Quiltalong - 2025

[AudiobookLover]

A trio of quilts made by @MistressJennie.

Welcome to the 2025 Quiltalong! This is the place to discuss all things quilty, to share your creations, and to have fun hanging out with other quilters! Regardless of whether you’ve never made a quilt or you’ve made 50, if you are interested in quilting, this is the place for you! This group consists of quilters of all levels, here to encourage and support each other along each of our quilting journeys.

There are a variety of ways to participate in this craftalong. You’re welcome to just hang out, enjoy some quilt-related chatting, and share progress pics of your latest creation. You are also welcome to complete prompts, challenges, and/or Blocks of the Month, as well as sharing and completing your quilt goals - all of which will give you a chance to win prizes! Throughout the year, there may also be additional opportunities to earn points toward prizes.

Prompts (2 points): Each month there will be an inspirational prompt. This year, the prompts will be “Inspired by:.” You will be prompted to create a quilted item that is inspired by various themes.

This is all for fun - you don’t have to make an item to fit the prompt, you are encouraged to make the prompt fit the item.

You can submit one prompt each month.

Challenges (2, 3, or 4 points): Each quarter (every 3 months) the Quiltalong will host a challenge. You can enter one item of each size (small, medium, or large) to earn points for the challenge. You are not required to do the actual quilting yourself in order to enter a project (ie. as long as you pieced the top together, it doesn’t matter if you send your quilt out to a longarmer, you can still enter it as a challenge entry). Challenge entries can be any quilty project from a mug rug all the way up to a king sized quilt.

Personal Finish (2, 3, or 4 points): Why be limited by the prompts and challenges? Every finish deserves to be celebrated! Each quarter, you can enter one item of each size (small, medium, or large) to earn points. This includes everything from quilt blocks to completed quilts.

Project Sizes
Small: Something that takes you less than 10 hours to sew and quilt. (2 points)
Medium: Something that takes you 10-20 hours to sew and quilt. (3 points)
Large: Something that takes you 20 or more hours to sew and quilt. (4 points)

Group Nominated Block of the Month [(BOM) 1 or 2 points]: Each month, we will have a member nominated block that you can complete using your own fabric choices. You have the option of creating the specific BOM featured for the month or submitting a similar looking block that is created more within your skill level or finishes at your preferred size.

The goal of the BOM is to have enough blocks by the end of the year to create a nice sized quilt top (that you can then show off to everyone here in the Quiltalong!). If you complete the BOM during the month it is hosted, you will earn 2 points. You can also earn 1 point by completing the monthly block outside of its hosted month, so long as it’s within the same year (ie. if you complete the March 2024 block during the month of March 2024, you get 2 tickets. If you complete the March 2024 block during a different month of 2024, you get 1 ticket).

Goal List: Please share your quilty goals for the quarter. For each goal that you accomplish, you will receive an extra point toward the quarterly prize. This can be in combination with other points that you may earn with your quilted project. For example, if on your list of goals you have “Complete the January BOM,” once you complete this goal (and post it), you will earn a point toward the quarterly prize. You can also submit your January BOM as a BOM finish for points.

How to Post an Entry: To enter a Prompt, Challenge, Personal Finish, BOM, or Goal List project for points, please use the appropriate header below, at the start of your post:
-I your name, offer your item for month’s prompt
-I your name, offer your item for my small/medium/large (pick one) challenge entry.
-I your name, offer your item for my small/medium/large (pick one) personal finish.
-I your name, submit this as my (late/current) (BOM month) BOM entry.
-I your name, submit your goal for my goal list entry.

---

PRIZE INFO:
I will announce at the beginning of each quarter whether there will be an opportunity for everyone to win a prize, or if there will be a drawing at the end of the quarter for a single winner.

For the first quarter, every participant will have the opportunity to win a prize. Prizes will be handmade (by me)/purchased items.

Quarter 1 - Either earn a total of 7 points this quarter OR get a BINGO to win a prize.

---

To claim your prize:

Once you have completed the requirements, please send me a private message letting me know that you have either earned 7 points or gotten a BINGO. Please include your name and mailing address (as it should be formatted for sending, including your country).

Prizes will be sent after the quarter ends.

[AudiobookLover]

This year, the prompts will be “Inspired by:.” You will be prompted to create a quilted item that is inspired by various themes.

This is all for fun - you don’t have to make an item to fit the prompt, you are encouraged to make the prompt fit the item.

January Prompt:
Inspired by:
The mountains, music, or food.

February Prompt:
Inspired by:
Summer, technology, or time

March Prompt:
Inspired by:
Fall, mail, or flowers

---

Quarter 1 Challenge
(January 1 - March 31)
Quilt something functional.
You could just make a quilt for your bed, after all such a quilt would be quite functional. Or, you make a quilted plastic bag holder like this one @jellybean made for her sister. So long as it serves a functional purpose (beyond being gazed upon and admired), you can submit it for this challenge!

• Simple Quilting Projects that AREN’T Big Quilts (many of which are functional)
• Transform a hoodie into a quilted garment

[AudiobookLover]

BLOCK OF THE MONTH (BOM):
You have the option of creating the specific BOM featured for each month or submitting a similar looking block that is created more within your skill level or finishes at your preferred size.

January:

or

Aztec Jewel (first picture) - nominated by @MistressJennie
The More Adventurous Aztec Jewel (picture 2)

February:

or

David & Goliath Quilt Block - nominated by @EclecticDreamer
David & Goliath Block with corner arrows

March:
or

Hunter’s Star Block - Template or paper piecing variation - nominated by @jellybean
HST Hunter’s Star Block - This link does not provide instructions on how to make the block, but it does have photos of the block created with 16 HSTs

April:

or

Mosaic Block - nominated by @Edel

May:
or

Adori Quilt Block (first pic) - nominated by AudiobookLover - This link will take you to a tutorial that uses subcuts to reduce the amount of work needed to create this block.
Stone Mason’s Puzzle Block (second pic) - This version uses templates
Serendipity - This version stitches strips of fabric to a foundation paper
SVG pattern - This paid version provides an SVG cut file to cut the fabric with a cutting machine.

[AudiobookLover]

Quiltalong Bingo

New this year – Quiltalong Bingo! This game was inspired by a couple of other craftalongs. Over in the 50 Projects or Bust Craftalong (hosted by our very own @AIMR), Linda is hosting a WIPGO game and the Nerd Games has a fun Mad Lib event that has participants using randomized generators to fill in the Mad Lib. Well, the two things got me thinking, what if we could do a Bingo game in the Quiltalong and everyone could generate their own Bingo cards? And so, this game of Quilty Bingo was born!

To play:

• Each Quiltalong member can play with up to 2 Bingo cards
• Generate your Bingo cards here
• Post your Bingo cards in the Quiltalong thread once they’ve been created
• Each week I will call out a Bingo prompt (all of which will be recorded in this thread)
• Bingo prompts must be completed during the first quarter (January 1st – March 31st)
• Every quilter who gets a Bingo (5 marked squares in a row - across/down/ or diagonal) will get a prize at the end of the quarter
• The first quilter to get a Bingo will win an extra prize (so make sure to call out your Bingo as soon as you get it!)
• You can complete prompts before or after they are called, but you can only mark a prompt once it has been called

Additional clarification:

All Bingo prompts refer to quilting projects (obviously ).

Any Bingo square that makes mention of creating a post or sharing information is referring to creating a post here in the Quiltalong thread (unless it specifically references creating a community post, which refers to creating a post on the main LettuceCraft page).

The term “quilty media” refers to any media (videos, books, magazines, blogs, etc.) related to quilting.

A quilted item can be used for more than one prompt - i.e. if you have complete the January BOM on your goal list and you complete it, you would be able to cross of ‘complete one of your monthly goals,’ as well as ‘create a Quiltalong BOM block,’ so long as both prompts have been called.

If I am playing two cards, does it mean I have to do two of each prompt to mark it off?
No, a single project or prompt can be used for both cards.

Also, could you explain the “create a quiltalong BOM”…does it mean completing one on here or we have to design one?
You just need to complete one of the monthly BOMs that we are doing here in the Quiltalong.

Bingo Calls:

01/08 - Use a fabric you’ve had in your stash for at least a year
01/08 - Thoughtfully comment on at least 6 projects submitted by others this quarter
01/15 - Use 10" squares
01/20 - Complete a quarterly challenge
01/22 - Nominate a BOM
01/29 - Use a solid fabric
02/05 - Complete one of your monthly/quarterly goals
02/12 - Create a Quiltalong BOM block
02/14 - Quilt something for yourself
02/17 - Create a post sharing your favorite quilt project
02/19 - Try a new (or rarely used by you) technique
02/26 - Use a print fabric
03/03 - Finish a WIP
03/05 - Use 2.5" strips
03/10 - Create a quilt top sized 42" square or larger
03/12 - Complete a monthly prompt
03/17 - Create a label and attach it to your quilt
03/17 - Create a quilted project from a kit
03/19 - Create a quilted gift for someone else
03/24 -
03/26 -
03/31 -

Bingo Players -
MistressJennie
Edel
EclecticDreamer
skrutt
jellybean
AIMR
AudiobookLover

[AudiobookLover]

Welcome everyone to the 2025 Quiltalong! This is the Quiltalong’s fifth year and I have some new and exciting things in store for everyone! The biggest change is that instead of only having a single winner receiving a prize at the end of each quarter, every Quiltalong participant will have the opportunity to receive a prize at the end of the first quarter (and likely future quarters as well)!! Since the prizes will consist of handmade/purchased goods from me and I can only make prizes as time/LittleBookLover/Thread Astaire (or other machinery) allows, there is a possibility that future quarters will go back to the raffle style we’ve done in the past. But, we will cross those bridges as we get to them and I will announce at the start of each quarter whether there will be multiple prizes for everyone to win, or if there will be a single prize to be raffled off.

Relating to that change, instead of ‘tickets’ being earned for the completion of challenges/prompts/BOMs etc., ‘points’ will now be earned. The points are the same as the tickets of the past, the only difference is the wording. All information regarding how to earn tickets and ticket values can be found in the first post in this thread.

---

PRIZE INFO:

Quarter 1 - Earn either a total of 7 points this quarter OR get a BINGO to win a prize.

To claim your prize:

Once you have completed the requirements, please send me a private message letting me know that you have either earned 7 points or gotten a BINGO. Please include your name and mailing address (as it should be formatted for sending, including your country).

Prizes will be sent after the quarter ends.

---

This year, the prompts will be “Inspired by:.” You will be prompted to create a quilted item that is inspired by various themes.

This is all for fun - you don’t have to make an item to fit the prompt, you are encouraged to make the prompt fit the item.

January Prompt:
Inspired by:
The mountains, music, or food.

Quarter 1 Challenge
(January 1 - March 31)
Quilt something functional.
You could just make a quilt for your bed, after all such a quilt would be quite functional. Or, you make a quilted plastic bag holder like this one @jellybean made for her sister. So long as it serves a functional purpose (beyond being gazed upon and admired), you can submit it for this challenge!

Goal List:
Please share your first quarter goals with us. You can earn a ticket for every goal you share and complete! Plus, this quarter, you can also earn an extra ticket just by sharing your goal list!

January BOM:
January:

or

Aztec Jewel (first picture) - nominated by @MistressJennie
The More Adventurous Aztec Jewel (picture 2)

You have the option of creating the specific BOM featured for each month or submitting a similar looking block that is created more within your skill level or finishes at your preferred size.

[EclecticDreamer (Shawna)]

I’m so excited! Also, if the fabric gods smile upon me, I’ll have a quilt top finished tomorrow. (It"s 50" x 58" right now. Thinking to add a 4" border)

[Edel]

Thanks so much @AudiobookLover for all the organising… And fabulous trio by @MistressJennie

[skrutt (Josefin 🇸🇪)]

New year! New quilts!

[AIMR (Linda -In the year 2025, I am happy to be alive! :us:)]

Yay! I didn’t have a chance to participate much last year, but seeing all the lovely blocks and finished quilt tops/quilts was so inspiring and fun!

Happy quilting, everyone! Thanks again, @AudiobookLover !!

[jellybean (Jamie (she/her) 🇺🇸 🏳‍🌈)]

Yay! I found the tutorial for the quilted bag holder that I made if anyone wants it - it’s on the wayback machine, so it takes a while to load: Grocery Bag Dispenser Tutorial

[AIMR (Linda -In the year 2025, I am happy to be alive! :us:)]

You are a superstar, @AudiobookLover !!!

@jellybean thanks for the tutorial…I really can’t believe that I haven’t made one of those…we take most of the bags back to the store for recycling so this bag can work to hold them or use them!

[MistressJennie (Moderator - Jennie - she/her)]

First Quarter Goals
-Complete “Butterfly in the (Night) Sky” quilt for Cunningham Children’s Home Festival of Quilts.
-Make baby quilt for little Max.
-Make a baby quilt for little Otto.
-Make at least 1 baby quilt to donate.
-Complete all BOMs for the Quarter
-Finish D&D mug rug & coffee warmer for Jim (now for birthday).
-Make Ada’s ‘Ghost’ Quilt.
-Stashbust: make at least 1 quilt, of any size, out of primarily scraps/stash fabric.
-Make placemats for Mom’s birthday (Added 3/5/25)

Jennie’s Bingo Cards
Jennie’s Bingo Card 1

Jennie’s Bingo Card 2

Bingo Calls completed:
Nominate a BOM (January)
Complete a Quarterly Challenge (Scrappy coasters)
Use a solid fabric (black back of scrappy coasters)
Create a BOM block (January’s Aztec Jewel)
Quilt something for yourself (scrappy coasters)
Use a Print Fabric (HST Diamond donation quilt)
Use 2.5" strips (Blue Plate Special donation quilt)
Create a quilt top sized 42" square or larger (Blue Plate Special quilt)
Complete a monthly prompt (flowers - Blue Plate Special quilt)

[marionberries (Carol - formerly cmarion3)]

I am itching to get back in to quilting after a break to remake our bedroom and closet. Well they are almost done.

My first task is to quilt up thest two lap sized tops. One from @MistressJennie…this one is much richer than the image. I love it.

And one from a fabric donation for our church holiday craft fair. And there is donated fabric for backings too. I have enough batting for one so I can get started.

[Edel]

First quarter goals
Finish quilt for harper
Get one section of wanderers wife quilt pieced
Get to at least one quilt group meetup
Finish the 6" block improv quilt
Make up the purple flimsy.
Quilt for Edelk
Finish hypothetical Grandbaby quilt flimsy (now known as “the you’re putting my uterus under pressure quilt”)

My bingo cards- I love this idea

[MistressJennie (Moderator - Jennie - she/her)]

Sharing my favorite Quilty Media:
Just Get It Done Quilts - Like a lot of people, I’ve been watching Karen Brown’s 2025 Decluttering Challenge videos each day this month. I haven’t necessarily done the specific tasks she’s assigned each day, but I have done some cleaning and decluttering each day. I have attacked various ‘nests’ of random objects in my studio. I put away my serger properly, (which has been out for weeks after doing my Unpaper Towels for Christmas). I’ve cut down some random small pieces of fabric that were already out, and processed them into sizes I keep. I let go of a few teeny bits of scraps that had been hanging around due solely to guilt. (I don’t like crumb piecing, so I’m going to let those ‘shoulds’ go in favor of things I actively want to do.) Watching has also helped me identify small things I want to do to my space this month, such as add some Command hooks to hold rulers, and a way to move/better organize my thread rack.

The Quilted Forest - They have a series on making quilts from 2.5" strips, that I watch when I need inspiration to stash bust. I don’t love everything she makes with them, but I have gotten some good ideas.

She also has an ongoing Monthly Project. She set herself up 12 kits/bins/tubs of projects she wants to do this year, then each month she pulls a number out of a hat, and has to do that project. Some are things she bought last year, some are from 15 years ago. I like the way she set her self up to get things that are more nebulous in our plans, done at some point this year.

Plus, she’s just kind of soothing to listen to.

Jordan Fabrics - I believe I’ve shared them before. I think you can learn a lot, especially as a new quilter, by watching Donna. She explains things in a clear, simple manner, but doesn’t seem to be talking down to anyone. She also often features patterns she created, that are free on their site. The others are patterns you’d have to pay for, but seeing her make them (step by step, just without exact size cuts) can give you a good idea of if you’d like to try that pattern or not.

[Edel]

I do like that idea of having 12 bins. I have loads of 2.5" strips now, so I’ll check out some of her stuff

My new years quilting resolution, is to abandon the idea that I have to quilt everything. Small quick finishes like lap quilts and baby quilts I’m happy to do straight line quilting. I feel it’s time now to do larger more complex piecing. And have veggie the idea that I have to do all parts.

I have a friend who has a longarm and I could use that whenever, But I don’t enjoy it, so this year I’m going to allow myself to get someone else to do it.

[MistressJennie (Moderator - Jennie - she/her)]

If you need to stash bust a ton of 2.5” strips, consider to Potato Chip Block. Like a crocheted Granny Square, you can make them as big or small as you like. Just keep adding rounds. And you can go ultra-scrappy, or pick a tighter color (or value) palette. I think z Karen Brown did one that was a whole quilt top as a single block.

[EclecticDreamer (Shawna)]

I created my BINGO cards!

I’m gathering my first quarter goals and will update my post once I have that all focus out.

This year - I have a plan! (At least a plan of a plan). I walked past the monthly calendars in Dollar Tree and I noticed one had just the 12 months then a TON of note pages. So I’m making it into a quilting journal. Use calendar pages to track/assign quilts I’m working on. First page of notes is where I noted the 2025 directions from this page so I don’t have to look every time, and my list will be there and here. Then the note pages I will note whatever pertinent quilt info I want. At the end of the year I’ll have a record of all of them.

[AudiobookLover]

Please note, the following statement should be read in an excited announcer voice.

Who’s ready for Quiltalong Bingo!?

To kick off our first ever Quiltalong Bingo, we are having a very special double call session - that way you can get a head start on filling in your Quiltalong Bingo cards!!

Are you ready!?

The first prompt we have is - Use a fabric you’ve had in your stash for at least a year! Ooh, that’s a good one, some of you may be able to check that off already!

And our second prompt is - Thoughtfully comment on at least 6 projects submitted by others this quarter! Another good one, but it looks like we’ll need quite a few more projects posted before you’re able to check off the second one!

---

Cut excited announcer voice and cue super fast legalese “side effects may include” voice.

Disclaimer - Not all Bingo calls are going to be this exciting .

Helpful information - All Bingo calls can be easily located at this Bingo Calls post. You will also find a schedule so you know when to expect the calls. They will take place on Wednesdays as well as on US national holidays (it may not be a day off of school, but it’s still something to look forward to ) and the fun holidays of Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Day. We will finish out the quarter with the last call being on March 31st.

[Edel]

“Use a fabric you have in your stash for at least a year”

Ha! That’s about 90% of my fabric, I have a little bit of stash fabric from before my daughter was born, she turns 30 shortly!