Welcome to the Holland quilt along! I can’t wait to see how you bring the Holland quilt pattern to life. As my first pattern, it has been amazing to see it in the wild as my pattern testers got to work on making sure the pattern is the best it can be for you. The quilt along officially begins on Monday, Oct. 3, but this is your hub for everything you need to know to join in on the fun. I’ll come back and update this post each week so you have the latest information all in one spot.
The Holland quilt pattern is a beginner skill-builder pattern. It’s perfect for new quilters and for more experience quilters who want to perfect their four-at-a-time flying geese technique. The pattern comes in two sizes: baby (36″ x 48″) and throw (60″ x 60″). It includes fabric requirements for two-color, three-color, ombre, and rainbow versions. There are also coloring sheets for both sizes so you can audition your color choices before you get started. Since I can’t let you be the only one having some fun, I’ve decided to make another Holland and quilt along with you.
This is my first time hosting a quilt along, so I hope you’ll be patient with me as I smooth out the process. I’m always open to your constructive feedback; I just ask that you be kind! Throughout our event, I’ll share weekly posts on what step we’re working on, my best tips for making each step easy peasy, the week’s sponsors (yes, there are prizes!), and any other information you need to be successful.
Alright, now that the preliminaries are out of the way, let’s get down to business. (On the day I did the photo shoot for the pattern, Sir William decided the set up was just for him. He hopped up in the chair right after I finished, so I left it there for a few hours while he got third nap out of the way.)
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
Fabric Requirements
If you want to start thinking about your fabrics now, here’s the requirements chart from the pattern. As you can tell from my pattern testers’ versions, the possibilities really can be unlimited when it comes to picking fabrics for Holland. If you’d rather wait until the quilt along starts, I’ll be sharing how I choose fabrics for quilts and some interesting color combinations you might want to consider. If you’re interested in creating the blue ombre version on the cover, my friend Beth from Studio B Quilt has kits available for a limited time. Head on over to her shop to place your order before they run out.
So that’s what you need to know for now. I’m so excited for Oct. 3 and the quilt along to start. We’re going to have so much fun together! Let me know if you need anything from me in the meantime.