ILoveToQuilt

I have volunteered to coordinate the Block of the Month at my guild. I am hitting the wall with ideas.

Last year was "Blocks with a Purpose". These were QOV blocks (twice), pet beds made from 2 fat quarters, I Spy blocks, as well as various other blocks for charity quilts. Sometimes fabric was given, other times not. Participation was spotty at best. No drawing for blocks, as they were for charity quilts.

Prior year was "Learn a New Technique" BOM. Again, spotty participation. Drawing held and winner got that month's blocks.

I'm thinking "been there, done that". Anyone have any NEW and/or DIFFERENT ideas?

The one idea I keep coming back to is a version of the "Blocks with a Purpose". One month I would give a pattern and colors to be used. Bring the block to the meeting to be shown. Take it home. Next month I would give a piece of fabric (coordinated with the first months colors) with directions to choose your own pattern. Bring in to show then take home. Next month back to pattern and colors. Each month for 8 rounds, I would alternate: 4 patterns, 4 choose your own pattern. At the end of the 8 months, participants should have enough blocks made to make into a quilt top to be given to one of the guild's charities. Thoughts????? Good idea? Bad idea? (I have a $200 budget to buy fabric).

I really would love your suggestions. I know about Quilter's Cache and some of the other free pattern sites, so choosing the patterns is not the issue. Just need ideas of themes, etc. How has your guild done BOM?

Thank you all in advance. I know you will have some great ideas for me!

donna13350

That sounds good! If the quilts will be donated, you could also do an orphan block BOM...where people bring in a block and work off of that every month..with their own colors and own patterns...that way you could include all skill levels, as well as people with their own color preferences and fabrics that they want to part with from their stash. It may help with participation???

ragamuffin

We do "Quilt in a Box". Only 12 people do it for a year. You pick your own fabric, put it in a box (or plastic one) and each month you exchange boxes. You have every name on the front of all boxes and check it off as you go. Each person picks a block that she will do for everyone. No one knows who is doing what. Say May does the pineapple. She will do the pineapple for every box, then pass it on. Sue will do the Missouri Star for every box. She keeps the blocks together at her house. At the end of the year, get together at someone's house or at club, and then call up the girls in order. Then call up Sue's and everyone will put the patches up they made for Sue. So at the end of the year, you will each have 12 blocks made in your own fabric. It is very popular in our group. I hope I explained it ok.

quiltingshorttimer

In our guild, the BOM is done both for a member raffle for all those that participate and also additional blocks for our charity--disaster quilts for fires, etc and to the local cancer foundation. Our BOM chairs have figured out that most will participate when the block is a quick, easy one that they can use their scrapes on. Since most are working on their own projects and we have almost monthly workshops/classes, members don't want to spend a lot of time on BOM. One year, we had a mystery quilt going with the BOM--you'd make a block for charity or the drawing and then use the same block pattern to make one for ourself--basically a mystery sampler quilt. I would note that everyone wants total yardage needed if you do that.

Barb in Louisiana

We have a very small guild, and what has produced more participation is doing two blocks each month. One goes for a charity quilt and the other goes into the drawing for a winner at the next meeting. The coordinator tells us the colors to use and the block pattern. If there are multiple of 12 blocks, then there are two winners or the balance after 12 goes into the charity quilt. I agree, it is hard to get people to do a little extra.

What if you thought about a row by row experience to be voted on at the end of the year for a prize? You could tell them the block or scene or whatever for each row and have show & tell the next month. Everyone could pick their own colors, or you have them draw paint chips or crayons and have to feature that color in some manner in the quilt. If you make a patterned sashing between the rows, you could have a part of the quilt for each month's sewing. This way they could sew a row, sash and sew those two together. It might not work too well if everyone is seeing all the quilts, because how would you do a prize? Oh well, just a thought.

willferg

We picked a theme for each month, and people were free to do whatever they liked with it, since we have both quilters and knitters/crocheters in our group. For example, we had a sports theme one month, and some knitted in colors of local professional teams and some used sports fabrics. We also had themes of ocean, forest, spring, neutrals, etc. It worked well at first and then interest tapered off.

For a prize, we have decided that everyone who comes to a meeting gets a ticket for the drawing and those who bring a blanket(s) get a second ticket. We decided it wasn't fair to give as many tickets at blankets people brought because some members are retired and knit nonstop and others work and quilts take a bit longer. Our prizes were a big gift card, two small gift cards, and a basket of fabric and a basket of yarn.

cjr

The Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild does "Lottery" blocks. Swap director demos block for that month. Following month all who participate receive 1 ticket per block made. Numbers drawn. Winner goes home with number of blocks contributed. One month we had so much participation 3 people won blocks for a quilt. It has been fun & a challenge learning new tecquines. I even won once

Pagzz

I think spotty participation is pretty common as people have different interests and commitments. One year for special projects we did a ostrich round robin. Called ostrich because it's a bird that doesn't fly, so you don't pass it around. Basically you start with a block or UFO and work on your own project adding a round each month. I would try to accommodate different skill levels so each month there were two options like add a border with new colors or a new technique. Then give two options at the next month for 5 to 6 rounds. One of my friends made a very beautiful quilt and she credits it's success to a round where one of the choices was use a different shade (lighter or darker) of a color you have been using.

Cats8

Our latest guild BOM was the 'Snapshot' quilt. (Google it. There are lots of images on the Internet. It is a free pattern. They appreciate it if you make a donation to St. Jude's.) This was a lot of fun. It can be scrappy or coordinated. There are tons of opportunities to embellish, or not. Each block is different and nobody gets bored. The quilts can be kept or donated. I was going to donate mine; but I am having so much fun I will keep it!
Jean

illinois

Several years ago, our guild used Marsha McCloskey's Block Party for our program for the year. Each month one volunteer demonstrated a block that each member could make and by the end of the year each would have 12 blocks to put into a quilt. Also could use a design theme, such as stars or hearts, each month. There are sampler quilts that could be used for a series of learning and doing programs/activities. Perhaps something small enough for a wall hanging is more apt to be done than a bed-sized quilt? It's difficult to do swaps as not all blocks made by too many come out the same size and then there's the problem of getting those to go together well. Best to let each member use her own blocks.