March 4, 2019

Save the Date- Upcoming Quilt Alongs with Woodberry Way

Recently I have caught on to the magic of a quilt along. If you're wondering what a quilt along is, according to Emily Dennis,  a quilt along is a group of quilters making the same quilt pattern at the same time either virtually or in person. 

I never really knew how fun this could be until recently. In January I was feeling overwhelmed with the year's creative commitments. It just so happened that Then Came June and Pen and Paper Patterns were hosting a quilt along for I Heart You. It captured my imagination, and the appeal of making someone else's pattern and not having to think or worry about it was very enticing.

I joined the QAL, and was surprised to find that adding a fun, no-stress project to my to-dos helped me in a number of ways. It got me into my sewing space without so much intimidation. It kept me happy and creating for joy. After that I also joined the Quilty Love quilt along by Emily Dennis. Following a timeline, sewing along with other people and being motivated by prizes made staying on track easy. It also helped that both of those patterns were relatively easy and fast. Also, I just love looking at the hashtags for quilt alongs to see all the beautiful variations and interpretations of the same pattern. It's so interesting and inspiring!

I had plans to make a few of my own patterns over again this year, since the originals were given away or sold. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to have anyone who wants to make them join the fun. I've planned out a schedule of which ones I want to make and wanted to share with you so that you also can plan, and so I will be accountable. Don't worry, I'm not going to have a baby any time soon and have terrible morning sickness and exhaustion and not finish my own quilt along like I did with Folk Stitches. That was a rough season! I STILL need to finish that quilt, I have bad associations with it, haha.

First of all, Chamomile starts April 1st as you know. I'm excited for that one! Right now we are picking and posting fabric. Olie and Evie has cute kits if you're still looking!



This summer as we will be gone for most of June (I'm coming for you Utah quilt shops!) but I'm going to do a very casual Rise quilt along. I have this block done and this pull ready to go. This one is so fun!!


Fall will be all about First Snow! I wrote that pattern to include two color placements options for the same block. For the pattern release, I made the B version with solids.





Julia @redrainbootshandmade sewed the A for me, bless her heart! I've always wanted to make an A version for my house, so that's my plan. It will be a lot like the one I planned for her, though I may add a navy block or two.



We will sew snowflakes from September to November, and hopefully have tops ready to quilt for Christmas time!

In the new year, it will be time for Where Love Is. My original quilt had a grey cross weave background.


Photos by Quilt Photography Co.

This time I'm taking inspiration from @sissybellesews and @twoheartssewing and doing scrappy background for each block. I'm actually adding scrappy FQ cutting instructions to the pattern, I'll email them if you've purchased it already! 



I was only supposed to make 2 test blocks to make sure I liked my plan, but I got a little excited! These are going in a box until January now, promise.

I also want to do  Star Kissesbut I can't decide what kind I want to make- Patriotic, Christmas, Liberty, so many good options. I'll save that one for next summer.

So, in summary, starting times are:
April 1- Chamomile
June- Rise
September- First Snow
January- Where Love Is
May- Star Kisses

Another thing I'm accountable for now is having the paper patterns ready. I tend to put off computer work but I've made great progress on this so far this year and am excited to have them all available in paper form by the time of the quilt along!

So which one would you like to join? What else is on your quilty bucket list? Do you too love quilt alongs?

8 comments :

  1. Summer will be a busy time for me, but fall will have me anticipating the start of First Snow! I have the pattern already, but can't decide which version I'll make. Good thing I have some time to chose! My bucket list is long and full of ideas and desires - like most quilters. SO LET'S SEW!

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  2. My goal this year is to make a quilt for each holiday! I just finshed Christmas but I'm thinking 4th of July for the Chamomile! We'll see!

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  3. Beautiful Project Ideas!

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  4. Oh...First Snow! I've wanted to make it since I bought the pattern! My 1st SAL (year before last) was fun, and then I did one last year that was fun too. Maybe they were more of a BOM type thing as the block patterns were released at various intervals and everyone would SAL at the same time, I enjoyed that. This year I started a couple of SALs and while I love the patterns, it's a bit frustrating because lots of people felt the need to sew ahead of the schedule (or start and finish a 2nd one) and post their photos. The unrealistic progress (for me, because I don't have nearly the time to sew that they do) was just too much for my brain to process and I wasn't enjoying it. It made me feel bad, like I was constantly behind and not keeping up, overwhelmed. Consequently, I opted out of a couple of upcoming SALs that I really wanted to do. I don't want to be a downer, I really like seeing all the various quilts-in-progress...I just don't want to feel like I'm a sad snail. Hopefully by Fall I will be back on the SAL wagon because I just adore the First Snow quilt pattern!

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  5. I completely know what you mean. I've had my "sad snail" seasons :) I hope you are able to sew along joyfully!

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  6. I have had all but Rise on my someday list. Lol I can't wait to finally make them.

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  7. Chamomile has been on my wish to sew list for a while & I'm super excited to join in! I have goals to stitch through my stash this year, especially scraps, and sew alongs have been a wonderful way so far to work on that goal!

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  8. Sign me up for First Snow - I really appreciate the advance notice! I love that design and really want to have one made up by Christmastime.

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