Starting January 1, sew along with us in a yearlong project that combines your reading list and customizable book blocks into a one-of-a kind bookshelf quilt! Sew a book block for every book you read this year to track your reading progress and create a gorgeous quilt for your book nook!
The pattern has more than 10 blocks, resources for planning your quilt, a reading tracker list, and so much more! Along the way, we'll offer tips and videos to support you in creating and personalizing your project! This quilt-along is going to be so much fun!
Keep reading for more details!
Pattern Details
Finished sizes:
This pattern is customizable and can be made in any size! But we do give coloring pages and quilt layouts for 4 sizes:
Large Throw (60×70")
Small Throw (50×56")
Baby or Wall Hanging (40×42")
Wall Hanging (14×50")
Techniques used:
Basic piecing methods
Includes tips for working with small pieces and fussy-cutting
Bonuses:
Ideas for mixing and matching blocks for a unique quilt
Coloring pages to help design your quilt
Printable cutouts of the blocks, so you can play with quilt layouts
Fabric swatch coordinator to help plan this quilt in your own colorway
Reading tracker to write down books you've read and their rating
Difficulty: Confident beginner-advanced
This pattern has blocks ranging in difficulty. Some blocks are easy while others may be a challenge. But not all blocks are needed to make this quilt, so you can choose the blocks you feel confident sewing.
Format: This pattern is only sold as a PDF.
Before You Start Sewing
This yearlong challenge is a fun way to motivate yourself to read more! We encourage you to make one book block for each book you read throughout the year. You can customize your quilt however you'd like using any fabrics, colors, or embellishment. Here are some ideas for customizing your quilt:
Use specific colors to showcase books read by each month, by genre, or by rating.
Match the fabrics of each book to the design of the book cover or the plot of the book.
Write or embroider the name of the book onto the book block's spine.
For example, Lindsay plans to assign each month a color so she can easily tell how many books she read each month. Elizabeth plans to assign each genre a color to challenge herself to read different styles of books.
How the Quilt-Along Works
Because everyone who is sewing along is making a unique version of the quilt to fit their reading for the year, there isn't a set schedule. We encourage you to track your reading list and then regularly sew book blocks (either at the end of each book, the end of each month, or even each quarter) as fits your schedule.
Post your progress of your quilt and your favorite books on social media using the hashtag #BookClubQuilt and #HappyHourStitches, so we all can follow along!
Follow Happy Hour Stitches on social media to connect with others making the quilt. Find us on Instagram and Facebook.
On our Happy Hour Stitches social media, we'll be posting our own progress, favorite books, discussion starters, and tips and tricks for sewing and personalizing your quilt throughout the year!
We'll also offer blogs and other fun resources throughout the year. We'll link all special resources below, so they're all in one easy place to find.
Resources and Freebies
Throughout the year, we'll offer special tutorials, tips, and resources for those making this quilt. We'll also have some fun freebies and bonus content. We'll link everything below!
Join Our Goodreads Community!
If you'd like to connect with other quilters making this quilt on Goodreads, join our group! It's private, so you'll need to request to join and answer a security question (it's not hard!). We just want to keep the community a safe place for all of us!
To join, search "Happy Hour Stitches Book Club" on Goodreads. Or click here.
Suggested Tools and Notions
Although none of these tools is required to make the quilt, they may be helpful in making it easier!
Storage Box: Keep your project organized all year long with a clear storage box can hold your blocks, fabrics, supplies, and pattern without the mess.
Buy on Amazon or Fat Quarter Shop.
10.5" Square Ruler: Trim and square-up book blocks with a ruler sized for the unfinished block measurements. This ensures all your blocks will sew together easily and accurately.
Buy on Amazon or Fat Quarter Shop.
Fussy-Cutting Ruler Set: If you plan to fussy-cut fabric to showcase in your book blocks, you may want rulers to help plan your fabric placement and cut your motifs.
Micron Pen: This fabric-safe and permanent marker is a great choice if you want to write the names of your books on the blocks. Once written, use a hot iron with no steam on top of the ink to set it.
Buy on Amazon or Fat Quarter Shop.
Lightweight Fusible Interfacing: If you plan to add embroidery to your blocks, we suggest adding a lightweight fusible interfacing on the back of your fabric before embroidering your design. This stabilizes the fabric and keeps the threads on the back of the design from showing though.
Buy on Amazon or Fat Quarter Shop.
Sewline Fabric Glue Pen: Some of the blocks in this quilt use very small pieces, which can be hard to position and hold in place while sewing. You can use a small dab of this water-soluble glue to hold the pieces in place.
Buy on Amazon or Fat Quarter Shop.
FAQs
Here are answers to frequently asked questions. We'll add more to the list as questions arise throughout the year.
What are the fabric requirements for this quilt?
Because of the customizable nature of this quilt, no fabric requirements are given. This quilt is a fun way to use your stash or a favorite fat quarter bundle. We suggest buying at least a 1⁄2 yard of background fabric for a smaller quilt (wall or baby size) and at least 1 yard for a larger quilt (throw). Write the name and manufacturer of your fabric down in case you need to order more.
Do I need to participate in the yearlong challenge to make this quilt?
No, you don't! You can make this quilt for any purpose or occasion and do not need to use it as a quilty reading tracker. This quilt would be great for a book nook, a nursery, a library or office space, and more!
Thanks for joining us for "happy hour",
Lindsay and Elizabeth
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