QAL by the Sea Annoucement!
Ready for another Quilt Along?! Partners in Design is announcing our 4th quilt along today with a Nautical theme! QAL by the Sea, starts in 4 weeks on August 4, 2020!
Who are Partners in Design?
We are a group of designers and bloggers who have been working together for the last couple of years and this is our 4th QAL! The first three QALs were I Wish You a Merry QAL, Fall Into A QAL, and Sew Let's QAL! I cannot wait to start sewing along with you again!
So what exactly is this Quilt-ALong?
A Quilt-ALong (or QAL) is a quilt you make following a host who posts each step on a schedule. You share your progress and in this case, you will get entered into some pretty awesome prizes! There are some QALs that are set to make a known quilt and others (like this one) that are a mystery, where you won't know what the quilt looks like until the very end! There is no charge to enter the QAL, and the patterns will be posted for free from each designer until the end of the QAL. Make one or all of the blocks!
How much fabric will I need to complete this quilt?
This is a tough question. There are 12 blocks this QAL and all blocks are 12" finished. Since I did the first 3 mystery QALs with Moda Grunge, I'm going to continue that trend. I am going to use the leftover colors from the previous quilts as well as adding in fat quarters of other grunge colors. Think of colors that you'd see at the beach, below the water, and in the sky! For the main color, I'm going to use several blues since water and sky are blue. I would get a yard or two of the main color to make sure I have enough. For all the different colors, I am definitely using up my grunge scraps and supplementing with Fat Quarters of other colors.
Do I need any specialty tools/notions to complete this quilt?
I would highly recommend that you get Heat and Bond Lite for applique pieces and Monofilament Thread (clear/invisible). Obviously, a working sewing machine and basic sewing equipment will also be required.
What is the schedule?
The fun kicks off Tuesday, August 4th with block tutorials released EVERY Tuesday with a week break in between segments. If you forget, don’t worry! I made a quick links page to each tutorial that will be updated with each new block release. I will also be posting here for each block release! All of the block patterns will be free until December 1, 2020.
Blocks will be released at 8am Eastern on the release dates. (This is a change from previous QALs)
Segment 1: August 4 to September 8
- August 4 - Block 1: Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
- August 11 - Block 2: Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
- August 18 - Block 3: April Adams @ JANDA Bend Quilts
- August 25 - Block 4: Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting <- That's me!
- September 8 - Segment 1 Prize Winner Announced
Segment 2: September 8 to October 13
- September 8 - Block 5: Sandra Healy @ Sandra Healy Designs
- September 15 - Block 6: Bobbi Bridgeman @ Snowy Days Quilting
- September 22 - Block 7: Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
- September 29 - Block 8: Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing
- October 13 - Segment 2 Prize Winner Announced
Segment 3: October 13 to November 10
- October 13 - Block 9: Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
- October 20 - Block 10: Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
- October 27 - Block 11: Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
- November 3 - Block 12: Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
- November 10 - Segment 3 Prize Winner Announced
The End: December 1, 2020
- Grand Prize Winner Announced
- Last Day for Free Block Patterns
What are the prizes?
In order to include all eligible participants in our prize giveaway, we are having 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 Canadian and 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 below.
There are several ways in which you can enter to win prizes!
- If you are on Facebook: Join the Partners in Design, Where Friends and Fabric Meet Facebook Group. Each Designer will be posting links to their tutorials there, and it will be used as a place to ask questions and post photos of your finished block for prizes.
- If you are on Instagram: Use the hashtag #QALbytheSea on your finished block to be entered to win.
- Each Designer will have a Linky Party on their block tutorial post so you can link your progress to their blog to be entered to win.
To be eligible for Segment Prizes, you must complete all the blocks in the segment. Share a photo or photos in a single post will all the blocks in the segment to enter!
To be eligible for the Grand Prize, you must complete all the blocks in the QAL. Share a single photo of all the blocks to enter!
- Island Batik Fabric https://islandbatik.com/
- Quilter’s Dream Batting http://www.quiltersdreambatting.com/
- Everything Mary https://everythingmary.com/
- Shabby Fabric https://www.shabbyfabrics.com/
- And more, including original PDF patterns from our Designer’s.
I want in! What's are my next steps?
Yippee! First, go ahead and join our Facebook page so you'll know when the next block tutorials will be released. Second, gather the fabric you'll want to use on your quilt. The QAL starts August 4, 2020, so you have about a month to get prepared! Finally, invite your friends to join in on the fun! Share the quilt-along graphic on Instagram and use #QALbytheSea. Share this blog post or a post from the Facebook group on your own Facebook account and in your quilty groups. The more, the merrier! Don't forget to bookmark my quick links page for easy access!
Who are the Hosts?
There are 7 full-time hosts for the QAL who will be sewing along with you and a part-time host that will be joining us for segment 2! We will all be posting our own versions of the block and our tips!
Abbie @ Sparkle On!
Becca @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandy @ SandyStar Designs
Sherry @ Powered by Quilting <- That's me!
Sandra @ Sandra Healy Designs will also be joining us for segment 2. While they are hosting, she will also share her blocks and tips.
I hope you'll quilt along with us! Can we count you in?
I can't wait to sew with you!
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Looking for some FREE blocks to sew before the QAL starts? Check out the #QuiltBlockMania Summer Series (post will be live at 9am Eastern)!
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I’m so excited about this QAL! Thanks for the announcement!