Announcing: QAL by the Sea

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It’s time for a quilt along! Partners in Design is thrilled to announce that we’re bringing you our fourth quilt along. This time, we’re doing an ocean theme. We always learn from our previous quilt alongs and change things up a bit, so you’ll want to keep reading for all of the details.

The best thing about this quilt along is all of the support you can expect. We have 11 Partners in Design working together to make this a success, and we're all here to answer your questions and cheer you on. Not only that, but our Facebook group is full of friendly quilters that are always happy to jump in if you’re feeling a bit stuck. I hope you’ll join us!

Who Are the Partners in Design?

We are a group of 11 pattern designers that are teaming up to bring you a fabulous quilt along. Allow me to introduce the people that are working so hard to make your experience amazing:

Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
April Adams @ JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Bobbi Bridgeman @ Snowy Days Quilting ← That’s me!
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing
Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandra Healy @ Sandra Healy Designs
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting

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How Does This Work?

We’ll be doing segments just like last time, but we’re moving a bit quicker now. We will release 1 block per week for 4 weeks, then we’ll give you a week off before the next segment begins. That gives you the best of both worlds — way less waiting, but also a chance to catch your breath between segments.

The blocks will be released on Tuesdays at 8:00 am Eastern time. Our lovely hosts will share their versions of the block along with tips for success. At the end, several of the hosts will share setting ideas for a full quilt. We will have prizes after each segment, and a grand prize at the very end (more details on that below).

Where Do I Get the Patterns?

Out of respect for copyright, each pattern will only be available on its designer’s website. Follow the schedule below to visit each of the designers when it’s their turn to share a block. You can also follow one of the hosts’ blogs in order to get notified each time a block is posted.

What’s the Schedule?

Since it’s a mystery, each block will be a surprise. Stop by the designers’ blogs to see the new block at 8:00 am Eastern time on release dates. All of the block patterns will be free until 8:00 am Eastern Time on December 1, 2020.

Segment 1: August 4 - September 8

Segment 2: September 8 - October 13

Segment 3: October 13 - November 10

The End: December 1

  • Grand Prize Winner Announced

  • Last Day for Free Block Patterns (8:00 am Eastern time)

Who Are the Hosts?

I won’t be hosting this time, but 8 of our Partners in Design will be. These ladies will be quilting along with you. As each block is released, they will share their version of the block along with tips for success.

Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandra Healy @ Sandra Healy Designs
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting

How Much Fabric Do I Need?

That’s really a hard question to answer this time around. I always recommend using scraps for the main fabrics, but I would actually recommend using them for the background this time, too. That’s because very few of the blocks have a real background to them. Instead, they are set against the sky, in the water, on the beach, or some combination of all three.

A few of the hosts are planning to do posts with some rough fabric calculations over the next couple of weeks. So if you would like more direction, keep an eye on their blogs for details. But you can never go wrong with scraps.

What Techniques Will We Use?

One of the best parts of the quilt along is getting to practice different techniques. Our blocks will be made with traditional piecing, fusible applique, and foundation paper piecing. We will also have small amounts of hand embroidery and other embellishments.

Don’t be afraid to try something new! We know we will have beginners quilting along, so we’re planning to provide plenty of support. There will be tutorials for anything out of the box, and the hosts will give tips to make each block as easy as possible. The hosts and participants in the Facebook group are great at answering questions. And you’re always welcome to tweak a design to fit your comfort level. Everyone’s creative interpretations are welcome.

How Do I Share My Progress?

I’m glad you asked! My very favorite part of a quilt along is seeing what everyone is making. We have several great ways for you share your work:

Facebook - The Partners in Design Facebook group is open for all of our quilt alongs. There you'll find a great community of fellow quilters ready to cheer you on.

Instagram - Please use #QALbytheSea on all of your posts so we can see them. If you follow the #SewLetsQAL hashtag, you will also see what everyone else is making.

You can find me on Instagram as @snowydaysquilting

What About Prizes?

We will have a prize package at the end of every segment, as well as a grand prize at the end of the quilt along. The prizes are open to all participants that are at least 18 years old.

In order to include all eligible participants in our prize giveaways, we will have two separate prizes for each QAL Segment and for the Grand Prize — one for our USA participants and one for our International participants. Due to the demanding cost to ship to International addresses, these prizes will be patterns and/or an e-magazine that will be sent in electronic format only. International prizes may be from companies other than what is shown in the sponsor logo.

Where to Enter

There are three places you can share your blocks to be entered in our prize drawings:

  • Facebook - share in the Partners in Design Facebook Group

  • Instagram - share with the hashtag #QALbytheSea

  • Blog Linky - the hosts will include a link-up on their wrap-up posts at the end of each segment

See below for specific instructions for the different prizes.

Segment Prizes

To be eligible to win a segment prize, you need to make all of the blocks from that segment. Share a photo or photos of your blocks (in a single post) to be entered.

Grand Prize

We’ve made this even simpler this time! To be eligible for the grand prize, you just need to make all 12 of the blocks from the quilt along. That’s right - you don’t need to make them into anything this time! To enter, simply share a single post that shows all 12 of the blocks.

Fabulous Sponsors

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We are really lucky to have some amazing sponsors on board for this quilt along! Please check them out as thanks for supporting us.

Everything Mary
Island Batik
Quilter’s Dream Batting
Shabby Fabrics

And more! Including original PDF patters from many of our designers.

How Do I Join?

Easy peasy! Just follow any of the hosts' blogs, and you will see when each block is released. Make the block with your own fabrics and share it so we can all cheer each other on.

The more people that participate, the more fun it will be. If you decide to join, please tell your friends. If you're on Instagram, save the quiltalong graphic and share it with #QALbytheSea. If you're on Facebook, share this blog post or a post from the Facebook group with your friends. If you're a blogger, tell your followers and link back to this post. And most of all, leave me a comment so I know you're in!

I can't wait to get started. I hope you'll join us! It's going to be a blast.

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Quilting, Quilt AlongsBobbi BridgemanPartners in Design, mystery quilt, sampler quilt, QAL by the Sea7 Comments