The Sweet Home QAL -- Corner Squares & Sashing

Welcome to week FOUR of the Sweet Home Quilt Along 2021! I'm once again co-hosting this quit along with my dear friend and talented AGF sister Sharon Holland, who's also the designer behind the adorable Sweet Home quilt pattern!



During week FOUR we'll tackle the thirty Corner Squares in the Sweet Home quilt pattern!

Below you can see the schedule we've been following throughout the QAL, but of course Sharon and I want to encourage all to sew at their own pace. As always, if you're new to discovering our QAL you can join the more than 1200+ makers sewing along with us at anytime by signing up at Sharon Holland Designs. Once you're signed up, you'll have access to a Quilt Kit Directory full of amazing Sweet Home quilt kit options, Sharon's weekly quilt along blog posts that will feature a new amazing Giveaway with one of our sponsors, and new video tutorials each week that Sharon is creating to support her Sweet Home pattern. As her co-host, I'm excited to share the Sweet Home version I'm making each step of the way throughout the duration of this quilt along right here and on my social media!



When you visit Sharon's blog you'll see the beautiful Sweet Home she's making using her brand new Bookish collection for AGF. The Bookish Sweet Home Quilt Kit is available at Lady Belle Fabric and is the perfect Fall quilt!

For my Sweet Home I'm using the Cozy & Magical Quilt Kit available exclusively at Lady Belle Fabric that features prints from both of my new Art Gallery Fabrics collections, Cozy & Magical and Plaid of My Dreams!





Again this week I used the speedy chain-piecing technique to make my Bungalows, a sewing technique that mimics an assembly line where you'll sew piece after piece and then block after bock, continuously feeding your quilt pieces through the machine without cutting your thread in-between each step. If you're new to quilting and/or chain piecing, Sharon has been putting together a super helpful weekly video series on her Sew Along blog that includes video support for each step of her Sweet Home pattern throughout our QAL that's full of helpful information and tips. Sharon is always incredibly informative and thorough with her instructions, so be sure to check out these amazing video tutorials!



These tiny corner square pieces come together so fast and they're so cute! Once you finish all thirty squares and your sashing is cut, all that's left to do is to sew together your log cabin and bungalow blocks with your sashing and you'll have your finished quilt top!





As you finish this weeks piecing, be sure to share photos of them on Instagram with our QAL hashtag #SweetHomeQAL2021 and to tag me @MaureenCracknell & @SharonHollandDesigns. We can't wait to see them! Now it's time to head on over to Sharon's blog if you haven't already, to check out her Bookish version and to enter our amazing Giveaway with this week's sponsor, Oliso, for a chance for TWO to win one of their amazing Mini Project Irons!

Thanks for joining our QAL, we’re so happy you’re here!

xo Maureen

The Sweet Home QAL -- Bungalow Blocks

Welcome to week THREE of the Sweet Home Quilt Along 2021! I'm once again co-hosting this quit along with my dear friend and talented AGF sister Sharon Holland, who's also the designer behind the adorable Sweet Home quilt pattern!



During week THREE we'll tackle the ten Bungalow house blocks in the Sweet Home quilt pattern!

Below you can see the schedule we're following throughout the QAL, but of course we encourage and want everyone to sew at their own pace. As always, if you're new to discovering our QAL you can join the more than 1000+ makers sewing along with us at anytime by signing up at Sharon Holland Designs. Once you're signed up, you'll have access to a Quilt Kit Directory full of amazing Sweet Home quilt kit options, Sharon's weekly quilt along blog posts that will feature a new amazing Giveaway with one of our sponsors, and new video tutorials each week that Sharon is creating to support her Sweet Home pattern. As her co-host I'm excited to share the Sweet Home version I'm making each step of the way throughout the duration of this quilt along right here and on my social media!



When you visit Sharon's blog you'll see the beautiful Sweet Home she's making using her brand new Bookish collection for AGF. Bookish should be arriving to shops any day and is also available at Lady Belle Fabric as an exclusive Bookish Sweet Home Quilt Kit option right now! This version will be so perfect for Fall and for any and all book lovers out there!

For my Sweet Home I'm using the Cozy & Magical Quilt Kit available exclusively at Lady Belle Fabric that features prints from both of my new Art Gallery Fabrics collections, Cozy & Magical and Plaid of My Dreams. I love how my last week's Log Cabin house blocks turned out combining these new holiday prints with the sweet AGF Pure Solid in Blushing, and I'm so happy with how cute this week's Bungalow blocks turned out!

Again this week I used the speedy chain-piecing technique to make my Bungalows, a sewing technique that mimics an assembly line where you'll sew piece after piece and then block after bock, continuously feeding your quilt pieces through the machine without cutting your thread in-between each step. If you're new to quilting and/or chain piecing, Sharon has been putting together a super helpful weekly video series on her Sew Along blog that includes video support for each step of her Sweet Home pattern throughout our QAL that's full of helpful information and tips. Sharon is always incredibly informative and thorough with her instructions, so be sure to check out these amazing video tutorials!







I absolutely LOVE how these sweet Bungalow blocks turned out with their roofs made in my red gingham Small Plaid of My Dreams Joyful print! I've dreamed of having a line of buffalo check plaids since I started designing fabrics for AGF, hence the name of this collection. Now that I do, I truly want to include them in every project I make!



These cutie blocks came together so quick and I'm completely thrilled with them all! I hope these finished blocks inspire you to knock out your ten Bungalows and to share photos of them on Instagram. Be sure to post with our QAL hashtag #SweetHomeQAL2021 and to tag me @MaureenCracknell & @SharonHollandDesigns. We can't wait to see them!



Now it's time to head on over to Sharon's blog if you haven't already, to check out her Bungalow Blocks made with her pretty Bookish fabrics and to enter our amazing Giveaway with this week's sponsor, Omnigrid Cutting & Measuring Tools!

Thanks for joining our QAL, we’re so happy you’re here!

xo Maureen

The Sweet Home Quilt Along 2021

Hello, friends! It's been way too long and I'm so excited to have just clicked the "+ new post" button after such a long, unexpected blogging hiatus. For the first time since the beginning of this pandemic, I'm home alone with my oldest away for his first year at college, and my other two both back in public school. It took me a few days to adjust and work on a new schedule for myself, but here I am ready to get back into a routine that includes showing up in this spot much more often! And what better timing than now that Sharon Holland and my most recent collaboration is underway, the Sweet Home QAL 2021!

It’s been one week since the official start date of the Sweet Home Quilt Along that began on August 25th, with the first week dedicated to fabric selection and prepping the materials to start making a Sweet Home Quilt. If you're new here or you're just now learning about our Quilt Along, it's not too late to join the more than 1,000 makers that have signed up to sew along with us so far!



Since Sharon is the creator of the Sweet Home quilt pattern, if you'd like to sign up and access the Sweet Home QAL you'll need to visit Sharon Holland Designs, click the "Sew Along" option and sign up to be able to sign in. Once you're in, you'll have access to a Quilt Kit Directory full of amazing Sweet Home quilt kit options exclusive to participating shops, Sharon's weekly quilt along blog posts that will feature a new amazing Giveaway with one of our sponsors, and new video tutorials each week that Sharon is creating to support her Sweet Home pattern! As her co-host I'm excited to share the Sweet Home version I'm making each step of the way throughout the duration of this quilt along!



For a fun way to end each weekly blog post, Sharon and I have lined up special Giveaway prizes that are being generously donated by our list of wonderful sponsors. Each week Sweet Home quilters will comment on Sharon's most recent quilt along blog post for their chance to win. Check out these amazing companies!



For my Sweet Home I'm using the Cozy & Magical Quilt Kit available exclusively at Lady Belle Fabric! This version features prints from both of my new Art Gallery Fabrics collections, Cozy & Magical and Plaid of My Dreams. The color palette of this holiday collection is very sweet and I'm loving these prints paired with AGF's Pure Solid in Blushing for the background. I'm so excited to see how my cozy Sweet Home holiday village comes together!

For Sharon's Sweet Home, she's using her brand new Bookish collection for AGF that should be arriving to shops any day and is also available at Lady Belle Fabric as an exclusive Bookish Sweet Home Quilt Kit option right now! This version will be so perfect for Fall and for any and all book lovers out there!



Last week I cut out all the pieces from my quilt kit and if how they look all chopped up is any indication of how this finished quilt will look, I'm a very happy girl! This step can be a little laborious and for some it may be the smallest sized cuts you've ever used, but with the helpful videos Sharon created to support this step you'll find lots of helpful information, so be sure to check those out!

Once I started sewing over the weekend I remembered how much I absolutely LOVE this pattern and exactly why this is the FIFTH Sweet Home quilt I'll have made! The Log Cabin quilt block is one of my favorites and these adorable house blocks that begin with log cabin centers are so much fun to make!

Each step throughout the quilt block construction process is made easy with chain piecing, a sewing technique that mimics an assembly line where you'll sew piece after piece and then block after bock, continuously feeding your quilt pieces through the machine without cutting your thread in-between each step. Chain piecing is so easy and to show you just how to do it, incase you've never given it a try, Sharon has a new video prepared for you this week!



I chain pieced each step for this week's Log Cabin Block, including the final step of attaching my rooftop pieces to the log cabins to create all ten of my log cabin houses. It was just like adding the lid to a box. I always feel so spoiled by my Janome and extension table whenever I'm chain piecing, it makes it so very easy. I seriously couldn't live this crazy sewing life without my extension table!





Once all ten log cabin houses were chain pieced, I snipped the in-between threads, gave a final good press to each block, and admired the beginnings of my sweet holiday village!







Aren't they cute?! I'm so thrilled with them! Now it's time to head on over to Sharon's blog if you haven't already, to check out her Log Cabin Blocks made with her pretty Bookish fabrics, to make use of the tutorial videos that she created to help makers this week, and to enter our amazing Giveaway with this week's sponsor, Chenille-It! If you’re on Instagram, we’d love to see your Sweet Home quilt progress, so be sure to tag us @maureencracknell and @sharonhollanddesigns and use the #sweethomeqal2021 hashtag when you share!

Thanks for joining us on this fun quilt along, we’re so happy you’re here!

xo Maureen

Sweet Home Quilt Along: Week 3 - Bungalow Block

Welcome to week THREE of the Sweet Home Quilt Along, a QAL I'm co-hosting with Sharon Holland, the designer behind the adorable Sweet Home quilt pattern, and Jennifer Jones of Penelope Handmade!

For week three we'll tackle the ten Bungalow style house blocks in the Sweet Home quilt pattern! Below you can see the schedule we're following throughout the QAL, but of course we encourage and want everyone to sew at their own pace!



The Sweet Home quilt pattern is designed by Sharon and is available in her SHOP, for those of you just finding out about our QAL. I'm making a total of four quilts during the QAL, two to keep and two to give -- two will be made with my new Cozy & Joyful collection and two using the original Sweet Home quilt kit, both from Lady Belle Fabric!

Last week and again yesterday, I went out into the yard to pick a few clippings to photograph with each of my blocks. This was the last blooming daisy in the yard!



For my Cozy & Joyful Sweet Home quilts I'm making one with a background in my snowflake print, Make Snow Flurries, and the other background in my red stars print, Snowing Bright. 



Again this week I used the speedy chain-piecing technique to make my Bungalows. If you're new to quilting and/or chain piecing, Sharon has been putting together a super helpful weekly IGTV video series for this QAL on her Instagram that includes video of each step throughout our QAL full of helpful information and tips! Sharon is always incredibly informative and thorough with her instructions, so be sure to follow!



I hope these photos inspire your Bungalow block photos! I can't wait to see them! Be sure to post your photos on Instagram with our QAL hashtag #SweetHomeQAL, as well as tagging me @MaureenCracknell, @SharonHollandDesigns and @PenelopeHandmade. 

Just a reminder -- that from the hashtag pool we'll be able to see everyone's posts, as long as you have a public account, and from there we can interact and encourage one another! We'll also be using the hashtag pool to choose weekly Giveaway winners!



Be sure to pop on over to both Sharon and Jennifer's blogs to see how cute their Bungalow blocks turned out!

I'll see you back here Friday when I share our next Giveaway with our sponsor, Omnigrid!

xo Maureen

Sweet Home Quilt Along: Week 1 - Fabric Selection

Welcome to week 1 of the Sweet Home Quilt Along, the new QAL I'm co-hosting with Sharon Holland, the designer behind the adorable Sweet Home quilt pattern, and Jennifer Jones of Penelope Handmade!



This first week is all about fabric selection and deciding which prints you'll be using to create your own Sweet Home quilt!



Once you purchase the pattern from Sharon's SHOP you'll find a super helpful coloring page to plan out which fabric will go where. Pulling prints from your stash and going as scrappy as your heart desires will make for beautiful Sweet Home quilts, but for those joining us who prefer to sew from a kit, we've made that easy by working with several shops to offer a variety of kits that include the four versions Sharon, Jennifer and I will be making plus three additional versions! If you missed my last week's post announcing the QAL you can view that HERE for additional details and to check out each version of the Sweet Home quilt kits!

I have very ambitious goals for this QAL, I'm hoping to make a total FOUR quilts! Two with my new Cozy & Joyful collection and two using the original Sweet Home quilt kit, both from Lady Belle Fabric!



When I finished my first ever Christmas quilt last year, my Merry & Bright Beacon quilt, I shared that I'd love to continue making a new holiday themed quilt each year, at least until we have a good collection to use throughout the season. I knew then that I'd have my Cozy & Joyful fabrics to use for those future quilts and when Sharon released her Sweet Home pattern I couldn't I have dreamed for a more perfect pattern to use for Christmas quilt no. 2!



Over the weekend I cut out all four quilts, which does take quite a bit of time, but using helpful tricks like "stack and whack" sped up the process significantly! To stack and whack is to simply cut multiple layers of fabric, stacked in a single pile simultaneously, rather than cutting one single fabric at a time. For this quilt I layered all of the like cuts of fabric and had no problem cutting them all at once with accuracy. It makes the cutting easy, much more quick & fun!



For the other two Sweet Home quilts, one to keep and one to gift, I'm using the original Sweet Home quilt kit that Sharon designed exclusively for Brooke's shop, Lady Belle Fabric!



This version has a beautiful color palette that includes prints by Sharon, myself and various Art Gallery designers. The background is the sweetest copper metallic polka-dot and the house blocks will be made in a mix of pretty floral and blender prints that will be perfect to use all year long!



Currently on my dining room table, where I've been sewing since March, are four wooden chargers that hold each of my four cut out quilts. It's always so crazy to me to look at the pile of cutout fabrics knowing they'll soon be a beautiful new quilt top. It really is magic!



I can already tell how pretty this Sweet Home will be just by seeing the fabric cuts laid out, waiting to be stitched together! 



For those of you joining in, I can't wait to see your fabric selections! Be sure to post photos of your fabrics on Instagram with our QAL hashtag #SweetHomeQAL, as well as tag me @MaureenCracknell, @SharonHollandDesigns and @PenelopeHandmade. From the hashtag pool we'll be able to see everyone's posts, as long as you have a public account, where we can interact and encourage one another, which is the very best part! We'll also be using the hashtag pool to choose weekly Giveaway winners and we have some wonderful sponsors lined up, checkout the amazing list!



I'm looking forward to seeing who's joining in and to feeling the wonderful sense of community that always happens during a QAL! Be sure to pop on over to both Sharon and Jennifer's blogs to see what fabrics they've selected, for loads of inspiration and tips for getting started on your own Sweet Home quilt!

I'll see you back here Friday when I share our first Giveaway sponsor and prize!

xo Maureen

The Sweet Home Quilt Along

Today I'm back to share some exciting news in case you missed the announcement when I shared on my social media -- I'm co-hosting a new quilt along beginning next week, The Sweet Home Quilt Along!



I’m excited to be once again teaming up with my good friend and fellow AGF designer, Sharon Holland who's the designer behind the adorable Sweet Home quilt pattern, along with a new quilty friend, Jennifer Jones of Penelope Handmade! The fun officially begins September 9th, on each of our blogs and over on Instagram thru October 14th, but today I wanted to make an official announcement, and to share the pattern and each of the amazing quilt kits we've arranged for those participating to check out!

If you'd like to join in, the first thing you'll need is to purchase your Sweet Home pdf quilt pattern from Sharon's SHOP and then you'll need to decide on which fabrics you'll be using! To make it easy and fun for participants, Sharon, Penelope and I have had the versions we're each making made into kits for anyone who wants to make our exact quilts, plus three additional versions that are all equally amazing kit options!

CLICK DIRECTLY ON THE QUILT KIT IMAGE TO BE REDIRECTED TO SHOP EACH KIT!

First up is the Sweet Home Cozy & Joyful quilt kit that I plan to make during the QAL available at Lady Belle Fabric!



The Sweet Home Spooky & Sweet quilt kit available at Lady Belle Fabric!



The Sweet Home quilt kit available at Lady Belle Fabric!



The Prairie Companion quilt kit available at Piper Autumn Designs!



The Sweet Home Starry Night quilt kit available at Lamb and Loom Fabrics!



The Sweet Home Terra Kotta quilt kit available at Fat Quarter Shop!



Of course, if you'd rather sew from your stash than purchase new fabrics, that's completely fine! A scrappy Sweet Home quilt will look amazing!!

Each week we'll be asking participants to share their progress pics on Instagram beginning with their fabric pull next week, but first -- be sure to add the image below to your Instagram page with the quilt along hashtag #SweetHomeQAL so we know you're in! We'll be using the hashtag to engage with those joining in and will choose a winner from the hashtag each week throughout the QAL who will win a wonderful new prize from one of our participating sponsors (I'll be sharing that list SOON)!



I hope you'll join in with me, Sharon and Jennifer! It's going to be so much fun and rewarding to have a brand new quilt finished just in time for the cold weather months!

xo Maureen