used in my row, please leave a comment on my blog telling me where “home” is to you. I will collect entries until September 21st.
Here is the full list of participants in The Road Home Row-along – have fun visiting as many as you can, and entering to win the prizes.
September 6
Allie-Oops SweetHappy Life
creates Harrisville, MI Sunrise Coast
Cynthia’s Creating Ark
creates Adelaide South Australia
Kissed Quilts
creates Grand Coulee, Washington
Renee’s Quilting Addiction
creates Alberta, Canada
September 8
Sew Incredibly Crazy
creates Colorado
Quilt in Piece
creates Amanzimtoti, South Africa
3 Patch Crafts
creates Bulgaria
Just Let Me Quilt
creates Las Vegas, Nevada
September 13
Tweety Loves Quilting
creates Edinburgh, UK
Quiltscapes
creates Heber City/ SLC
Seams To Be Sew
creates Idaho Falls, Idaho
Pine Valley
creates New Zealand
September 15
bdieges designs
creates Road to Tehachapi (CA)
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
creates Worcester County in Central Massachusetts
Cloth and Paper Studio
creates North Georgia Mountains
Patti’s Patchwork
creates Toronto, Ontario Canada
Seacoast Quilter
creates New Milford, Connecticut
September 20
Beaquilter
creates Denmark
Heleen Pinkster
creates Netherlands
Seams To Be Sew For Batts In The Attic — date may change
creates Hollywood/LA
Rebecca Mae Designs
creates Northern Maine
September 22
Words & Stitches
creates Beaches of California
Quilt Art
creates Africa
I Can Quilt 2
creates Baltimore, MD
Any Pattern
creates Port Angeles, Washington
September 27
Creatin’ in the Sticks
creates Dodge City, Kansas
MooseStash Quilting
creates Alaska
Patchwork Breeze
creates West Michigan Shoreline
Sue Griffiths Featured At Just Let Me Quilt
creates Northern Rivers Region, NSW, Australia
September 29
Quilted Fabric Art
creates Burlington Vermont
Westend Quilter
creates Manitoulin Island, Canada
Pamela Quilts
creates Oregon
Quilt Fabrication
creates Silicon Valley, CA
October 04
Linda Robertus
creates Netherlands
Elm Street Quilts
creates North Carolina
Sarah Quinn Featured At Seams To Be Sew
creates Outer Space
Patchouli Moon Studio
creates Central New Mexico
October 06
Cheryl LaPlant Featured At Quilt In Piece
creates York, Maine
Miss Loreen’s Schoolhouse
creates New Hampshire
Bumbleberry Stitches
creates Oklahoma
Needle in a Hayes Stack
creates Mojave Desert
October 11
Show N Tell Day
Cheers,
Patti
pattispatchwork-blog.com 
Your block is gorgeous! I call Oregon USA home. My grandfather was from Ontario so it is special to me.
Oh how I adore your row – I’ve only been to Toronto once, and fell in love with the city. So clean, like New York dipped in Lysol – so safe, rode the subway at 2am – our hotel was right next to the CN tower! Terrible hotel, but we couldn’t afford the Royal York, lol. I’m in Michigan myself – 4 out of 5 great lakes prefer Michigan, lol – close enough to hop on the train to Toronto. I really need to go back!!!!
Very, very nice. Super actually. I live outside Charlotte,NC.
Have never been to Toronto…but one of these days. Love your row, especially that it’s vertical. Thanks for sharing!
I love your row! Toronto is my home, and has been for all my life, so your row really struck me as being very, very representative of our fabulous city!
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This is ( my invented word a wee while ago) ” Beautiluscious”!!! I love it, and although I live way down south of you in New Zealand, have lots of friends in Canada, and I think I should make this as a tribute to their friendship.
Thank you for the amazing row. I am from the US, but wanted to comment about how much I liked your row and to thank you for the time time and talent that you put into this free row.
Greetings from Lancaster, MA USA! Your row is gorgeous; I love how you pieced the sky and water, and how the skyline contrasts with them. Great job!
Good morning Patti, what a great idea ! I love your blocks, the colours and especially how you captured Toronto’s iconic CN tower ! I also love the block pattern aND colour wave ! Just beautiful ! I will download the pattern – thank you for sharing this and the details of the other contributors.
While Toronto is not my home, I think that your row captures so well what I think of when I think of Toronto. Although for most of my life I’ve lived in a variety of cities, towns and villages all over Ontario, Wasaga Beach on the shores of Georgian Bay has been my home for the past two decades, and is the place where I most feel at home. You may just have inspired me to design a row that represents home to me. My thoughts are already hard at work:)
I grew up in Toronto, before the CN Tower, moved to Guelph for my university days and retired to Southampton. Your block is just a delight.
Thank you for your lovely row. I am from South Western Ontario closer to Lake Erie. I designed a CN Tower block for my guilds BOM for this year.
Love your block. It depicts Toronto perfectly. Englehart is rural but I love it.
Home to me
I grew up in a farm which was down in a Valley. Looking back what a amazing place to be. We had 50 acres and a creek that ran thru it down to Lake Ontario. So in the spring we had Trout come up. Spent many days fishing. We grew veggies and raised cows and chickens. My mom canned everything from tomatoes to making her own jam. My sister and I would fight over who got to poke the wax off the jar. When I tell my children about this they say why would grandma put wax on jam? We had a frog pond which was hours of entertainment. Then when winter came it became our hockey rink. Tobagganing was amazing. It holds a dear spot in my heart and that is why it is “home”to me. Loved your block you made. Thank you for sharing
Oh forgot to say where actually home was. Lol It was Eddystone, Ont
Well I’m just a ‘little’ north of Toronto :). I grew up in Kitchener and special weekend excursions were mostly in Toronto – Wonderland, Ontario Place, Lake Ontario, CN Tower, Center Island, just to name a few. Love your Block! When I see it, I think of the song – ‘A Place to live, A Place to stand, Ontari…ari….ario’!!
I was conceived, carried, born, raised and lived my entire adult life within sight of Lake Erie in southern Ontario. Can’t imagine living away from the water. I would feel land-locked! Love your row! Great idea for the background.
I spent my K-3rd grade living in Toronto (many moons ago), and truly this brings back fond memories- thank you for such a great block, Susan
Your Row is AWESOME! Looks like a photo! Great job! 🙂 I live in Ohio, just about in the middle.
My home town is a little village in Flinton Ontario.
Love, love, love your row! I’m a California girl whose been to the western side of Canada but I sure would like to get to the eastern side.
Your row is so amazing! I love all the details. Thank you for sharing.
Wow. I love the different shades of blue.
Love love love your row. I just returned from a girlfriends trip to Toronto. We loved it. It was beautiful and everybody was soooooo nice to us. What a wonderful place to live
Absolutely love Toronto. My Mother’s family was from Canada and I lived in Prescott for a while as a child. I love your row as I too believe it capture the essence of the city. Thanks so much for all of your hard work.
“Home” is Washington DC these days; but I will always be a Louisiana girl at heart! Your row is absolutely beautiful!! (lynnstck[at]yahoo.com)
Yours is my favorite row today. I love the colors and design.
I am not in Canada, but had to tell you how much I love the way you pieced the sky and water in your block!
I forgot to add that home to me currently is in SW Michigan.
Love that Row Patti. Home is Lindsay Ontario. Exactly where you were on Monday afternoon. Was good to see you again. Your presentation was awesome. The guild loved listening to you and seeing all your great projects! Thanks so much for visiting.Melissa
Love that Row Patti. Home is Lindsay Ontario. Exactly where you were on Monday afternoon. Was good to see you again. Your presentation was awesome. The guild loved listening to you and seeing all your great projects! Thanks so much for visiting.Melissa
Your row is fabulous! I was born and grew up in Oregon, but spent summers with my extended family on the Hupa Reservation in Northern California. Now I call a small town in SE Michigan home.
Great quilt of the Toronto skyline. I’ve been there many a time
This row is just incredible. All the colors that mesh to make the row. I especially like the fact that it’s vertical. They are so important in row by row quilts. Toronto is a gorgeous city for sure.
I love, love your row, the City of Toronto should adopt it! What wonderful street banners it would make! I am in Merritt, BC, a logging and ranching community in southern BC
This is such a great row and a fun second year to see your participation. I fell in love with Toscana when it was and the stonehedge lines from the moment I saw them. This just shows how beautifully they incorporate into landscape type rows. Northcott has a real nice feel for lovely fabrics especially blenders, which is my favorite type of print if you can call it a print.. I believe your row incorporates Toronto perfectly, it’s great to see the process involved with making the row and much appreciated when you know there is piecing involved. I’m so happy you participated once again in this years Row Along.
Love this row. The colors that swirl around to make a beautiful background. Toronto is a wonderful city for sure.
Your row is so beautiful and looks amazing in those fabrics! Thanks for sharing about Toronto!
your row is lovely. I call suburbs of Chicago, Illinois USA home
I love your row — I’ve only been to Toronto once, but you’ve totally captured what I remember of it. So elegant and lovely.
I LOVE your row. Of course, the blue are beautiful and you arranged them perfectly but I love silhouettes and that makes the row even better. Thanks for the row pattern.
I love your row. The use of the Storm and Sea and Flying Geese blocks with all the shades of blue works great. Thank you for sharing your home.
Patti, this is fabulous – love the fabrics and the way that pieced background really gives texture to the ocean and sky. What a neat silhouette – thanks for sharing your city and your pattern to make it!
Thanks for sharing your fantastic row with us. Love those sail boats.
Wow, what a stunning row! thank you so much!
Your row is just beautiful! Although I wasn’t born here, I have lived in Kentucky all my adult life and it has become home.
You have such an amazing grasp on color. I love the blues of the background next to the cityscape. Thank you for making your pattern, I love it!
What a fabulous row and solution to the various highlights of your city. Thank you so much, it looks simply stunning. LOVE the applique touches.
I grew up in a lovely little village called Ayr, Ontario. It isn’t a village any longer—has really grown but it is still beautiful. When I was young I couldn’t wait to leave and now that I’m older I’d love to be living there again.
That is a beautiful row!
Pretty skyline row/quilt.
love your skyline in your row. I call Kansas home.
Great row. I too like your skyline. I am in the lovely state of Minnesota.
Awesome job on ur row!
Beautiful! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
I love the movement in your sky and water! I hale from northern New Jersey!
WOW, I really really love your row. Thank you for this pattern. crystalbluern at tds dot net
Love your row, Patti. I hale from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
I have never been to Toronto. Your row so beautifully depicts your area…love it! I hope to visit someday!
Your row is lovely. I am so amazed with the pieced background, which “makes” the quilt row. The applique is so simple yet lovely.
Wow – fantastic row – makes me homesick for Toronto!!!
Now I have to make this one I have a brother that lives in Toronto
So love blues…ty for your great row……loved it….. happyness04431@yahoo.com
Love your row! I like the combination of piecing and applique. Thanks!
Beautiful row! Love the blues. Thank you
Love the way you pieced the water! Live in SoCalifornia.
Your row is great! Like the sky and lake; amazing!
I live in a rural area in Oregon, USA and love it, but grew up near the beach in Southern California and in many ways Huntington Beach will always be “home” to me.
I love how you got the movement in the lake and sky, and the applique is really well done, too. Thanks for sharing this!
What a stunningly gorgeous row. I love your colors. I call southern Ca home.Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful row.
Love the tones in this. I live in Dublin, Ireland and have been so envious of the Row by Row but now thanks to you and the other designers I can actually take part now. Thank you
OMG!!! I love your row best and it’s not because I am also from Canada, but because I love those colours and layout!!! Stunning!! I am from Northwestern Ontario and live in a small town called Manitouwage (it’s not far from Wawa).
I really like your row – even though it will make me redesign my quilt – I will have to include this row!
Thanks for a great Canadian row! I live in Calgary.
I love your row. I have been to Toronto, great city.
Your block is wonderful, reminds me of my trip to Toronto many years ago, including the CN Tower, Niagara Falls, and a wilderness park. Lots of fun! Thanks for the lovely row.
Home is Franklin, PA in Northwest pa. I have never to Toronto, but will look for the tower if I ever make it. Great row, very creative,thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the cute row by row block.
My husband and I visited Toronto about 30 years ago on a business trip. We were both very impressed with the city and the many activities to enjoy. It is a beautiful place! Home to me is Dubuque, Iowa which is the oldest city in Iowa and sits right on the Mississippi River!
Wonderous! is my word for your row. I love it! Have not been to Toronto but have wanted to visit for quite some time, just never get the opportunity. I am a transplant in Lansing Michigan. The state capitol and home of the Spartans.
Beautiful! I live in Lansing Michigan. Thanks so much!
Wow, wow and wow – your row is SUPER Gorgeous. I just kept, saying Oh, OH OHHH WOW. It’s so beautifully calm, soothing and great interpretation of the theme.
I’d like to visit Toronto and see Lake Superior. Love your row!
so loved your row block and the fabrics used in it. I live on the Yakima reservation and thats were I quilt.
Beautiful row, thank you.
What a beautiful row! I think you’ve captured the Toronto skyline spot on! Thanks so much for sharing your marvelous row and wonderful talents.
Hello fellow Torontonian. I too am born and raised here and I love the vertical row. I do hope I can find the time to make one or two as Christmas gifts to family. They’d love it.
Triangles and flying geese blocks are the next skill I want to learn! Love the sky.
Absolutely gorgeous! You really raise the bar with your row!
Home for me is Missouri (the Show-me state) USA. I have been to Toronto on several occasions and really enjoyed the museums and the city. Very United Nations is the mix of people there. It was great. Love your row. I visited that monument looking through its glass floor. Stomach churn.
tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com
What an amazing row! Such detail and I love how you did your foreground and sky. Great job! My home is Alaska but I had to leave you a comment.
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
Your row’s skyline is so impressive.
Oh wow! Your row is amazing! I especially like that you used Storm at Sea blocks to represent the lake.
Great row – love Toronto!!!
Amazing row block!
I love all of the blues!
Your applique pieces did bring life to your row!
This is my favorite so far in this row along! Stunning!
Love your row!
I love how this row is different than all the others!! Very creative and fun! Thanks for sharing!!
Your block is lovely. I am almost done, one row left with a storm at sea quilt top. I have enjoyed the process. I reside in Illinois. Thank you for the inspiration.
Love the colours and design! So pretty ♥
summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com
Nice poost