Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most commonly asked #FinishItQAL 2025 questions.

WHAT, WHEN, & WHY:

WHAT IS THE FINISH IT QUILT ALONG?

In 2023 I made a snap decision at the start of February to pull together a Quilt Along dealing solely with WIPs and UFOs (that’s, Works In Progress and UnFinished Objects). More than 300 people joined in and completed more than 150 projects in four weeks. Amazing!

Last year, an astonishing 1050+ people signed up to participate, worked on thousands of WIPs, and completed nearly 450 projects during the shortest month of the year. It was incredible!

Let’s sew and quilt together again this year for the 3rd Annual #FinishItQAL!

WHEN IS THE QAL?

The QAL runs for the entire month of February. That’s Saturday, February 1 through Friday, February 28, 2025.

WHY ARE YOU HOSTING A QUILT ALONG THAT ISN’T FOR ONE PATTERN?

In 2023, I was excited to get back to my sewing machine (after the winter/holiday lull), but was feeling especially overwhelmed by my pile of unfinished projects. I thought that perhaps a qal-style community event would help keep me accountable while working towards one (or more) project finishes, and I was right; I completed five projects (four quilts and an orphan block-turned-zip pouch) that February, and it felt great! This event is all about community — a great way for us to sew “together” on anything that we want or need to finish with none of the pressure to finish a single thing.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

HOW DO I JOIN THE QAL?

It’s FREE and easy! Just sign up for the QAL newsletter before February 21, 2025. (This is separate from the general VBQ Newsletter, so even if you already get emails from me, be sure to sign up if you want to join in!).

Once you’ve signed up, you can expect to receive about one email per week during the Finish It Quilt Along. The emails will provide tips on how to tackle your unfinished projects, share project photos from the QAL community, and offer guilt-free encouragement to keep sewing! Offer support to fellow quilters with likes, saves, shares, and comments, and follow #FinishItQAL on Instagram so you never miss a community post. (Instagram is NOT required to participate; more on that below).

How much DOES IT cost? DO I HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING?

It’s totally FREE! You’re not expected to make any purchases to participate in the Finish It QAL. Purchasing supplies for your projects is entirely optional and completely up to you.

HOW MANY PROJECTS DO I HAVE TO FINISH?

Zero. Truly! This quilt along is all about gaining momentum on incomplete projects, not necessarily finishing as many as you can. You can still be entered to earn prizes even if you don’t “finish” a single WIP during the month.

CAN I START A NEW PROJECT?

Honor system, please: no new projects. If you had a stack of fabric for a pattern set aside, that’s okay and could count as a WIP, but the real goal here is to get those UFOs complete! The quilt that has been cut and partially sewn; a quilt waiting for binding; a project bag that got stuck at the zipper step — these are the types of projects to focus on for the QAL. You’ll probably be amazed at how little time it will actually take you to get some of those next steps completed! :)

HOW OLD DOES A WIP HAVE TO BE?

As long as it was started before you committed to participating in the QAL, it’s a WIP!

CAN I WORK ON A WIP THAT ISN’T A QUILT?

Sure! Any quilting or sewing project (by hand or machine) counts! Quilts of any size, of course, but also totes, pouches, bags, or clothes count, too. Cross-stitch, embroidery, and yarn crafts (like crochet, knitting, needle-punch, etc.) are not included in this QAL.

WHAT IF I’M ONLY DOING THE QUILTING ON A UFO, BUT SOMEONE ELSE MADE THE QUILT?

If the quilt top was thrifted, gifted, or handed down to you, and you’re quilting and finishing it the same way you would complete any other project that you made from the start, that would count! If it’s a collaborative project with a friend that you’ve been working on together, that also counts. If you are only doing the quilting, but the quilt belongs to someone else, that would not count for the QAL (because that’s similar to the job of a longarmer).

in the past, I subscribed to a group where I’m learning and practicing new quilting techniques. Would watching these tutorials count as a WIP?

Watching the tutorial alone would not count, but if you have blocks, quilts, or other tangible quilt-adjacent products that you can share as a result of what you’ve learned in the course(s), then that can count as a WIP.

HOW DO I GET MY PHOTO SHARED IN THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS?

If you have tagged me in your Instagram posts or shared a photo via email, I may use your image (along with your first name and/or your Instagram Handle) in a newsletter! I try my best to select a variety of images each week for interest and aesthetic — different colors, quilt styles, stages of progress, and makers.

INSTAGRAM

HOW DO I POST OR USE THE HASHTAG?

If your new to Instagram or using hashtags, check out the Instagram Help: how to post. To use the hashtag, simply include it in your caption! Be sure you’re using the correct hasghtag #FinishItQAL. This is the only hashtag I will be following and reviewing to like, share, and comment on projects as part of the Finish It QAL community. Because [unfortunately] hashtags are no longer able to be viewed chronologically and are used less frequently now than a few years ago, it’s possible I might accidentally miss your share; I’m only one person doing my best to support you all! If you really want me to see your post/reel, kindly tag me @villageboundquilts in your post comments so I’ll be notified of your pictures and videos. :)

WHAT IF MY INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT IS PRIVATE?

If your account is private, any posts or reels that you share using the #FinishItQAL hashtag will not be shared publicly, and so I will not be able to see them, even if you have tagged me (Instagram Help: who can see a post when you tag someone). If you’d like to, you may send me an Instagram DM with your photos and videos or share them via email.

HOW DO I SUBMIT PROGRESS WITHOUT INSTAGRAM?

You do not need social media to participate in the QAL! The Finish It Quilt Along is being hosted by me, Village Bound Quilts, utilizing Instagram as a community platform for encouragement and support. Other social media platforms (TikTok, Facebook, etc.) will not be used or tracked for community building. *New in 2025: In the past, giveaway entries were counted using the hashtag, but due to changes in how hashtags are used and shared on Instagram, AND due to the volume of entries received [and manually counted by me] in 2024, your progress reporting will be a little different for 2025 (see GIVEAWAYS below). Additional instructions will be provided in the first weekly email (to be sent February 1).

GIVEAWAYS

ARE THERE GIVEAWAYS FOR THE QAL?

Yes! I’m currently gathering giveaway prizes from sponsors; last year there were patterns, fabric bundles, quilt books, subscriptions, and longarming discounts! More information on specific sponsors and prize details will be shared with participants as we get closer to February 1.

I'm a shop owner - how can I sPONSOR THE QAL?

I'm so happy you’d like to be a sponsor! Fabric, notions, patterns, or longarming are all great options. Feel free to contact me if you would like to support the QAL — I’d love to chat!

HOW DO I WIN A PRIZE?

Winners will be drawn at random at the end of the QAL. More entries = more chances to win, but does not guarantee a prize.

HOW DO I EARN ENTRIES?

In February, work on as many or as few WIPs as desired, and share posts or reels to Instagram using the correct hashtag #FinishItQAL. In each weekly QAL email, I will provide you with the latest Google Form link to submit your weekly Accomplishment Report. Each participant will complete the form one time for each week of the QAL (you will submit a total of four reports during February). Duplicate submissions in a single week will void all entries for that week, and late submissions and email submissions will not be accepted. Please use the honor system, and do not “add” your unsubmitted/late entries into the following week.

You can earn up to 46 entries each week:
- Each in-progress submission will count as 1 entry. You can submit up to 3 in-progress WIPs for each day of the week (up to 21 total entry points).
- Each finished project submission will count as 5 entries. You can submit up to 5 finished projects each week (up to 25 total entry points).

WHAT COUNTS AS A “FINISHED” PROJECT?

“Finished” means there is no further work to be done on your project; its final stage of sewing has been completed, and you could wash it, use it, gift it, sell it, etc. For example, a completed quilt top is still in-progress; to be finished, it needs to be quilted and bound/faced/mounted.

DO I HAVE TO EMAIL PICTURES OF MY WIPs and finishes FOR PROOF?

Nope! Entries will be counted using the honor system. Please be truthful, respectful, and fair about your reporting each week.

HOW DO I KNOW MY ENTRIES COUNT?

If you’ve submitted the Google Form Weekly Accomplishment Report (receiving the confirmation page at the end for each form completed), you can be assured that your entries will count! If you’re trying to submit your weekly report but the form is closed, then reporting for that week is considered late and cannot be submitted or counted.

IS THE QAL OPEN INTERNATIONALLY?

Yes! We will have several digital prizes that will be available for all participants. Be sure to check your QAL emails (coming soon) for details about sponsors and prizes available. Due to the increasing cost of shipping and the lack of international sponsors at this time, physical prizes may only be available in the United States (TBD). I would love to include more international sponsors and prizes , so if you’re a quilt business interested in this, let’s chat!