Welcome back to Fat Quarter Shop’s Quilt Along. This week’s block is called Compassion. 

When I looked up what compassion actually means, I wasn’t sure it fitted into the quilting community and what we make with our little pieces of fabrics. According to the dictionary, compassion literally means to suffer together. 

While quilting together, we don’t suffer, do we? Surely, we hit a rough spot now and then, but are we suffering? When you suffer, quilting probably isn’t your thing. Quilting needs to be fun and enjoyable.

But thinking about Compassion a bit longer and going beyond the literal meaning of the word, compassionate also means being kind, helpful, and giving to one another. Now that’s what the quilting community is very good at. 

You can see it in the Sewcialites Lounge on Facebook. Sure, we show what we have made with the free patterns of this Quilt Along, but we also help each other out by answering questions and giving advice when a fellow quilter has a challenge. 

I believe the designer of the week, Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs was aiming for the kind and helpful meaning of the word Compassion when she named her block. Anne designs with “sweet sophistication with a touch of whimsey” as she puts it herself. Her specialty is applique but she also loves to design little projects like cuddly toys and pincushions, almost always in the shape of an animal. 

Animals also come forward in her quilts as you can see on her Instagram account. And while you are there, upload your interpretation of this week’s block. When you use the hashtag #sewcialitesqal you could win a nice prize too. 

With challenges, you can go two ways. You’ll cross that bridge when you get there, or you could be prepared for it. A great way to be prepared is by watching the Livestream on FQS’s YouTube channel every Friday at 9 am CDT. So if you need a little compassion, you’ll be in the right place at the right time. 

Sadly this is almost the end for the Sewcialites Quilt Along. We only have one more block to make next week before this QAL is done. But don’t be sad, we can keep in touch. Here at Zen Chic, we have our own Spring in Paris Quilt Along. Check it out on the QAL page here and join in the fun. It’s never too late to start!

Happy quilting my friend.

Don't miss the other designers involved in this project:

• Anne Sutton

• April Rosenthal

• Barb & Mary from Me & My Sister Designs

• Bonnie Olaveson

• Camille Roskelley

• Carrie Nelson

• Chelsi Stratton

• Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilt

• Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree

• Lisa Bongen of Primitive Gatherings

• Lissa Alexander of Moda

• Lori Holt

• Robin Pickens

• Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

• Susan Ache

• Vanessa Christenson

• Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique