Sometimes I feel like I’m cheating by getting to sew my blocks up first… but then I remember I’m the designer, and it’s my job, ha! With my annual quilt alongs, I typically tend to sew a month or two ahead. I’ll occasionally have bursts of creative sewjo and sew more, but I find it easier to maintain the “in the moment” excitement of a QAL if I’m currently sewing along too.
However, unlike previous quilt alongs, the Sunset Isle quilt is not a secret design. The full quilt design is out there in it’s Electric Quilt mock up glory. So for once, I can share my own blocks a little ahead of the game! But there’s also a reason to share the physical blocks – I know it can be hard to truly envision what the digital design will look like in real fabric. Let me help with that… Last week, I cut and sewed up the first month’s blocks in a morning.
Which is another point I want to highlight – this quilt is not a big time commitment! For a start, if you’re wanting to stay on top of things each month, that means you have 28/30/31 days to sew these things, from choosing fabric to cutting to sewing to final pressing. I was distracted by podcasts and Instagram, and these took me well under 3 hours from cutting to taking the picture. Three hours spread over 30 days? Easy.
But, I also never expect anyone to keep up each month if it “just ain’t happening this month”. Do I encourage you to do what you can and aim for a finished quilt top at the end of the year? Absolutely, because we all need a goal to aim for. But any progress is better than nothing, so please do not worry about whether you’ll be able to keep up or not. Keeping up is not the aim, a beautiful quilt that you love is!
I’m making my quilt from my overflowing Liberty stash with some Liberty solids from Ava & Neve mixed in. If you’d love to make your own Liberty version of Sunset Isle, Martina is offering a rainbow monthly fabric kit sent out the week before each new month (with free shipping worldwide!) for just $27.50 and that includes the monthly pattern email too. Sign up for fabric + pattern here, but the fabric kit option is only available until December 21st.
If you’d like to sew from stash too, then you can sign up for the pattern only option here – it’s just $20 for the year until December 21st. When the pattern subscription re-opens in January, it will be $24.
Once you have made your purchase, for either option, you will be able to immediately download the pattern introduction which includes the fabric requirements and a colouring page so you can start planning your Sunset Isle quilt!
Sunset Isle Prep
Which brings me to my next point – start preparing now. When you’re getting ready for a quilt along, don’t wait until the first day to get ready, start thinking and planning ahead of the game. Gather inspiration, start pulling fabrics, get a project tub ready, print off the pattern cover (and colouring sheet!) and pop that in there too. I grabbed a clear binder for 96c from Officeworks that fits in this scrapbooking tub I use for my projects. That way, I don’t lose my papers, and I can even pop cut fabric and/or blocks in the plastic sleeves as I go if I need.
As you’re getting ready, share your prep over on Instagram using #sunsetislequilt to be in the running for some fun prizes! Nothing like a communal prep party to get us all in the mood. Here’s some that have already popped up:
Jane @janepipkeandherpins shared her fabric selection – rainbow Liberty!
And Cait @caitlinpolden shared her inspiration of a mood board of earthy textural photos that’s got her thinking she’ll use Loominous for her’s… I’m totes going to use my AMH wovens for the baby quilt version! Utterly inspired!
SUNSET ISLE COMMUNITY
If you’re sewing along, come and join the Sunset Isle QAL group on Facebook to connect with everyone else sewing along! Share your plans, fabric pulls, progress and we’ll be there sewing and cheering along with you.
On Instagram, you can use #sunsetislequilt to share your project with us all, and feel free to tag us in the image too – @blossomheartquilts and @ava_and_neve – as that helps us find them all more easily.
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