What is a Block of the Month?
Blog Written by Anita Williams
In this modern era that we live in, convenience is everything. You can buy your groceries from the comfort of your home. You stream the latest newly released movies at the click of a button. If you are in the market for new clothing every season, there is no need to go to a store. You can order a seasonal wardrobe through a subscription service without ever stepping foot in a store. Why not be able to indulge in your favorite hobby through a monthly subscription service?
Whether you are just starting on your journey or are an old pro, quilters everywhere can agree that sometimes new projects can be a bit overwhelming. There are so many projects that you want to do and only so much time to do them in. Starting a new project takes a lot of time and effort. You must gather all the fabric needed for the project, sometimes picking out more than forty fabrics for a single quilt. Maybe your project is a new technique that you are wanting to learn. It is very easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed early on, thus sending your project to the “UFO” pile in your sewing room.
A Block of the Month program is a monthly subscription service for quilters. Stitchin’ Heaven offers more than sixty programs at any given time each month. The customers will pick out a project from the many options available on the website, then they receive a small section of the quilt every month for a monthly fee. Some programs you will receive one block each month, and for other programs you may receive six blocks each month. The Block of the Month, or “BOM”, programs can be anywhere from six months to two years in length - with most projects falling in the twelve to thirteen month range.
Why Customers Prefer Block of the Month Programs When Starting a New Project
A couple of years ago I decided I was going to tackle my first Lori Holt quilt. I was so excited! I took my daughter with me to the store and we spent hours picking out what felt like a million different fabrics for this project. I got home and sat down to start my project and immediately was overwhelmed with not only how many fabrics I had to sort through, but how much time and money it took for me to get to the first initial step. There was so much wasted fabric because the project I was working on only required scraps of fabric. Maybe some people have several dozen different “thirties” fabrics in their scrap bin, but I did not. While talking (or actually whining) to a friend of mine about the predicament I had found myself in, she said, “You should have done this as a BOM program”.
A few months later, feeling very unsure of myself, I decided to start on a quilt for my master bedroom. Considering my epic failure with my Lori Holt project, the idea of only having to do a small section of a quilt each month greatly intrigued me. When you sign up to do a Block of the Month program, you are essentially paying a quilt shop for their skills in picking out fabric. I didn’t need to worry about finding “a million” different scrappy fabrics for my project. The website said that they would take care of all of that for a fee of $29.99 per month.
Taking my friend’s advice, I signed up for the Reflections of the North program through Stitchin’ Heaven. Although I was skeptical at first, I quickly figured out that all of the hard work had been done for me by the time I got my first package. There was no need for me to stress over what fabrics to use or spend hours trying to figure out a layout. The first package came in the mail in a small, organized baggie with all of the instructions and fabric needed for that first section of the quilt.
Why is Stitchin’ Heaven Considered the Block of the Month Headquarters?
Sometimes the hardest part of making a quilt is getting started. The first block I received included instructions for making flying geese. I know some people love those temperamental little blocks, but they are not my favorite. I found myself wishing I had a friend to sew this quilt with me. An accountability partner can go a long way when you are trying to reach a goal. Then I remembered seeing a note in my first package about there being a Facebook Group for people that were participating in this program. That was just what I needed.
In this Facebook Group I found people that could share in my joy of figuring out those pesky Flying Geese blocks, and commiserate with me when my trusty friend “Jack the Ripper” and I were up until midnight picking apart a block. Sewing after midnight really isn’t a good idea for me, and I found out after cutting everything out that I had cut my fabrics incorrectly. What was I going to do? My new friends in the Facebook Group assured me that this was a mistake everybody had made at least once, and that I needed to call the store and let them know of my mistake.
As it turns out, when you sign up for a Block of the Month program through Stitchin’ Heaven you are receiving more than just a monthly fabric kit and a Facebook Group. The sweet lady that was cutting my packages each month assured me that she had extra fabric and would be sending me some scraps free of charge. She stated that as the Block of the Month Headquarters, Stitchin’ Heaven provides support to every customer in their programs. This kind lady took the time to explain to me what I was doing wrong, and promptly sent more fabric to me as a replacement. She even went as far as explaining to me how I was using my new ruler wrong, and what to do to correct it.
How to Sign Up for a Block of the Month Program
Options can be a wonderful thing, and Stitchin’ Heaven definitely has plenty of options if you are looking to start your first program. You can visit Stitchin’ Heaven’s Block of the Month page here to scroll through the variety of projects currently being offered. There are projects for advanced quilters, beginning quilters, paper piecing fanatics, and even projects for adventurous people who want to do a whole quilt each month.
I hope you will consider trying a Block of the Month program for your next project. I know I for one have been very happy with the results. Just don’t judge me too hard if I fall behind or decide to add these to my growing stash. After all, if anybody asks, I am saving for retirement.
