Sign-up for this BOM here!

Sewing Arts is super excited to offer fabric kits using Art Gallery's Pure Solids to complete the quilt top for the Around the World Block of the Month! Purchase the pattern from wholecirclestudio.com and read the information below! If you would like to create your own palette, email us at contactus@sewingarts.com and we can make your own custom kit!

From Whole Circle Studio:

• 13 Quilt Block patterns (one each month in 2021, plus a bonus block)
Each month (January–December 2021) you’ll receive a detailed PDF pattern for a foundation paper piecing (FPP) block in the Around the World quilt (samples shown above) emailed to you. Each finished block measures 10″ x 21″, so they also make great mini quilts. With each block you’ll get instructions for how piece the blocks two ways—with the letters and without. I’ll also give ideas for how to embroider the letters if you want to include them, but not piece them.

The Block of the Month will kick off in January 2021. You’ll receive the first block pattern, along with links to the quilt along bonus content, in your email inbox on January 10, 2021 — I want to make sure you have plenty of time to prepare and gather up your fabric/supplies. The remaining blocks will be emailed out the 1st of the month (February–December 2021).

In order to have an element of surprise in our adventure, the order of the blocks will be a mystery! The first block in January will be the  easiest and comes together quickly. This is a low-stress quilt along and we’ll all work at our own pace. I’ll be here with you on this adventure to encourage you but during any month if you don’t have time to finish the block, no worries. The bonus content will be up on my blog indefinitely.

• Monthly Tutorials and Tips
Each month you’ll be able to access my tips and tricks for paper piecing, including video clips, for that month’s block on the blog. We’ll piece the blocks together each month. You’ll be sure to sharpen your foundation paper piecing skills while having fun!

• Exclusive Online Zoom Get Togethers
Connect with me and other quilters face to face from the comfort of your home. I’ll be hosting a series of Zoom get togethers so we can do “show and tells” of our blocks, meet new quilters, and exchange encouragement. We’ll also be sure to share some laughs and perhaps share where we’d like our future travels to take us.

• Planning Resources 
Use one of my planned two colorways (solid and blender fabrics) or create your own color scheme with the supplied color sheets and planning worksheet. Use the same fabrics that I used (specifications included) or plan your own. For those who like to keep it loose, plan as you go and use what you have in your stash or pick up fabric as we go along.

• Instructions for Putting It All Together
Instructions will be included for how to make the blocks into a throw size quilt (60″ x 60″). Sew your blocks into a quilt or incorporate them into other projects—mini quilts, wall decor, placemats, bags… the options are endless!

• Lots of Fun and Skill Building
This Block of the Month was designed for quilters who have some experience with foundation paper piecing (FPP) and are looking for a fun but challenging project. That said, beginners are totally welcome as I’ll be sharing all of my tips and tricks. Wherever you are with your FPP skills, by the end of 2021, you’ll gets lots more practice with precision and gain more piecing confidence. I’ll be here to share all of my tips and cheer you on every step of the way. We’ll all go at our own pace. There’s no pressure to finish the block each month, but for those who want to keep to a schedule we’ll keep each other accountable and have a finished quilt top by the end of the year.

About the fabric recommendations:

The details in the foundation paper pieced Around the World blocks require a good amount of fabric but the results are well worth it! The fabric requirements below are based on the sum total of the individual fabric requirements of each block, so the requirements are generous. Depending on your paper piecing skills, you may use more or less fabric.

A Fabric Planning Chart is included in the Welcome Packet to help you plan your fabrics and get organized. Each block uses a combination of 3 fabrics, from a shared palette of 15, plus the fabric you select for your Quilt Background. For quilts samples shown, I used:

Quilt blocks with pieced letters: all Pure Solids from Art Gallery Fabrics — London Red, Quartz Pink, Tigerlily, Chocolate, Turmeric, Dark Citron, Tender Green, Mirage Blue, Tranquil Waters, Parisian Blue, Purple Pansy, Purple Wine, White Linen, Light Grey, Ash, and Snow

Quilt blocks without letters: all Elements Blenders from Art Gallery Fabrics — Prisma Passion Garnet, Decostitch Ballet, Decostitch Red Desert, Decostitch Pecan Praline, Decostitch Sunglow, Decostitch Morning Moss, Prisma Subtle Turquoise, Prisma Larimar Sea, Icon Character Sky, Decostitch Indigo Sky,  Prisma Arctic Kyanite, Decostitch Orchidberry, Decostitch Cafe Latte, Decostitch Porcini, Decostitch Granite, and  Decostitch Cloud

Fabric Options:

option A: Gather your fabric each month as you make the blocks.
(more efficient use of fabric as you can see how much you have leftover)
option B: Use what you have and make it scrappy.
option C: Collect all of your fabric ahead of time.

Fabric Requirements:

• recommended fabric for all 13 blocks (non-letter version):
a collection of 15 fabrics, approximately 10 yards total

• additional fabric required for piecing letters:
 various fabrics, 1⅛ yards total

• additional fabric for Throw quilt sashing + borders:
approximately 1⅛ yards

• binding fabric for throw quilt: 
⅝ yard

• backing fabric for throw quilt:
3⅞ yards

Here are the architectural wonders and locations we’ll be “traveling” to in 2021:

In order to have an element of surprise in our adventure, the order of the blocks will be a mystery!
• Burj Al Arab : Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Colosseum : Rome, Italy
• Eiffel Tower : Paris, France
• Kan’ei-ji Temple : Tokyo, Japan
• London : London, England
• Machu Picchu : Lima, Peru
• Parthenon : Athens, Greece
• Pyramids of Giza : Cairo, Egypt
• Space Needle : Seattle, United States
• Statue of Liberty : New York City, United States
• Sydney Opera House : Sydney, Australia
• Taj Mahal : Agra District, India