Let It Shine Quilt Along Week 1

Let It Shine Quilt Along - Week 1 - Cutting

Welcome to Week 1 of the Let It Shine Quilt Along! I am really excited to be making this quilt along with you for the next 4 weeks. I can’t wait to see all of your beautiful quilts!

First things first - grab your copy of the Let It Shine Quilt pattern which can be purchased here. Gather your fabric, and let’s go!

If you’re new to quilt alongs or haven’t read the blog post with the details, I encourage you to read the Let It Shine Quilt Along Details blog post to help you with details, prizes for the QAL, quilt kits, and ideas!

Here’s our schedule for the quilt along.

Week 1: Cutting fabric

Week 2: Assembling small units

Week 3: Assembling blocks

Week 4: Quilt top assembly

The Quilt Along posts and videos will be kept under the “Blog” section of my website. If you need to refer to this post in the future, you can find it there. Sometimes we get behind on our sewing, and this post will still be waiting for you when you’re ready!

Meet Mallory

Hi! I’m Mallory, the owner and quilt designer behind Fieldstone Fabric. I opened my online shop in 2022, and have loved connecting with customers ever since. When I’m not found in my quilting loft, I can be seen spending time with my husband and 3 kids while attending their activities or hiking, biking, and playing games as a family.

Quilt Info

Quilt Sizes: Mini, Crib, Throw, Twin, and Queen

Quilt Layout: With set background or without set background

Choose Fabrics: This quilt lends itself to be very scrappy if you’d like! You can use as little as 4 main fabrics with a background, or 5 different fabrics for each block.

Quilt Kits:

• My Shop
• SanDiego Sewn
• Midlife Quilter

Fabric Prep

Before beginning to cut your fabric, consider prepping your fabric. You may pre-wash fabric to avoid shrinkage later if you prefer. Also, this is the time to starch your fabric if you like starching your fabrics. I typically use a spray starch, iron while damp, and lay flat to dry on a laundry rack. I typically do this when using biased edges or looser woven fabrics. Both of these options are 100% user preference.

To pre-wash: use cold water and a mild detergent. Dry on low, and press after drying. I don’t pre-wash fat quarters or other small pre-cut sizes to avoid any fraying.

To starch: follow directions that are from the starch manufacturers. Typically I open my fabric, spray until damp, and then press. I lay the fabric flat to dry.

Whether you pre-wash, starch, or don’t do either, you will need to still press your fabric and refold (matching the selvedges). You want to line up the selvedges so that there isn’t a bump or ripple in the fabric. Sometimes that means your raw side edges may not line up. But this is essential so that your fabric strips wll be straight when you cut them.

To help organize your fabrics for this quilt, I designed a free printable you can use with fabric swatches. You can get the free printable here. Simply print as many copies as you need and glue on fabric swatches. Since I'm using 5 fabrics to make (5) unique blocks, I only needed this table. I will make two of each block to make a total of (10) blocks.

Cutting

When cutting fabric, you need a few tools to make accurate cuts. Tools I find helpful include a large self-healing cutting mat, a rotary cutter, a 6.5”x24.5” ruler and 12.5”x12.5” ruler.

It is important to follow the cutting diagram in the pattern. There are two cutting diagrams: one for those of you using a background fabric, and one for those of you not using a set background fabric.

I am not using a set background fabric. I will be including the background pieces with the fabrics I’m using in my quilt. I'll be using the cutting diagram that includes the background within the cutting guide.

The first cuts are along the width of fabric (WOF). The cutting diagrams show how the fabric pieces all fit into your yardage.

I am using 5 fabrics that will rotate throughout the blocks to make (5) different blocks. I am going to double this, by cutting (2) sets from each fabric, to make (10) blocks total. I want (10) blocks because the throw size I’m making uses (9) blocks. I will have 1 extra block that I can use in another project.

After making the WOF cuts, you will then subcut the fabric strips. I am batch cutting to quickly cut strips. Follow the cutting diagram so you know what subcuts to make.

My Quilt Along Version

For the Quilt Along, I am making a throw size quilt that has (9) blocks. I am using (5) fabrics with no set background. That will make this quilt version a little scrappier than my cover quilt. I am using the lovely spring-like fabric collection Plentiful designed by Katarina Roccella for Art Gallery Fabrics. I have kits for this version in my shop here! 

Week 1 Prize

Each week, there will be an opportunity to enter to win a prize! This week, the winner will win their choice of a t-shirt from the Trendy Quilter.

To enter:

• Only public Instagram accounts are eligible for entry.
• Take a photo of your progress this week, and share it on IG.
• Tag me @fieldstone.fabric and use hashtags #letitshinequilt #letishineqal
• The winner will be shared in the Week 2 post!

Last week’s prize is $25 gift card to my shop! To enter, you needed to publicly share an “I’m In” photo on IG. This week’s winner is……@sprouts.and.stitches! 

Send me a DM on socials and I’ll get you the details.

I’m excited for Week 2! And I can’t wait to see all the progress you make. Seeing everyone’s versions of the quilt is the best part!