The weather has been TERRIBLE for photos here lately! But today, with extra help in the studio cutting orders, I decided to brave the wind and rain and give some photos a go. I really wanted to show you my finished Mandolin Quilt top! This is the quilt we'll be stitching together for the 2018 Tales of Cloth quilt club!

Mandolin is named for the beautiful decorative rosettes around the sound holes of the guitars in our home. It reminds me of traditional country dances, of sing-alongs around a campfire, of evenings listening to Tim play after the kids go to bed. I used Rifle Paper Co's Wonderland fabric for mine, which, of course, has nothing to do with my musical memories, but I love it for the rich, earthy colours which sit at home in our Australian Bush. I just love how it swirls, don't you?

About Mandolin Quilt Club:

There's 20 blocks in the quilt, plus 12 setting blocks, and 20 edge and corner blocks. We'll be making 2 blocks and 1 setting block per month for 10 months, and the rest of the setting and edge blocks in the final 2 months. The club will go for a total of 12 months.

Size and Fabric: The size of the quilt is 60" x 75".

This year I'm excited to be collaborating with Ava & Neve who will be providing 10 fat 16ths of Liberty Fabrics each month, curated by me for those that choose the Papers and Fabric option. These fabrics will be included in the first 10 months of the club. Fabrics for the setting blocks will not be included. You buy the joining fabrics first so that you can build the setting pieces each month without excess fabric wastage or shipping costs.

Block Fabric Requirements: You might be able to notice that I had to add solids and co-ordinating prints to my 21 fat quarter bundle of Wonderland. This was mostly due to the fact that I fussy cut all the centre hexagons and many of the other parts of the blocks. If you were to do fussy cutting, I'd recommend getting double what I started with: 20 or so half yards. If you're not fussy cutting at all, I think a 20-27 fat quarter bundle would be plenty for this quilt. I'm also looking forward to seeing this quilt made from stash and scraps!

Setting and edge fabric requirements: I used 2 colours for my setting prints, but you could decide to go scrappy, or use a 3rd print in the hexagons, so many possibilities! I used 1 1/2 yards of Art Gallery's Pure Elements in Crystal Pink, and 1 1/4 yards of the white lawn print from Wonderland.

In 2018 I'll be making the Liberty version, and using a light chambray dot and Michael Miller Soft white for my setting fabrics. I'll have a number of these bundles available in my shop if you wish to use them too. I'll link them here when they're available in January! Unlike Ice-Cream Soda, we'll be starting our setting blocks from the beginning. This was mostly due to the best way to split the quilt into the most economical shipping rates! If you'd like, you can set your setting block pieces aside until later in the year when you've made a few blocks and can choose your setting pieces based on what looks best in front of you.

Binding Fabric Requirements: 5/8 yard

How much does it cost?

In 2018, you'll have the option to pay a monthly subscription, or an upfront payment. The club will cost as follows:

Papers Only:

AUD$10/month plus postage ($2.20 Australia, $3.50 international) (at time of publishing, this is approx US$10.25, 9 Euros, or 8 GBP inc. shipping)

Or $120 upfront for 12 months. (free post!)

Papers and Fabric:

AUD$42 plus postage ($3.50 Australia, $9 international) (US$37, 31 Euros, 28 GBP, inc. shipping) for the first 10 months, and automatically reduced to $10/month plus post (as above) for the final 2 months.

Or $430 upfront for 12 months in Australia, $490 international. (1 month free fabric, reduced post)

How do I join in?

I'll open the listings in the shop on the 3rd January. We'll start shipping on the 16th January after our Christmas break. The listings will be open until Midnight, the 31st January 2018, Sydney time. Each month from February, subscribers will be charged on the 10th, and all packages will be sent out by the 14th (unless that falls on a weekend).

I'll be sharing my blocks and my favourites of yours on Instagram most Mondays with the tag #MandolinonMonday and #mandolinquilt.

Each month, I'll send an email with tips for easy stitching, fussy cutting, choosing prints and creating contrast, and I'll share my favourite blocks from the #mandolinquilt hashtag on Instagram.

The Facebook group option is still an open question for me. I'm rarely on Facebook, do you enjoy the groups?

How tricky is it?

I was so impressed with how many people took up English Paper Piecing for the first time with Ice-Cream Soda and became hooked! The pieces and blocks for this quilt are much bigger, which can both be easier (in basting and handling the pieces) and trickier (in handling the blocks as they grow, and stitching up a block quickly). You're very welcome to sign up for the monthly payment, give it a go, and cancel if you don't like it. If you've sewn hexies before, you'll find this easy.

What else will I need?

You might like to buy the acrylic templates here! (You can also wait to purchase them with the first month)

I use Aurifil 50wt thread and Bohin Milliners needles, size 9.

You'll need 4 3/4 yards of fabric for backing and 68" x 83" batting (wadding).

I use supermarket glue sticks for basting. Try a few and see which ones you like!

Rules?

Please choose the 'Small Letter' or 'Flat Envelope' shipping option at checkout. All International parcels are shipped untracked, economy air, in bulk. After 6 weeks, if your club order is missing, we are happy to replace it.

Subscribers can change subscription from papers and fabric to papers only, and vice versa at any time.

Subscribers may cancel their subscription any time.

We will not be offering any 'late entries' into the club.

We cannot offer pick up from our studio.

First orders for the subscription/club may be combined with other products, but we will not be combining future monthly orders with others.

We will not be altering the subscription in anyway.

Let me plan!

Of course! You can download the colouring in sheet here!

This year, I've asked a selection of amazing quilters to join in and make the quilt with us and they've all said yes! I've been so humbled by the enthusiastic response! I can't wait to start sharing all the colourful ways people interpret this design.

Sign up for my newsletter at the bottom of the page to hear when the link becomes open!

I can't wait!

Mandolin Quilt Club 2018!