Let's make the Exploding Heart quilt TOGETHER!
That's right, starting on January 7th , sew along with me and make your own Exploding Heart quilt!
This will be the very first time I've hosted a quilt along, but I'm SO excited! In addition to weekly tips and hints, I'm planning video tutorials too!
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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!
The QAL will be hosted through a weekly email delivered straight to your inbox. The weekly info will also be right here on the blog, and I'll also post it on Facebook and Instagram. Be sure to follow the hashtags #explodingheartQAL and #explodingheartquilt to see and cheer others on in the quilt along too!
And there will be PRIZES too!! I've teamed up with some amazing sponsors like Oliso and Dandelion Fabric & Co.! There will be weekly prizes for those sewing along!
ALL THE DETAILS:
Dates: January 7th - February 11th (six weeks)
How to join the QAL: Sign up for the weekly email to receive all the tutorials, inspiration, and tips right in your inbox each Thursday! You can follow along on Facebook and Instagram too.
**The QAL has now ended, but sign up to be notified when there's another QAL!
QUILT INFO & SUPPLIES:
Purchase the Exploding Heart quilt pattern. If you don't already have one, you can purchase the Exploding Heart paper pattern or the Exploding Heart PDF digital pattern in my Etsy shop. Your favorite quilt shop might have them in stock too!
Be sure to get your fabric and supplies before the QAL begins on January 7th! I've shared several color options in this post, so maybe one of those will inspire your fabric choices! The pattern recommends 15 or more fat quarters, so this is a great time to use a fat quarter bundle!
I love using my AccuQuilt cutter and quarter-square triangle die for this quilt! If you don't have that, you can get the cutter and die you need in this bundle.
If you'll be sewing along without an AccuQuilt, then I recommend using a sewing machine laser so you don't have to draw lines to make the quarter-square triangles.
A 4 1/2" HST Bloc-Loc ruler will really speed up the block trimming too!
Of course you can sew along without any of these optional tools too! I'll be sharing tips for that along the way!
QAL SCHEDULE:
Pick your fabric and share the I'M IN button on social media! Use the #explodingheartQAL and #explodingheartquilt on Instagram so we can all see what fabrics you've picked!
Week 2 - January 14th - Sewing the blocks (with tips for chain piecing, using a laser, and pressing)
Week 4 - January 28th - Sewing the rows (with tips on layout, staying organized, and pressing seams)
INSPIRATION:
I've mocked up several versions of the Exploding Heart quilt to get your creative juices flowing!
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| Almost Blue by Libs Elliott with solid white background |
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| True Colors by Tula Pink with purple solid background |
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| Bright solid fabrics with a black background |
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| Trellis collection from Clothworks |
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| Solid blue fabrics with light blue background |
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| Solid fabrics in oranges, pinks, and purples with a navy background |
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| Solid fabric in pinks, purples, and yellows with a white background |
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| Just My Type fabric from Island Batik with a black background |
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| Forest Life collection from Dandelion Fabric & Co. with solid dark teal green background |
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| Retro Life collection from Dandelion Fabric & Co. with solid gray background |
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| Forget Me Not collection from Dandelion Fabric & Co. with solid navy background |
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| A mix of reds and pinks from all collections at Dandelion Fabric & Co. with a solid white background |
If you're looking for a kit, try these shops!
Keystone Modern Creative has kits for the following two. One is Stitched by Alison Glass and the other is Declassified by Giucy Giuce.
The Quilt Place also has some kits with pink and teal fabrics! Find that kit HERE.
The Fabric Bash has kits available too! Find it HERE.
I will be making an Exploding Heart quilt with Kate Spain batiks and another with Riley Blake Designs solid fabrics. I've made the quilt three times so far, and I haven't seen one yet that I didn't like!
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| Pink, purple, and teal Island Batik scraps with solid white background |
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| Morrison Park collection by Pat Sloan with sky blue background |
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| Love & Kisses collection from Island Batik with solid white background |
Sign up to get the emails in the form above, pick your fabric, and tell your friends to join the fun! Let's quilt along!
I purchased this pattern for my self and a friend. We have both lost a son and feel like our heart has exploded and is missing pieces.
ReplyDeleteIm going to do this from Melbourne, Australia!
ReplyDeleteI already have the pattern. Yay! I’ve had surgery on my right hand in 4 places, so will I have access to the tutorials and videos after it ends in February? My physical therapy starts January 5th.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Sign up now, then you'll have all the emails! The blog posts will stay here on my blog too!
DeleteJust wondering if it can be made with charm packs?
ReplyDeleteNot this one. Fat quarters are the only recommended precut.
DeleteHaving trouble signing up on your form. Will the quilt along be on the blog too?
ReplyDeleteYes! I'll post everything here on my blog too! You can email me at Laura@sliceofpiquilts.com, and I can check to see if you're signed up to get the emails!
DeleteThis will be first quilt along ever. Very excited. I inherited 15 batik FQ's and those will be my basis. Still need to pick the backing. Looking forwarded to this!
ReplyDeleteWill you be putting all this in PDF files?? Please.
ReplyDeleteThe weekly posts will just be here on the blog, and I'll send an email with the info too. It will just be tips, hints, and a video, so a PDF isn't the best format for this. You can save the emails and always come back to the blog posts and videos when you need them though!
DeleteYou can definitely make the quilt bigger if you want! That AccuQuilt die would make the quilt 108" x 108" - a king!
ReplyDeleteLove this pattern and I signed up to go along with everyone. Not sure I will be able to keep up as we are in the middle of a remodel right now. But look forward to checking in and get the tutorials along the way.
ReplyDeleteI just read about this and it's a beautiful pattern! I'd love to be a part of this, but may need to childcare my great nieces while their mother has surgery. Thanks in advance for putting this in a form that can be accessed at any time!
ReplyDeleteLovely pattern! Where did you get your laser light? Is there a particular model/manufacturer?
ReplyDeleteJust got the pattern, material, and am excited to start!! This is my first quilt along and am fairly new at quilting.
ReplyDeleteWould this work with 15 FQ in a rainbow collection (ROYGBIV)? Or would that be too jumbled?
ReplyDeleteA rainbow version would be beautiful!! Just make sure your background is a high enough contrast for all the fabrics so they all stand out. I'd say white or black would be great, but a light blue or dark gray might work too!
DeleteThanks!I have a dark grey.
DeleteI have and use the 8" Qube too! The pattern is written to use the 4" finished quarter square triangle die. If you cut with the AccuQuilt, you won't need the laser to sew or a ruler to square up the blocks! It saves you all those steps!
ReplyDeleteJust got my pattern. Looking forward to making this quilt.
ReplyDeleteWhich Morrison park fabric did you use for the blue background in the exploding heart
ReplyDeleteThat one used Superior Solids in "Sky." It is a solid fabric from Benartex and not part of the Morrison Park collection. You can read more about that quilt on this post if you'd like: http://www.sliceofpiquilts.com/2020/09/morrison-park-exploding-heart.html.
Deletecould this be made using a layer cake?
ReplyDeleteNo, it would not be an efficient use of fabric. Fat quarters are best for this one.
DeleteI have several cubes as new to Accuquilt and wondered if the die would be in any I have? I have a 6" 10" and 12" cubes. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteGreat question! Mine came in my 8" Qube. It is called the 4" finished quarter square triangle die, #55711. You could use a different sized quarter square triangle die, it would just require a different amount of fabric and would finish either larger or smaller than the pattern.
DeleteSo I probably have the pattern but to be ready to join in I'm going to purchase it so I'm ready. I see this pattern and I think about all I've been through (over 75 surgeries and surgical procedures) and I know that my heart explodes because God had a plan for me. I'm excited to be a part of this quilt along!!
ReplyDeleteMarcia Escarcega