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Let’s Have a Quiltathon!

Long time blog readers will remember when we had monthly Quiltathons. A quiltathon is simply a weekend (or whatever days) we set aside each month and we quilt til we cannot quilt any more! This is not a quilt along where I share a pattern with you – this would be when you work on anything you want to work on . . just kind of a time when we’re all quilting at the same time and discussing our efforts. Obviously, not everyone will be available for every quiltathon but I will alternate scheduling weekends/weekdays so hopefully everyone can find time to join us.

Here’s how it works. The dates are announced and prior to the Quiltathon, we try to get laundry done, shopping done, meals cooked ahead . . whatever we can do to free up our time so we can hibernate in our studio/sewing room.

Since I can pretty much put off everything except eating/providing meals for Vince, I concentrate on getting meals done ahead of time. I may season up a chicken so all I have to do is stick it in the oven with potatoes to bake and then go back to sewing. I may make a big pot of gumbo or soup ahead of time. That’s about the only thing I really concern myself with is getting food done. We can go several days without doing laundry or I can start a load in the morning and stick it in the dryer when I’m back in the house for lunch. The trick for you is to figure out what works for you. At the end of each Quiltathon day there will be a link box to share what you’ve accomplished. You do not have to have a blog but it would be nice if you want to share what you’ve done. Again, no one has to report in. I don’t even have to know you’re participating but it’s more fun if there’s some chatter going on.

These are the dates I’ve set aside for next year and I’ll add them to the sidebar for easy reference.

2017 Quiltathon Dates:

  • January 5 – 8 (Thursday – Sunday)
  • February 8 – 11 (Wednesday – Saturday)
  • March 24 – 27 (Friday – Monday)
  • April 3 – 6 (Monday – Thursday)
  • May 18 – 21 (Thursday – Sunday)
  • June 18 – 21 (Sunday – Wednesday)
  • July 21 – 24 (Friday – Monday)
  • August 20 – 23 (Sunday – Wednesday)
  • September 14 – 17 (Thursday – Sunday)
  • October 4 – 7 (Wednesday – Saturday)
  • November 10 – 13 (Friday – Monday)
  • December 6 – 9 (Wednesday – Saturday)

As far as a Quilt Along, there may be a time when I share a pattern . . maybe the cabin pattern, but right now I need to ease back into quilting and I’m not ready to make the commitment to writing a pattern and sharing that. Maybe later . . I think it was the pressure of deadlines that caused me to walk away from quilting and I don’t want to jump in and wish I hadn’t.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I don’t want you to jump back in and regret it either but I do look forward to you quilting again! As soon as I catch up on my quilting I hope to knit again. Quilts and using a lot of the fabric in the house has to be first. I have stash beyond two life expectancies! I need a graduation quilt this spring and afraid I may need a wedding one or two soon. I’m joining you in the “get it done” and the ‘quiltathons’ also!

  2. oh Judy, you are too too funny ! Only a true quilter would put a list up setting aside something like 50 full days, to do nothing but quilt, and then say “I want to ease back into quilting”…oh heavens !!!!

    • I was talking more about committing to doing things that others would depend on me to get done. Writing a quilt pattern, and checking and double checking, and answering questions that arise . . that’s a whole lot more stress than sitting down and quilting/sewing 48 days per year.

  3. just having a time set aside may help me get my mojo back, too. I think part of my problem lately has been I have been sewing things other than quilts and just don’t care for that type of sewing. stuffed toys with lots of fiddly little parts that don’t want to go together correctly. I found five dolly quilt tops the other day and started on putting them together today and it was much more pleasant.

  4. The quiltathon is a great idea. I have a group which does UFO weekends each month, and I proposed to them that we just take your same timeline for 2017. We’ll see what they say. I don’t sew on Sundays, but I can still do the other days most of the time. Thanks. As far as giving patterns, I don’t think you should put that pressure on yourself. I loved all those hour-a-day things you did, but that’s a lot of work for YOU. Then people get rude if things are a little late or you decide not to do one. I think just having it a maybe now-and-then on your own schedule and if you feel like it is the way to go. =)

  6. Sounds like fun, Judy. And a goal to shoot for. I know on the first one Thurs. & Fri. will be good. Maybe part of Sat., though I’ll have to cook some food for Sun. then because Sun. is the hubby’s family Christmas get together. Still two days and part of another is better than none.

  7. I’ve already put the dates on the calendar. May not spend the whole day, but even a couple hours a day is more than what I’m doing now. Thanks for doing this!

  8. I’m in, Dates marked on calendar, heading to Pintrest for menu ideas, and best of all picking projects and fabric. I should be ready in time. Oh, need to refresh my blog. Haven’t written on it in almost a year. Thanks for the inspiration.

  9. I’m so glad to see this! I have put the dates in my calendar and I’m excited. My need to be in the sewing room and quilting is coming back, and I am so relieved. I was scared for a while there. I hope to join you as much as possible although 2017 is looking to be a travel heavy year as much as 2016 has been Over 150 days away wears on you, but my knitting skills have improved greatly!?

  10. Oh, this is going to be fun! I remember when you used to do this! I started reading your blog years ago when I found out you were a longarm quilter. I have run into you at Quilter’s Attic in Nashville (which is now closed) and Paducah. Enjoy reading your blog posts!

  11. Can’t wait, my New Year’s resolution is to make a dent in my UFO’s! What a fun way to accomplish my goal.

  14. whoopie! i’m in… have missed “quilting judy” and don’t want you to burn out having to do anything more than just enjoying the cutting, sewing, quilting process.

  15. I love the idea of a quiltathon. I need to get back to more quilting and I have a list of UFOs that need attention. Mine are more finish piecing and then quilt. I’ve been in our new house for going on a year and a half and I’ve yet to take my longarm out of the box and put it back on the table. The table I put together right away, it’s the machine I just can’t seem to get moving on. Hoping to get it up and running sometime over Christmas. There, I said it, so I guess I better do it. The blog….don’t know about that. It’s been over 2 years since I’ve posted anything there.

  16. So often I didn’t join in, and regretted it. I need a new calendar for 2017, but this gives me the push to get one! Maybe if I do see them ahead of time, I will actually plan ahead! Add me to the list of “happy you’re (even thinking of) quilting again!” (just because I don’t knit)

    I am wondering about your availability during the growing season, though! Sometimes it seems like things GROW when you turn your back!!

  17. Sounds great and I look forward to joining in when I can! We can also post and encourage each other on Instagram if we all use the same hashtag – #quiltathon or #quiltathonweekend would work 🙂

  18. I think this sounds like a great idea that I want to be a part of. No stress but a simply you can along with others with the same goals. Thanks Judy for getting us organized.

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