Some of the best quilts I have ever made have been the product of sew-alongs and BOMs. I have had great luck with many Fat Quarter Shop BOMs, Moda Fabrics sew-alongs, and other projects hosted by favorite fabric designers. These organized quilt-alongs are inspiring, challenge your abilities, and put you in touch with other quilters working on the same project.
Perhaps you are unsure where to find information on appealing sew-alongs and BOMs. My blog is a good starting point, but you will mainly hear about the sew-alongs that interest me. I will tell you some places to check out where you may find sew-along projects that appeal to your particular taste. Did I mention, almost all of these sew-alongs are completely free? In no particular order, here are some sites you can check out:
Fat Quarter Shop is a huge inspiration. They have a number of their own sew-alongs (such as the Designer Mystery BOM, and Sewcialites), and Kimberly Jolly, owner of FQS, posts regular videos on her YouTube channel, Between the Seams, highlighting sew-alongs and BOMs she is working on, mainly with Moda and Riley Blake designers. This is a great source of information on what is going on in the quilting world. FQS’s blog, Jolly Jabber, is great as well. You will get a million ideas there alone.
Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life does a yearly free sew-along.
Jessica Dayon has a YouTube channel where she does regular free sew-alongs.
Pat Sloan is a fabulous resource and always has several cool projects going on. Check Pat out on YouTube as well. She always has tons going on, is very informative, and seems super nice also.
Erica Arndt has a YouTube channel where she hosts sew alongs and tutorials. I found her adorable BOM with the bow in the border on her site last year.
Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet usually has several sew alongs each year. They focus heavily on her fabric collections and supplies, but the results are pretty amazing. I have done a few sew-alongs she has hosted and they have been great, with lots of written and video tutorials.
Cori Yoder often hosts a fun sew along and you can learn more on her blog “Coriander Quilts” or YouTube channel.
Riley Blake Fabric Co does an annual Block Challenge with free blocks offered each month by their designers. I’ve done a quilt from their patterns and they were very well written.
Shabby Fabrics, another retailer I enjoy buying from often has kits that lend themselves to a BOM. I am planning to pick up a kit called Cactus in the Cabin that is coming out in March that I am eager to start.
Last but not least, Moda Fabrics has annual sew-alongs such as Moda Block Heads and Moda Bake Shop, that have had multitudes of quilters participating.
Whew, now that you have an idea of where you can find some upcoming BOMs and sew-alongs, there may be a couple that you know you would enjoy participating in.
Are there any BOMs or sew-alongs you have your eye on this year?
38 Responses
I’m not doing block of the month quilts – I know they are great for building skills, but I have too many ideas floating in my head that I want to persue! I do love the little Ohio stars in the log cabin blocks. The Baptist fan quilting on the first quilt really sets it off well too. All very nicely done Nicole.
We will only stick to quilting if it brings us joy. We need to figure out for ourselves just what sort of projects provide us with the most satisfaction and enjoyment. I remember when I first became really serious about quilting, I had so many ideas floating around in my head. I would literally spend hours poring over quilt magazines and books, imagining my next projects. I had as much fun dreaming as I did with the actual sewing!
I have learned a great deal the past couple days – UFOS vs. WIPS. Now today about BOMs etc. The 2 color red quilt is stunning – lots of blocks yet beautiful!! I would love to know more about it – designer, name of pattern & where it can be found.
The quilts you do are always beautiful!! I enjoy your post.
The red and white quilt was a Lori Holt sew along. If you go to her website Bee in My Bonnet and search for “red and white sampler” you will find all the block patterns and instructions. Here’s a link:
https://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/search?q=red+and+white+sampler
Thank you so much Nicole!! You always respond, you are greatly appreciated 😊!
Great information, Nicole. Such pretty quilts, too.
I e done quite a few FQS BOMs and plan to finish the 2012 and 13 designer mysteries this year.
Is the first quilt a Moda Blockheads? It is stunning.
Thanks
How will you set the 2012 DM quilt? Did you buy the finishing kit? Back then I always passed on buying the finishing kits because they added so much to the cost of the project. Now I regret it. I will probably have to do something super simple because I don’t have matching fabric to do more.
Thanks for the impressive list, Nicole. I’d like to add Bonnie Hunter to the list – quiltville.blogspot.com – she has a mystery sew-along every year, using scraps, which I always find interesting and challenging. Her most recent one is going on right now!
Thanks so much for reminding us of Bonnie Hunter, Rebecca! In addition to Bonnie, Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co often has some sort of sew alongs going on during the year. Edita Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts too. Gosh, during Covid, Edita had a fun mystery quilt project that kept me sane.
Jessica Dayon is offering her annual Scrappy Sampler Block of the Week beginning Jan 15 and concluding in March. She will post to her YouTube channel and offers 3 quilt size options. Once the BOW is finished, it will convert to a paid pattern in her shop. I have done several of these and really enjoy them!
I enjoy watching Jessica’s YouTube channel, even if I am not participating in her sew alongs! She is fun to watch and I am always amazed at how fast she can sew, and she rarely pins. Her projects are always really nice.
The quilt from the 2022 Fat Quarter Shop is just gorgeous! I looked to see if a pattern was available. Yes it is! $60. Yikes.
The DM 22 quilt was a really great combination of block patterns and fabrics. I enjoyed making it. It is also really a big quilt and fits so well on my queen-sized bed. The setting is different and looks more challenging than it was. You could make this in just about any color combination and it would be lovely.
That’s a very comprehensive list of sew-alongs, including the ones added in comments. There’s definitely something for anyone who may be interested in participating! Have a great weekend!
With so many brick-and-mortar quilt shops having closed, it is terrific to still have these online options to engage with quilters, learn new techniques, and get inspiration for projects.
so many gorgeous quilts….some I had forgotten about! I really really love that 2nd blue one so much. I vaguely remember you working on it. you get a standing ovation from me.
I really enjoyed making those blue quilts. We inherited the paint on the walls from the previous owner of the house and she favored yellow and green and taupe a lot. Most of my decor isn’t blue. Maybe I need to change that. I kind of avoided blue for a few years because my mom ONLY decorated in blue and white. Even her garden was only white flowers. I didn’t want to be a copycat, but perhaps she was on to something.
I mentioned the other day, I am doing an in person BOM this year at my local quilt shop. Once a month meeting. Sewing days available too.
I went to the first one yesterday. They did a good job of explaining the first two blocks. In person was fun. I knew two people.
Of course, I am doing my own fabric, but the kit is a nice option for many.
And of course, I am modifying the quilt slightly. I am doing the same blocks, but I am spacing them out just a bit to provide visual breathing room.
And my final border will be my plain white background fabric so my quilt has a timeless look. I am (usually) not a fan of print/colored borders on sampler quilts.
I have really been using my background fabric (typically white or cream) as the outer border of my sampler quilts. I think the blocks really stand out when you do that.
Hi Nicole, thanks for your info. I am trying to find my love of quilting again after some time away from it.
Oh, I hope you do rediscover your quilting joy Doris. Maybe if you start with a smaller project such as a table runner or table topper you will not feel overwhelmed.
Laundry Basket Quils is doing a year long, free mystery BOM called 1776. I may see how the first couple of months go, before I jump in. I started another mystery quilt of hers this summer, but didn’t like it the looks of it towads the end, so I am going in a different direction. But, usually her quilts are so beautiful. Complicated, but lovey.
Edita’s designs are fairly unique I think. Her mystery quilt during Covid was a wonderful distraction for me. I lived up in my sewing room and really had fun with her blocks. I ended up gifting the quilt to my son in law.
BOMs, Sew-alongs, mystery quilts and all the other options that are available for quilters are all so wonderful. I never stick with them, I don’t like waiting for directions monthly. That’s when I tend to set things aside and out of mind. I like being able to work on projects until completed in a timely manner. I am really trying to use my stash in 2026. I want to finish a quilt top, give it to my quilter and then work on the next. I love getting my finished quilts back and haveing the next ready. I’m even getting my bindings finished right away. Any way, I’m just glad that the quilt world has so many options to inspire us all. You’ve inspired me since I first found your blog! Thanks for sharing your work and thoughts.
In an ideal world, what you describe is exactly what I would do. Start a project, work on it with focus until it is finished, then send it out to be quilted. Bind it as soon as I get it back from the quilter. Sadly, I get so distracted by new projects and the fear of missing out on something that I am constantly starting something new before I finish my current project. I am really trying to get a grip on all my WIPs before starting something new for 2026. We will see how that goes!
Thank you for the list. The first quilt is lovely. I do enjoy BOM – not sure which one I will try. Looking forward to seeing which one you are doing.
Oh, I have my eyes on a couple of them!
I think you did a great job hitting all the BOM and free QAls out there! Honestly, there are so many nice free blocks and patterns I wonder why I buy any 🤣
I have binders full of those free patterns. I need to store them on my computer and free up the space on my bookshelves.
Me too! I never used to print them out but once I started it’s hard to stop. My shelves are filling up so think I need to really edit what I print.
Great compilation! One that I’ll be doing this year is a Primitive Gatherings QAL that will be coming out soon that uses her American Gatherings 3 line. I’ll be sewing with AG2 fabrics that I’ve collected.
Is that the sew-along that has those teeny tiny blocks? I think I saw a promo for it and was impressed.
Thank you, Nicolle, for all the info! I am curious about the first quilt shown….so appealing. Any info?
That was Moda Blockheads 5 I think. It was a Blockheads sew along for sure. Patterns are still out there in the Moda archives and the setting was by My Sew Quilty Life.
I’m doing a fast, easy monthly QAL with Patterns by Jen. She has large, usually 2 color blocks that whip up fast. I make them for donation quilts. I’ve also got a Barbara Brackman “QAL” with an “America 250 years” theme. She has shown many original quilts made just after the Revolutionary War and we are encouraged to choose and make one of them. I refuse to do anymore (ha! ha!) this year as I have many to finish up.
Jen, you’ve told me about two sew alongs I did not know about! Thanks for the information. There is something out there that will appeal to everyone.
I wish I had the willpower to not start new with a stack of older projects laying about but I do. I consider sewing my winter entertainment so it’s the sewing time not the completing that I count. When I go to the sewing room it’s a toss up on what I work on. I follow the muse!
I have been putting some effort on the UFO pile this last year and have been making some headway in crossing some off as finished. However, it hasn’t slowed down the joy of trying this technique,this block, etc..
Heading into a nasty cold weekend so I am staying I the sewing room as much as possible!
First of all, I am sorry to hear about the nasty cold. It seems like winter just can’t pass by without at least one. Hope you feel better real soon!
I absolutely identify with what you describe, “following the muse”. That is what makes quilting so much fun: the new challenges, the new fabric collections, the fun sew-alongs…there are so many things to tempt us. I can’t seem to resist buying the latest fabric collections, so focusing on smaller projects like table runners, toppers, and pillows gives me a chance to try the latest lines, but not end up with a closet full of large quilts. Ooops, right, too late. But at least I won’t be making as many full-sized quilts going forward! Enjoy your sewing and do what gives you joy!
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