Welcome to Saturday Sampler 2008. We are very excited to present this new sampler quilt to you for your 2008 block of the month quilt project. The quilt is called: Stars Around the Garden and measures 87x102. We will use a Moda collection from Blackbird Designs to kick it off.

The Project ...
This quilt was originally seen in Quilt Sampler Magazine Spring/Summer 2007 issue and we were immediately attracted to its block of the month design. We later learned that the quilt comes from a shop in Michigan, called Bits 'n Pieces. This wonderful quilt is called Stars Around the Garden and it's perfect for our 2008 Saturday Sampler. A sampling of pieced blocks are the 'stars' with an applique garden center makes this quilt so attractive to look at. Imagine it in your home.

The Program ...
Pattern packs are $36 plus tax and will include the sets of patterns, color pictures and all the instructions you will need to complete your blocks and quilt. Gathering Fabric will supply all the block fabric kits for twelve months. You will need to supply two extra blocks as well as the finishing fabric. We'll have plenty from the collection to choose from.

The Fabric ...
We have chosen a Moda collection of fabric using lighter backgrounds with warm tonals and prints for the blocks. The blocks are 12 inches and the quilt measures 87 x 102 but can be adjusted larger or smaller. Once you see it, you will love it and will want to choose it for your 2008 Saturday Sampler.

Note: We have chosen the lighter color option for the quilt, but you could just as easily move it towards a darker version by using darker lattice and borders. The possibilities are endless depending on your border and finishing fabrics.

Finishing Fabric:

Sashing - 2 7/8 yards (includes outside border)
Binding - 7/8 - 1 yard
Center - 1 yard or 8 FQ if pieced
Border - 2 3/8 yards (3.5 yards total, if pieced)
Backing - 8.25 yards
Binding - .75 - 1 yard
Center can also accommodate 6 blocks, 12 inch finished

We're using a combination of Madeira from Blackbirds Designs and Moda Fabric along with Krystal, Crackle, Moda Dots and a new group from Clothworks called Cottage Charm. We'll have plenty of fabric to mix and match for finishing kits.

Use charms and fat quarter for the applique pieces in center and corners of your quilt. Use a printed outside border if you wish to skip the applique.

Enjoy your stars around your garden.

Just in case you're getting anxious to know which blocks we will be doing for our sampler next year, here they are:

Jan -- Four Corners
Feb -- Friendship Chain
March -- Century
April -- Old Fashioned Star
May -- Winding Ways
June -- Great Lakes Star
July -- Around the Corner
Aug -- Crooked Path
Sept -- Old Favorite
Oct -- Treasure Chest
Nov -- Rolling Stone
Dec -- Northern Star
Block 13 -- Crossroads
Block 14 -- Cobblestones

Saturday Sampler 2004,Undergound Raiload.
Saturday Sampler 2005, At Piece With Time.
Saturday Sampler 2006, More Biblical Quilt Blocks.
Saturday Sampler 2007, No Way Out.