An Alison Glass Rainbow Quilt + Aurora BOM Relaunches

While I was teaching my Aurora BOM sampler quilt last year, I started another version myself using my pile of Alison Glass fabrics. It was a bit of a challenge, trying to make limited fat eighths and fat quarters work, but with a couple of small purchases and a little extra yardage for the scrappy low volume background, I did a Tim Gunn and made it work!

Late last year, Katrina quilted it for me, using a gorgeous pointed swirls design with the occasional 5-pointed star thrown in. It’s her go-to handguided design, and it’s the perfect mix of loose enough to make the quilt drapey, but dense enough to be interesting. I’ll definitely have to get it on another quilt again.

Also, yes, that is a kookaburra. I photographed this quilt while on retreat at the start of the month, and she popped by to say hello, letting us get quite close with our quilts for some fun photos! Seems she likes a good rainbow quilt. Me too, love, me too.

Finishing this at last has got me itching to make another one, and this time to crack out the AccuQuilt for it too, as it’s very AccuQuilt friendly. So, I figured why not open it up once again for subscription and have friends to sew along with too?! Aurora is a Block Of the Month program I’ve run a few times before, and this is the fourth time I’ve run it. You can see some of what other quilters have made on the #aurorabom feed on Instagram, and this is the first version I made from Horizon fabrics by Kate Spain.

HOW DOES IT WORK

The Aurora BOM is a subscription program. On the first of every month, subscribers will receive an email with the link to download the month’s pattern. All emails will be sent to email address associated with the PayPal account used for payment. Each pattern will include all the fabric requirements, cutting and piecing instructions with colour diagrams for that month’s blocks.

Typically, the Aurora BOM has been a six-month program. But there has been interest for a three-month option so that it could be finished in time for Christmas. This is easy enough to set up, so be sure to sign up for the correct option that you would prefer:

Click here to purchase the 3-month subscription here (final email Nov. 1st)

OR

Click here to purchase the 6-month subscription here  (final email Feb. 1st)

Who can join?
Anyone, anywhere! As long as you have an email address and a way to read PDF files, ie. Adobe Acrobat on your computer, or even just your smartphone or tablet, you’re good to go.

I am a beginner quilter, can I make this?
Absolutely! The most important feature of Aurora is that is a very beginner-friendly pattern, with all step-by-step instructions and colour diagrams included for each block. In fact, we cover a range of patchwork units, from flying geese and half-square triangles, to triangles-in-a-square, foundation paper piecing, and scrappy/improv triangles. So it’s the perfect opportunity to work on these skills, and end up with a fabulous quilt to show off for it!

You mentioned AccuQuilt, what dies does it use?
Yes, I did! Aurora is AccuQuilt friendly, and I will include notes with each block for what dies to use. You will be able to use the following dies:

• Square – 4 1/2″ (4″ Finished) (8″ Qube Shape 1)
• Half Square Triangle – 4″ Finished Square (8″ Qube Shape 3)
• Quarter Square Triangle – 4″ Finished Square (8″ Qube Shape 4)
• Triangles in Square – Center-4” Finished Square (8″ Qube Shape 13)
• Triangles in Square – Sides-4” Finished Square (8″ Qube Shape 14)

How much fabric will I need?
Aurora finishes at a comfortable 60” x 72”, and is designed to work with at least 4 colours of fabric, with a mixture of lighter and darker prints within each colour. I recommend about 20 fat quarters to have a range of shades and prints to work with; fat eighths will work too for a more scrappy look. You will also need 3 1/4 yards of background fabric, 1/2 yard of binding, and 4 yards of backing fabric.

Can I buy a subscription for {quilty friend’s name}?
You certainly can! Simply purchase the subscription, then email me with your name, PayPal email plus the recipient’s name and email address.

Is it a monthly payment?
Nope, it’s a once-off payment and you’re all set to go!

I’m in! How do I sign up?
Purchase your subscription for just AU$20.00 in my store. Upon purchase, you can immediately download the first PDF, which contains more detailed information about the quilt, plus the first block to make to get you warmed up, and a colouring page so you can get planning. The first pattern email will be sent on September 1st, 2018.

Click here to purchase the 3-month subscription here (final email Nov. 1st)

OR

Click here to purchase the 6-month subscription here  (final email Feb. 1st)

If you’re reading this after September 1st, you can still sign up! Upon purchase, you will be able to download the patterns released up to that date, and then you will receive the next installment on the 1st of the next month. So if you sign up on October 15, you will get the first two months of patterns, and will receive an email on November 1st with the next installment of Aurora.

I’m signed up, now what?
Have fun choosing your fabrics, make your first block, and await your email on September 1st! If you’re sharing your quilt progress around the place, you can join the Facebook group, and use #aurorabom and #blossomheartquilts on Instagram, and even tag me – @blossomheartquilts.

 

This is my current plan for this third version. It’s rainbow again, but a little different, and will be made pulling prints from my stash. I’m not sure what the background fabric will be, possibly a pale grey? Or maybe even a tiny polka dot! That’s one fabric I will be buying specifically for this project.

I want to finish by noting that this BOM isn’t a race. There is certainly no pressure to get it done by the end of the final month! Some past subscribers still have a pile of blocks (or fabric!) and there’s no shame in that. I’m not even pressuring myself to get my third version done by the end of the subscription! It would be nice, but it’s not mandatory. I just want to try a different kind of rainbow version, but most of all, just want to have have fun with you guys, and just enjoy the ride together.

Who’s in with me?!