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Quilt-Along Kick-Off!

Let’s get this party started!

The pattern for the Loves Me, Loves Me Not quilt is now available.  The pattern includes two block settings – throw-sized and baby-sized. 

How to Get the Pattern:

STORY GUILD MEMBERS: Check your email for the discount codes available for Story Guild members.
Not a member yet and want to grab a discount of 20%, 40% or 100%? Join now at any level and your Welcome Email will include your discount code. Free members save 20%, monthly subscribers save 40%, and annual subscribers get the pattern completely free! You’ll need membership (free or paid) to participate in the giveaways anyway, so be sure to register today and save. 

On Etsy

On the Quilt Fiction Shop

There are six unique blocks in the Loves Me, Loves Me Not pattern. Each of the blocks was inspired by Florence and her friends in Frances’s latest novel Friendship Album: Forget-Me-Not.  We will be sewing the  blocks in the order they are listed in the pattern.

The quilt-along will kick off on Monday, January 30 and run until mid-May.  We’ve scheduled some catch-up weeks along the way along with several chances to win sponsor prizes.   Here is an overview of our schedule:

  • January 30 – Fabric cutting
  • February 6 – Wedding Ring Block
  • February 13 – Ohio Star 
  • February 20 – Catch-up week plus a sponsor giveaway
  • February 27 – Milton Falls Star
  • March 6 – Florence Star
  • March 13 – Catch-up week plus a sponsor giveaway
  • March 20 – Rosetta Star
  • March 27 – Crown and Star
  • April 3 – Catch-up week plus a sponsor giveaway
  • April 10 – Finishing instructions
  • April 10 to May 7 – Assemble quilt
  • May 8 – Grand Prize giveaway

Each Monday, I’ll be sharing a bit about the block inspiration (no spoilers on the story!) and some tips for that week’s block.

Getting ready to shop your stash or visit your local quilt store? Check out the fabric requirements. One of our sponsors, String & Story has kits available for the throw-sized quilt in two different colorways! One colorway mimics the coloring in our quilt while the other uses the color blackberry as the background for a really unique look.

Download a copy of the pattern before midnight EST January 30 for a chance to win a prize in the first sponsor giveaway for the quilt-along!   Two winners will be randomly chosen from those meeting the eligibility guidelines below.  One winner will receive a Felt Pressing Mat from Oliso.  (This prize can only be shipped to US or Canada addresses.)  One winner will receive two Quilt Fiction novels.  (Physical copies will be shipped to US addresses and digital copies will be available otherwise.)

Eligibility Guidelines

  • The participant must be a member  Story Guild (at any membership level) and have downloaded a copy of the Loves Me, Loves Me Not pattern from the Quilt Fiction Etsy shop prior to midnight EST January 30, 2023.
  • Each winner will be chosen randomly and notified via email.  Winner will have 72 hours to claim their prize by responding to our email – if we don’t hear back, we may draw another name. Once all prizes for a specific giveaway have been claimed, the first names of the winners will be announced.

Next Monday, I’ll share images of the quilt in different colorways. Have a fabric combination you would like to see? Leave a comment and I’ll choose a few to share next week!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or email qal@quiltfiction.com.

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QAL Fabric Requirements

UPDATE: One of our sponsors, String & Story has kits available for the throw-sized quilt in two different colorways! One colorway mimics the coloring in our quilt while the other uses the color blackberry as the background for a really unique look.

Ready to raid your stash or hit the fabric store?

The pattern for Loves Me, Loves Me Not will be available on Monday, January 16. We are so excited to share it with you and get this quilt-along underway!

Our activity for week 1 of the quilt-along (begins on January 30th) is to cut the fabric.

Throw-sized – 60” x 60”
3 yards background
1⁄3 yard light gray
1 yard dark gray
¾ yard gold
4 yards backing
½ yard binding

baby-sized-quilt

Baby-sized – 42” x 42”
1¾ yards background
1⁄3 yard light gray
½ yard dark gray
1⁄3 yard gold
2 ¼ yards backing
½ yard binding

The quilt can also be sewn with equivalent yardage in fat-quarters or even large scraps. Patty’s version of the throw-sized quilt was made using fat-quarters from a Moda Fabrics line called Filigree and the baby-sized quilt was made from scraps.

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Chapter Three | Friendship Album: Forget-Me-Not

In this week’s episode of Friendship Album: Forget Me Not, Florence recalls a recent conversation with Arthur which caused her to wonder whether her fiance is too old fashioned to be happy with a modern wife (and a modern businesswoman, to boot!). While Arthur claims to be open to making changes in his business practices and his attitudes, Florence worries he won’t be able to change fast enough to keep up with her.

 

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Diary of a Mad Quilter | Episode One

In Episode One of Diary of a Mad Quilter, Marnie hopes her recently retired husband Darrell will find a way to fill up his time–but when she hears what he’s got planned, she’s not sure she’s on board with his new hobby.

Welcome to the first episode of Diary of Mad Quilter! Set in contemporary Milton Falls, Ohio, it’s the story of avid quilter and retired third grade teacher, Marnie Fetzer. Marnie lives with her husband, Darrell, who just retired from his engineering job, and she’s still best friends with her high school BFF, Shiela. Son Sam lives on the other side of town with his wife and toddler twins, while daughter Katie makes her home in Atlanta. These days, Marnie’s life revolves around quilts and–well, quilts.

In this episode, Marnie is stepping into the new year with big goals, including actually finishing her guild’s BOM quilt for once in her life. She’s already got January’s block done and is feeling confident. She’s feeling less confident about Darrell’s plan to renovate the bathroom and agrees that maybe he needs to find a hobby that doesn’t involve power tools. When inspiration hits and Darrell decides what to do with his newfound free time, Marnie’s got some serious mixed feelings.

New episodes of Diary of a Mad Quilter will air every other Monday. I hope you enjoy this new Milton Fall’s story!

 

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Chapter Two | Friendship Album: Forget-Me-Not

Bess wonders about the logistics of marrying Joe Mayfield and celebrates the addition of Edwina Baldwin to her household.

In this episode of Friendship Album, 1934: Forget Me Not, weddings are on everyone’s mind, especially Bess’s. As the episode begins, she and Edwina are putting on their coats and hats — Joe will be there any minute to drive them and the girls to the church for Florence’s nuptials. While Bess has to admit that things between her and Joe are getting serious, she can’t help but feel conflicted. Things in her life are finally settling down with the help of new housemate Edwina, and her late husband Bill is still very much in her thoughts.

 

 

How to listen to our private Story Guild Podcast

Paid members for the Quilt Fiction Story Guild have a number of options when it comes to listening to the novel as it is released. One option is the set up your podcast player application to receive the unique RSS link you will be provided. Most — but not all players allow these use of private links. Please find instructions below for each app.

If you use an app that isn’t supported, you always have the option of downloading a simple podcast player such as Overcast and using it exclusively to listen to the Story Guild podcast.

 

Add to Apple Podcasts (on Mac desktop and iTunes on PC)

  • Click File on the Apple Podcasts menu.

  • Click Add Show by URL.

  • Paste your unique URL into the box.

  • Click Subscribe.

Add to Apple Podcasts (on iOS)

  • In the icons list at the bottom of your display, click Library.

  • Click Edit at the top right.

  • Click Add Show by URL.

  • Paste your unique URL into the box.

  • Click Subscribe.

Add to Google Podcasts (on Android)

  • In the bottom menu, click Activity.

  • In the top menu, scroll to Subscriptions.

  • Click the three little dots to the top right.

  • Click Add by RSS feed.

  • Paste your unique URL into the box.

  • Click Subscribe.

Add to Pocket Casts

  • Click Discover in the bottom menu.

  • Paste your unique URL into the Search box at the top of the screen.

  • Click your podcast artwork.

  • Click Subscribe.

Add to Castbox

  • Click Discover in the bottom menu.

  • Paste your unique URL into the Search box at the top of the screen.

  • Click your podcast artwork.

  • Click Subscribe.

Add to Overcast

  • Click the “+” icon in the top menu.

  • Click Add URL.

  • Paste your unique URL into the box.

  • Click Done.

Add to Podcast Addict

  • Click the “+” icon in the top menu.

  • Click the Search icon in the top menu.

  • Paste your unique URL into the search box.

  • Click Search.

  • Check the Private feed box.

  • Click Add.

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Chapter One | Friendship Album: Forget-Me-Not

Eula gets ready for Florence’s wedding and recalls the most recent meeting of the Wednesday Bee, where opinion was divided about whether marrying Arthur is in Florence’s best interest.

Welcome back to Milton Falls and the Wednesday Quilting Bee! When last we saw our five friends–Eula, Bess, Florence, Dorothy and Emmeline–it was December 1933 and they were on the third floor of Building No. 5 admiring Emmeline’s newly repaired and newly resplendent Sears Contest quilt. Now, as we greet them anew, it’s just after New Year’s 1934. Eula is anticipating the birth of her first grandchild, and Bess has made space in her house for Edwina and space in her heart for Father Joe. Florence is getting ready for a walk down the aisle, Dorothy is getting ready to make a change and Emmeline is ready to be a national quilting celebrity as a columnist for the Farmer’s Wife. As always, there’s a lot going on in Milton Falls–and we haven’t even talked about the quilts!