Summer Sampler 2020 Catch-Up

It must officially be fall, because the final Summer Sampler 2020 block has been released! Here's a round-up of all the blocks that have been released since my last post for our annual summer quilt-along. (Want to get the Summer Sampler 2020 pattern? Click here!)

Block 7: Diverge by Nicole Neblett of Mama Love Quilts
This is such a fun block and gives you a great opportunity to use lots of colors and prints. Really the only tricky thing about this block is keeping track of where the colors go as you make your Flying Geese units.

Block 8: Direction by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life
This seems to have been the most difficult block in the quilt-along for many people, due to lining up the stripes. But I love the effect! And this is actually my second version of this particular block. I had my own struggles with the color placement of this one, so it desperately needed a redo. (If you'd like to see the original and what I did to improve it, you can find it in my Instagram feed by scrolling back a ways. I think this second version is a huge improvement.)

Block 9: Midsummer by Megan Pitz of Canoe Ridge Creations
This breezy block has so much movement! Trimming the pinwheel units tripped up some people, but just pay close attention to the diagram in the instructions to avoid headaches.

Block 10: Zephyr by Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt
Deceptively easy, especially since you've already tackled curves on Block 5! And these are such nice, big, gentle curves—just the way I like them! And since this block is asymmetrical, it has lots of cool design possibilities when repeated in a quilt.

Block 11: Swamp Rabbit Trail by Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs
This block looks like it's paper-pieced, right? Nope, it's not! It is surprisingly simple and fun, and such an unusual design. Like so many others of these blocks, it would like great repeated for an entire quilt.

Block 12: Orbit by Erica Jackman of Kitchen Table Quilting
A delight of a block! It looks complex, but it's really just simple piecing building-blocks made up of units that you're probably already familiar with.

Block 13: Glimpse by Faith Jones of Fresh Lemons Quilts
Looks complex, but Faith has plenty of tricks for you to simplify this design! Love the effect.

Block 14: Like a Butterfly by Carolina Oneto
Final curves of the quilt-along! Lots of people in the quilt-along Facebook group weren't sure about this one going into it, but it ended up being a crowd favorite! And it is so easy!

Block 15: Flux by Stefanie Satterwhite of Satterwhite Quilts
Another one that looks crazy complex, but in reality, it's just simple piecing units that add up to so much more! And there's like a gazillion design possibilities with this one just by changing up the colors and values. So have fun with it and make it your own.

Block 16: Daylily by me!
I'm bringing up the rear with this block, which is literally just HSTs and rectangles for a quick, easy, fun sew.

If you're not familiar with Summer Sampler, it's a weekly block program that typically runs each year from May to September. Subscribers receive a new quilt pattern in their email inbox each Monday, all for one low fee of just $29.99! And while the 2020 blocks have already been released, you can still buy the whole thing as a fabulous sampler pattern, and get immediate access to all 16 blocks, plus finishing instructions! You also get exclusive access to the subscriber-only Summer Sampler 2020 Facebook group, which is almost 1,000 members strong and still very active with quilters finishing up their blocks (or in some cases they're just starting them—people continue to join all year long!) Facebook group members can post about their progress, ask questions of the designers and other quilters, and generally enjoy each others' company.

I can't believe we're basically done with the quilt-along! Where did this summer go? But it's been so much fun to make this quilt along with all of you, and I have absolutely loved seeing the growth and camaraderie in our subscriber-only Facebook group! People seem to have learned a lot and y'all will have some amazing quilts to show for it. I'll post my finished quilt very soon!