Welcome to the 2020 Seattle Modern Quilt Guild BOM project! Your guides on this journey are Susan Pray (IG: @sushi.farmer) and Kathy McGinnis (IG: @a_swede_life).
We begin with a contemplation month. We’ll give you some information about the project so that you can prepare to “row along” with us over the coming year. Please join us!
Project Name:
Cascadia Cabin in the Woods
Project Difficulty:
This is moderately challenging patchwork with beginner-level improv added to the mix. Even if you’ve never done improv-style sewing there’s room for you here. There are no “Y” seams or curves or paper piecing. The biggest challenge will probably be staying organized, as the blocks are made up of non-standard size pieces.
Project Theme:
This is a Row by Row pattern with improv techniques within a pattern framework of non-standard block sizes.
There are four types of blocks in this pattern that supply opportunities for simple improv sewing within the framework of a pattern: stars, trees, mountains, and houses. There are also flying geese blocks (4-at-a-time method) that could be done improv style if you prefer. We end with an applique moon, which you could choose to hand sew or apply with fusible interfacing. As we go along, we will provide links to different tutorials for improv stars, trees, and houses, along with how to finish the quilt.
There is room to make this project your own, whether through your choice of colors, prints, fabric type, or by showcasing your own improv style. Imagine this project as a winter quilt done in red and green with maybe some snow on the mountain tops. Or a fun Halloween quilt, complete with haunted house in place of the cabin and a witch flying over the moon. Or a monochromatic, minimalist composition. What’s your take on this design? We’re hoping folks will use this pattern as a starting point, and make it their own.
Yardage Suggestions:
| FABRIC |
QUANTITY |
| Sky |
2.5 yards |
| Stars & Moon |
.5 yard OR scraps |
| Geese |
1 fat quarter |
| Mountain Peaks |
.75 yard |
| Foothills & Forest Background |
2.5 yards OR 10 fat quarters of scraps |
| Trees |
Minimum of 4 fat quarters, the more the better if going scrappy |
| Tree Trunks |
1 fat quarter |
| Improv Log Cabin |
Various scraps |
| Backing |
4.5 yards |
| Binding |
.5 yard |
Be Social!
Tag your progress pictures on Instagram!
#cascadiacabinquilt #smqgbom2020 #seamqg #seattlemqg #showusyourmqg
Monthly Schedule
The table below shows how the project is broken up for each month.
The diagram shows the specific pieces we will be making each month.
Relevant information will be shown again in the segments posted each month.
| JANUARY |
Unveiling of design |
| FEBRUARY |
Post online yardage requirements, theme, and a coloring page |
| MARCH |
Make 12 wonky stars
Cut sky fabric for all star blocks
Assemble star blocks 1 through 5 |
| APRIL |
Make 16 flying geese
Cut sky fabric for all geese blocks
Assemble geese blocks 1 through 5 |
| MAY |
Make 25 improv trees (they go fast!) |
| JUNE |
Cut forest fabric and sew tree blocks 1 through 4 together |
| JULY |
Cut forest fabric and sew tree blocks 5 through 8 together |
| AUGUST |
Make improv cabin and sew all the forest blocks and the cabin block together to complete the bottom part of the quilt |
| SEPTEMBER |
Make mountain peaks blocks (sky fabric plus mountain peak fabric) |
| OCTOBER |
Make foothill blocks (mountain peak fabrics plus forest fabrics)
Assemble and complete mountains and foothills row
|
| NOVEMBER |
Sew all completed quilt top blocks together, add applique moon, finish quilt as desired |
| DECEMBER |
Share finished quilts |
Coloring Page
Print out this PDF and color it in to plan your design: SMQG_2020BOM_Quilt-Outline-Coloring-Page
Piece Sizes
This PDF shows all the piece sizes within each major block. This will be handy when it comes to cutting and assembling the blocks: SMQG_2020BOM_Quilt-Outline-Piece-Sizes
Full Color Design
Here is a PDF of the full color quilt as designed in EQ8 software, showing the major block sizes: SMQG_2020BOM_Quilt-Full-Color-Block-Sizes
The Finished Quilt
Finally, a photo of the finished quilt in the winter wonderland we experienced in early January:
Please note that a variety of scraps were used for the stars, forest, and trees. This pattern would also work with a single fabric for the forest and foothills. I also added a small black star in the upper right corner because I couldn’t even follow my own pattern when I made this quilt. The sky was asking for a small black hole star right there and I couldn’t say no. That’s what I’m hoping you’ll do, take this pattern as a suggestion and make it a reflection of your ideas. — Susan Pray
March Instructions
We will aim to post the next instructions on the 1st of the month. Stay tuned!
