Sewcialites 2 Quilt Update | Free Sampler Quilt Along 2023

Another update on my version of this fun free sampler quilt along for 2023 !

You can find all about Sewcialites 2, a free sampler quilt along 2023 HERE>.

There are free video tutorials, so if you are a beginner, be sure to pick up all the tips Kimberly has for you as she sews the blocks in the videos. I love picking up various tips from different quilters as they teach me become a better quilter.

While there’s no hard and fast rule in quilting, there are definitely some time-saving tips and piecing tricks that just make things easier that we can pick up by watching other quilters sew. 

I learned so much from sewing along last round for Sewcialites I,

You can see my first Sewcialites quilt (also a free sampler quilt) HERE>

This round I’m sewing mine using a fat quarter bundle by Tasha Noel called the Quilt Fair!

Block #10-15 Sewcialites 2 QAL

I am all caught up at the point of me writing this blogpost. In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on catching up on the bandwagon when you missed a lot of weeks in a quilt along.

Quilting Tools and Notions I used:

• My trusted workhorse, Janome Horizon Memory Craft QCP8200
• I used Superior Thread Snow for piecing this quilt
• My favourite Ergonomic Rotary Cutter – this have saved my wrist a lot!
• Large cutting Mat
• Stripology Mini Squared Ruler – my current favourite tool for trimming units
• Wool ironing Mat (I have no issues with the smell, but sometimes it can burn if the iron is way too hot and no steam)
• Oliso Pro Iron (I love this Iron, it lifts as you let go, saving the wrist from too much work and it gives a good heat and steam)
• Portable Design Board
• Quilter’s Clapper
• Wooden Seam Roller

Cutting the pieces in 10-15 minutes pocket of time

I haven’t had any long hours in the sewing room lately. Life is just a little busy lately. It is the end of the semester at Uni, so I am catching up on my student’s marks and evaluating final year projects.

By the time I’m home, I am all burned out.

But in the last few days, I took some time to cut the pieces for each of the block I had missed. It only takes about 10-15minutes to cut each block units. 

While I cut, I have a quick chat with my husband since he is usually on his computer after dinner and I love that we share our working space. Always multi-tasking. 

I love that we share working space at home, and I’m glad he doesn’t mind the messes my sewing room makes. LOL.

Using Portable design boards

Once all the pieces are cut, I took some more pocket of time, sometime before breakfast to piece some of the smaller units together. 

After piecing the smaller units, I placed them on the portable design boards to make sure that I got all the pieces. This also makes it so much easier for me to just come in and sew whenever I have the time. 

Batch work

Batch work surely makes it faster too. Even though they were done in different pockets of time, I think it surely saves a lot of time cause I am already in flow. 

Today, I got all the pieces sewn and pressed! And suprisingly, it didn’t take long at all. 

All those prepping and little pockets of time surely adds up!

I am all caught up now with the block release. 

And this time, this block #10 by Lori Holt is my favourite!

Work the QAL on your own term

I guess, this is the way I love to work. I may not have the time to get caught up every single week, but I am still getting motivated to get moving on my own term.

This is the very reason why I love joining in Quilt Alongs. The motivation, the excitement of seeing other people’s work and the way that it has worked best for me is to not to be too stressed out about being left behind and just simply enjoy the process.

Taking the time to really work on each block is really important too. The practices we get by piecing different types of block is worth the time!

I take the time to make sure each units of the patchwork block are trimmed and that has certainly made a difference in getting better results with the final block. They are more accurate and lay flatter!

Lately I have been loving this ruler for trimming! Definitely worth it in my opinion. I have been reaching for it a lot for all of my trimmings.

You can see a video of how I use this ruler to trim in this post HERE>

15 Blocks update on my design wall

I am making the 9″ blocks for this quilt. There’s measurement in the free patterns for 3″ and 6″ blocks too. Pick your game!

The quilt wall is basically just batting hung on one of my sewing wall. I am planning to make a proper one with art board. 

This fabric collection is adorable. You can still check out this collection in store HERE>

I have worked with Tasha Noel’s collection before here in this sweet apron, but never a quilt yet. So I think this quilt will be a sweet one for my growing baby girl. 

Free Sampler Quilt Along 2023

There’s something about sampler quilt that just appeal to me. For one, I love that I won’t get bored piecing too many repetitive thing and second, there’s also a sense of challenge making different blocks each time. A quilt along is perfect for sampler quilts like this. You can take your time over a longer period of time to make the blocks and that makes it less daunting!

By the end of the QAL, you have all the blocks for your quilt. That is the icing on the cake for sure.

And I love Sewcialites QAL because, it is free, and the amount of blocks you get for this quilt is a good size for a good size quilt. 

You can check out more Quilt Alongs for 2023 HERE>

Well, that is it for my little update!

Find the free sampler quilt along 2023, Sewcialites 2 HERE>.

Come and join along, this is going to be a fun quilt-a-long with so many participants, there’s so many eye-candy to enjoy as well. 

Let me know what are your plans if you’re joining in too and use the hashtag #sewcialites2 on instagram and join the Facebook group HERE>