- I'd like to thank Skillshare for sponsoring this video.
Are you interested in participating in a quilt along
but you just have no idea where to begin?
Or maybe you made the decision to join
but you just don't know what the next step is.
Or maybe you want to start one but you're afraid that
it's going to end up as a UFO in the back of your closet.
Today, I'll go through the planning stages of a quilt along,
what you need to do before you cut so that you give yourself
the best possible start to get you to that finish line.
So stick with me, and I'll show you how to do it.
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Hi there, I'm Karen Brown of Just Get It Done Quilts,
I give you tips, tricks and strategies to help you make
the quilt that you want to make.
And if you like what you see,
please hit that subscribe button.
We have all seen the thumbnails on social media,
and now seeing the next quilt along.
Pattern, the fabric, the prizes, it's such an exciting step
in making a quilt and you can't wait to get started.
But if you don't take the time to prepare,
they can easily turn into a WOMBAT,
a waste of money, batting, and time.
The good news is with a little planning,
they can be amazing events that push your skills
and colour zones, and introduce you
to a new global pack of quilters.
So if you saw my interview with Gnome Angel,
then you know that I'm jumping on board
for this year's #100Days100Blocks
Kinship Fusion Quilt Along.
And there's some exciting developments to share,
so join me as I get ready.
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So the first step in joining a quilt along
is understanding the value.
What's in it for you?
And there might be 2 parts to this.
There's the surface part, you're attracted to the pattern,
you're attracted to the designer, and the excitement
of working on a new project with new fabrics,
or joining your friends in a common project.
But think a bit deeper, is this the opportunity
to challenge you with a new skill
or practising a quilting technique
that you're not that confident in.
Maybe you want to experiment on a new colour palette
or use up some scraps.
Maybe you're craving a new connection
in the quilting community.
Or maybe you just want to sit back and follow the leadership
that a quilt along provides.
Since there's a set pattern and a set time,
you can put yourself on autopilot and find solace
from all the other stresses in your life.
Knowing this value will give you direction
in the weeks ahead.
And when the going gets tough,
it's also your check-in point to get you back on track.
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Your brain needs space to plan,
so take the time to tidy up your space.
Finish up the projects that you're working on,
and put your unused fabric away,
and then organise your scraps if they're in the way.
If you were on board with my decluttering challenge
back in January, then you'll know how empowering
a clean space can be.
If you're not sure on how to declutter and organise
your sewing space, I have already started a series
and I'll leave a link in the notes below.
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I know this sounds obvious, but you want to sign up
as soon as possible, then read the welcome email.
The host of the quilt along wants you to succeed,
so they have provided you with links
to important information,
like where to purchase the pattern.
Then take a moment to purchase it.
And where can you find the frequently asked questions.
If the quilt along has run before,
the organiser has accumulated a list of questions
that participants regularly ask,
so if you have a question, check here first.
What are the hashtags to use for posting?
Then add them to your follow list.
The important dates,
then take a moment to put these dates in your calendar.
When the tutorials, if any will be published.
And if there are prizes,
what the rules for those prizes are.
Download the 'I'M IN' thumbnail,
and post it to your social media to tell the community
that you're on board.
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Read the pattern completely.
I know this sounds like another no-brainer,
but often we skim through the pattern
without reading the details.
Not only does the pattern tell you how many fabrics you need
and how much, and the additional fabric needed
for the backing and the binding.
It should show what fabrics go where.
Any concerns about directional fabrics,
if there are size options, trust me, options are good.
A tool list, sometimes you need specific tools,
sometimes they're only suggestions for ease of construction,
or maybe you have a similar tool that can do the same job.
Reading through the instructions will let you know
which is which and give you some time to do the research
to figure out if it's right for you.
And if you need it, you'll want to buy it now
before it's out of stock.
Construction, how is it going to be made?
Regular piecing, applique, paper piecing,
or maybe all 3.
Once you understand the method,
then you'll know whether you have the skills.
So will the quilt along have the tutorials to help you,
or are you going to need outside help?
And the last thing is pattern storage.
Like how are you actually going to use your pattern?
Will you keep it on your tablet or your computer
and just refer to it there?
Or are you going to buy a hard copy or download a copy?
Will it be kept in a file folder or a binder,
or just with a paperclip?
If the pattern uses templates,
where are you going to store those?
But choose the pattern organisational system
that's best for you.
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Now, for the most delightful step in the whole quilt along,
the fabric pull.
This is both one of my favourite steps
and one of the most stressful as I tend to overthink it.
Picking fabric that is good for you starts a feedback loop
in your brain that makes you feel amazing.
So give yourself time to enjoy yourself here.
Don't be rushed, note the fabrics and the colours
that bring you joy.
And take lots of pictures of the different fabric pulls
because they look very different through the lens
of a camera.
If your quilt along happens annually,
you can also check out social media
and see past participant's quilts for inspiration.
Alternatively, you can look at other sampler quilts
to get ideas on different colour pathways.
An exciting news for this year's 100 Days, 100 Blocks,
Gnome Angel has teamed up with PreQuilt,
so that you can use Kinship colouring sheets online,
and you can play and play and play.
And they have colouring pages for all the new layouts too.
Just go to their website, they've got a new video
on how to do it, plus how to get the add-on Block Library.
Gnome Angel is also known for her amazing fussy cutting,
and you can be sure that it will be a big part
of this year's quilt along too.
If this is something that you might like to do,
be sure to include designs at the scale of your block sizes,
and make yourself some templates
so that you can test drive your fabrics.
See my video, 10 Sewing Hacks with Templates,
if you want to learn how to make a set of your own.
And if you're having difficulty with colour harmony,
check out my colour series in the notes below.
I also have a great video on playing with your fabrics
that can also help in the colour selection process.
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Often, you can leave out layout decisions until the end,
but here are a number of things to think about
before you start.
Are you going to rainbow your quilt?
That is, will you have blocks that wash across your quilt
in a rainbow of colours?
Or are you going to use value to put more weight
on the bottom of the quilt or around the edges?
If you are wanting to fussy cut some of your blocks,
where are you going to put them in the quilt
to highlight your work?
Or maybe you just want to spotlight a few blocks
by having a contrasting colour, saturation, and value.
Are there filler blocks or borders that you will need
to make after the quilt along is over?
What do you need to do now to make
them more harmonious later?
And of course, you can lay out the blocks
in a totally different way than the pattern suggests.
Keeping these points in mind before assembling will make
all the effort worth it and make the final assembly
so much easier.
Ask me how I know.
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The make-or-break part of any quilt along is the pace.
We're always excited to start only to fall behind
after a couple of weeks or months,
as the rest of your life gets in the way.
So now is the time to get out your calendar and figure out
how you're going to fit it all in.
Not all days are equal, so when is the best time
to get your piecing in?
For #100days100blocks,
Gnome Angel recommends focusing on seven blocks per week,
rather than one per day.
That way you can get ahead when you can for those days
that you can't fit any sewing in.
Personally, I like to cut a week's worth of fabric
on Sunday and use my 30 minute timer first thing
in the morning to get the daily block done.
And new this year, Gnome Angel has new layouts
for those quilters that can't commit to 100 blocks
or those that leave early.
The important thing is to do what's right for you
in your schedule.
(bouncy music)
Next to playing with fabrics,
the next favourite thing is posting your photos online.
The 100 Days, 100 Blocks community is so fun and empowering.
They appreciate your efforts and empathise
with your challenges.
And the team spirit will encourage your growth
into new techniques and colour harmonies.
So you want to take a moment before you begin to create
a style or layout that identifies you as you.
So for those that are following the hashtags,
they can recognise you as your posts go by.
Again, take a look at what participants have done
in past years.
See what works and see what doesn't,
then think about your space and how you can make
them distinctly yours.
I am hoping to up my photography game this year,
so I'm turning to Skillshare for help.
Photographing my quilts and blocks
is something I always forget to do,
so my photos are always rushed.
So this month,
I am looking through the Skillshare class catalogue
to find some pointers to make my blocks look their best.
Skillshare offers creative
and curious people thousands of inspiring classes
on illustration, design, content creation, and more.
Skillshare classes include a combination of video lessons
and a class project, and most are designed to be completed
in 60 minutes a day or less
so they fit into the short blocks of time in your day.
Skillshare is also incredibly affordable,
especially when compared to in-person classes and workshops.
An annual subscription is less than $10 a month.
Turn this time into an opportunity to explore new skills
and deepen existing passions.
Take a look at their class lists.
What you find might just surprise and inspire you.
The first 1000 of my subscribers to click the link
in the description below will get a free trial
of Skillshare Premium
so that you can explore your creativity.
(bouncy music)
And think about what platforms you'll be posting to.
If it's Facebook, make sure you join the Facebook group now,
and create a list of hashtags that you're going to use
to paste into your posts so that you don't need to type them
every single time.
And considering using a scheduler like Canva or Planoly
so you don't need to remember to post every day.
If you're interested in coming along for the ride
for the 100 days, 100 blocks challenge,
I'll leave links and information in the notes below.
And I will be doing a YouTube live stream
with PreQuilt next week and all their exciting features
on how to colour your quilt.
Last Monday, I had Bernina Jeff on Karen's Quilt Circle,
and we were talking all about sewing machines.
It was a great chat and you don't want to miss it.
I'll leave a link in the notes below.
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And of course, my website at justgetitdonequilts.com.
So take care, and I'll see you next time.