Row, Row, Row . . . Again!

Here it is! How many rows have you collected so far? The Row by Row Experience® 2016 kicked off this week and as you travel this summer, you can visit participating quilt shops along your route and collect rows. Shops in all fifty states, all Canadian provinces, and even Europe are ready and waiting for your visit. As mentioned last week, your favorite Hummingbird Highway pattern author (Me! Me! Me!) has written six row patterns this year. Rather than have you sort through over 3,000 participating shops to find the row patterns I wrote, I'm making it easy. Visit these shops, get a row pattern, and tell them I said 'hi!' The theme is "Home Sweet Home." Now go sew a row or six!

Just so happens that the row patterns in my cache are split evenly between horizontal rows (featured last week) and vertical rows. . .


Of these three row-shops, the closest to 'home' for me is Sew Special in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Their row theme is pretty close to home for most of us! Seams like Home is a pieced stack of thread spools! What does this have to do with 'home' you might ask. Shop owner Donna Eicher actually lives in a quilt retreat and bed and breakfast, Seams Like Home in Vanderbilt, PA. She is surrounded by all things quilty nearly all the time!

Wouldn't this make a great wall-hanging all by itself in your sewing room? Do you love it? I'm certain Donna still has kits available to make your 'rowing' super simple.


Next, head south, to North Carolina and Wish Upon a Quilt in Raleigh. Where Everybody Sews Your Name is the row pattern you'll want to pick up.

Shop owner Cathy McKillip says her shop is just like the 'Cheers' bar where you feel comfortable just dropping in for a chat, a class, a fabric fix--by the yard or by the bolt, or simply a visit to see what fun things are going on. This row makes you feel like you're peeking in the quilt shop window to get a preview of what quilty treats might be waiting for you inside.



And last but not least, keep going south for the sixth pattern from the 'highway.' Don't stop until you get to Houston, Texas and Buttons 'n' Bows Quilt Shop.

Texas Proud features a depiction of the iconic Lone Star state flag and the beautiful state flower, the blue bonnet. The combination of dimensional blue bonnet flower elements and the red, white, and blue flag will have you busting with pride and anxious to get sewing! You'll need two kits, one for your quilt and one to make up for your front door--because you are Texas Proud, too!


I hope you enjoy the patterns. Send pictures! I'd love to see 'em in your for-real quilt!

Happy Rowing!

Happy Stitching!
joan ford