Something happened yesterday that caused me to revisit the Fat Quarter Shop’s Designer Mystery 2025 project. I had made two blocks in the sew-along and ran out of steam and interest when I realized that I did not care for the setting at all. Those sew-alongs are expensive, although they are a good value fabric-wise. I paid for all 12 blocks and the finishing kit, which contains a ton of fabric. It was a considerable investment, at well over $300.
In the recommended setting, each block is surrounded by an aqua border and other low-volume prints. It just wasn’t my cup of tea, so I thought I would be unlikely to finish it. The sew-along has ended, and the Facebook group is now showing photos of the quilts people have finished. And there was one woman named Pam who submitted her version of the blocks in her own setting, and I was blown away. I can’t show her photo, but click on the link and see what she did with her blocks!
She chose a simple Irish Chain setting and I think it shows off the blocks so much better than the recommended setting! I know sew-alongs often try to do something unique that sets them apart, but sometimes simpler is better. These blocks are super complicated, and I think they stand out ever so much better in Pam’s setting.
On another note, you may wonder why there are two blocks in my photo at the top of the post. I made one block a year or more ago and didn’t press the seams open, so the block ended up kind of puckery-looking. The great thing about Fat Quarter Shop sew-alongs is that there is always TONS of extra fabric. So I used the leftovers to make another block with pressed-open seams, which I think came out so much better.
Sometimes you just need a do-over.
One Response
The link to the photo did not work for me.
I love secondary block settings in general. I particularly like the symmetry of chaining setting blocks.
And you have given me a good idea. I have an alphabet quilt I am finishing. I have to work the paper-pieced letters/alphabet blocks into the quilt, in order, with the items representing each letter floating around them. A chaining setting would likely work.