Willow Quilt Along

I have some fun news for you guys today!

My IG friend Jessica Dayon asked me a couple of months ago if I would like to host a Quilt Along with her and I thought, "What better way to make some new quilty friends?!" so I said, "Yes!"  We've been in close contact ever since - collaborating, planning, and testing blocks to create this really pretty design we're calling Willow.  We hope you love it as much as we do and we hope you'll join us for this free Quilt Along.

Here are the details...

Willow Quilt Along

Hosted by Jessica Dayon and Amber Johnson

- Pattern: weekly instructions for the Willow pattern will be given here on my blog and on Jessica's blog each Thursday.

- Finished Quilt Size: 60" x 60"

- Finished Block Size: 6" x 6"

- Duration: 7 weeks

- Schedule: 

Week 1 (March 26th): Make 6 Harmony Blocks

Week 2 (April 2nd): Make 4 Grace Blocks
Week 3 (April 9th): Make 4 Grace Blocks
Week 4 (April 16th): Make 6 Hope Blocks

Week 5 (April 23rd): Make 5 Hope Blocks

Week 6 (April 30th): Make the cornerstones and cut the layout pieces 

Week 7 (May 7th): Assemble the top 

- Fabric Requirements: 

For the blocks, you will need 2 light-colored fat quarters, 3 medium-colored fat quarters, 3 dark-colored fat quarters and 5 fat quarters for the background. For the setting, you will need 2-3/8 yards of background fabric, 1/4 of a yard for the stashing stars, 7/8 of a yard for the border, 5/8 of a yard for the binding and 3-3/4 yards for the backing.
- Cost: it's FREE!
- Notes: This is another low-key Quilt-Along with no sign-ups and no prizes!  Just check our blogs every Thursday to get the week's assignment and in 7 weeks you will have a beautiful quilt top!  You can also follow along with us @jessicadayon and @gigis_thimble on Instagram.  Use the hashtag #willowqal to post pictures of your progress and see what everyone else is doing.  
- Click HERE for a PDF version of this information.

This blue and white version is what I'm planning on doing (or something very similar).

I'm going to try to use my stash that is heavy in different shades of blue.

I bought a background fabric and am hoping to use my stash for the rest.

Here are my test blocks.  

As you can see there are 3 different blocks for the main part of the quilt.  

We hope you like them.  They sure are fun to make!

 Because they finish at 6" you will become more comfortable working with small pieces.  Some of them have 1" finished Half-Square Triangles!  But I promise you they are not too hard to make. 

I wanted to see what this would look like in a more colorful palette so I also 

mocked up this version with bright, happy solids.

Or there is this version in Farmhouse Gingham from Riley Blake Designs.

I think this fabric line is gorgeous!

Or there is a classic red and white solid version if that's more your thing.

Those are just a few examples.  Really, the possibilities are endless with this pattern.

Color placement creates so many different looks!  I love that and can't wait to see 

the different versions you guys do!

One last thing that I wanted to share -

Jessica and I decided to name this pattern Willow because of what the Willow Tree represents.

The beautiful green symbolizes nature, fertility, and life. The tree also represents balance, learning, growth, harmony, strength, and stability.  The structure of the trunk represents standing firm and withstanding the greatest of challenges.  We both loved that and have named our blocks Grace, Hope and Harmony.  We hope this pattern will remind you of the beautiful qualities represented by the Willow Tree.  

Let me know below if you're going to join us (we really want you to!) and be sure to visit

Jessica's blog HERE to see her version.  It's beautiful so go on over and say "Hi!"!