2024 AQS & AccuQuilt-Along: Grapefruit Slice Throw Quilt, Show & Tell

The first AQS & AccuQuilt-Along for the year is finished! Let’s take a look at what different quilters did with their projects as we celebrate the project with Show & Tell.

Can you believe our first quilt-along for the year is finished? Wow, it went by in a flash! So many of you joined in the fun and made stunning blocks and quilts alongside AccuQuilt Cutting Expert Pam Heller and me. We all experienced cutting and sewing the surprisingly easy Tangled Star blocks, setting squares and setting triangles together, and sharing pictures of ideas and progress on the AQS Quilting Project Parade Facebook group.

Not done with your quilt yet? No worries – this is a quilt-along and not a race. While we would all love to sew all day, we know that life gets in the way, so don’t stress about it! My top is done, but certainly not quilted yet, and it’s all good, right?

  1. GO! Grapefruit Slice Throw Quilt Pattern
    GO! Grapefruit Slice Throw Quilt Pattern
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  2. GO! Tangled Star-10" Finished Die
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  3. GO! Setting Triangles-10" Finished Die
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  4. GO! Big Square 10 1/2" (10" Finished) Die
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Show & Tell Time

Part of the fun in doing a Quilt-Along is seeing what your fellow quilters dream up, right? We loved seeing how many of you made test blocks to start, checking to see how the block worked before cutting into your good fabric! Because we wanted everyone to be able to participate, we provided our GO! pattern along with traditional rotary instructions by AQS and free, downloadable paper templates to print.

We did see some quilters who already own GO! cutters decide to invest in the die along the way to make the cutting (and sewing) easier.

Mary F. made a block without the die and one with the die to compare.

I was really impressed by the chart that Patricia B. created for cutting and laying out the units for her blocks to stay organized. I will admit to you that I didn’t get quite enough pieces cut originally and had some issues getting my “act” together to get the right ones cut to finish my block, with all of my great organizational plans falling apart on me!

Patricia B. designed this great chart for laying out her blocks.

Doing Your Own Thing

So many of you have added your own little “twists” to this project to really make it your own. From using the same block with a different pattern to making a smaller project like a table runner to making a larger quilt by adding more blocks.

Fran C. decided to join us in making Tanged Star blocks, but using them to build a table runner instead.)
Sonia J. enlarged her project by adding more blocks.
Lisa S. changed up the look by setting her blocks straight with sashing and cornerstones.
Micki W. got busy and finished her version with extra blocks in a flash.

Fabric Choices Galore

I quilt because I love fabric, and so many of you put together inspiring fabric choices and combinations that I honestly could happily copy several of them!

I love seasonal quilts, and it made my heart spring for joy when some seasonal prints started popping up. Carolyn B. really hit it out of the park with her Halloween version that made use of the setting squares for bats, made with the GO! Cat and Bat die.

Carolyn B. added applique bats to her setting squares.
(Deanna S. whipped up this fun St. Patrick’s Day look that just might send me to the fabric store to copy her.
Betty Ruth W. made this fun Halloween version with a lovely border treatment.
Debbie W. changed the whole look of the project by adding floral setting squares.

I love using scraps up, and some of our quilters have beautiful projects going with their scraps. I might just be inspired by them to make another one (or two?) of these fun quilts!

Paula W. is creating a fun, scrappy look with bright 30’s reproduction fabrics.
Kathy B. is putting her scraps to good use with her project.

That’s A Wrap!

Thanks so much for joining in the fun with the first 2024 AQS & AccuQuilt-Along project! I’ve had so much fun working on my project alongside all of you and seeing all of your designs!

If you’ve loved working on this project, we hope you’ll join us in the next quilt-along starting April 10! We’ll be announcing this project on the blogs as well as AccuQuilt Live on Wednesday, March 27. Be sure to tune in to learn what’s up next, and be sure to check out the AQS Quilting Project Parade Facebook page for hints along the way.

Speaking of hints, here’s the first one for you. Miss Pam and I have already got our fabrics selected and we both have prints coming into the mix with this one… Stay tuned for more hints!