Hello Friends, it’s Thursday — and we kick off our Leaders/Enders Sewalong for my Aunt Grace Sew Charming Heart quilt. I already decided the Aunt Grace Sew Charming that I had designed for Marcus Fabrics is a quilt I am making leaders/enders style. And I thought — why not see if some friends would like to join in for a stress-free “not-a-race” sewalong. Join in anytime!
If you post your progress pictures on Instagram, please use hashtag #iloveleadersandenders so that I can follow along your quilt progress.
Click HERE to purchase the kit from Hancocks of Paducah.
Click HERE if you just want the pattern to sew along with your own fabrics.

This is supposed to be a stress-free sew along because you will just be sewing the blocks as leaders-and-enders when you work on your main quilt! Itβs never a race. And you are more than welcome to join in if you just want to make the quilt at your own pace, or make the quilt a main quilt project. I will, however, have a few dates (12/16/21 β 3/21/22) where I check in with you on your progress.
TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT:
In case you need a break from baking cookies or wrapping presents, by all means sneak in some fabric cutting — we are going to cut a total of (224) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles!
So if you are going to make the quilt exactly as shown in the image above, refer to the following chart for the number of 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles you would need to cut for each fabric. If the fabric appears in 10 blocks, you will need to cut (10) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles from that fabric.

AFTER YOU CUT – sort the rectangles by the block colorways, whether they go to the LEFT or RIGHT halves of the heart blocks.
If you are using your own fabrics, and want to do a completely scrappy layout, you will need to cut a total of (224) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles. There are (56) blocks, and each block has (4) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles.
AFTER YOU CUT – divide the rectangles into 2 groups of 112 for the LEFT or RIGHT halves of heart blocks.
Here are my rectangles sorted:

And that’s it — the next date I will check in with you is December 29, 2021! Again, this is not a race — it’s just something you can work on to break the monotony when you are working your main quilt project!
Have fun, till next time!
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Find me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivory_spring/
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My Online Machine Quilting Classes: https://www.anniescatalog.com/onlineclasses/instructor.html?id=16
Find all my stand-alone patterns: https://shrsl.com/337dq
Thank you for getting us Started. Your directions are always well written & easy to follow. Until next time ” Merry Christmas” to you and your Family.
Carla Summers
Thank you, Carla — to you and yours as well! :)
I will be sewing Christmas quilts for NEXT year during THIS Christmas… hahaha :)
Wendy, Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for such a sweet design. We moved into our new home this past summer and i have not had time or energy to sew. This is such a cute pattern that i cant wait to get started. Thank you for some much needed encouragement πππ
Just play whenever you can – a new house could be overwhelming! :)
This will be such a fun project. I am looking forward to seeing some wonderful hearts popping up on social media.
This is a gorgeous pattern and I’ve taken the liberty of downloading it, thanks so much.
You are welcome!
Thanks Wendy for such a cute pattern. Do you have any idea how many jelly rolls I would need for this quilt. I have so many and would love to use them. Thanks again! Pam
Hi Pam,
One 2 1/2″ x 40″ strip cuts (4) 2 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ rectangles — so it looks like for (224) rectangles, you will need (56) strips.
Wendy
Thank you so much!
Dear Wendy: I bought the kit from Hancock’s of Paducah using your link, however, I am still working on assembly of the 2021 Homemade Holiday Mystery Quilt through Fort Worth Fabric Studios. Once I finish up on this quilt I will start cutting the fabric from the kit into the strips. You stated this was not a race, so I hope I don’t get too far behind. I’ll do my best! Oh, I did get the magazine featuring your Christmas Quilt with the Red and Green plaids. Happy New Year, 2022!
Hi Roxy,
Happy New Year to you!
I am so glad you are joining the sewalong — and yes, do not ever stress about not keeping up! It’s supposed to be a project you work alongside a main project. :)
The Fort Worth Studio mystery Christmas quilt is so cute!
Wendy