How to Host a #100Days100Blocks Event
#100Days100Blocks was founded on the principles of supporting, growing and connecting the creative community and with these principles in mind we here at GnomeAngel HQ want to do our best to support our Local Quilt Shops and Guilds to do the same so I’ve put together some information to help retailers and guilds make the most of #100Days100Blocks.
Host a Sew-In or Class Series
Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler is the perfect pattern to use for a sew-in day with customers and friends alike. The event kicks off on 1 July and finishes 8 October. You could host an event prior to the event starting to help customers to prepare their blocks for showcasing during #100Days100Blocks. Alternatively, a sew-in day during the event is a great way for members to catch up and get ahead of the block making schedule. Or, if you’re really keen host 3 sew-in days over the course of the event: make blocks before the start, make blocks during and complete the blocks into quilt tops after the event.
These blocks offer stores a fabulous way to teach their customers all the tips, tricks and notions available to help with their accuracy, fussy cutting and new techniques like foundation paper piecing and english paper piecing. The pattern comes with all the information stores need in regards to the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Templates and Rulers customers can use to make the blocks.
The great thing about the #100Days100Blocks event is that it goes over a 3 months which provides lots of opportunities to get together and sew!
tips for hosting a successful sew-in event
We’ve complied the following lists of tips, tricks and suggestions to help you host a successful sew-in event:
- Advertise with plenty of notice so people can block out the time in their calendar.
- Promote the sew-in day via your social media and newsletter.
- Drop me an email and I’ll promote the event through my social media and newsletter.
- Stock the tools and notions listed in the pattern to help your customers get the best results and see the tools and notions in action.
- Cater the event. People love to indulge in treats while working so why not helping them to do so, and be sure to have good coffee and tea on hand. This is a great opportunity to reach out to your local small business community and see if there’s a coffee or food van that might like to turn up on the day for participants to purchase their wares.
- Play games during the day to help people to get up and move. People love a good lucky door prize. (Drop me an email and I’ll see if we can donate something to support your event as well!)
- Donate to a Good Cause by asking attendees to make a small coin donation to a local charity or by donating their blocks to make quilts for a local charity group.
- Teaching is a great way to cement your value with your customers. Prepare quick little demonstrations that you can do on the day to share with your attendees to show them how they can make half square triangles and flying geese blocks with ease and accuracy. It’s a great way to show your customers any new products that you have in store.
- Bundles are a great way to help customers see the opportunities contained within the pattern for play with colour and pattern. Why not have a few bundles put together that people can purchase at the event. Don’t forget to do up a bundle or two of solids and blenders to help those that need to plump up their stash.
- Share your guild event on social media. People in the #100Days100Blocks community love to connect with new people and Guilds so why not take advantage of the hashtag and promote your #100Days100Blocks events via the hashtag and let people know what you’re doing and how they can become members.
tips for a successful class series
Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler makes a great pattern to structure a class series for beginner patchworkers. The pattern contains all the foundational piecing and techniques that all quilters need.
To help you see the potential in this pattern we’ve put together a suggested class structure for you to use:
Class 1: Colour, Scale and Pattern + Tools and Notions
A great introduction to participants on the use of colour, scale and pattern in a sampler quilt. These blocks finish at 8″ x 8″ and 4″ x 8″ and therefore allow for many opportunities to use large scale prints in their work. Use examples of the blocks that can be found on the #100Days100Blocks2019 hashtag to show the various ways to interrupt the blocks.
This is a great opportunity to show participants bundles that you have curated in-store of fabrics available for purchase. Not to mention any selection of solids or blenders you might have that participants can use to compliment any large scale prints they might be using. Talk to them about the use of controlled colour palettes, scrappy quilts, using all one designer’s fabrics and how to use colour and fabrics to tell their own creative stories.
The pattern comes with a full list of supplies that can be used to make these blocks and quilts. Use this list to curate a show and tell on the tools, notions and supplies you have in store. Give participants the opportunity to try things out and demonstrate why you prefer and stock certain tools.
Class 2: The Basics of Patchwork
Use this class to teach participants the fundamentals of patchwork such as:
- Safety in the sewing room.
- The right way to measure and cut their fabrics.
- The various methods for making half square triangles and flying geese. The pattern shows two ways for each block unit, but there are many ways that these can be made. Make sure to highlight any products you have in-store that can help.
- The correct way to press fabrics and the benefits between pressing to the darkest fabrics and pressing open and how to nest seams.
- How to sew an accurate 1/4 seam. Tips and tricks for troubleshooting wonky seams. How to set up their sewing machine for accurate sewing.
- How to accurately assemble blocks so they don’t lose their points and seams nest.
- How to store their work as they work through their sampler and attend classes.
We recommend participants start cutting their blocks in this class in preparation for sewing.
Class 3 – 4: Block Assembly
Use these classes to work with participants to help them assemble their blocks. There’s lots of great opportunity to work together through smaller piecing and triangles.
You may decide to have more sewing days if your groups wishes to meet more regularly or need additional support.
Class 5: Quilt Top Assembly + Finishing Your Quilt
This will be the final class in the series, however if you offer quilting classes this is a great place to transition participants into another class series to help them quilt their work.
This class would cover:
- Assembling the quilt top as per the pattern.
- How to accurately cut sashing and borders.
- Tips and tricks for making sure blocks are aligned during assembly.
- How to baste a quilt top.
- How to prepare a quilt top for a longarm service (a great opportunity to partner with a local longarmer to support both your businesses or recommend your own in-house service).
- Ideas for quilting motifs within the blocks.
Optional: This is a wonderful opportunity for people to use large scaled blocks for practicing their FMQ as a QAYG project. This technique could be easily slotted into a class or held as a class on it’s own for those interested. Provides another opportunity to share with participants tools, notions and supplies that may assist them with this technique.
have a question?
There’s lots of ways for store’s to get involved and encourage their customers to have fun, learn new skills and meet new people. If you would like to talk about ways you can make the most of #100Days100Blocks then drop me an email and we’ll work through it together.
Host a Sew-In Day
#100Days100Blocks is the perfect event to use for a sew-in day with friends and Guildies alike. The event kicks off on 1 July and finishes 8 October. You could host an event prior to the start date to help Guild Members to prepare their blocks for showcasing during #100Days100Blocks. Alternatively and a sew-in day during the event is a great way for members to catch up and get ahead of the block making schedule. Or, if you’re really keen host 3 sew-in days over the course of the event: make blocks before the start, make blocks during and complete the blocks into quilt tops after the event.
The great thing about the #100Days100Blocks event is that it goes over a 3 months which provides lots of opportunities to get together and sew!
tips for hosting a successful sew-in event
We’ve complied the following lists of tips, tricks and suggestions to help you host a successful sew-in event:
- Advertise with plenty of notice so people can block out the time in their calendar.
- Promote the sew-in day via your Guild’s social media and newsletter.
- Drop me an email and I’ll promote the event through my social media and newsletter.
- Partner with local stores to offer pop-up shops at the event. This is a great way for you to support your local small businesses and help them to raise their profiles. It also means you can access supplies on the day and the store may like to provide a prize (or two) for raffling or auctioning off on the day.
- Cater the event by asking Guild Members to bring a plate or purchase provided food for a small donation. People love to indulge in treats while working so why not helping them to do so. It’s another great opportunity to reach out to your local community and see if there’s a coffee or food van that might like to turn up on the day for members to purchase their wares.
- Play games during the day to help people to get up and move. People love a good lucky door prize, so why not reach out to local businesses to see if they’ll donate a prize. (Drop me an email and I’ll see if we can donate something to support your event as well!)
- Donate to a Good Cause by asking attendees to make a small coin donation to a local charity or by donating their blocks to make quilts for a local charity group.
- Swaps are a great pre-event task for Members that then becomes a great way to meet new people on the day. Ask attendees to make something small (like a zippered pouch) to fill with treats (confectionery, stationery, notions, a fat quarter, etc.) and swap with another attendee on the day via a lucky dip. Another great swap idea is to ask members to bring 2 Fat Quarters for swapping. People put them in a pile and for the 2 they donate they can take 2.
- Share your guild event on social media. People in the #100Days100Blocks community love to connect with new people and Guilds so why not take advantage of the hashtag and promote your #100Days100Blocks events via the hashtag and let people know what you’re doing and how they can become members.
There’s lots of ways for Guild’s to get involved and encourage their members to have fun, learn new skills and meet new people. If you would like to talk about ways you can make the most of #100Days100Blocks then drop me an email and we’ll work through it together.
