A Quilt-a-Long for Beginners

As you all know, I like to keep our posts here related to the block lotto because, otherwise, with nearly 100 authors, things could get pretty out of control ... but after reading  about the Skill Builder Sampler on Leila's blog, Sewn, I thought some of the newbie quilters in our group (or following this blog) might like to know about it.

It has some similarities to the Block Lotto–the blocks will be beginner-friendly and will focus on learning/practicing different techniques each month.  The big difference is that you will be keeping the blocks you make and putting them into a sampler quilt of your own.

Here is Leila's outline for Skill Builder Sampler:

June:

Skills: Cutting, ¼ inch seam allowance and value.

Blocks: Log Cabin and Around the World

July: Half Square Triangles and Quarter Square Triangles

August: Flying Geese

September: Wonky Blocks

October: Foundation Piecing

November: Paper Piecing

December: Raw Edge and Needle Turn Applique

January: Curves

February: Improvisational Blocks

March: Working with odd shapes (tumblers, hexagons, apple cores)

April: Inset Seams

May: “There's no way I can sew that block!!!” - but you totally can because we now have the Skillz.

(we will also learn how to draft and use templates - those skill will be used in multiple months)

And a bit  more of what she has to say about it:

The first three weeks of each month we will make blocks based on that set of skills and the forth week will be a catch up week. Everyone who is caught up at the end of the month will be entered in a drawing for a special prize. (Probably fabric, because everyone Loves fabric, right?)

By the end of the year you will have 36 twelve inch blocks you can make into a queen sized quilt or you can divide them up and make several smaller quilts. But more importantly, you will have the skills and the confidence to tackle any quilting project you can dream up.  Priceless.

I don't know Leila and am unfamiliar with her work, but it looks like something worth checking out.  I will be reading along . . . you nevr know where you might find a great idea for a lotto block ;-)