Welcome to the 2016 Finish-A-Long. This year the FAL is hosted by a global community of bloggers:
The Basics of the FAL
The FAL is a low pressure community event that allows you to make a list of projects that have already been started but not finished and thus are hanging about in your sewing room as UFOs. The list is linked up at the beginning of a quarter and then at the end of the quarter you link up a link for each item on your list that you finished. Each link is an entry into the random draw for great prizes sponsored by our generous sponsors. There is no penalty for not finishing something on your list.
The link will be hosted on all the hosting blogs but you only need to link on one blog for it to show on all. We also encourage everyone to visit the links of others for inspiration and community. Please scroll down for the detailed rules.
The FAL on social media
Please visit and like our facebook page or follow us on IG: @finishalong.
The 2016 Schedule
Pop over to Adrianne's blog from 31 Dec - 6 Jan 2015 to link your Q4 2015 finishes.
Q1 2016:
Jan 7 - 16, 2016: Q1 proposed finishes linky is open
Mar 31 - April 7, 2016: Q1finishes linky is open
April1 - 6, 2015: Tutorial week
Q2:
April 8 - 16, 2016: Q2 proposed finishes linky is open
June 30 - July 7, 2016: Q2 finishes linky is open
July 1 - 6, 2016: Tutorial week
Q3:
July 8 - 16, 2016: Q3 proposed finishes linky is open
Sept 30 - Oct 7, 2016: Q3 finishes linky is open
Oct 1 - 6, 2016: Tutorial week
Q4:
Oct 8 - 16, 2016: Q4 proposed finishes linky is open
Dec 31, 2016 - Jan 7, 2017: Q4 finishes linky is open
Jan 1 - 6, 2017: Tutorial week
Our Sponsors
The Tutorials
Coming 1 April 2016, so keep an eye out!
The Rules
- At the start of each quarter there will be a linky party for you to link up your proposed list of finishes. You must link up in order to be able to be eligible for those prizes at the end. Please only enter ONE blog post or Flickr photo or Instagram photo at this starting link-up. If you use Flickr or Instagram please describe your plan in the description.
- In order for your projects to be eligible, they must at least be a tangible project at the start of the quarter. That means, at the very least, a pile of fabric pulled along with a pattern, or a quilt top needing to be quilted, or a half knit jumper. I love seeing your bee blocks, but they won't count unless you happen to be turning them all into a fully completed quilt!
- As you complete each of your projects on your list, write a post all about it, or a description of a Flickr pic.
- At the end of the quarter, link up each individual post/Flickr pic (please link back to your original list in some way). For each finish/link you complete, you get an entry into the draw, and therefore it's in your best interest to write up a separate post for each!
- A finish is defined as a completely finished project, eg a quilt, quilted and bound, a bag that's fully lined and functional, or a jumper that one could wear out in public. I'm happy for you if you get a quilt top completed in one quarter, but hold onto it for the next quarter and see if you can get it quilted and bound before entering please.
- You won't be punished if you don't finish your entire list, so feel free to make a big list and roll projects over from one quarter to the next if you need to.
- All qualifying finishes will be put into a prize draw, and the names/numbers drawn at random for each of the prizes donated by our sponsors for that quarter.
- The finish linky party will be open for approximately a week, and then the next quarter will open on the following day.
- The FAL is open to anyone, anywhere in the world.
- In order for your projects to be eligible, they must at least be a tangible project at the start of the quarter. That means, at the very least, a pile of fabric pulled along with a pattern, or a quilt top needing to be quilted, or a half knit jumper. I love seeing your bee blocks, but they won't count unless you happen to be turning them all into a fully completed quilt!
- As you complete each of your projects on your list, write a post all about it, or a description of a Flickr pic.
- At the end of the quarter, link up each individual post/Flickr pic (please link back to your original list in some way). For each finish/link you complete, you get an entry into the draw, and therefore it's in your best interest to write up a separate post for each!
- A finish is defined as a completely finished project, eg a quilt, quilted and bound, a bag that's fully lined and functional, or a jumper that one could wear out in public. I'm happy for you if you get a quilt top completed in one quarter, but hold onto it for the next quarter and see if you can get it quilted and bound before entering please.
- You won't be punished if you don't finish your entire list, so feel free to make a big list and roll projects over from one quarter to the next if you need to.
- All qualifying finishes will be put into a prize draw, and the names/numbers drawn at random for each of the prizes donated by our sponsors for that quarter.
- The finish linky party will be open for approximately a week, and then the next quarter will open on the following day.
- The FAL is open to anyone, anywhere in the world.
The FAL has grown and grown since Rhonda - now Rhonda's Ramblings - started it in 2012 in the USA. It moved to Canada in 2013 where Leanne - She Can Quilt - hosted it, then in 2014 it was off to Scotland in the UK where Katy - The Littlest Thistle - was in charge, and in 2015 it moved to New Zealand where Adrianne - On the Windy Side - has been doing the honours.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Some examples:
- Leanne posted a mosaic and a short list here
- 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 Facebook 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.
REMEMBER there is NO penalty for not finishing something on your list.
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.
InLinkz has a tutorial on linking up from Instagram here.
Katy, our lovely 2014 FAL host from The Littlest Thistle made 2 tutorials:
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.
InLinkz has a tutorial on linking up from Instagram here.
Katy, our lovely 2014 FAL host from The Littlest Thistle made 2 tutorials:
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 (fluffysheepquilting at gmail dot com) or any of the other hosts and we are happy to help you out.
Buttons for your blog
If you are still stuck after checking these out, then just email me (fluffysheepquilting at gmail dot com) or any of the other hosts and we are happy to help you out.
Buttons for your blog
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