On 3 August  Nicole Calver (of Snips Snippets) and I will be kicking off the Jen Kingwell’s Gypsy Wife Quilt Sew-along. Jen Kingwell’s “Gypsy Wife Quilt” has been on a lot of people’s hit list since it’s release in 2012, so when Nicole and I were bartering on what events we wanted to host this one was top of my requests.  After making the Long Time Gone quilt I feel like I’m ready to tackle this quilt in a way I never have before. I’m excited for the adventure and the opportunity to learn more.

This event will be run on Instagram and you’ll be required to post at least one photo a week showing the specific block type that we’re making for that week. (Similar to how the Long Time Gone event was run.) However, unlike the Long Time Gone event we will not be providing comprehensive tutorials on how to make the blocks. As this quilt has been run as a sew-along before and there’s a wealth of information on the internet about the blocks, etc. we’ll be providing you tips, tricks and links to things we found useful with each block. You’ll have more than enough information and support to make this quilt.

You can find all the details about the event by clicking here, including the frequently asked questions. I’m still finalising some of the sponsor and prize details so I’ll let you know when those details have been finalised and where you can find them. (Signing up to my newsletter is a great way of staying on top of all the information!) In the meantime, how about we take a look at the amazing custom curated fabric bundles that Chelsea will be offering exclusively for those of you that want to make a quilt similar to ours, or if you want to find your own colour palette I’ve collated some examples of the Jen Kingwell’s Gypsy Wife Quilt to get you inspired.

Amitie Textiles Custom Bundle

Picked by Jen Kingwell herself this bundle is the ultimate must-have for Jen fans. The bundle is made up of 2m (approx. 2.2 yards) of fabrics perfect for your very own Gypsy Wife. The bundle costs AU$75 and includes a free copy of the pattern. Everything you need to make your own Gypsy Wife quilt. Click here to purchase.

Pink Door Fabrics Custom Bundles

Chelsea and the team at Pink Door Fabrics have put together some bundles for those of you looking for a quick start to your fabric pull (pattern needs to be purchased separately). Here’s what Chelsea has to say about their bundles: “We have re-imagined these Gypsy Wife kits to be a bit less scrappy in style than Jen’s gorgeous original. We saw lots of super fun ideas for them on Pinterest, and wanted to pick a limited palette from which to create Jen’s iconic quilt. We hope you love them! Please note – there is plenty of yardage for the top included in our kits, but we have chosen a smaller color palette for the vertical “stripes” of the quilt – feel free to add strips from your stash to make it more eclectic. We were particularly inspired by this rendition by Catherine Mosely – we loved how bold the stripes were, set against the bold colors! We have already started, and highly recommend the Tucker Trimmer for making perfectly cut half-square and quarter-square triangle blocks!”

Inspired by Cath Mosley’s stunning version of the Gypsy Wife Quilt (see below) there’s this Modern Rainbow bundle. I’m obsessed with this collection of solids and seriously toyed with the idea of using this bundle. You can purchase this bundle for US$91.09 by clicking here.

No one does colour saturation like Alison Glass and these two bundles would make a superb version of this quilt. You can purchase the light spectrum bundle for US$91.09 by clicking here, or the dark spectrum bundle for US$91.09 by clicking here.

This colour palette from Cotton + Steel would make a really beautiful version of this quilt. You can purchase this bundle for US$91.09 by clicking here.

I confess this fabric collection didn’t really grab me when I first saw it, but then I saw Chen’s version of #100Days100Blocks2017 and I confess to a little bit of fabric envy. Lots of fussy cutting opportunities in this bundle! You can purchase this bundle for US$91.09 by clicking here.

Inspiration from the Interwebs

In an effort to help you think about the version you’d make (or push you off the fence and into the fray) I’ve collated some images and links to Gypsy Wife quilts that have been done by others.

Cath Mosley’s version of this quilt is all kinds of amazeballs and envy inducing. I confess that after seeing this version I was intimidated to make my own version because this is all sorts of perfection and I wanted to make one just like it. But that would be crazy, because this is Cath’s version and I needed to make my own, so here we are. You can read a great interview of Cath in regards to her quilt over at Splish Splash Stash by clicking here. You can see more of Cath’s amazing work by following her on Instagram; @cathmosely.

The Gypsy Wife that started an international love affair; Nicole’s Gypsy Wife. Made in all Anna Maria Horner fabrics and hand quilted this beauty is the reason Nicole and I met. It’s a thing of beauty and I love that she was able to get this photo at Quilt Market in 2016 with Anna Maria Horner and Jen Kingwell. I’m pretty sure this is the photo that Nicole will want on her tombstone.

Lynne at Lily’s Quilt made this version using the original Block of the Month from Amitie Textiles and it’s a glorious punch of colour. You can see it and read more about the making of it on Lynne’s blog by clicking here.

This was the quilt that helped me find Elisabeth Woo and fall in love with her work. She was making this quilt when I first found her Instagram account, @Elisabew. I love the controlled palter and those soft stripes.

If you’re looking for more inspiration be sure to hit up Pinterest (there’s this great board) and Flickr, as well as Facebook (there’s a great community group). I hope you’re inspired to come along for the adventure, it’s going to be one heck of a ride into 2018!