Hey, friend. So… how you doing? Did we lose you? This is a wellness check. We started January full speed ahead with a fantastic challenge. You had visions of sewing monthly 3 Yard Community Quilts, donating the charming throw-size quilts to your favorite charity, and then… reality kicked you upside the head. I know me too. If it weren’t for Lora, I’d be sew behind on the 2024 3YD Quilt Sew Along. (Click on the link if you’re not familiar with the 2024 challenge). If you kept up with this challenge, I am so proud of you. Well done!!
Don’t feel bad if you can’t keep up. Really. I had planned to sew every monthly 3YD pattern with a few of them being a scrappy version. I have completed ONE scrappy version. Started several. Lora has sewn more than her share of the 2024 3YD cover quilts, quilted all of them, and bound most of them. Oi! Okay, I wrote the patterns. But still, I had planned to complete a 3-yard quilt every month all by myself. *sigh*. What should we do? Throw in the fat quarter? Wave the White 1-yard cut? Be a quitter quilter?
Of course not. This 2024 Sew Along was never meant to add stress to your life or make you feel like you failed. It was meant to bring you into our tribe of like-minded, community-driven, creative quilters desiring to make a difference in our little corner of the world. If the only thing you created was a new desire to make 3-yard community quilts then let’s celebrate that! Continue to download the monthly free 3-yard patterns. We have just three more patterns until the 2024 challenge is over. The 3-yard quilts don’t have to be finished in 30 short days. Take your time. There is no deadline. That was self-imposed. See, you’re not behind.
October Free Pattern Download
Now that you feel better about not completing the previous nine monthly 3-yard quilts, how about downloading the October quilt pattern? Introducing 3YD Uniform! Click the 2024 3YD Sew Along tab above or this link to be taken to the October pattern download and blog.
What shall we do for the 2025 Sew Along?
Lora and I have been throwing around three ideas. We’d love to have your opinion. On October 25, I will put a voting poll on our Facebook group page, Material Girlfriends Quilting Gang. We want you to vote! If you have a different idea, let me know before the 25th. If I think I can manage your idea, we can vote on more than just our three ideas! lisa@materialgirlfriends.com
A. Continue with monthly 3-yard patterns for 2025
B. Make one block a month to create a sampler-style quilt including piecing, paper-piecing, and appliqué (experienced beginner level with video tutorials) Party Crashers Quilt for a peek.
C. Monthly mini projects; table runners, placemats, pillows, cushions, mini-quilts, etc.
All three of these options will be free just like all our previous Sew Alongs.
What’s on Sale
Nothing. Okay, not true. But I’m gearing up for the Black Friday Sale in November so hold on. Shop, make your list, but don’t hit that buy button just yet- unless it says low stock or there is just one available, then you should buy it now.
We had three shows in a row and we are restocking but some items will not be available anymore. Here are some customer favorites that we have between 1-3 kits left. When these are gone, Elvis will have left the building.
One-Three Kits Left
Ad Astra, Party Lights, and Lollipops and Gumdrops each have just one kit left and will no longer be available. I can’t get the fabric bundles anymore.
Just three kits left of these two fall projects, Charming Pumpkin Patch Runners and Scarecrow’s Fly Away Song Panel Quilt Kit.
Quilts for Sale
Lora and I have handmade quilts for sale. Visit the new section on our webstore. I’ll be adding a lot more quilts to this section over the next few days. We have so many!! None of them have been washed. They are pattern or shop samples and are priced to move!
Craft Show
If you’re local to the East Bay Area of California, we’ll be participating in a Holiday Craft Show in Knightsen this coming Saturday, Oct. 19. Actually, Lora and her husband are headed to Canada to visit their daughter but Mom, Diana, and I will be there. We’ll have fabric bundles, 3YD kits, patterns, holiday floral arrangements, and more. I hope to see you there!
Happy Sewing!
Lisa W. Norton and Lora W. Zmak
