QAL by the Sea Quilt Along Is Coming!

We are excited to announce that Partners in Design's newest mystery quilt along will begin August 4, 2020!  It is called QAL by the Sea and features ocean-themed block designs by members of the Partners in Design team.

You may remember us from our previous mystery quilt alongs I Wish you a Merry Quilt Along, Fall into a QAL, and Sew Let's Quilt Along. You can read about these QALs here.  Once again there will be free patterns, giveaways from our sponsors and designers, and support from the designers, our Partners in Design Facebook Group and Instagram #qalbythe sea. And of course, we will all have a chance to be creative and have fun! However, before we get to the details, let's answer some questions.

Just What Is Partners in Design?

We are a group of quilt pattern designers and bloggers. We met through the 2017 New  Quilters Blog group. We enjoy working together and yet each of us has our own take on quilting. Some of us enjoy piecing, others enjoy applique and still others enjoy paper piecing. I have learned a lot from the members of this group and appreciate their support and encouragement. We also like to team up to create mystery quilt alongs. That's where you come in!

Members of the Partners in Design include:

Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
April Adams (That's Me) @ JANDA Bend Quilts
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Bobbi Bridgeman @  Snowy Days Quilting 
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing
Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sandra Healy @ Sandra Healy Designs
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting  

How Does This QAL Work?
​Starting August 4, we will be releasing a new ocean-themed block on Tuesdays at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time. Our hosts will share their versions of the block along with tips for success as well. We will have prizes after each segment, and grand prizes at the very end (more details on that below).

Where Do I Get the Patterns?
Subscribe to my blog on Bloglovin' or subscribe to my Newsletter to stay in the loop! I have also created a page called Quilt Alongs.  As each new block is released, I will add a link to it on that page. You can bookmark it for easy access, or find it by clicking the Quilt Alongs tab at the top of the blog. In addition, links will be available on out group Facebook page.

What's the Schedule?
Stop by the designers’ blogs to see the new block at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time on the release dates. Blocks will be released each Tuesday at 8:00 am Eastern Standard Time. All of the block patterns will be free until December 1, 2020.

Segment 1: August 4 to September 8

• August 4 - Block 1: Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts 
• August 11 - Block 2: Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
• August 18- Block 3: April Adams @ JANDA Bend Quilts
• August 25 - Block 4: Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting
• September 8 - Segment 1 Prize Winners Announced

Segment 2: September 8 to October 13

• September 8- Block 5: Sandra Healy @ Sandra Healy Designs
• September 15 - Block 6: Bobbi Bridgeman @ Snowy Days Quilting 
• September 22 - Block 7: Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
• September 29 - Block 8: Kathleen McCormick @ Kathleen McMusing 
• October 13 - Segment 2 Prize Winners Announced

Segment 3: October 13 to November 10

• October 13 - Block 9: Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
• October 20 - Block 10: Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Designs
• October 27 - Block 11: Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
• November 3 - Block 12: Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats 
• November 10 - Segment 3 Prize Winners Announced

The End: December 1

• Grand Prize Winner Announced
• Last Day for Free Block Patterns

Who Are the Hosts?
These ladies will share their blocks and tips every release week for the whole quilt along. At the end, they will share a quilt layout that uses all of the blocks.
Abbie Danahy @ Sparkle On!
Becca Fenstermaker @ Pretty Piney Quilts
Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter
Karen Thurn @ Tu-Na Quilts, Travels, and Eats
Laura Piland @ Slice of Pi Quilts
Sherry Shish @ Powered by Quilting  
Sandy Maxfield @ SandyStar Design

​In addition, Sandra Healy @ Sandra Healy Designs will host Segment 2.

What about Fabric?
There will be 12-12 1/2" unfinished blocks. So I advice selecting coordinating fat quarters or fabric scraps for the blocks. If you make the blocks into a quilt, you will also need yardage for the layout, backing, and binding. Hosts will suggest possible layouts, or you can use your own. There will be bonus projects along the way as well. You may decide to use the blocks in those projects.

WIll There Be Prizes?
Of Course! We have some wonderful sponsors!

Our Sponsor's:
Island Batik Fabric 
Quilters Dream Batting 
Everything Mary 
Shabby Fabrics 
And more, including original PDF patterns from members of Partners in Designer.

In order to include all eligible participants in our prize giveaways, we are having two separate prizes for each QAL Segment and for the Grand Prize:  one for our United States participants and one for our International participants. Due to the demanding cost to ship to Canadian and other International addresses, these prizes will be patterns and/or an e-magazine that will be sent in electronic format only. International prizes may be from companies other than what is shown in the sponsor logo.

Eligibility for Prize Entry for all Participant Segments: Participants can enter the prize drawing by sharing a single photo with all the completed segment blocks on facebook, instagram, or the hosts blog linky party at the end of each segment. Grand Prize:  Share one photo showing all 12 of your completed blocks, as above.  You must be 18 years old to enter.

Hope to see your version of our blocks!

Happy Quilting!

This post was originally published on the JANDA Bend Quilts blog.