2022 Mini Series Sew Along
Hello!
We are happy to announce two new fabric collections + the second Mini Series Sew Along!
This summer we will be launching four new Mini Series patterns (Season 3) + an exciting fabric collaboration! Giucy Giuce’s Skygazing and Alison Glass’ Thicket are independent collections that are designed to work beautifully together. The collections focus on small scale designs in happy colors. They were created with an exciting event in mind: The Fall 2022 Mini Series Sew Along.
The Mini Series is a pattern collaboration between Alison Glass and Giuseppe Ribaudo of Giucy Giuce. The twelve blocks utilize foundation paper piecing to create a variety of tiny but mighty blocks in a range of sizes. Over 2,500 quilters participated in the first Mini Series Sew Along in the Spring of 2020. We were blown away by the number of sewists who turned up and the incredible creativity they showed in making the blocks. It was a lot of fun and a bright spot in 2020 for many of us.
Will you join us for the Fall 2022 Mini Series Sew Along?
The second Mini Series Sew Along will start September 1, 2022; however, the first set of sewn blocks are not due until mid-September (the first official week of sewing is September 12, 2022). The AG Team will host the event through newsletters,the AG Stitch Club online community platform, and Instagram. This will be a fun, encouraging, and interactive event. We hope you’ll join us for the 2022 Mini Series Sew Along!
Details/Schedule
The event will take place from September 1 - November 20, 2022.
We will communicate to the group through newsletters (primary communication method), the AG Stitch Club online community (details to follow), and Instagram (for public posting of blocks/progress). Throughout the event, Giuseppe and Alison will post videos on Instagram with tips for making each block.
Block difficulty will increase throughout the event to allow participants to build skills and increase confidence as we work through the designs. Specific blocks are assigned each week; however, we have built in five bonus sewing weeks throughout the event to give small breaks for catching up or working ahead, depending on your schedule.
Week 0 - Sept 1 - Bonus Sewing Week #1
This week is intended to give either a jump start or to allow additional time for gathering supplies. It is completely optional. The AG Stitch Club online community for the Mini Series Sew Along will go live on September 1, 2022 at which point participants can join, introduce themselves, and begin interacting with others. After September 1st, newsletters for each new week will go out on Tuesdays as listed below.
Week 1 - Sept 13 - Log Cabin and Triangle Cabin*
Week 2 - Sept 20 - Courthouse Step and Diamond Sidestep*
Week 3 - Sept 27 - Bonus Sewing Week #2
Week 4 - Oct 4 - Hexagon Step and Pineapple
Week 5 - Oct 11 - Triangle Geese and Bloom*
Week 6 - Oct 18 - Bonus Sewing Week #3
Week 7 - Oct 25 - Stretched Geese and Criss Cross
Week 8 - Nov 1 - Curved Cabin and Rainbow*
Week 9 - Nov 8 - Bonus Sewing Week #4
Week 10 - Nov 15 - Bonus Sewing Week #5
Finished block submissions due via the Finisher Form (link will be shared closer to the end of the event) no later than November 20, 2022 by midnight in your timezone.
JOINING THE MINI SERIES SEW ALONG
Sign up for the sew along through the Mini Series Sew Along listing - LIVE NOW! The small fee to join the Mini Sew Along (purchased through the Mini Series Sew Along listing) lets us know that you want to join in and commit to the event!
Signing Up:
- Adds your name to the list to receive SAL newsletters (you MUST opt in as a newsletter subscriber to get SAL newsletters). When you check out, please be mindful about the email account used when you sign up. This is the email where our SAL newsletters will be sent.
- Includes an invitation to the AG Stitch Club online community (Invitations will go out September 1, 2022).
- Includes a PDF of the new, exclusive Mini Series Sew Along bonus block (as well as the bonus block from 2020), an exclusive download for SAL participants, which will be emailed out after the event begins on September 1, 2022. Note: We have opted to release these patterns in the Second Bonus Sewing week - because Giuseppe and Alison have a Zoom group meeting planned!
- Allows eligibility for pre-event and weekly prizes, a Participation Patch, and Finisher Pin.
- Helps with event administration and materials costs (patches, pins, postage, handling).
Each participant who joins will receive a Mini Series Sew Along participation patch and each person who finishes all twelve blocks and submits a photo by the due date (November 20, 2022) will earn a Finisher Pin. Unlike the first Mini Series Sew Along, participants are not required to use the blocks in a finished project. We know that this was a fun part of the event for many, so we definitely want to encourage you to use your blocks in a project/s and to share your finished creations with the group. We will share ideas for finished projects throughout the event, and there will be an additional giveaway for those who submit a finished project by the November 20th due date along with their finished blocks. There will not be a cutoff date for signing up, but you must be enrolled by October 31, 2022 to receive a Participation Patch.
NEXT STEPS AFTER SIGNING UP
IMPORTANT! After signing up you will automatically be sent the first Mini Series SAL Newsletter. Please note that it can take a few hours for it to arrive.
Upon receiving the first Mini Series SAL Newsletter please:
- Take a look at the materials list (below).
- Purchase your 12 Mini Series patterns from alisonglass.com or one of our Shop Sponsors (see below).
MATERIALS & SUPPLIES
To make the twelve blocks you will need:
- Patterns - Mini Series Season 1, Season 2, and Season 3 block patterns - you will need to purchase a set of patterns to participate in the Sew Along.
- Fabric! - There is a lot of flexibility in fabric choices - choose any fabric you like! The amount and variation you will need will vary greatly depending on your desired outcome/block size. We share some thoughts and general principles below.
Background Fabric: At least one yard of background fabric is needed to complete (12) 4” blocks for those with confident foundation paper piecing skills, more is suggested for those who prefer generous cutting. You may, of course, vary the background fabrics from block to block. This is a general principle of total fabric needed.
Foreground Fabric: Fabric pieces ranging from 1” to 6” or a minimum of (12) or more fat quarters or (24) or more fat eighths. If you want more variation in your blocks, increase the number of fabrics in your fabric pull.
The AG Team will sew blocks in the new Skygazing and Thicket fabric lines, (40) total fabrics, available from your favorite local and online shops in August.
- General Tools - Sewing machine, cutting mat, small rotary cutter, pins/water soluble glue for fussy cut block centers, paper scissors, and transparent tape.
- Specific Tools -
Template Paper: We recommend 20 lb copy paper for Mini Series blocks. Foundation piecing paper is wonderful for larger projects, but we find that a bit heavier paper is helpful if removing stitches is necessary at such a small scale.
Thread: We recommend a strong 80 wt thread such as Decobob by WonderFil.
Pressing: We recommend a seam roller. An iron also works but the heat can eventually begin to discolor the fabrics in the block center after repeated ironing.
Ruler: We recommend the Add-An-Eighth ruler for more ease when trimming 1/8th inch seams. A small regular acrylic ruler also works fine, approximately 1” x 6”.
EVENT GIVEAWAYS
Make and share the assigned blocks (a 4” version or larger) each week on Instagram using the hashtags #MiniSeriesSAL2022, #MiniSeriesSAL, #alisonglass, and #giucygiuce to be eligible for weekly prizes - gift certificates from our lovely Shop Sponsors! Please note that the deadlines for posting will be at midnight of your local time zone.
All participants will receive a Participation Patch and block finishers will receive a Finisher Pin. Participants are not required to use the blocks in a finished project. However, we are planning an additional giveaway for those who submit a finished project by the November 20th due date along with their finished blocks, details to follow.
A note about GIVEAWAYS: We all love winning prizes! Please remember that while prizes are fun, the main reason to participate in a SAL should be to connect with others while enjoying the process of making, and hopefully finishing, a lovely new creation of your own. Please be happy for those who win and keep the proper perspective throughout the event. Thanks ahead of time for making it a great experience for yourself and others.
Bundle Specials from sponsoring shops
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Sponsoring Shops
