Why do we love quilt-alongs?  

Part of it is seeing what others are making with the same block or quilt.  This is Crystal Manning's Block 3 of Blockheads 4.  Made with her Garden Society fabrics and a few others mixed in, it's beautiful!

This is from the #blockheads4 hashtag on Instagram.  (Clockwise from upper-left: @lynnlangley_g_of_hope / @jessielynn-cloutier / @meandmysisterdesigns / @cmanningsews / @micheleskeene / @sherillash.)

And there's always a little bit of FOMO - fear of missing out.  The connections with other quilters, the exchange of tips and little tricks, and the support for what you're making.  Whatever your personality - joiner or "lone wolf" - joining a group where you're made to feel welcome and accepted is something we all need.  (And after the past few years, who doesn't miss a bit of camaraderie?)

So we've gathered a list of quilt-alongs that we know about from Moda Designers and super-cool friends.  

This is what we're making - and hoping to make - this year.

March through August or September – Midnight Moon

• Starting date – Late March.
• Duration – Six months.
• Collection – Midnight Magic 2.
• Required book – Summer Moon by It’s Sew Emma (ISE 927)
• Midnight Moon Blog Posts on Inspiration+Resources
• Hashtag – #modamidnightmoonqal

Midnight Magic II by April Rosenthal - the fabrics for Midnight Moon.

February through August – Beautiful Day Mystery BOM

• Starting date – February 19, 2022.
• Designer & Host – Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts
• Collection – Beautiful Day.  1 FQ Bundle.
• https://corianderquilts.com/cotton-joy-fabric-requirements-and-giveaway/
• Block 1 was released February 19 - https://corianderquilts.com/beautiful-day-mystery-quilt-along-block-1-st....  Subsequent blocks will be released the third Saturday of each month.  
• #beautifuldaymysterybom

February through December - Abracadabra

• Starting date – February 9, 2022
• Designer & Host – Janet Clare
• Collection – Astra.  Quilt is made with four pieces of yardage and background.  
• Each month's new block is free, and is sent in Janet's month newsletter.  The final setting will be shared in December.  (Include URL to Newsletter sign-up.)
• The finished quilt measures 64" x 64".
• On Facebook, Janet Clare Quilt-along Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/139344793114153/
• #ShareYourJanetClare #JanetClareQuiltAlong #JanetClare

April through October – Sugar Maple Farm Sampler 

• Starting date – Late March. 
• Designer & Host – Lynne Hagmeier 
• Collection – Maple Hill by Kansas Troubles Quilters
• Pattern – Sugar Maple Farm Sampler – KT22137 – or the Moda Kit – KIT9680
• Lynne will share a FB Live each month with tips for piecing and fusible appliqué.
• #ktsugarmaplefarmqal
• More info on Lynne’s blog – http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/2022/02/maple-hill-comi...

 

March through October – Scrap Gatherings Mystery 

• Starting date – March 1, 2022 
• Designer – Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings
• Fabric – American Gatherings or any red/cream/blue fabrics and scraps.
• Pattern – Blocks will be released each month on www.lisabongean.com
• #scrapgatheringsmystery
• Block 1 and more information can be found here - Lisa Bongean's Oh Say Can You See Mystery

 

March through September – Block Heads 4

• Starting date – Wednesday, March 23, 2022
• The Moda Block Heads are back – bigger and better than ever!  We’ve invited a few new faces to join the group, so there are now more than twenty Moda Designers.
• This is a Mystery quilt, and there isn’t a featured collection.
• Blocks finish at 9”, with optional 4 ½” blocks.   Setting options will be provided during the QAL.
• Moda Blockheads 4 Archive - the links to all of the released block instructions and blog posts will be found here.
• Blockheads 4 on Moda's Inspiration+Resources Center.
• #modablockheads and #modablockheads4

June and July - Stitching Kindness with Susan Ache

• Starting date - Thursday, May 26, 2022
• A seven-week stitch- and quilt-along with three embroidered words each week, and then the release of the quilt pattern.  Quilt finishes at 55" x 70".
• In collaboration with Susan and Aurifil, this is a Free Pattern Download that will be available on the Aurifil Blog - Auribuzz.  
• Threads - Russo Rubino Aurifloss Assortment by Susan Ache - SA30RR10 by Aurifil.  Or mix-and-match your favorite colors of Aurifil 6-strand embroidery floss.
• Fabric - 18 F8s for blocks / 1/3-yard for small plus blocks / 1/3-yard for inner border / 1¼ yards background for blocks / 1½ yards pindot for alternating blocks & squares / 1½ yards for border / ¾ yard for binding / 3½ yards for backing.
• Hosted by Susan Ache - @yardgrl60 on Instagram
• #stitchingkindnesssal

June through August - Moda Bake Shop Family Reunion

• Starting date - Monday, June 20, 2022
• Book required - Moda Bake Shop Rollin' Along - in shops now!
• Fabric - 1 Jelly Roll + 4 yards of background - quilt finishes at 62" x 62".
• MBS Chef Christine Weld will be sharing tips for piecing the blocks, and assembling the quilt.  Christine is the designer of this quilt!
• #mbsrollinalongqal

Look for this book - in shops May 2!  Now.  Today.  

 

June through December – Meet Me In The Garden

• Starting date – June 2022 
• Hosted by Lisa Bongean and Val Krueger.  
• Collection – Garden Gatherings and Garden Gatherings Shirtings by Primitive Gatherings.
• Pattern required – information coming soon.
• Fabric Requirements – 1 FQ bundle of Garden Gatherings + 1 FQ bundle of Garden Gatherings Shirtings + 1 Layer Cake of Garden Gatherings Shirtings 
• A six-month quilt-along with monthly video tutorials by Val Krueger on piecing this 104” x 104” medallion quilt.
• #meetmeinthegardenqal

September through October – Oh Happy Day Mystery Sew-Along

• Starting date – September - after Buttercup & Slate has arrived in shops.
• Hosted by Corey Yoder
• Book Required – Oh Happy Day! by Corey Yoder – Martingale B1589.  (Arriving in May 2022.)
• Fabric - Corey will be making her quilt using a FQ bundle of her new Buttercup & Slate collection, arriving in shops in August.  (But any collection will work!)
• This will be a twelve-week quilt-along making a sampler quilt using a block from projects in the book.
• Block tutorials will be shared on YouTube and Corey's blog - www.corianderquilts.com.
• Hashtag coming!

 

September through October – Home For The Holidays

• Starting date – September 1.
• Hosted by Sherri McConnell and Chelsi Stratton.
• Book Required – Home For The Holidays by Sherri McConnell and Chelsi Stratton – Martingale B1587.  (Arriving in May 2022.)
• Sherri and Chelsi will both be using their new collection, Emma, for their quilts.  Sherri will be using a FQ bundle of the collection, and Chelsi will be using the reds and greens from Emma, mixed with reds and greens from earlier Sherri & Chelsi collections.  (Any Sherri & Chelsi collection will work!)
• Additional yardage required:  2 yds. background (37633 31) or ½-yards of four different low-volume prints from the collection / ¾ yard contrast sashing (37634 20) / 2 yards sashing/inner border (37633 11) / 1¼ yards for border (37630 36) / ¾ yard binding (37631 21).
• This will be a twelve-week quilt-along making a sampler quilt using a block from projects in the book.
• Hashtag coming!

 

September through September 2023 – Carving Contest

• Starting date – September 1 – or after Autumn Gatherings Flannels have shipped.
• A 12-month quilt-along featuring wool appliqué on Autumn Gatherings Flannels.
• Hosted by Lisa Bongean on her blog – www.lisabongean.com – and on her YouTube Channel and Facebook group.
• Patterns will be required – information coming soon.
• For a sneak peek of the project and information about Kits - Lisa Bongean Carving Contest
• #carvingcontestsal

 

October 2023 – Isabella Tiny Duffle

• Starting Date – October 6, 2022 – or shortly after the wovens have shipped.
• Hosted by Laurie Simpson and Moda.
• Duration – Four weeks. 
• Pattern required – Tiny Duffles by Laurie Simpson – MS 2202
• Fabric Requirements – AB Bundle of Isabella Wovens – 14949 AB recommended.
• Or 5 FQs of wovens for the duffle – 4 for piecing the bag, and 1 for the ties.  Plus 1 Isabella Wovens Charm Pack for most appliqué and patches – 14949 PP.  For more variety, add 1 Isabella Charm Pack – 14940 PP.
• The topics will include – working with wovens, creating the panels for the duffles, appliqué, and duffle assembly.  Options for adding pieced blocks, big-stitch quilting the duffle, and additional embellishments will also be shared.
• #minicksimpsontinyduffles

 

January through December – Quilt Recipes

• Ongoing through December 2022.
• Hosted by Jen Kingwell and Moda.
• As soon as books and product arrive, we will be sharing more about this book.
• #quiltrecipesqal

January through December – One Tree A Week ~ aka Branching Out

• Ongoing through December 2022.
• Hosted by Moda and Susan Ache - @yardgrl60 on Instagram.
• Christmas in July – Susan and Moda will be making and sharing Christmas versions of this quilt using assorted red and green fabrics, mixed with low volume backgrounds.
• #modabranchingout

February through December – Bella Classics

• Ongoing through December 2022.
• Hosted by Moda.
• Beginning February 4, and continuing every other month through December, Moda will share the pattern for a two-color quilt made with Bella Solids.  The patterns are free downloads, and while the quilts are based on traditional blocks and designs, the results are graphic and modern. (Look for new quilts in April, June, August, October and December.)
• Bella Classics on Moda's Inspiration+Resources.
• #modabellaclassics

We're sure there is more to come... though we're not sure how we'll fit it all in!  

How about you?  Have you joined any of these quilt-alongs?

Do you have a favorite?  (And because we're curious, what draws you to one quilt-along over another?)

We're off to sew!