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Sampler Spree - A Checklist

Sampler Spree - A Checklist

Written by: 
Carrie Nelson

One more week.  There are only a few more details to share - this is what you'll need to have, and what you'll want to know. 

Do you have your book? 

CT Susan Ache SS Checklist Stack of Books

Sampler Spree: 101+ Fresh & Fun Quilt Blocks by Susan Ache

You will need the book to quilt-along - that is the only place to find the instructions for the 101 blocks we're making.  The book also has the information to make this quilt.

CT Susan Ache SS QAL Give & Take Flat

Give & Take - it finishes at 83½" x 83½".

Fabric.  How much do you need? 

Page 8.  All yardage is based on 42" wide fabric. 

  • 1 yard total of assorted cream prints for large blocks
  • 3 yards total of assorted light scraps for blocks - or approx. 3 yards for a single background.
  • 3.875 yards total of assorted medium and dark scraps for blocks - referred to collectively as "dark".
  • 1.25 yards of white solid for sashing
  • 2.375 yards of peach solid for sashing

The quilt-along starts next week - Wednesday, June 16.  New blocks will be shared every Wednesday through August 18 - ten weeks of sewing.

Wait.  Ten weeks, a hundred blocks... ten blocks a week? 

CT Susan Ache SS Blocks Design Wall

Yes.  Just remember Rule No. 1 about the Sampler Spree quilt-along - we're doing this to have fun!  It's not a race.  Some folks will make ten blocks in two days, others will make two blocks in ten days.  Maybe.  So don't worry about "keeping up".  Just enjoy the process.

Sewing by color.  We will be using a single color for the blocks each week - e.g., the first week's blocks will be Blue. 

CT Susan Ache SS Blocks

The weekly colors are: Orange, Aqua/Teal/Turquoise, Brown & Tan, Green, Purple/Coral/Pink, Navy Blue, Yellow & Gold, Black & Gray, and Red.  And Blue - e.g., Cornflower, Delft, and so on.

And no, that's not the order of the colors.  We have to keep a few things a surprise!

CT Susan Ache SS Color Bundles

When we discussed doing this, there were two things that convinced us to do this.  One, this is how Susan sews through her scrap bins in the summer.  One color at a time - one bin at a time.  Two, we liked the challenge of it, limitations can spark a whole lot of creativity. 

But - this is not required!  Nobody will be shunned, or voted off the island, for not sewing by color.  Adjust the colors and shades to suit you - your scraps, your color palette, what you like. 

CT Susan Ache SS Checklist Stack of Fabrics

Do I have to make every block? 

Of course not - what's the rule?.  There are one-hundred blocks necessary to make the Give & Take quilt, so you can skip a few.  If there are blocks you really love, and love making, then make more of those.  Playing around with the light/dark placement, and the colors, in many of the blocks will change the look of the block.  

CT Susan Ache SS Blocks 2

Will there be other setting options? 

Yes.  Susan will be sharing a couple of different options along the way, including a couple of projects made with just one block from the book.  (And so will we.)

Who is sewing along?

Quilt-along stitchers - Instagram / Facebook / Blog:

So are you ready?

We're almost there.

CT Susan Ache SS Layer Cake Squares

This is one reason why so many of us love Layer Cakes.  They are often used for photos, and then folded to make little collection bundles.  With Susan's book and this quilt-along, the bundles were quickly taken apart and sorted by color.  

Can I tell you a secret?  The squares look so pretty in the boxes that pulling squares out and cutting them up will be really hard. 

But not impossible. 

We'll see you next week. 

For a PDF of this blog post - Sampler Spree: A Checklist

If you missed any of the earlier posts with Susan:

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