I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long

Do you want to get a jump on the holiday season and finish a Christmas quilt before Christmas? Join me and a dozen other bloggers for the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long! You will get patterns for 12 original Christmas blocks plus tutorials from the block designers and tips from the Quilt Along (QAL) hosts. There will be great giveaways and support through Facebook and Instagram as well.

How Does It Work?

The QAL starts on August 1st. Every other Tuesday a new free 12" quilt block pattern and tutorial will be released. If you complete and post your block before the next pattern release, then you will be entered to win some AMAZING prizes! A couple of dates will have two block releases (8/29 and 10/10) so you can get them all done before Christmas. The last block will be released December 5th. Since it is a mystery quilt, you won't know what to expect until each block tutorial is released. It's a Christmas surprise! There are several ways to join the fun and enter the giveaways.

Join the I Wish You a Merry Quilt-A-Long Facebook Group to join the party! Designers will post links to the tutorials there, so this is your best way to not miss a single post. You can also ask questions and post pictures of your completed blocks in the Facebook Group to be entered to win the prizes!
Visit a QAL Host's blog. (See the list of QAL Hosts below.) They will post their fabric version of the blocks along with tips on completing the block. In addition, the QAL Hosts will provide links to the Designers' blocks and tutorials as they are released.
Use the hashtag #iwishyouamerryqal to post your blocks on Instagram and be entered to win the prizes! You can also use the hashtag to see other quilters' blocks and to get inspiration.
Post your block on the linky party on the designer's block tutorial post so you can link your progress to their blog and be entered to win the prizes!

What skills do I need to make these blocks?

This QAL is for quilters of all experience levels. Techniques used in the blocks range from piecing, to appliqué, to foundation paper piecing, and even a little bit of embroidery. Hosts and designers will give you tips on their blog posts, and you can always ask for help from them on their blogs, in the Facebook group, or even on Instagram. This is a chance to learn a new technique while getting advice from the QAL Designers and Hosts.

How much fabric do I need?

The blocks will each be 12" finished (12 1/2" unfinished) and there will be 12 blocks. You might be able to make all the blocks from fabrics you have in your stash! Personally I don't have much holiday fabric in my stash so I am purchasing 1 yard of festive red and 1 yard of festive green to supplement my stash. You will have two weeks to complete the first block, and two weeks to complete each future block too. Hopefully that timeline will give you a chance to buy more fabric if needed. If you plan to put your blocks together to make a lap-size quilt, then you will need about 1 1/4 yard for sashing, 1 1/4 yard for a border, 3 1/2 yards for backing, and 2/3 yard for binding.

What are the prizes?

There are so many! Prizes include patterns, batting and other products from The Warm Co., thread from Aurifil, a gift certificate to The Fat Quarter Shop, signed quilt books, precuts, and much more! International participants are eligible to enter for all prizes.

Do I have to make every block?

No! This QAL is laid back and meant to be fun, so you can choose which blocks to make. However, you will only be eligible for a bi-weekly giveaway if you post your completed block on the Facebook Group Page, Instagram with #iwishyouamerryqal, or on the Designer's linky party.

Can I see the blocks beforehand?

Nope! This is a mystery QAL and we are only releasing one block at a time. Trust me, it will be worth it.

Who can participate?

Everyone! The bloggers are scattered all across the globe, so we hope to have participants from many countries around the world too. International participants are eligible for all the prizes.

Who Is Involved?

All the bloggers who are participating in the QAL met through the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop. These QAL designers (like me!) have designed the blocks and will be posting tutorials on their blogs.

In addition, some bloggers (like me!) will be sewing along and making every block too. These QAL Hosts will share tips and tricks for each block, plus you'll get to see the same block in many different fabrics. We will be there every step of the way to encourage you to finish the quilt too!