Cut It Up QAL – Announcing

Let me introduce you to the Cut It Up Quilt Along! First of all, this is a no pressure QAL, participate for as long as you want. You won’t hurt my feelings—it’s your quilt! This is somewhat of a mystery quilt along, even for me. I don’t know the final shape or look of this quilt. That’s okay! I call it “designing on the fly,” and it’s how I construct nearly all of my quilts. As this is the Cut It Up QAL, the point is to find some fabric you’ve been hoarding and cut it up. 

What are you saving that fabric for anyway? Is there a perfect quilt just around the corner waiting to appear? I’ll tell you now, that’s not how designing works. No quilter has ever started with the thought: this is the perfect quilt. So why are you saving the fabric for something that doesn’t exist? Secondly, you bought the fabric because you love it. Wouldn’t you love it more in a quilt you can use, than it sitting in a cupboard somewhere collecting dust and potential sun damage? 

If I know us, we are probably hoarding more than a few favourite fabrics. If the anxiety is too much (again this should be a no-stress QAL) pick some fabric with a little less attachment. Find what works for you. But let’s all make a commitment to at least pull from the top shelf, because then you can replace it with more! It’s not like we’re never gonna buy fabric again. Right!? Right. 

This QAL will start in early January–and I’ll post the first tutorial this week. I’ve got to wait for the NYE champagne haze to clear for us all. The QAL can end whenever you want. I’m gonna have this quilt finished sometime in 2022 — that’s my goal. It doesn’t have to be yours. I’m starting my journey with a fat quarter bundle of Giucy Giuce’s Entwine wovens collection. I’ve added a smattering of other wovens I’ve had in my stash, because, why not!  Just to up the ante a bit, I’ve decided to pull from my Tula Pink stash. It’s comprised of Slow & Steady, Zuma, De La Luna, Pom Poms & Stripes, Spirit Animal, Saltwater, and I’m sure other random bits and bobs from my years of collecting. I’m right in this with all of you!

I’ll be documenting my quilt journey through my blog and social media platforms: Instagram and Facebook. Subscribe to my blog to make sure you get all the latest posts (there’s a data entry field with a “subscribe” button). I have a Facebook group, Molli Sparkles & The Glitterati that you should join to see how we can all participate together. It’s a “no dickheads allowed” type of group. We value honesty, creativity, inclusivity, and positivity. It will be a meeting ground for all of us to share works, tutorial ideas, anxiety about cutting our favourite fabrics, and celebrating each others’ successes!

So let’s get into it, and Cut It Up!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When does it start?
A: The first official tutorials will be posted on Tuesday, 04 January AEST (which will be 03 January most everywhere else). I know this cuts short a bit of your January time, but honey, it’s been a holiday around here. I’ve been nursing a New Year’s fireworks and champagne celebration hangover for a few days, so just take the extra time to get your sewing machines fired up! Again, a no pressure QAL!

Q: How much does it cost?
A: It’s absolutely free, but if you want to send champagne, I won’t say no!

Q: How do I join?
A: Since you keep blocks for yourself, there really is nothing to “join” in the typical sense. The tutorials will be posted on my blog at the beginning of each month at a minimum. There may be some additional blocks I post along the way as well. So as long as you have access to the Internet, you are good to go! You are more than welcome to join the Molli Sparkles & The Glitterati (tutorials also posted there), or subscribe to my blog via email. If you want to shout your love of the Cut It Up QAL on Instagram, use the button made just for you at the end of this post!

Q: Where do I share what I make?
A: If desired, QAL members can post the blocks they’ve made on Instagram using #cutitupqal and/or #cutitupqalwithmollisparkles. You can also share as much as you want in the Molli Sparkles & The Glitterati Facebook group. Links to the monthly blocks, along with progress shots, tips, and finishes will be posted right here at MolliSparkles.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

Q: How much fabric do I need?
A: There’s no definitive answer for this question. Because I’m designing on the fly, I don’t know the final design of this quilt. I also don’t know if you’ll be making the same design decisions as I will. We may have entirely different quilts, even different sizes, and thus entirely different fabric requirements. If the not-knowing is giving you anxiety, grab a fat quarter bundle to get you started. This usually consists of 40 fat quarters, or 10 yards of total fabric (you could also curate your own fat quarter bundle from your stash!) That said, this is absolutely not a requirement!

Q: What type of blocks will you be making?
A: There will be no limits about style, or block sizes that I pick for my quilt. There are some blocks I’ve made before that I want to remake, and there are others that will be brand new to me. Feel free to make exactly what I make using the exact same tutorial. Or, go off on your own journey with different blocks, or the same blocks and different ways of making them. Hell, even make your own quilt that looks nothing like mine! Just make sure you share it with the rest of us in the QAL. If you’ve got an awesome block idea or tutorial, let us all know because we may want to make it too! 

Q: Will the blocks you make be difficult?
A: Most of my blocks will be kept to a beginner to intermediate level so that I don’t become overwhelmed and fall into my fabric scraps in a heap! The blocks tutorials will all be found for free online. Additionally, the links to block choices will be archived on my blog so you can always go back to make more of them, or join in at any stage! (If creators remove their blogs, or tutorials, I won’t be able to assist with that.)

Q: How do I make sure all of my blocks look like they belong together?!
A: Consider using only one fabric line, one designer but multiple fabric lines, rainbow, 2-colour quilt, neutrals, random, everything but the kitchen sink, solids, low volumes. Just make sure you’re using top shelf fabrics.

Q: How do I assemble my quilt? What’s the final layout?
A: I don’t exactly know yet! Since there’s no requirement about the size of blocks, or the piecing style, participants will be encouraged to choose off-the-grid assembly structures when piecing their quilt tops. The hope is to stretch you outside of your comfort zone, while also creating some very contemporary quilts! That being said, along the way, I’ll be thinking about round robin style and row style quilt layouts. These may be right for you, too!

Q: Do I have to make all of the blocks?
A: Of course not! You can make one block for the entire year, or you can make eighty-seven of them. It’s your fabric, your time, your call.

Q: What if my blocks are not good enough?
A: There are no judgements here! Since you keep everything for yourself, you only have to please yourself.

Q: What fabric should I use?
A: That’s totally up to you as long as it is top shelf.

Q: What fabric are you using?
A: I’m drawing from my entire Tula Pink collection. I’m going to start with the green, teal, blue-violet, and violet section of the colour wheel, but I may throw in the reds and red-oranges as well! Why not the whole rainbow?!

Q: Can my friends join in the fun?
A: You don’t keep fabulous a secret! Of course they can join! This party is open for everyone.