Here's my color way for the 2009 BOM. What are the rest of you using?
]

Thanks, Sue, for all the help that you give us. Have a Merry Christmas!

Maggie Szafranski

Gee - what a lot of questions... let me see if I can answer a couple of them.
Are you going to get all of the cutting instructions in the first month? Nope! You will get a list of all of the required fabric (which has already been posted elsewhere on this list), along with the fabric to be cut to complete the January block. The first block is the center feathered star. It is not a hard one - but you DO have to pay attention, stitch ON the lines, and follow the instructions for laying out the sub-units. It takes several hours to make the block because there are so many pieces in it -- but you can get it done in good time. I mean... you have a whole MONTH, right?!!

If, at any time, any of you ever have questions about technique, tools, or whatever, I'm only an email away -- and my sister Margo is always eager to share and teach (well - at least we feel like we're almost sisters...).

You just have to love the world of TQS -- it opens up whole new worlds for all of us!

Sue

I recently took on a huge paper pieced quilt project through an LQS and in doing so, I KNEW I was probably biting off more than I could chew. There are moments when I struggle, but I'm learning so much and am already over the moon with my results. This experience is precisely why I'm jumping in to the 2009 BOM project. I say give it a try! Think of all the great new skills you'll learn while you're working on it.

Barbara, you will find the fabrics listed on the Forum. Scroll down to BLOCK OF THE MONTH, and look for the thread titled:
BOM fabric requirements 2009
Or click here:
[url]forum/index[/url]

There is lots of info on that thread that you might find helpful!

I'm gonna give the 2009 BOM a shot. I'm not ging to buy any fabric (yet). Just gonna start with what I have in my itty stash and see how it goes from there. It looks fun and a bit challenging!
Oh...did I say a bit? Maybe kind of alot!
Sherry in S MS

Gosh, you all are so friendly and helpful. I couldn't believe all the messages that were posted. I have made quilts before, but never paper pieced. I guess I don't know what all the new BOM entails. I always sewed clothes until my girls were grown, and now I am retiring in August so thought it might be good to learn some more techniques. I am not experience enough to know what all the new BOM entails. I am also confused by all the messages about fabric. How do you know how much to buy and how many different fabrics. You all have encouraged me so much. It's helpful to know that if I do the new BOM there is help out there if I can't figure something out. I am still mulling it around, but thought about just getting the fabric kit offered. Let me know how you guys know how many fabrics you need and how much of each fabric. Thanks again for all the messages, you are all very friendly.

It will all be revealed on Jan. 1 and the first of each month after. Sorry but you have to wait a little longer.

Karen

okay, this is my first bom, not a newbie, but, does Sue give the directions for cutting the whole quilt in the beginning. : I just recieved my package of the quilt Friday, and felt it alllllll weekend long just waiting to get started. Boy can I hardly wait, can't wait, did I say I was anxious. Debbie

Thanks Sue, I will be watching for that video. I have another question. I can't quilt a large quilt on my home sewing machine, so I do the divide and conquer method or the Betty Cotton Theory - - On the 2008 block of the month I am going to do the Betty Cotton Theory.

Can the 2009 block of the month be quilted using either of these techniques?

Thanks again, Jimmie (Mimi)

Holy cow, Sue. It's sort of like "ask and you shall receive". I tried paper piecing a while ago and didn't cut the fabric big enough so ended up with no seam allowance. Kind of discouraging. I do have faith in your directions and Margo's tutorials and all the support from everyone here. LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

Sue, TQS is the best, and so are you to share your talent with us!

Maggie in E. Central Illinois

A question was asked about paper piecing (and learning how to do it). The instructions in the 2009 BOM should give you every clue in the world for doing paper piecing, and the paper piecing in this pattern is the easy-breezy kind: I promise that there is no turning your elbow inside out and upside down to get that long skinny triangle pieced backwards and lopsided (so now you know what I think about THOSE kinds of patterns, I suppose...). The paper piecing is easy - no special tools or paper is required, either.

Okay - now can you all keep a secret???? Shhhh!!! Sometime in January (with a little luck), you will likely see a video somewhere in the TQS stuff where I will demonstrate paper piecing the feathered star. Woo hoo -- is TQS cool or what?!!!

Sue Garman

Barbara, since you are a beginning quilter, you might want to practice piecing some simple blocks, such as a four patch or a nine patch. A rail fence pattern is good to practice your 1/4 " seams. The 2009 BOM center is a feathered star--which is a challenge for seasoned quilters. I agree with others that you should print the pattern off for future use. Just use fabric you have on hand instead of spending $$. If I remember correctly, some of the blocks in the quilt look fairly simple and you could practice with those, too. I think Sue is giving directions for several different ways to construct the blocks. This will be a great learning experience--just forget the feathered star center until you are proficient in making the other blocks. Judy in Torrance