Welcome to week 1 of the Holland quilt along! We’ll spend the next five weeks working through our own versions of Holland. Each week, I’ll post here and pop into your inbox with what step we’re working on, my best tips for getting that step done, announce the week’s sponsor and winner, and sharing my own quilt along progress. I’m sewing along with you, and I’m pretty excited to make Holland again. All the details for the quilt along schedule are on the landing page or you can scroll to the bottom of this post for a refresher. If you still need the pattern, you can get it from my store. Let’s get started!
Week 1: Tasks & Info
Here’s what’s on deck for week 1:
- Task: Choose fabric, see my best tips below
- Share: Post your fabric pull to Instagram using #hollandQAL
- Sponsor: One lucky quilter will win a $35 gift card from the Fat Quarter Shop
This week we’re picking our fabrics. I know it sounds like an easy task, but picking fabrics can be hard! I can’t tell you how many times I’ll pick and re-pick only to go back to what I started with only to start re-picking again. Why do we do this to ourselves?! Luckily Holland has options for limited colors that could make this task easier. I decided to make a holiday-themed Holland for the quilt along and found some great fabrics from my favorite local quilt store. I’m so happy they sell Christmas and holiday fabric year round.
Fabric Picking Tips
I love to play with color, so I’ve built up quite the library of color palettes over the years. These are my best tips for picking fabrics.
Play with Color Cards
I promise you if you cut up your color cards, you won’t regret it. Even when I’m not looking for a specific project, I love pulling out my box of color chips and just moving them around into different groupings. These are some summer palettes I challenged myself with a few months ago. You can learn a lot when you’re not pressured for a project. So set aside some time just to play before you commit to anything for your quilt.
Spin a [Color] Wheel
You don’t have to be an expert in color theory to pick a great palette if you have a decent color wheel. I really like this mini color wheel [affiliate link] because it has all sorts of color combinations on the back. Choose something that speaks to you and head to the stash.
If you’re really interested in some basic color palettes, here’s a great way to start your fabric search:
- Monochromatic: Using different values of one color. That’s how I chose the colors for the blue ombre quilt on Holland’s cover.
- Complementary: Choosing colors opposite of each other on the color wheel
- Analogous: Choosing colors next to each other on the color wheel
- Split-complementary: A mix of complementary and analogous; pick your side-by-side colors and then one on the opposite side of the wheel
- Triadic: Choosing three colors equidistant from each other on the color wheel
Take a Hike
No, no! Don’t leave!! I mean literally schedule some time to get outside. Nature has some of the best color palettes. So pack some snacks and water and head outside to see what nature has to offer you. This is also my best advice for when you’re in a color rut.
OK. Happy picking, and re-picking. You’ve got this, and I can’t wait to see your colors over on the Instagram.
Here are those details I promised you
Holland Quilt Along
- Who: You! Me! All of us! I’m looking forward to creating an uplifting community during this event, so I’m so happy you’re here.
- What: The schedule is set up to make sure you have plenty of time to make the throw version of the quilt. You can make either size; throw size not required.You can buy the PDF pattern in my shop.
- Where: Everything is online. You don’t need to sign up for the quilt along, but you should sign up for my email list if you want quilt along updates in your inbox. I’ll also be sharing each week’s information on Instagram and here on the blog.
- When: Monday, Oct. 3, through Monday, Oct. 31. If you’re thinking of gifting Holland to someone you love, you’ll have plenty of time after the quilt along to get yours basted, quilted, and bound before the holidays. I will be giving my version to me!
- How: Buy the pattern, sign up for emails, and make sure you’re using #hollandQAL so we can see what you’re working on and you can see what everyone else is up to. Sharing is caring and is one of the most fun reasons to join a quilt along!
Prizes!
Every time you post your progress on Instagram using #hollandQAL, you’re entered to win that week’s prize. You don’t have to post the current week’s step to be eligible. There is no such thing as “behind” on Team Thread. Keep your privacy settings at a level you’re comfortable with, but you do need to have a public Instagram account for me to be able to find your post for a prize.
A note on prizes: This is my first quilt along. I’m happy to offer prizes to add a little fun to our event, but the real prize is learning a new technique and getting to know other quilters. Please be gentle on me as I work my way through the giveaway process. Our sponsors are:
- Fat Quarter Shop: A lucky winner will get a $35 gift card.
- Sew Nature: Laura is offering a free pattern using her Inktense painting on fabric method.
- Stash Tools: Keril is offering a free template of your choice from her shop.
- Um… me: I’m sponsoring two weeks of the event with something from my prize bin. Once I pick the winner, you’ll be able to choose between a precut bundle with pattern, a mini quilt wall hanging, or a fabric bundle from my store.
Holland Quilt Along Schedule
This quilt goes together so quickly, but we’ll be taking five weeks to get through all the steps together. I want to make sure everyone has the best chance to finish with the group as possible. Here’s what we’ll be working on:
- Week 1, Oct. 3: Choose fabric
- Week 2, Oct. 10: Cut fabric
- Week 3, Oct. 17: Piece blocks
- Week 4, Oct. 24: Trim blocks
- Week 5, Oct. 31: Assemble quilt top