Hey everyone! Back again on another beautiful Friday afternoon at Primitive Gatherings. After the last couple of weeks being cold and blustery, we’ve actually been blessed with what promises to be some of the final nice days coming up before the snow flies – and keeps on flying for the next five months! Highs for the next couple of days are supposed to be near 70 and sunny, which we will certainly take. Rain at the beginning of next week will bring back the cold so we really need to enjoy it while it lasts. Either way I know winter is on its way, and that there isn’t a darn thing I can do aside from deciding to enjoy it. That’s where keeping busy is the real key! As I’m sure you can imagine, keeping busy for me involves plenty of stitching – old projects and new. We definitely never run out of things to stitch on around here, let me tell you!
Speaking of new projects, today is the official start date of Sewcialites 2 – a sequel to Sewcialites 1 which is a quilt-along hosted by Kim Jolly of Fat Quarter Shop. Kim created this quilt-along to celebrate the quilting community by releasing a new block each week for 24 weeks. Fat Quarter Shop has again collaborated with highly talented designers to bring you all new unique sampler blocks with a ton of options! Starting today through April 14th, 2023, a new block will be released each week on Friday with breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Two additional weeks afterward will be dedicated to finishing and backing the quilt.
This year’s Sewcialites quilt is made up of 24 blocks designed by 24 individual designers. The difficulty level of each pattern is clearly marked from beginner level to experienced. Blocks are constructed using straight seams and traditional piecing techniques. Take a look! 
If you have a specific purpose for this quilt in mind but you’re not sure if it’s the right size, great news! This quilt has three size options including 3”, 6”, and 9” finished blocks. To get started you will need the Sewcialites 2 Information Packet, which includes the fabric requirements, a coloring sheet, the complete block schedule, and a list of optional foundation paper supplies. The fabric requirements are listed for each quilt size, but you can certainly get a good start with your existing stash. And great news! All the quilt sizes are pre-cut friendly! Fat Quarter Shop recommends starting with a Layer Cake for the 3″ blocks, and using a Fat Quarter Bundle for the 6″ and 9″ blocks. To get your copy of the Sewcialites 2 Information Packet visit the Jolly Jabber!
Now without further ado, let’s get on with the quilt-along! This week’s block designer is Beverly McCullough of flamingotoes.com. Beverly comes from a long line of artists and seamstresses, and fittingly loves all things crafty. Sewing since her teen years, these days she is known in the creative world for her fabric, quilt, and cross stitching designs. She loves to mix modern and vintage, taking old styles and making them new and fun again. Block #1, Perennial Block was inspired by her love for flowers. She says, “I don’t have a green thumb – it makes me crazy that I can’t seem to keep them alive! So, I love to sew up flower blocks instead – they’re still pretty but you don’t have to maintain them!” True that, Beverly! Not everyone is a master gardener. Sometimes it’s best to stick with what you’re good at rather than pretend to be something that you’re not. Especially since it doesn’t usually work out well in the end… Anyway, master quilt pattern and fabric designer sounds just fine to me!
Usually I would have my blocks complete and ready to show off by their release date but I have to say, since getting back from my cruise it’s been nothing but go-go-go around here! I 1,000% intended on having not just one, but multiple blocks for this QAL done before the first release date hit, but ya know – it just didn’t happen that way. I do apologize. I hope you’ll forgive me but the digital version is going to have to do this time around. If not, I believe the blog complaint department is closed indefinitely… LOL! Just kidding. I promise that as rare as it is, whenever I fall behind I will make up for it the following week with updated photos of my progress. For now, this will give you an idea of what to expect:
As you can see from the digital rendition, Perennial Block uses half-square triangles with a slight variation on one half of the square. These half-square triangles will then be placed, and pieced into a pinwheel. Eight squares are finished using the stitch and flip method and will then be added to the pinwheel. Be extra careful on placement – it is extra important to be accurate for this block, hence the advanced difficulty rating. To get your copy of the full pattern and instructions of, visit by clicking the link below!
For my blocks, what I can tell you for sure is that I’ve decided to do this quilt using my Garden Gatherings fabric line, sans the five tans (no, I did NOT mean to rhyme and YES, Garden Gatherings is Blog Manager Heidi’s favorite fabric line of all time… – sheesh – I did it again!!!). For the background I plan to use a selection from the Garden Gathering Shirtings Collection, #49176 15 – a cream fabric with an adorable tiny mustard/orange floral print. Needless to say I am super excited to see this quilt finished! I swear, Garden Gatherings is like the hot girl in school… She could wear a potato sack and still look good in it – not fair! This fabric line is the same way. Whatever you make with it is going to look stunning, no doubt about it.
I know many of you are still trying to decide whether or not to participate in Sewcialites 2. One of the best things about this quilt-along is it’s never too late to start – you can join us at any time! Previously released blocks will be posted on the Sewcialites 2 Landing Page along with my blog in the Sewcialites 2 Block Archive, which is listed in the main menu of links at the top of the page.
Newly released blocks can always be found on Kim’s blog The Jolly Jabber, along with a video tutorial on her YouTube Livestream the same day. Each designer will also post their own block to either their blog or their website on that day as well. I will also be posting each block release here on MY blog every Friday for your convenience. Fabric requirements and all block patterns will be posted on the Sewcialites 2 Landing Page, which you can access by clicking the link below. If you’d like to get automatic updates on Sewcialites 2 you can subscribe to the blog by signing up in the Email subscription box by visiting the Landing Page, or by subscribing to the YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
Let me know in the comments if you’re planning to join me for Sewcialites2. I really think it’s going to be a great quilt-along and I’m excited to get started. Sometimes a fresh new project is just what the doctor ordered. Way better than chicken soup if you ask me!
Before I hang it up for the weekend I want to give away a prize! Thanks so much to Sandra G. for commenting on the blog last week! Check your email Sandra – I’d love to send you a little something for not only reading my blog, but also for leaving feedback! As usual, I don’t post last names or email addresses for your privacy, so if you think you’re the lucky winner this week please be sure to check your email! You can also contact Heidi at heidin@primitivegatherings.us if you have not already received a prize confirmation letter from her. She will use your email address to confirm that you are in fact the winner! Remember, every comment, like, and share our posts receive help to keep us afloat in the wild sea of social media. Needless to say, we really appreciate it! Want to be considered for a prize like Sandra? It’s easy! Just leave me a comment here on the blog. That’s all it takes to be eligible! Ok gang, I really hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Nick will be up north hunting so I’m going to spend some time with friends. We might even catch a haunted house tonight. We’ll see! Take care and I will see you all soon! ~Lisa
