The Ron Swanson Along - Day 1
July 8th, 2012
About a decade ago, my friend Leslie and I saw this this woman on Simply Quilts making “photos” out of squares of fabric. We got so excited about the process, we jumped right in and we each made her little “photo” quilt of a picket fence with a garden behind it. I’m not a picket fence person, but I loved the idea of a photo quilt and it was so fun to make. My ugly little fence quilt is long gone, but my desire to make a photo quilt (into something I actually like) has lingered for years. When I saw what Elizabeth did with her Toyko Subway quilt, and Amy with her Hello Kitty quilt - I knew that all these elements could turn into something magical. And that magical thing is Ron Swanson. Ron Swanson, the beloved character played by Nick Offerman on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. Parks & Rec - my favorite TV show of all time + Ron Swanson my favorite TV character of all time (even though I heart the entire cast of P&R) + my two favorite things - fabric and quilting. It took me a while, but I plotted and planned and finally got it done. I know I’m not the only one on the ronswansonlovedrug, so I decided to share and do a quilt along… The Ron Swanson Along.
I was secretive - but also giddy while I was putting it all together. I couldn’t resist leaving a trail of hints. First at the end of my Treat Yo Self blog post, and then I Intsagram’d this:
Then I got really ballsy and Instagram’d Elizabeth when she was secret-sewing along with me:
I feared I was being too loose lipped, so I went tactical and threw in a Miss Marple diversionary nugget:
Once I was near the end of finishing - I decided to go bold and drop a ronbomb:
So here he is, Ron F***ing Swanson… The Quilt.
I’m almost to the actual Day 1 of the Ron Swanson Along, but I want to mention some important things before anyone begins:
1. Blech, this Along is heavily laden with disclaimers - this is to keep everyone’s butts covered and Kosher. Please respect them or the terrorists win.
2. Day 1 is your Day 1, and so on and so forth. You can start at any time and take as much time as you need. There is no set date or timeline - the Days are your days. We’re all pretty much pretending we’re all sewing together, anyway… so set your own Day days.
3. Each day will have illustrations that you’re welcome print out. Be sure to set your printer to “scale to fit paper”.
4. Illustrations are in shades of grey, this is to show color value and not actual color. This will hopefully make it easier to pick out your own prints and color choices. Arrows are pressing guides if you’re a side-presser. If you press your seams opens - frolic and ignore the arrows.
5. I have no set schedule of when I’m going to post each Day. There will be a total of 12 Days, and I’m planning on posting a Day every couple days or so. Something like that.
6. Show & Tell! I’ve set up a Ron Swanson Along flickr group: flickr.com/groups/ronswanson. Please don’t make me come hunt you down. It’ll be way more pleasant for us both if you just join the pool and show everyone your pics.
7. Wanna button?
Feel free to grab the button and link it to: http://thehappyzombie.com/RSA
If you need help adding a button to your site, please consult your blog’s admin Help or try Google for help.
8. This is a free pattern that is for someone who knows how to quilt. If you’re interested in learning how to quilt and don’t have access to a quilt shop or community college that teaches quilting - here are some good online resources and books to help you get started on the quilting crack.
INTERACTIVE/ONLINE:
– All People Quilt
– Sew,Mama,Sew! Forum & Book Shop
– Craftsy
– Threadbias
BOOKS:
– The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman
– Complete Guide to Quilting by Better Homes & Gardens
– Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! by Diana McClun & Laura Nownes
– Start Quilting with Alex Anderson by Alex Anderson
9. Your personal touch and fabric/color choices are encouraged. Modification is a happy thing. This quilt is easy to modify in size since all the pieces are the same size. Go bigger (if you’re nuts - this quilt is already a beast at 60″ x 80″!), or go smaller (hang Ron in your mid-level government work space!).
9½. If questions arise in a comment, I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. (answers are pretty in pink)
10. Blahblahdone!
Day 1 (finally)
The Ron Swanson Along
[print yardage/cutting info] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]
Posted in Ron Swanson Along |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
Kind of creepy, but brilliant! When you are sick you can cuddle up with Ron.
July 8th, 2012Really awesome Monica! And hilarious. And weird. All those things are making me want to do it!
July 8th, 2012I was wondering why you had some of those pictures on your blog recently! Maybe I should watch P&R sometime!
July 8th, 2012This is by far one of the best things I have, ever, ever… I mean ever seen in my life. I am not in the position to along right now but I will be watching!
Thank you for the smile!
July 8th, 2012OMG - I saw every one of those Instagram pictures & had no idea you were up to something so fabulous!!
July 8th, 2012Fabulous quilt-just right for snuggling up on the sofa to eat a steak (Ron’s favorite food).
July 8th, 2012You crack me up! Just fabulous!
July 8th, 2012Oh my goodness, this is amazing!!!
July 8th, 2012amazeballs!
July 8th, 2012Okay, you’re right, that is totally better than a Ron Swanson quote! Amazing!!
July 8th, 2012Seriously one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Hilarious and totally fantastic! Now I need to figure out how to get one of these, Clive Owen style…
July 8th, 2012Woot woot! Logged in just now to see if you posted anything about this. Yay! Let the madness begin!
July 8th, 2012Oh my goodness, Monica, you can reduce me to full-on belly laughter like no other! What a crazy fun idea!
July 8th, 2012I’m pretty sure this is THE MOST awesome thing I’ve ever seen. I am too a deep Ron Swanson fan (my brother is almost 100% bacon and eggs, just no mustache…yet). I cannot send you enough thanks for this. Sooooooo cool. Seriously. I think life is complete now.
July 8th, 2012this is crazy awesome!, love it!
July 8th, 2012ACK! The Twelve Days of Swanson! You rock.
July 8th, 2012You r crazy! I love it. What else can you do with this? Mary
July 8th, 2012Oh my effing god! This is by far the awesomest thing I have ever seen. I love love love it.
July 8th, 2012Woman, you are damaged in all the right ways.
July 8th, 2012Its crazy!
July 8th, 2012Its genius!
ITS CRAZY GENIUS!
umm, this is awesome. And I am so going to join along and make this for my hubby’s birthday, the hard part is going to be trying to keep it a secret. He is going to love it. I am so excited!
July 8th, 2012I bow to your crazy awesome geniusness my friend….Ron will be proud:)
July 8th, 2012xx
soLORIo
OMG, this is hilarious. I don’t watch the show but obviously I’m missing out :) Can’t wait to see how this plays out!
July 8th, 2012you are my hero.
i’m working on my third quilt top ever but as soon as i can collect the perfect fabric this is going to happen in my life! I love the quilt, I love the idea, and now that i know i could make a quilt with ron swanson’s face on it, i have to do it.
thank you so much for sharing this!
July 8th, 2012Ok you win! This is so fabulously twisted and silly in the best of ways!
July 8th, 2012This is crazy awesome! I might have to make it a mini sometime.
July 8th, 2012This is sooo awesome. You totally need to email your quilt photo to Parks and Rec. I bet they would work it into an episode!!
July 8th, 2012That’s amazing!! I need a Mr. Thornton quilt.
July 8th, 2012This is so wonderful I could hit you!
July 8th, 2012Yay! It’s here! Your quilt is awesome-sauce and I’m totally excited to quilt along… Need to pick some fabrics!
July 8th, 2012That is so AWESOME!!! My husband LOVES Ron Swanson, I will be making this for him for Christmas. He will love it sooooo much. I can’t believe you thought to make this quilt. Thank you so much!!!
July 8th, 2012Oh MY @#$%^&*)(!… you are a genius!! My daughter will get a BIG kick out of this and I must make one for her… One of her favorite episodes is the Bacon and Eggs. Really… I don’t know if I will do it on this schedule, but I am totally IN!!!
July 8th, 2012Oh and have you let ‘Ron Swanson’ know he’ll be snuggling with lots of strange people all over the world??? He might be disgusted….
July 8th, 2012still totally awesome
Absolutely amazingly awesome project!!!!!! Love it!!. I stand (well, sit, actually) in awe of your creativity!!!
July 8th, 2012so i’ve always thought you were awesome but now you are my hero!
July 8th, 2012i love this so much! you are super awesome monica!
July 8th, 2012I just about peed my pants laughing at this. Ron is my fav PAR guy.
July 8th, 2012Give me all the bacon and eggs you have….love him!
July 8th, 2012Monica, you are amazing and clever and very generous to share with all of us!!! Love your quilt even if I have no idea about Ron.
July 8th, 2012I love you Monica
July 8th, 2012Freaking hysterical, I love it so much!! Saw your teaser pic on instagram, then saw Sewtakeahike Penny’s pics before I got to the computer, so I had a bit of an ‘ohhhhhh’ moment then. Couldn’t get here fast enough for a proper squiz. You are awesome. Cat
July 9th, 2012Oh em gee….think he’ll consider this a form of stalking? Very cool idea…and weirdly life like. It is so cool and pixelated
July 9th, 2012You did such a great job breaking down the design and choosing your fabrics–completely awesome!
July 9th, 2012Great job Monica! Great way to get to snuggle with your “other” best guy! Will you make one of your husband too?
July 9th, 2012Hilarious and brilliant!
July 9th, 2012lol! You need to email Ron! Maybe he can guest post! ;)
July 9th, 2012Ack! There better not be anything in between me and my stash, or it’s getting trampled!
July 9th, 2012This is amazing. I love it. I think Ron will be pleased as punch when he sees this. Thanks for the awesome quilting inspiration!!
July 9th, 2012Somehow I’ve never heard of this show, thanks for recommending something new to watch. You never know, I might get addicted and make my own Ron Swanson :)
July 9th, 2012Gee thanks, Monica. I’ve been pulling fabric like a madwoman, humming “Come Ron Along… Come Ron Along…”
July 9th, 2012I’ve never watched Parks and Rec ~ so I don’t know the appeal of Ron but love the quilt!
July 9th, 2012This is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while! just think what it could start…
July 9th, 2012Love Ron. Love Miss Marple. Love the idea of squares being a picture. Love this. You are fantastic.
July 9th, 2012You’re hysterical. I can’t help but express my dismay however….hubby isn’t going to like this one.little.bit. There should have been a hubbyalong. Or a HeyGirl along. A Sofa King along??? Fodder perhaps for future alongs?
July 9th, 2012omg this just made my day! i’m totally going to treat myself and do this. Screw the queue I have of stuff for other people. :-) do you have any suggestions for determining shades?
July 9th, 2012- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I use a really scientific method of determining values - I squint my eyes and look at the fabrics in a blur. I also take a pic with my iPhone and look at it in mini ish. It may not work for everyone, but it’s what works for me.
✿
You are hilarious. And Brilliant. This just totally made my day.
July 9th, 2012This is quite possibly the greatest quilt I have ever seen! I laughed so loud when I saw the finished quilt that I think I woke up my kids! Thank you for sharing and creating a quilt a long, I think I might join in! Who doesn’t love Ron Swanson?
July 9th, 2012This is beyond awesome. I think I’m going to copy you and do the Ron Jeremy Quilt Along…..only it won’t be a head shot, if you know what I mean! XXXX
July 9th, 2012My husband and I have never seen P & R. He walked behind me as I was looking at the quilt and said, “Why would someone make a quilt of Joseph Stalin?” I guess we need to put down the books and turn on the TV more often.
July 9th, 2012HYSTERICAL! Well done you.
July 9th, 2012this is aWesome. & i shall not be left out.
July 9th, 2012O MY OH MY OHMYAMAZINGGODALMIGHTY
your mind is incredible…. just saying… i just joinedtheflickrygroupbutthatisasfarasIwillgo
smooch!
July 9th, 2012A true Ron Swanson quilt would be made out of wood grained printed fabrics don’t you think?
July 9th, 2012You are awesome, Monica! I just finished re-watching the “Treat Yo Self” episode (thanks to your prompting!) and then I stumbled upon your breathtaking quilt.
Ron Swanson is such a great character. “When I eat it is the food that is scared.”
July 9th, 2012Oh my freaking gosh, this is AMAZING!
July 10th, 2012Heehee!! Genius!!
July 10th, 2012If I didn’t have self restaint I would be dropping some major F bombs to describe how hilarious and wonderful this is. Does the actor know you’re doing this???
July 10th, 2012This is the most freaking awesome quilt I have ever seen. I cracked up at the thought of the Ron Swanson Along - and must follow :) Thank you for your amazing sense of humor!!
July 10th, 2012I really love this idea. Thank you for being wonderful/ crazy/talented/awesome artist to think something like this up.
July 10th, 2012am I the only one who doesn’t know WHO Ron Swanson is?
July 11th, 2012So, I already told you on twitter how awesome this (and you!) are, and I was going to try to resist, at least fir a little while, but I think I have to have my very own RSQ. So, yes. I’m going to pick some fabrics on the double. You rock, Monica!
July 11th, 2012OMG - two blocks in one day!! I better get crackin’! :) (And I am so glad Jacey succumbed to the peer pressure…ha ha!)
July 11th, 2012MIND. BLOWN. I have to join in on this. Epic.
July 11th, 2012Thank you for hunting me down! I hopes it’s because you knew I was a huge fan see you in Sisters Sista!
July 11th, 2012Thanks for making me aware of this show! I’ve now gone from never having heard of it (5 days ago) to being halfway through the second season. I wasn’t sure about the first few episodes, but by the sixth one I’d become a full blown addict. Can you guess what I’ll be watching obsessively over the next few days?
July 11th, 2012Squee! Can someone just send me a kit? You’re such a tease. And, yes, it takes me a while to catch on and catch up to what’s going on. I think I know a kiddo in the house who would be quite torn between a Hello Kitty quilt or a Ron Swanson quilt. That’s because she’s been brought up right. xo!
July 12th, 2012This quilt is Awesome Monica! My daughter loves Ron Swanson and I’d love to make it for her. Now only to find the time.
July 12th, 2012Step one: Find picture of honey badger.
July 12th, 2012Step two: Judicious application of pixelate filter.
Step three: Sew
Step four: Cuddle with honey badger.
This just confirms you are a nutbag (I had my suspicions with the toilet cover pictures)…and I LOVE YOU!! LMAO, you are one funny lady!
July 13th, 2012Waiting for my fabric order! Can’t wait to start. I love Mr. Swanson. I’m thinking this would be the best freakin’ Christmas present ever for my husband. His mind would be blown. Thank you for this awesomeness.
July 13th, 2012Ironically, I’m watching P&R while I’m reading your blog!!! I, too, share the love for your fav show of all time. And, I think the Ron Swanson and the Treat Yo Self fabulous wall hanging are tremendously cool!! Any plans for a Tux & Flipper quilt?? :)
July 14th, 2012That was my favorite episode ever!!! Lol
You are ah.freaking.mazing. Seriously. This is the coolest thing EVER! I showed my husband, he doesn’t know who Ron Swanson is (I know, I know) but he’s been driving me crazy to make him a quilt to take on deployment with him and I think I’m going to see if I can’t make him a Michael Scott quilt (from The Office.) Holy freaking cow, this is so awesome.
July 14th, 2012Love everything about this sew-along, but mostly the moustache. I enthusiastically accepted your Flickr group invite - thank you! - but will almost guaranteedly (word?!) not be making one. (Up to my yin yang right now.) I will cheer / stalk them from the sidelines tho’. Look forward to seeing the collection of RS’s at the end.
PS: Am I just dim or is there no SUBSCRIBE button for this charming blog?
July 16th, 2012- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Well, I’m going to be rooting (and cheering) for a guaranteedly to be broken, Berene! There is a Goggle Reader subscribe (ish) button on the sidebar near the top (under “about me”).
✿
It rocks. Especially against the rocks! Penny left my house this afternoon to go quilt hers. I voted for white thread. She was leaning grey. She told me what you used, and I can’t wait to see that in action! Bravo, zombie!
July 16th, 2012I’m still waiting for my fabric to get here! Kona Lime Green was on back order so it’s not shipping until Friday!
July 17th, 2012I just found out about this a few days ago, and I can’t wait to get started! I’ve got a wedding quilt that needs to be finished by next Friday, so that’s got all my attention right now, but I am SO glad I found out about this! Best QAL ever.
July 19th, 2012OMG OMG OMG!!!! Thank you so much for this- I now know what my brother and my husband will be getting for Christmas (and if I curl up with Ron while he’s at work this winter, no one shall be the wiser).
July 19th, 2012I love Parks and Rec (it’s even funnier if you live in Indiana) and Ron is my hero. Thank you for hosting this! I better get sewing.
All righty! I’ve cut it all out and done the first block. I feel so arty! I’ve gone with blacks and greys too as I love the contrast (and I was scared to go outside the box. I’d put a picture up in the group but I don’t remember how and I can’t ask my husband or he’ll find out. Thank you Monica this is so much fun, Lexi
July 19th, 2012OH, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh! My son and his GF are going to love this! I just bought my fabrics, an assortment of white on black prints ranging from solid white thru solid black. Such fun. Got a nice red print for the back, and binding. Even took my husband along to help. He is literally colour blind, but we chose the black and white colour way and he could give his input. In fact, he may have been able to see the values better than I did! I shared this project with my 84 yr old Mom - a long time quilter. This project really is a family project! Thanks for the wonderful idea and instructions!
July 22nd, 2012You’ve got six up and I’m only done with three! Ack… must pick up the pace.
July 23rd, 2012this. is. epic.
July 23rd, 2012my husband is going to love waking up under ron swanson each morning almost as much as i will.
July 23rd, 2012You Rock!!! I love your blog and all the awesome things you create, especially the Ron Quilt!! I was wondering what program on your Mac you are using to get the pixels? I have a Mac but I am very green when it comes to all the bells and whistles of this awesome computer. Thanks for any info you can provide :)
Jaime
July 26th, 2012if quilting were sex… ha ha ha! you are so fun monica! and i agree with you Amanda is super awesome!
July 30th, 2012HELLLLLP! I feel myself being sucked in. Yes I just may join in the RS along but first I need more bacon.
July 30th, 2012Monica you never fail us!
One more block and I’m all caught up! Can’t wait for #10!
July 31st, 2012Spooky. Just refreshed and there was Day 10. You are FAST.
July 31st, 2012Shout out to “Aunt Dana” for the terrific photo tour with RonQuilt! It must have been so fun to take those photos–I’ll bet it made a lot of people’s day!
July 31st, 2012I fear I don’t have the skills and/or patience to make the Ron Swanson. I couldn’t bear to not do justice to R.S.
Perhaps I will make a bacon strip set.
August 2nd, 2012In memory of Lil’Sebastian I find myself compelled to create this in a smaller version. Tonight I will scramble through my fabric to create this as one of my first quilts. This is truly inspiring and Lil’ Sebastian would approve.
August 6th, 2012Sheer awesomeness! It makes me smile everytime it pops up in my facebook feed. Seriously want to make it just so I can snarkily comment to my husband something about sleeping under another man! Lol
August 7th, 2012I LOVE your tour of Hollywood with RON! You always make me laugh so hard! Just one of the things I adore about you!
August 7th, 2012I am so loving Ron’s tour of Paramount, it’s like he is serenely gliding, taking in the sights.
Thanks for the link to our blog, that’s so kind of you! I’ve got blocks 4, 5 and 6 chain-pieced and ready to roll … just need some more daylight sewing time. Will upload more pics as soon as I can.
Looking forward to seeing where Ron will pop up next! see you, Cat
August 8th, 2012I’m a beginner quilter (read: 1st mug rug WIP), and I love the idea of the Ron Swanson quilt, but if you ever do a graph for Mayhem (from the Allstate commercials), I will have to ramp up my quilt skillz like immediately.
Please? I love that guy (Mayhem) and those commercials… :)
August 22nd, 2012I happened upon your blog and this tutorial. You are now bookmarked because this year I will make and give my husband the most awesome present ever. A Ron Swanson quilt. He’s a man’s man, and my man is a huge fan. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
August 29th, 2012I don’t know if this makes me mad at myself for not finishing my Tony Danza quilt sooner–he and Ron could be playmates! buddies!–or elated that someone else has plowed ahead and gotten to the end of such a nutty project. Have had my piece all cut for the better part of the year, and might just need this kind of motivation to see if through to the end. I AM THE BOSS. Dagnabbit.
Love the final product!!
September 24th, 2012Oh. My. Goodness. I wish I would have found out about this earlier! Amazing. :)
November 1st, 2012This is literally the coolest thing I have ever seen….EVER!! I’m only new to sewing so it will be a long time before I could attempt something like this, but I know for a fact my husband would go crazy for this!
December 21st, 2012Saw you won at quilt con, so I had to look for it! Congrats. I love parks and rec so much!
February 27th, 2013Someone who loves Swanson AND watches Miss. Marple while quilting? I’m in love.
August 22nd, 2013I am really excited to start this! I had a question though… Each color says there are a number of strips… But I don’t see any strips in any of the blocks. Am I not seeing something?
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January 20th, 2014I’m excited you want to make it, Alex! The strips are part of the cutting instructions. From the yardage: cut strips > from the strips: cut the squares. Hope that helps! - Monica