top of page
    • Nov 30, 2022

#CosmicXmasQAL Week 3: Create Blocks!




It's already Week 3 of the #cosmicxmasQAL! We're more than halfway done! Hasn't this been just so easy? Seriously, it's SEW easy! I'm referring to how easy time has passed...I know some of you are a bit behind (me too). Casey, we haven't even sewn yet! Yup, but we're still having fun right?


Let's start mission 3 of our journey. This one's pretty repetitive. Once you get the first done, you'll be chugging through 20 by hour 4! (kidding, maybe not). For many of you, this will be the ideal chance to unwind, enjoy an excellent audiobook, and let your sewing machine and iron handle the labor-intensive tasks. Mission 3 is straightforward, although if you are one of my newcomers (welcome!) it may not seem that way. I have some excellent advice for you to utilize right away and have on hand for future quilts.

Our Sewing Schedule


The QAL is beginner and fat quarter friendly. It'll be a speedy 5 weeks (maybe even shorter for some). It officially starts November 12th 2022, but some of us take forever to pick fabrics (maybe only me), so let's start thinking about fabric selection...


  • Week 1, Pick Fabric (November 12th) - Prize Sponsors: Pink Peony Creations + Sewcial Distance

  • Week 2, Cut Fabric (November 19th) - Prize Sponsors: Domesticity + Corinne Sovey

  • Week 3, Create Blocks (November 26th) - Prize Sponsors: TannaMade + Brimfield Awakening

  • Week 4, Assemble Quilt (December 3rd) - Prize Sponsors: Wander Stitch Company + CecivasCreations

  • Week 5, Finishing (Quilting + Binding) (December 10th) - Prize Sponsors: Miss B's Quilting Studio

This sewing schedule would allow one to have enough time to comfortably complete a throw sized quilt, though you are free to make any size you like. You must submit a finished throw or bigger quilt top to be eligible for the finishing quilting prizes (Wander Stitch Company, Cecivas Creations, + Miss B's Quilting Studio).


New to Piecing?

Now that we're actually touching our machines...these blog posts can help you feel a bit more comfortable!

Supplies (Keys to Perfect Blocks - It's Possible)!

#CosmicXmasQAL Week 3: Create Blocks

One of the best things about this pattern is that there are now HSTs or flying geese involved! Can you believe it? It's all technique baby!

  • Tip 1: Keep your Blocks organized.

Depending on the fabric you chose, you want to make sure that you don't accidentally repeat the same fabric in one block (ask me how I know). Since this block is repetitive, you can mix and match your fabric with ease, but keep it organized by laying out which four prints you will be using in each block.

  • Tip 2: Marking your background squares is actually optional!

The pattern asks you to mark the background squares: "Mark a diagonal line

on the wrong side of the fabric as shown in Fig. 1". I'm a big cheater! I used Cluck Cluck Sew's Diagonal Seam Tape. You can use Diagonal Seam Tape anywhere in a pattern that calls for a diagonal seam, or anywhere it asks you to “draw a pencil line or diagonal line from corner to corner on the square”. Anywhere you would draw a pencil line, you can use diagonal seam tape to save so much time!

Sourced from Cluck Cluck Sew

  • Tip 3: You can recycle the trimmings!

I'm all about using every little inch of fabric I use! In Step 5 of the Cosmic Crush pattern, where you trim your RST, you can actually keep those two pieces (background and print) that you trimmed and sew them together to make another pieced square! Piece your trimmings to make something new: mug rug, zippered pencil pouch, maybe even a pillow (depending on the size quilt you make!)


My doodle is excellent, no?

Week 3 Sponsors and Prizes

Another pair of awesome people who I absolutely admire w/ all my quilty heart!


TannaMade

-> Our very own quilty teacher! She is one of the most talented makers we know. She has been teaching all things fiber for many years and one of our dearest friends! Also our exclusive wood clapper dealer, teehee.

  • Instagram: @tannamade

Brimfield Awakening

-> These ladies are my EPP convert. I have never been interested in English Paper Piecing my entire life till I had my hands on one of their patterns. Both are beautiful souls inside and out, they will get you EPP'ing in no time! From Brimfield: "We are Kim + Nisha. There’s a certain smell that comes with time, walking the acreage of Brimfield. There’s nothing better than finding a tent with that smell – When it hits our noses, we know we’re about to hit quilty gold."


How to Win

  • Post a pic to Instagram or Facebook. The photo prompt for Instagram this week is to post a picture of your sew along progress. Use #cosmicxmasQAL in the caption.

  • You must have a public Instagram/Facebook profile to participate.

  • Each photo posted is an entry and you can enter as many times as you want in a single week. Once the week is over, those posts do not count in the next week's giveaway. Every week we start fresh.

  • Your photo must be posted between Wednesday, November 30th and Wednesday, December 7th. The winner will be picked randomly from all qualifying posts and will be contacted privately on the 23rd. Good luck!



bottom of page