The Space Dust Quilt-Along

Introducing the Space Dust Quilt-Along!

It's funny how these things come about sometimes.

I was enjoying an otherwise innocent conversation over on Instagram (about quilts and fabric and such, of course) with Kela (from Quilter's Square), Paul (from Evildemondevildog Quilts) and some others.

We were gushing about Katarina Roccella's new line for Art Gallery Fabrics, Indelible.

I was also sharing that Tula Pink's Space Dust quilt was on my quilter's bucket list, and that I was contemplating starting it soon.

It occurred to me that Space Dust made with Indelible would be pretty damn epic.

Others agreed. A quilt-along was mentioned. And I was volunteered (volun-told?) to host it. I agreed, as I tend to do.

I recruited Paul to be my co-host, Kela offered to pull together quilt kits (at a discounted price!), I asked Tula to offer a pattern discount to participants (she agreed!), and the Space Dust Quilt-Along (#SDQAL) was born. I am hoping you'll join us on this journey!

The Pattern

The Space Dust pattern by Tula Pink is a paper-pieced (foundation pieced) pattern. (Not English paper piecing -- aka hand work -- as some of you have already asked.) If you're unfamiliar, uncomfortable, or inexperienced with paper piecing and want to practice / get better, this is a GREAT pattern for that. It's fairly straightforward and Tula's instructions, as always, are amazing.

The PDF pattern is listed at $24.95 but Tula is offering 15% off for SDQAL participants. Just enter SDQAL as the discount code. (Shhh, don't tell anyone, but this code is good on ALL of Tula's patterns. So if you've been eyeing some other favorites, NOW is the time to buy.)

As a reference, here are the fabric requirements for the pattern:

• Background fabric: 5 yards
• Color fabrics: 22 quarter-yard cuts of your choice
• Backing: 8 yards
• Binding: 3/4 yard
• The quilt finishes at 88" x 96".

Link to purchase the Space Dust quilt pattern.

The Fabric

The quilting community is all abuzz with talk about Katarina Roccella's debut line with Art Gallery Fabrics, Indelible. Personally, I think it's much deserved. The line was a standout to me at Quilt Market in Pittsburgh and I've been (not so) patiently waiting to get my hands on some. And, given the prints and colors of the line, I think it will be an amazing complement to the Space Dust pattern.

The pattern calls for 21 quarter-yard cuts of prints, so you can of course use any fabric you want for the quilt-along. It is not a requirement that you make your quilt from Indelible!

If, however, you would like to use the line, Quilter's Square in Lexington, KY is making quilt kits and offering them at a discounted price. Kits are normally priced at $125.75, but are being offered for $100.00 for SDQAL participants.

Link to purchase quilt kits from Quilter's Square.

The Schedule

We'll be starting the quilt-along in a few weeks to give everyone enough time to collect their supplies, prepare their materials, etc. Paul and I will be alternating posts on our blogs (but I'll always link to his posts so that you won't miss anything.) The initial schedule is posted below. You will see that we will be posting on Fridays -- making it easier on you weekend warriors! -- and tackling the pattern row by row.

• Friday, 8/1 - Gathering materials, printing pattern, cutting pattern pieces, brush up on paper piecing, general prep
• Friday, 8/8 - Row 1
• Friday, 8/15 - Row 2
• Friday, 8/22 - Row 3
• Friday, 8/29 - Row 4
• Friday, 9/5 - Row 5
• Friday, 9/12 - Row 6
• Friday, 9/19 - Row 7
• Friday, 9/24 (MY 40TH BIRTHDAY!) - Row 8 & finishing up

A note about quilt-alongs: the posts will always remain live on our blogs. If you need to get started a few weeks (or months or years!) late, no worries. You can always come back and follow the posts. Likewise, if you're a Speedy Sally and want to jump ahead, you are always free to do so. The quilt-along is simply a place for encouragement and fun picture-sharing to keep everyone motivated throughout.

Of course, it wouldn't be a party without giveaways! Be on the lookout for fun giveaways to be offered throughout the quilt-along for anyone participating.

If you're participating and you're active on social media, please be sure to share all of your progress on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #SDQAL. Feel free to start now with photos of your fabric ideas, your prep work, paper piecing tips, questions and requests for help, etc.

So, who's in?