I was so relieved to hear that several of you have a strong aversion to piecing backs just like I do! Although really, I don't mind piecing one, every now and then, but piecing several over the course of a week is not fun at all. Which is why I'm going to improve. I'm going to give 108" backings another try. Vintage Picnic by Bonnie and Camille for Moda will have 4 different 108" wide prints available, I'll let you know what I think of the quality and feel as soon as I get some.
I'm also going to change my attitude about backs. A friend told me about a quilter named Diane Woodward who teaches classes on making "Happy Backs". I don't think she has a blog but she has dozens of clever quilt backs on Pinterest. She also has an Instagram account with the tag line "I make Mullet Quilts: Business on the front, party on the back! " What a great idea! I've created a few party backs, but I can definitely improve in that area.
With all the backs done it's time to decide on my next project. I can't make more Village houses if I don't create any scraps! Have you happened to notice the myriad of sew alongs currently being promoted? Is it just me, or are there 10 times more than usual. Maybe I'm just in a sew along mood. I love sew alongs, sometimes I piece a quilt I would never have tried if it weren't for a sew along. Sometimes I start out thinking the project isn't for me, then see some amazing finishes and jump on the bandwagon, better late than never. This time of year I stay indoors and don't have much interaction with people, let alone quilters, so sewing with others is a great way to feel connected.
Even if I don't participate, I always enjoy seeing what other quilters create. I'm following the Fat Quarter Shop's Crossroad's Quilt Along that's benefiting the March of Dimes. Also the Moda All Stars Row by Row sew along featuring their book All in a Row has some interesting starts. Pat Sloan is hosting or participating in several other sew alongs, check them out on her
blog. And finally, Cindy at
Hyacinth Quilt Designs is hosting an Outlined Plus Quilt Along. Cindy's blocks are amazing, I'm eager to see some other finishes.
Here are some sew alongs that have I have moved from watching to my To Do list.
The Fat Quarter Shop promoted their top ten videos of 2015 with a sew along for each project and the patterns were free. The Star Cakes Quilt was my favorite.
And these bloggers created some inspiring combinations.
There's even a $100 giveaway associated with this sew along, the deadline is 1/31.
I love the Star Cakes block, and I love the hst's that make up this block, hst's are my favorite. I was thinking maybe this would be a good pattern for my Christmas quilt goal. It uses a layer cake and I have two Christmas layer cakes.
The only thing that's stopping me is that I don't think this quilt has a Christmas feel. Do you think if I used Christmas fabric it would?
American Patchwork and Quilting is hosting a sew along called
There are two projects in the April issue of American Patchwork and Quilting, one project in the Spring issue of Quilts and More magazine, and a free pattern online. This year's theme is Plus Quilts. I participated in their sew along last year and made 3 projects. I can hardly wait for my magazine to arrive so I can start sewing along this year.
I love this book, Sister Sampler Quilts, by AnnMarie Chany, and was hoping to make a project from this book this year.
Well there's a sew along for this book going on right now! (
click here) That's a win win! I've selected my fabric and hope to get started this weekend, which should be easy, with no football I'll have plenty of time on my hands.
I'm planning to use Basic Mixology by Studio M and Valley by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda.
