I didn’t know I liked making quilts, but, it seems like I’ve been hit by the bug!

Before this year, I had made a lot of quilt piles. Little sets of fabric that must-never-be-separated because I wanted them to be made into something. I collected these for years until a few months ago I had had enough. Enough piles, enough scraps… I could never see myself finishing all of my piles and that was discouraging.

Around Christmas, I decided to make a scrap quilt and posted a few photos on Instagram as I worked – followed a few weeks ago by the sewn quilt top. I love it, despite a few things (I’ll not mention) that are driving me crazy! Now all I need to do is sew the quilt back and (I think) do some very simple in the ditch or straight line quilting. It’s a queen size, and despite my machine having a large throat space, I’m still nervous to try any free motion quilting on something this large.

That quilt got me started… the bug took on a life of its own and, in January, I decided to join 3 quilt samplers. It helped that my sponsor Sew Sisters asked me to design a block for their Canadian Sampler – Block of the Month. As part of the deal, I get to take part in the sampler and receive all of the block patterns. I had no idea it would be so addicting! (By the way, this round of registrations for the Canadian Sampler closes in just a few days at the end of February!)

I finally figured out why… Turns out I love the “mystery” behind following lots of little instructions to get the final block, but not making tons of the same block over and over again – the only kind of quilting I knew before now.

(Oh, and I also love 12″ blocks, because they are BIG and you don’t need a lot of them to make something!)

Here are the details for each sampler:

  1. Sew Sisters Quilt Shop (Canadian!) – The Canadian Sampler – 2 blocks sent monthly (paid subscription, paper pattern)
    • I’ll be making all 20 blocks, and am excited to show you my block when it’s released.
  2. Sew Fresh Quilts (Canadian!) – Have a Jolly Little Christmas– bi-weekly block on Saturdays
    • I am making most of these, but not all of them, in a blue and gray palette. Hopefully something different and fun for a Christmas Quilt!
  3. Maureen Cracknell and Sharon Holland – Sewcial Bee Sampler – weekly block on Wednesdays
    • I will make all of these, but I’m not adding the framing pieces until I find the perfect fabric for it. Something pink and yellow I think!

I’m hoping to post monthly photos and explanations where necessary all year. So you can keep me accountable, and feel free to bug me if I forget *please do!* You can follow me along in “real-time” on Instagram too if you’d like.

Maybe some of you want to join me? I’ve linked all of the Samplers and blocks so you can find the tutorials. If you’re sewing along let me know, I’d love to see what your versions look like.

2017 Samplers – Update No. 1

The Canadian Sampler

Fabric Pull

January: Pacific Stars by Daphne Greig, Patchworks Studio

January:  Keep’n Warm by Sandy Whitelaw, Upstairs Hobby Room

Have a Jolly Little Christmas

Fabric Pull

Block 1: Christmas Stockings

Block 2: Winter Mittens

Block 3: Christmas Bow

Sewcial Bee Sampler

Fabric Pull (Mostly a Fat Quarter bundle I made for my sponsor, Fabric Spark.)

Block 1: Patience Corners

Block 2: A Dandy