My Precious QAL

I'm so very excited to officially announce the My Precious Quilt-a-long!  We all have some fabric in our stash that's our favorite or the stack that you've been most reluctant to use.  Wonderland, Mendocino, FMF, Park Slope, Munki Munki, Full Moon Forest, Neptune, Katie Jump Rope, Good Folks, Bohemian, Garden Party, Recess, Swell, or whatever YOU hold dear, it's time to use it!  The fabric doesn't have to be desirable to anyone but YOU!  This QAL is designed to push you, not to compete with other people for who has the most sought-after stash.

This is going to be the most relaxed QAL ever.  You don't even have to make a quilt!  How's that for relaxed!  All I'm asking is that you take fabric precious to you and make something, anything!  Make quilt, a pillow, a table runner, a mug rug, a mini quilt, a bag, a pin cushion, a pot holder, an apron, etc.  I really don't care what you make, as long as you're using the fabric you never thought you could cut.  It's not doing anyone any good just sitting there!  It's time to use it!

This is the start of my own quilt.  I'll be using my Heather Ross stash to make a rainbow of log cabin blocks.  My goal is to make at least 20 blocks (each finish at 15").

Rules:

1.  You must use fabric that you've been hoarding.  Not your regular old stash.  The special stuff.  You know what I'm talking about!  The stack you occasionally bring out to pet or maybe the precious scraps you've been saving forever.

2.  It does NOT have to be hard to find or out of print (HTF/OOP), but it can't be brand new.  I'll admit, my original intention was for everyone to use these types of fabrics, but realistically I know that not everyone has them in their stash.  My only request is that you please don't pick something just released.

3.  This will be a summer-long QAL.  On the 15th of May, June, July, and August I will host a linky party here on my blog where you will share what you've made with your precious stash that month!  It does NOT have to be a finished quilt.  IF you are making a quilt with your selected fabrics, you can post the blocks you've made.  If you are making a smaller project, the project must be completed.  Got that?  If you commit to making a quilt you can post your completed blocks or completed quilt (if you're super speedy).  If you're making a smaller project, you must have a completed project to link up.  You must post something new each month to be entered into the drawing for that month's prize(s)

4.  There will be at least one prize per month for anyone who links up.  Only one entry per person.  Winner(s) will be chosen by Mr. RNG.  So far prizes have been donated by:

•  Jeni from In Color Order is donating a FQ bundle of vintage sheets
• Kaelin from The Plaid Scottie is donating a bundle of HTF fabric
• Brenda from Pink Castle Fabrics
• Tula Pink herself is giving something!!!!  
• Fat Quarter Shop is providing two $25 gift cards!!!!
• Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy is donating 2 charm packs
• Stefanie at Stationery With Style is donating 3 sheets of personalized sew-in labels
• Katie at Bike, Swim, Quilt is donating some fabric
• Nest Pretty Things (one of my favorite etsy shops) is offering a pair of earrings!
• Christine from Sew and So Much More is offering some of her cute handmade pins, a pincushion, and a charm pack of OOP Heather Ross (yum!)
• Jenny from Cut.Sew.Iron.Repeat is giving away a charm pack of OOP Alexander Henry prints!
• Linda from Handmade by Linda is giving a flat bottom pouch of your choice!
• My friend, Dar, is donating a charm pack of the COMPLETE Katie Jump Rope collection!
• Sarah from Blue Print Textiles is giving a FQ bundle of HTF fabric AND a copy of her upcoming pattern!
• Rachael from 2nd Avenue Studio is giving a bundle of HTF fabric and one of the fabulous templates she helped create with Jill at TabSlot on etsy.

5.  I've created a Flickr group HERE.  I'd really like it if everyone considering linking up would also join the Flickr group.  I promise we don't bite!  This is where you can post in-progress pictures, discuss ideas for how to best use your precious fabric, swap for other precious fabric, and, in general, have someone to hold your hand while you cut, cut, cut!!!

6.  Get ideas from our Pintrest board!


7.  Your project can do double duty!  If there is another QAL, swap, gift, or project you want to do, you can kill two birds with one stone if you use your precious fabric!  

So are you in?  This QAL is all about being brave.  You can do it!  Grab a button (on the right side of my blog) and tell your friends!