Does anyone else do Block of the Month Clubs?
 

I have 6 block of the month clubs I'm in. No, make that 7 now. And I have 12 BOMs that I never started. Just sitting all together. I wish I would have never started them. I'm always making a quilt when the new block shows up so I put it in a pile and never get to them. I've made some, but have more to do than I want to. And it seems that the blocks are pretty dang hard. One has 81 pieces. Well, I'll never do that one. That's 81 pieces for a 12 1/2 x 12 1/2" block! Sounds crazy to me. Anyone else doing BOMs and wishing they didn't join the clubs? :eek:

hmmm...I was just about to respond when I saw the quote in your signature line. And you continue to join BOMs? LOL

I don't do BOM's that require that I do something on a schedule, or that I buy something at inflated prices. And that means I don't usually do them at all. I did just one BOM with a LQS, and it was semi-enjoyable, but I didn't care that much for the quilt I made with the blocks I made (the LQS chose the fabrics), didn't feel that I learned anything from making the blocks, and I didn't like the blocks that I "won" at all. But I have saved a bunch of patterns from the internet of various free BOM's and might make some of those... someday...

I did one last year at our LQS, I never touched it ...I even bought all the finishing fabric too !! I guess someday when I dont have any other project to do I will get it out...with that I wont do one again.

I did one. That was enough for me.

I've done some BOM's that I REALLY, REALLY liked the blocks and had a plan when I joined. Those I finished. Most of them were when I started quilting and was still rather unfocused. Now I have too many planned projects, with purchased fabric, to even be tempted to start a BOM. I do remember the fun being returning to the LQS with finished block in hand to compare to the other participants. On that one, you purchased the first block, then if you returned on the first Sat of the next month with that block finished, you got the next block free. If you got behind you could purchase the block kits for $5. They made their money on the finishing kit; borders, binding, etc. I ended up donating that quilt to the local chapter of nurse-midwives to raffle as a fund raiser.
I also laughed when I read your signature!

I did the Civil War BOW on Barbara Brackman's blog and that was great fun.

I did one BOM at our LQS called "Christmas Windows" - there's a photo album of the finished applique blocks in my profile. I haven't put the plain ivory sashings on it or assembled it, but all the really time-consuming part is done.

I did another one at the LQS called "Lady of the Lake" and it's basted and ready for me to start quilting - it's about 116" square, though, so I'm dragging my feet. Wrestling this much fabric through a domestic machine makes me tired just thinking about it.

The last BOM I joined is "Baltimore Christmas" from Stichin' Heaven - I haven't even opened the first package and I think I have seven of them piled up, now. I'm not signing up for ONE MORE BOM until all of these are finished. My studio is already looking like one of those Hoarder tv shows. :D

My aunt and I did one at Hancock Fabrics in 2005; "Lewis and Clark Expedition". Ok, we started it together. I continued then, we would meet and do hers. She then moved away( VA to LA). When planning to come to Indy to stay with daddy, she suggested I bring them and finish the tops. I did and she is thrilled. I took a break from mine and finished some other projects; plan to put my borders on this week. I loved the experience and the fun with the other women. I would do it again with a friend. It was more fun when we met together to sew them up. But we had a great teacher. Thanks for listening, Teresa

I like to do them online. I can collect the patterns and do them on my time. The local LQS has one that I'm doing, well I'm actually teaching as I'm doing. When I get the pattern at the end of the month I make the block out of my own stash first and then teach it in the following weeks to a couple of ladies that are new to quilting. What I'm finding is that the patterns are geared toward buying more rulers and supplies from the store. Being a seasoned quilter I refuse to use the shops rulers if I can do a different way. They even have changed the patterns to make them more complicated in order to sell a ruler. I teach the block without the rulers. One of the gals in my class bought the ruler, I told her if she wanted to use it fine but I refuse to do the extra piecing. Its the first and the last LQS BOM for me. However I will say that it has given the gals that I'm teaching alot of experience in different techniques.

Currently I'm working on several Internet BOM's and love them. Theres no sales pitch and no pressure to finish. Two of them ask that you buy the last block to finish the quilt. I don't have a problem with that if its a good design and it is.

I have done Civil War Bride, now doing Reaching Out from Edyta Sitar. I love to get the stuff in the mail each month, though they do seem a bit pricey.

Me too -- the pieces are still not assembled.

Not yet as cost seems prohibitive. I also have a harder time doing it some ones way without wanting to deviate from it at some point. Maybe I would not be the right person to do it anyways.

I signed up for my first BOM in, I think, 2004. It is an unusual quilt made of Daiwabo Taupe fabrics. I did 2 blocks. I did not sign up for any others until last year though my LQS. It is a Thangles Buck a Block. I've been somewhat on schedule with it. I purchased the finishing kit. When I went in to pick up my last block they told me that they had run out of one of the fabrics and that since I've been so faithful they would let me pick up the remaning 3 blocks. So I am now working on the blocks and I'm planning on finishing it for my DH's birthday in September.

Despite the fact that I have at least 10 projects going right now I signed up for another BOM in Daiwabo Taupes. I couldn't help myself!

My feeling is this: I have no problem with the BOMs if they are limited run fabrics, i.e., Daiwabo Taupes. For regular fabrics that can be easily found I probably would not be willing to pay the typical BOM prices. I do sometimes change the patterns or techinques a little bit to make them easier to do. I don't think I would participate in a BOM that requires special rulers to be purchased separately. The Daiwabo BOMs that I have include the acrylic templates in the cost and I'm ok with that. I like receiving packages in the mail and it is a fun way to get a quilt done on a schedule.

I'm doing three....one from Keepsake Quilting that is so gorgeous I can hardly wait for the final block. Just hope I can get it together correctly. Another is with Craftsy and it is fun too. It's nice to have a video to watch when I don't quite understand the written pattern. The third, and the first one I ever tried, is with a local group. I've not completed on yet, but so far, a lot of fun because there is no pressure and I can work at my own speed.
Leslie

Yes, not because its hard, but because I only got a 3rd of my blocks due to the owners lack of customer service i would have to wait 2 months for 1 block, no email, no call it will be late, when contacted gave me attitude, and this is why I no longer do BOM

I am on my second BOM. My first I went every month, but never once cut or sewed the fabric. I bought the finishing kit and it is all sitting on a shelf in my sewing room. I don't like the colors (I was going to give it for a wedding present as the bride loves the colors) and when I saw the setting and blocks I didn't like the multiple cuts. Each block was 20 inches and it had multiple mitered borders, not for beginners. It is now a someday project.

On this BOM I picked I loved the colors. However, I did not realize that there were extra blocks to make each month. What started as $10 a month took another $65 for the "extra blocks" and borders, and a matching backing was another $80. For me, this is a very expensive quilt. $120 plus $65 plus $80 plus professional quilting when completed.

I do, however, like the comraderie of the other quilters, the show and tell before each lesson, and the monthly routine of girls day out. Will I do next year's project? Hm, I don't know. We have only 1 quilt shop in the area for about 100 miles so I don't have many choices or opportunities for party times. The verdict is still out on this one.

I got the crafty BOM free but haven't started it yet. The good thing is that it never expires and I do think it will be. Good practice and make me do things that I may not even try on my own.

I have done a few, but was very dissapointed, when I discovered some of the fabrics had been changed from the original quilt, because they ran out of the fabric. Was not notifyed either, guess it was that or nothing! My whole reason for doing it in the first place was because I liked the look of the original quilt.

I love the block of the month quilts and have been in several. Unfortunately my husband got real sick and they are still not done. Then my basement flooded and they are still working there. Some day!

I have done several BOMs over the years. Some I have finished and some I have only made the blocks. I didn't sign up for any this year though because I want to finish projects that I have started before taking on any new ones.

I'm just finishing up my 3rd one. They've all been the civil war taught at a LQS by the same teacher. Along with the instruction she also lectures about the war during the time frame and 2 of them each month were blocks that she researched and designed the colors. Most of the times I would go off on my own and chose my own colors but that's just me. She'd switch it ups some so that as we went along we'd learn more skills including back basting appliqueing. I could listen to this lady lecture for hours on the civil war. I don't see why you keep signing up when you have all of the ones still to do. I like doing the ones thru her because if I need help she is at the store also one day a week where I can go out and she'll show me what I need help with. I think you might need a 12 step program though. LOL.

BOMs are way over priced so dont do them.
Bought one kit for $200, as a block of month it was even more. So far I have done 4 blocks in over a year. It is the Back To Nature quilt pattern and love it. But they did not include a cutting layout so hope I have enough fabric. At least it is batiks so can easily find a good match if I do run out.
Will not buy a kit again, it is much easier to get a pattern then buy fabrics separate.

I've never done one, too pricey for me!!...I sound broke lol I'm not but have a fabric budget and am very careful

I do the following:
1. Buy the pattern(s) on ebay, estate sale, or other discounted place. Use my own fabric. I did this with the Civil War Tribute. I also did not sew month 10 of this pattern due to its crazy inset seams so I just substituted another similiar month. My top is wild and crazy and semi civil war and I love it.
2. Use ebay favorite sellers to get a complete BOM package at less than 1/2 the original cost. Got a Lori Smith and a Home for the Holidays this way.
3. Do the "buy one, bring it back and get the next kit for free" at my local LQSs. This way the 12 blocks are only $7 or so for the whole year. I use the pattern to also make multiples using my own fabric and then have several tops done.

It is just way too expensive to buy into the BOM only to have it first or new.

I am also doing Craftsy's free BOM and I've done all those blocks. That is the only BOM that I've done. It's wonderful! I think I'm actually doing it because there is a video for each block and the blocks are do-able. Jeanne

Well, I am not alone. Some of you have said that you haven't done yours. I think if I would have joined a local one, I might do it. Also, my signature does say it all, doesn't it? Ha ha

I did a BOM mystery free internet "top" a few years ago. I loved the fabrics I chose, (from my stash) but wasn't fond of the finished top. Yes, it is still "just a top" I suppose I will finish it one day. Maybe. Have never done another BOM or mystery.

I did a BOM from a shop in Indiana, in fact I made two - one for a friend and one for myself (mine still needs to be assembled!!). Am doing the free one from Craftsy and am enjoying that. Mostly they are way too expensive. I hope my quilts will be used but at $400-$500 - ack!

I am currently doing 2: Cotton Club and a Penny Rug-a-month and have signed up for a third to begin in June (Vintage Rouge). I am on schedule with the two.

I have finished one Elegant Gardens from the patterns by Edyta Sitar and have another top waiting to be quilted. There are 24 blocks, our shop used 12 one year and 12 the next for BOMs.

I also have 3 Thangles Buck-a-block tops waiting to be quilted.

I have all the blocks finished on the Aunt Grace Circle of Friends from last year, needs to be set together.

And, finally, I have a Patriots in Petticoats that needs to be finished as soon as my boss finds the rest of the fabric.

These are all from the LQS where I work. I do all my own quilting (hand and machine), which is why there is such a backlog.

Wow, I guess that makes 10 all together, and only one of them is finished. I have some work to do.

I do them, but I do ones that are already complete. 1 block a month is not very fun for me. My 2 daughters get together and do them, usually 3 - 6 blocks a week. A lot of fun with them and plenty of gossiping....

this is the one we are working on now.
http://www.blockcentral.com/bom2005-intro.shtml

I go with a friend to a LQS for a BOM that is only $10 for 12 months - as long as you attend each month and listen to a short presentation (allowed one rain check) and have completed the previous month's block. Blocks are fairly simple and new techniques are presented. Of course the shop highlights its classes and products but there is no pressure to purchase - although I never seem to walk out without buying something. Teacher is friendly and class is fun!
I am not as successful with BOM that have no deadline - like the ones I have purchased from Keepsake which are beautiful but just seem to pile up.

I signed up for BOM at my LQS and was not happy with the fabric that I got to do the particular blocks. It seems that they were sloppy when cutting the materials and I never had enough so I quit after the fourth month.
I am doing a free BOM from Craftsty.com that I am having a lot of fun doing. They do not take a lot of time and it easy to keep up with the blocks. Amy is a very good teacher and explains different methods of doing the blocks so you have options.

I am doing the BOM with Sulabug here on the board and it is great fun! So far, I have been able to complete all the blocks out of my stash, so the cost is nil. I would love to do a "mail order" BOM, but when you figure the monthly charge and the shipping, it makes the quilt way too expensive for my blood!

I did one, which is mostly finished, but I need to finish it. I hate the colors chosen, and have called it my 'ugly' quilt for a couple of years. I have to iron it, and get it finished. I think I will tie it, I don't care enough about having it done professionally. I have a Thimbleberries one from a couple of years ago, and did a couple of blocks, and now the rest is languishing in a bag somewhere... The fabric is so lovely too... And now I am doing the Craftsy thing. I have sewn one block out of the 6 offered so far. At least with that one, you can decide if you really want to make the bleeping block or not. I can always make a ton of duplicates...

Anita in Northfield, MN

I want to do one. Just need to find one I like. Everytime I see a BOM quilt I am crazy about ...it was last year's BOM, etc.

Bom
 

Wow, if anyone wants to just send them to me to get them out of your way, give me a buzz by e-mail and I'll gladly take them off your hands. Ha
Dodee

I use to do them still have several unfinished I to got tired of them would rather do my own thing also hgave you noticed how expensive block of the months has become including gas to go or shipping costs makes one expensive quilt

I stay away from them because I am not really fond of "samplers" and I find them terribly expensive. I cannot fathom taking a full year to make a quilt and really prefer just forging ahead to finish.

I have done the Civil War Tribute, finished the top but need to pin and I want to hand quilt this one. Finished the top of Patriots & Petticoats. Will machine quilt this one. I am now working on General's Wife and love this quilt. I tend to favor the civil war quilts. I also am doing a batik block of the month but I am just saving this quilt for when I want something different to do. I also have made a few quilts in between in fact I'm trying to finish UFO's. When they are done I will post pictures. I do like doing the block of the month.

I'm right there with you. I joined a mystery BOM at my LQS and I am so far behind I just wish I could quit.

That's my whole problem with BOMs too!! I even have asked at the beginning that if they are going to substitute fabrics I don't want to subscribe. Very aggravating to me!