From Janet Wickell,
Your Guide to Quilting.
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Mid March, 2007, marks the completion of my first year as the About Quilting Guide, definitely a fun year. I became a member of our Quilting Forums, although time spent building the Web site curtailed most of my ability to participate in fabric and block swaps. I wrote a book for the About Book Series, a project that came about unexpectedly, and that I couldn't have managed without the pattern testing and quiltmaking skills of some of our Forum Hostesses. We also started organizing an annual quilting retreat for online quilters.

With year number two on the horizon, I thought it might be fun to design a quilt that we can work on together during the months ahead. So here it is, the Anniversary Sampler Quilt, a scrappy quilt with some orderly components that help bring its design elements together.

The Anniversary Quilt is suitable for quilters of any skill level. Its twelve blocks are all patchwork, and after we finish the quilt, new quilters will have more experience with techniques they've never tried, including applique, which is optional for quilters who absolutely do not want to go there.

Finished Quilt: 76" Square

Finished Blocks: 12" Square

You'll find fabric suggestions on page 2. Most yardages are estimated on the high side in order to offer more flexibility with design as you work on the quilt. You needn't purchase all of the fabrics at once, and experienced quilters might even find that all of the fabrics are already in their stashes.

Use the guidelines to begin developing a color scheme. Give yourself some time to play with the colors, thinking about them a little each day and then sleeping on your selections. Our brains are very good at sorting out choices while we rest.

We'll make it through the entire quilt during 2007.