Gigi's Thimble Pattern Testing

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Hi friends!


Every now and then I do a call for new pattern testers
and now is one of those times!  I am going to be releasing a new, patriotic pattern soon 
and thought it would be a good time to invite some of you to test it for me!  

This time I am making the process a little more "official" 
with an actual blog post listing all the details about what I'm looking for in a pattern tester,
how the pattern testing process works, as well as, a legit application form.  
Ha!  Sounds a little crazy to have an application form but last time I posted the call on Instagram 
I got tons of messages and this application will help me keep track of and sift through all the information so I can find people that will be a great fit for the Gigi's Thimble pattern testing team!


So here's what I'm looking for in a pattern tester:

First and foremost, I am looking for someone who LOVES to quilt
and loves my traditional (with a fresh twist) style!  

I need someone who:
- is up for testing a pattern 3-5 times a year
- can start and finish a quilt quickly (about 2 weeks for the top is ideal)
- can follow written instructions
- pays attention to detail
- doesn't tweak the pattern layout to make it their own
- communicates well and can give feedback
- has a public Instagram account

It also helps to have testers who:
- have an eye for color and pretty fabrics
- great photography skills
- have an Instagram account
that's primarily about quilting

Besides testing the pattern and looking for any errors, confusion, etc.
it is greatly appreciated when a tester can share a few posts on Instagram
to help advertise about the upcoming release of a new pattern!  It really helps for 
people to see the pattern in another colorway besides mine too.


How the pattern testing process works:

A few times a year (when inspiration strikes) I design a new pattern.
I write the instructions and send them to a professional editor.
While the instructions are being edited I make the original quilt.
When the edits come back from my editor I make the corrections and then 
send an email with a picture of the quilt plus a few details to my pattern testers 
to find out if they would like to test it for me.  There is never any obligation to test a pattern.
If you have the time and like the pattern then you can respond with a big, fat "YES!"  
and I will then send you the instructions.  If you don't care for the pattern or don't have time,
you can simply tell me "no" and I will completely understand!  
You get to pick the size and colors you want to use for your quilt.  If you can get the top made 
within a couple of weeks that helps a lot so I can make any final edits to the instructions. 
In the meantime, I am getting my quilt quilted, bound, photographed and the cover sheet designed.  After all of that is finished, I will publish the pattern in paper and PDF forms in my Etsy shop and do some serious marketing on my blog, Instagram feed, etc.

Just a note, if I get 2-3 "no's" from you in a row or the quilt doesn't get completed in a timely manner
I will assume you want to stop pattern testing for me and will stop sending you emails.  
With no hard feelings of course!

What's in it for you:
- you'll receive soon-to-be-released PDF quilt patterns for free
(just those you desire to test)
- I will mention you and repost your quilt on my feed and in my stories
(great advertising if you are trying to grow your IG following)
- I will donate a couple of paper copies if you'd like to host a giveaway on your IG feed
- you will gain quilting and pattern testing experience


Here's a little snippet of my upcoming pattern, United.
This particular pattern only comes with instructions for 1 size - 78 1/2" x 87 1/2".
I'm excited to find testers that can show it in some different colorways.
A few of them may vary slightly from mine and hopefully there are a few of you out there that
can put a fun or funky spin on this!  I would love to see it in solids or
even a very colorful, non red, white and blue version!


So if you made it through all of that info and would like to be a pattern tester for me
please click HERE to apply.  The application just takes a minute to fill out and I will sift through all the applicants in the next 24 hours and choose about 5 -8 people that I think will be a good match for me.  We'll start with this pattern, United
and then go from there.

Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you!

Stash Hash Quilt-Along: Week 9

Monday, September 14, 2020

Good morning!  I hope you had a great weekend!  Did you do anything fun?
My husband was out of town so me and the kids went to our favorite breakfast spot and 
a few thrift stores.  I also made some progress on my upcoming patriotic pattern and my
hand-quilting project.  It was a nice weekend.


Anyways, it's week 9 of the Stash Hash Quilt-Along and
the assignment for this week is to make 2 Star blocks.  Here are mine:




I'm really loving the black mixed in with the reds and greens of this Christmas quilt.
Do you have a particular favorite block color in your Stash Hash quilt? 

Well that's it for this week!

Please keep sharing your blocks on Instagram.
It makes me so happy to see them and
I know it inspires others as well.  Plus,
it helps spread the word about my patterns which I really appreciate!
Please tag me @gigis_thimble and use the hashtags
#gigisthimblepattern, #stashhashquilt, and #stashhashqal
if you decide to share.  

If you're looking for the Stash Hash quilt pattern, visit my shop HERE.

Happy quilting!

Stash Hash Quilt-Along: Week 8

Monday, September 7, 2020

Welcome to week 8 of the Stash-Hash Quilt-Along!


Can you believe we're already a week into September?!?
Anyone else secretly counting down the days until the new year?
I'm okay for 2020 to be over. I really am haha.


The assignment for week 8 is to make 2 Hashtag blocks.  Easy peasy, right?


I'm loving using the Christmas 10" squares that I got from a fabric swap last year.
So tell me, are you using your stash for this quilt or did you buy fabric for it?


Well that's it for this week!

Please keep sharing your blocks on Instagram.
It makes me so happy to see them and
I know it inspires others as well.  Plus,
it helps spread the word about my patterns which I really appreciate!
Please tag me @gigis_thimble and use the hashtags
#gigisthimblepattern, #stashhashquilt, and #stashhashqal
if you decide to share.  

If you're looking for the Stash Hash quilt pattern, visit my shop HERE.

Happy quilting!

Stash Hash Quilt-Along: Week 7

Monday, August 31, 2020

 Welcome to week 7 of the Stash Hash Quilt-Along!

I hope you're having fun with this quilt-along!
Are you staying caught up?  I know some of you have moved ahead 
and even finished your quilts and that's okay too!  I try to create
a do-able schedule even for people who are extra busy.


The assignment for week 7 is to make 3 Star Blocks.
You know the drill.  Refer to the block assembly instructions for details.


These are my blocks.  They really go together pretty quick, don't you think?


I love to see them all together!
Isn't it fun to see your pile of blocks grow?
You should have 8 Star Blocks finished by the end of this week.


So that's it for this week!

Please keep sharing your blocks on Instagram.
It makes me so happy to see them and
I know it inspires others as well.  Plus,
it helps spread the word about my patterns which I really appreciate!
Please tag me @gigis_thimble and use the hashtags
#gigisthimblepattern, #stashhashquilt, and #stashhashqal
if you decide to share.  

If you're looking for the Stash Hash quilt pattern, visit my shop HERE.

Happy quilting!

Stash Hash Quilt-Along: Week 6

Monday, August 24, 2020

 Good morning friends!  I hope you all had a great weekend!
Mine was very restful and I definitely needed that time to rejuvenate from some commitments 
I had these past few weeks!  I did do some sewing on my Stash Hash quilt...
which brings me to introduce the assignment for week 6 of the Stash Hash Quilt-Along.


The assignment for this week is to make 3 Hashtag Blocks.
These are easy peasy (as you already know).  Especially when you chain-piece each of the units.

Chain-piecing is a time-saving quilting technique similar to an assembly line.
You repeat a single sewing step for all the blocks of a quilt without cutting threads 
between each section until after you are done with that step.  
It creates a "chain" of pieces and saves time and thread.


I chain-piece basically everything I can.
I find it helpful to determine the number of units I need for each part of a block
and then multiply that number by the number of blocks I need.  For instance,
for each of the 4-Patch units needed for the Hashtag blocks, 
I need two dark/light units (a total of 8 dark/light units per block)
So I multiply 8 x the 3 blocks I need to make and I get 24 dark/light units.
Then I count out 24 dark squares and chain piece a light square to each of them.


Here are my 3 blocks for this week (above and below).


It's fun to see all the fabrics come together in one block!


So that's it for this week!

Please keep sharing your blocks on Instagram.
It makes me so happy to see them and
I know it inspires others as well.  Plus,
it helps spread the word about my patterns which I really appreciate!
Please tag me @gigis_thimble and use the hashtags
#gigisthimblepattern, #stashhashquilt, and #stashhashqal
if you decide to share.  

If you're looking for the Stash Hash quilt pattern, visit my shop HERE.

Happy quilting!

Stash Hash Quilt-Along: Week 5

Monday, August 17, 2020

 It's week 5 of the Stash Hash Quilt-Along and I hope you're having as much fun as I am!


The assignment for this week is to make 2 Star Blocks.


See week 3's blog post HERE if you want my helpful tips and tricks.
Please refer to your Stash Hash block assembly instructions for details.


I am having so much fun playing with the fabrics I received from
a Christmas 10" square swap I did with my local quilt guild. 


I love seeing all the different fabrics come together. 



It makes me so happy seeing your blocks on Instagram!
I know it inspires others to see them as well.  Plus,
it helps spread the word about my patterns which I really appreciate!
Please tag me @gigis_thimble and use the hashtags
#gigisthimblepattern, #stashhashquilt, and #stashhashqal
if you decide to share.  


If this is the first time you've heard about the Stash Hash Quilt-Along it's not too late to join.
HERE'S the link to the Stash Hash QAL Homepage and you can get the pattern HERE.

Let me know if you have any questions!
Happy sewing!