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Today will mark the start of something really special — the very first month of the Bloom of the Month Sew Along! I will be so happy you’re here and stitching along with me as

we begin this quilt together. Over the coming months, we will watch this project grow from something small and simple into a full blooming quilt, one block at a time.

This sew along will be about progress over perfection, creativity, and building a fun, supportive quilt-munity along the way.


🎉 Let’s Kick Things Off

This month will be all about getting started and building momentum. You will complete your very first block and get comfortable with the flow of the sew along. It’s designed to be approachable, enjoyable, and something you can fit into real life — no rushing required.

Whether you’re sewing every day or squeezing in a little time here and there, you will be making progress just by showing up.


💬 Sew Along With the Community

One of the best parts of this sew along will be doing it together.

You will be able to:

Post your blocks on Instagram so we can all admire your color choices and finished pieces

Join the Facebook group to share progress, ask questions, and cheer each other on!

Be sure to tag @designsbyRR and use #BloomoftheMonthQuilt when you share — I will be following along and highlighting your beautiful work!


🎁 Prizes & Fun All Along the Way

There will be prizes throughout the sew along — 15 in total over the six months!

For this month, there will be some great goodies up for grabs:

A 6 Month Subscription to MakeModern

Start the year inspired! One lucky January participant will win a 6-month subscription to Make Modern Magazine, packed with fresh patterns, modern quilts, and creative eye candy delivered straight to your screen.

BIG BUNDLE of Foundation Pads by Leila Gardunia Design

Kick things off strong and you could win a big bundle of scrappy foundation paper piecing pads from Leila Gardunia Design—perfect for experimenting, playing, and squeezing every bit of fun out of your fabric scraps.

To enter, you will just need to share a photo of your finished Month 1 block by the end of the month. You can post it in the Facebook group, on Instagram, or email it to me if you don’t use social media.

Every block you share will also count toward the grand prize drawing at the end of the sew along — so each month will give you another chance to win!


🧵 About Block 1

This first block will be simple and sweet: two little leaves in a pot. Think of it as planting the seed for what’s to come.

It’s meant to ease you in and help you get comfortable before we start building larger and more detailed sections in future months. Even though it may feel small now, each block will add up to something really special by the end.

Each month will build on the last, growing those leaves into a full flower as the quilt comes together.


💡 A Tip for the Border (If You’re Making the Large Size)

If you plan to make the larger quilt with the intricate border, you will have the option to break the border into sections and work on it gradually each month.

This will make the final month feel much more manageable — and honestly, more enjoyable — instead of trying to do it all at once.


🎥 Extra Help With Curves

If curved piecing feels intimidating, don’t worry! There will be video tutorials and helpful resources to walk you through the process step by step so you can feel confident as you sew.

Make sure to sign up for the monthly emails to get the link!


🌟 Let’s Get Sewing

If questions come up throughout the month, you will always be welcome to ask in the Facebook group or email me directly. I will be happy to help however I can.

I will be so excited to see your first blocks start rolling in. This is going to be such a fun journey, and I can’t wait to stitch along with you!

Happy sewing — let the Bloom of the Month begin! 🌸

Get a chance to win BIG twice a month

We are getting closer and closer to the start of my 2026 Block of the Month program: Bloom of the Month—and I am so excited to sew alongside you. This program is all about showing up, stitching a little each month, and celebrating progress (and yes…prizes!) along the way. If you love curves, color, and community, you’re going to feel right at home here.

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Looking to wow the quilter or sewist on your Christmas gift list this year? Look no further! I’ve got 15 Christmas gift ideas for quilters, sewists, and crafters. Take a look – I promise you’ll find something as unique as the person you’re gifting to!

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Ever wonder how to get a perfectly matched back or border?! Today I’m going to show you with a quick and simple trick. This is a great tip for matching seams in blocks or even matching repeats on quilt backs and panels! No more waiting around for those serendipitous seams that we see all over Instagram!

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A Special Guest post by Kera and Rachel

Today I have a special treat for you!

My good friend, Kera, loves to make ByAnnie bags – she love’s Annie’s clear instructions and organized bag designs. She’s one of the most humble people I know, but I’m here to brag because she is a wonderfully talented sewist!

Today, Kera and I are going to share about the bag she made using Annie’s pattern and my fabric line, Modern Vintage: Treasured.

Enjoy this sweet post from Kera and myself:

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