The 350 Blocks Project, 2018

Posted on January 15, 2018 by prairiemoonquilts in 350 Blocks Project

Here we go with the 2018 version of The 350 Blocks Project!

This is our 7th annual . . . whew! Are you ready?

Once again, I’ll be shooting for our group to beat previous year’s records . . .

  • • In 2014, as a group, we made 25,974 blocks.
  • • In 2015, as a group, we made 33,875 blocks.
  • • In 2016, as a group, we made 35,410 blocks.
  • • In 2017, as a group, we made 36,568 blocks!

We’ve been consistently doing more each year — I think we can do it again this year!

As usual, so many of you made it past 350 blocks really easily. It seems silly to call it the 350 Blocks Project, but I’m still leaving it at that. It’s a good goal to shoot for, nearly a block a day, with a little leeway for some missed days. And for those who go over, it just boosts our group total, so I hope we all get past that mark, but I still think it’s the best goal number to shoot for that suits all of us. Personally, I think you should shoot to beat your own personal best, if you’ve been keeping track in past years, too!

If you’ve been with me before, you know how the Project works, but I’m hoping to welcome lots of new folks to the Project this year, too. Anyone is welcome to join, and here is how it works:

  • • The blocks you count are your blocks, from projects of your own choosing, and they belong to you. You don’t have to send anything in. All you have to do is report to me how many blocks you made each month.
  • • As for counting, you’re on the honor system — A quilt block counts as one block.
  • • If you’re not quite sure how to count something, such as a complicated border, just divide it into sections that seem like blocks, and count them that way. For instance — four complicated borders? I’d count those as either 4 or 8 blocks, depending on how large and how complicated.
  • • What if your quilt is a modern quilt that seems like one large block? If it’s really simple, just count it as one large block, but if it’s a bit more involved, break it up into sections and count each section as a block.
  • • Your count can only include completed blocks made in 2018 (not block units), so you can go back to January 1st, and count any blocks you’ve made so far, but not back any further than that, and not the individual units that make up a completed block (they don’t count until they’re in a completed block, in other words).

Here are the general rules:

* Let me know you’re playing along

Simply comment on this post, or contact me to let me know you’re in. I’ll delete all of last year’s info to start fresh, so if you are playing along again this year, please let me know again, and I’ll add you to the new list at the end of the week. (It keeps me from getting confused — there’s a lot to keep track of.)

The web page for the 350 Blocks Project is HERE, where I’ll be listing information regarding the project and how it’s progressing. If you’re participating, I’ll put your name (and a link to your blog if you have one) on the project page. You can jump in any time.

If you only want to do some of the months, that’s fine. You’ll be eligible for the prize that month. Can’t start till later? No problem, you can still do the months you’re able to. Just do what you can.

Our block goal for the month is posted on the Project page, and this year, I’m doing random numbers again, because I liked that method.

* Report in every month

I’ll put up a monthly blog post about the project, either on the last day of the month, or the first day of the next month, where I’ll show you the blocks I get done (if any). When you see one of those posts, you need to leave a comment on it, telling us all about your own progress, and either link back to your own blog post, or at least let me know how many blocks you’ve done. You can also email me directly with your current number of blocks, or use the contact page to let me know. I’ll give you a few days to report in each month, so that you have time to leave your comment and be eligible for the prize, because . . . if you don’t let me know you’re playing along, I won’t know to include you in the drawings!

I’ll post your number of completed blocks next to your name on the project page, so you can see how you’re doing compared to everyone else, and I’ll update it every time you let me know your new number. This is NOT a race, however, and everyone who reports in is eligible for the prizes. I repeat, it’s not a contest, it’s just for fun! And prizes!

Monthly prizes

At the end of each month, I’ll have a prize drawing for those who have made progress that month. I’ll draw one random winner from everyone who reports in that month. What this means is: You MUST report in each month in order to be eligible for that month’s prize drawing.

* Grand Prizes

At the end of the year, there will be some Grand Prizes. If you actually meet the goal of 350 blocks, you’re eligible for the big Grand Prize, and if you don’t quite make it, you’re still eligible to win some prizes just for participating. Everyone who has reported in at least six times during the Project is eligible for the final prize drawings. I’ve changed this rule just a bit, to be more fair to those who report in regularly. I don’t feel it’s fair to award a prize to someone who reports in once in January, then never reports in again, over someone who reports in regularly.

So are you ready?

If you’re up for the challenge, let me know you’d like to participate, and you can steal the button above for your blog if you like (which isn’t mandatory). Just link back to: <https://prairiemoonquilts.com/?page_id=1037>

75 responses to “The 350 Blocks Project, 2018”

  1. Melissa Pagliai says:

    I’m in this year! I have so many PHDs I’m going use this for motivation and accountability.

  2. Rose Marie says:

    I think I have participated each year. Why would I stop now! I already have a few on my tally sheet for this month. Woo-hoo! Here we go again.

  3. Becky says:

    I’m in!

  4. Angela Steiner says:

    Woohoo, let’s do this again! 🙂

  5. Judy Smith says:

    Count me in again!

  6. denniele says:

    I am in!! Thanks for doing it again!

  7. Wendy says:

    Count me in! This was a great way for me to see my progress each month!

  8. charlotte says:

    Yahoo!!! Put me in for the count down! Charlotte

  9. Grammi (aka Tonia) says:

    Count me in! Working on a couple of Bonnie Hunter past mysteries this year–so my total count will be down–lots of little parts to make the beautiful whole, but such fun!

  10. Elizabeth says:

    Time to play again!

  11. Betty K says:

    I am in for 2018. I already have blocks notated in my book for ones already completed for the first 2 weeks.

  12. Cheryl says:

    I’m in.

  13. Johnna Clarke says:

    I just started quilting after taking your class this past fall, and I LOVE it! I’m still on my first quilt, but I WILL have something to report. I am a novice, so I’ll try not to be intimidated by everyone’s talent. I’m so looking forward to participating!

  14. Mary D says:

    I would love to be a part of the 350 block challenge this year.

  15. I’m in again. I have start this month tally. I love the different monthly totals.

  16. Diana in RR,TX says:

    I am playing along again. Too much fun to not play!

  17. Clara Chandler says:

    This project looks like fun–please add me to the list. Thanks.

  18. Susan siemens says:

    I am in! Sounds like fun!

  19. Barbara B says:

    I’m in! Looking forward to another great year quilting

  20. JanetD says:

    Count me in. It’s fun seeing how much everyone gets done.

  21. Sherry V. says:

    Count me in again. Hopefully this year I will get a higher block level than last year.

    Thank you for doing this again.

  22. Karen R says:

    Want to participate in this, this year. Thank you for doing this

  23. Wendy O says:

    I want to play! I’ve a lot of PIBs (Project In Box), hopefully accountability will keep me going.

  24. Amanda M. says:

    Please add me to this as it sounds very fun!

  25. Marsha Yahl says:

    Count me in. I already have several blocks made this month!!

  26. Vivian Oaks says:

    I just found your site today, while reading posts on a Yahoo group I’m in. Sounds very interesting!! I don’t think I’ll make it to 350 in a year, but this will be a way to challenge myself…so count me in!!

  27. Stephanie says:

    Yep – I am in again. I usually make a load of blocks anyway, but it is fun to keep a tally and report in each month. Let the games begin!

  28. Elaine says:

    Count me in. I’ll try to keep tract better this year.

  29. Maxine says:

    I’m in again! Hopefully this year will be more productive than last year!

  30. Marilyn says:

    Newbie- will give this a try.

  31. Marilyn says:

    Sounds like fun.

  32. randy says:

    I simply can not let Maine go unrepresented in this event. I have marked down the blocks I have made so far and have been thinking of doing some block a longs this year. I am in

  33. Marlene Clausen says:

    In for 2018.

  34. Phillis Harding says:

    I am in this year. Last year I worked on my quilting and managed to get 70 quilts quilted on my domestic machine. This year I am working on finishing my blocks and my numerous UFOs so I should get plenty of blocks done. Many of these are samplers that I just got bored with and went on to something new. I also have 2 bins full of scraps I want to make into string blocks. So heres hoping I can accomplish more this year.

  35. KT says:

    Love this challenge–count me in again, and thanks for doing this!

  36. Judy G says:

    I wanna play, too!

  37. Shirley Guier says:

    I’m doing this for the first time!

  38. Sandy Hartman says:

    I’m in ! (for the first time)

  39. Linda Knight says:

    I want to play again. It gives me a real incentive (as if I needed one) to go to the quilt room.

  40. Beverly V. says:

    Count me in. I am trying to organize the scraps, so I am cutting out the scraps into useable pieces. Then I separate into same size cuts, so I can pick them up, saw into blocks and into quilts. Hoping to start out next year with a lot less material. I am staying away from buying any new, except having to do quilts for special occasions. Also reorganizing my quilting room.

  41. Marlena B says:

    I just found this. Would love to join! Thanks for doing this.

  42. Pam Jones says:

    I’m in. Great way to finish lots of ptijects

  43. Michelle Guidry says:

    I’m playing!

  44. Virginia smith says:

    I’m jioning the challenge. Don’t know if i am up to keeping up but i do need some push to get my large stash of fabric down to a more manageable amount. 2 big block quilt almost cut out. So heee we go!

  45. Looking forward to the challenge and using lots of stash!

  46. I’m in! I have a pretty good to-do list this year, with lots of challenges. It will be fun to keep track of how many blocks I get done.

  47. katie z. says:

    Am I in? Why would I stop now?

  48. Michele says:

    This is great! I was already counting, since one of my goals this year is to sew every day- hopefully a block every day. I’ve made it so far 😛

  49. Beth F says:

    I’m in again, too!

  50. Danice says:

    Count me in again this year. It is so much fun, and motivating.

  51. Don’t think I signed in to say I’m playing again. I’ll report next week.

  52. Barb Tucker says:

    I would love to give it a try.

  53. Shelly E Richards says:

    Count me in!

  54. Janet Smith says:

    I’m going to try again this year. I’ve already made so many for this month, I’m going to have to go back and try to count. Hope I can maintain this all year, I lost steam last time. LOL

  55. Suelynn Williams says:

    I’m in, too. Thank you for keeping track for us!

  56. I’m in too. This is the first year I’ve heard about this. I heard about it on a Facebook group. 🙂

  57. Meloney says:

    I’m in again. I’ve been keeping track, but had not seen this post until I saw your link on another blog.
    thanks for doing this again this year.

  58. Theresa Baldwin says:

    I’m in. This sounds like fun.

  59. Leslie says:

    Joining again this year, a long road trip, tripped me up last year, and my crochet hook has attached itself to my fingers (trying to finish wips). A few or maybe many quilt blocks never hurt anyone and I may even finish a quilt or two.

  60. Julie A Craven says:

    This will be my 1st year. Yea me!!!!!! I can’t wait.

  61. Suelynn Williams says:

    January total – 48 (started the new year at a quilting retreat).

  62. Pam says:

    count me in
    so far I have completed 20 blocks

  63. Diane Watson says:

    I’d like to participate in this challenge. My count for January is 17.

  64. Martha Knoll says:

    I was excited to see this group I would love to participate. I love a challenge.
    I did a quilt with 20 blocks, did 5 exchange blocks, a quilt that was broke down into 4 parts and an applique project that I would say was 4 parts If that sounds fair, then I would say that my count for January is 33.

  65. I can’t find 2017’s but last time I looked, I was short quite a few. I’m sure I was well over 350 blocks last year. It don’t matter, but would give your total a little more for the year.

  66. Grammi (aka Tonia) says:

    I don’t know what happened to my January count–but somehow I ended up with around 50. Funny story when I finished the quilt top I had 30 blocks left over–instant generous sized lap quilt! By this weekend I will have my 14 for Feb. So, for the year I am at 64. Next week is a “see the grands-no quilting on the road” week so as of Monday Feb. is over. Do you post the numbers or am I supposed to know how to do this? Love this project! It is helping keep my focus.

  67. Janet Smith says:

    I don’t think I reported for February. My sheet says 86 but I’m quite sure I did more than that, but too long ago to remember now, so I’m saying 86. March is not off to a stellar start!

  68. Shelly E Richards says:

    For February I had 20 block that need adding to my total. I’m woefully behind for March.

  69. Ms Sam Nicholson says:

    I’m in!! This is the first time I have heard of this!! This will make sure I don’t get lazy!! My first report in I will contact you as I will have from January til now to count!! Thank you, this will be fun!!

  70. Grammi (aka Tonia) says:

    Hello everyone! It is the end of April and I have blocks to report–but have fallen behind due to vacation and other travel–and this was a month of finishes, too. So here is the count: 23 blocks and 3 pieced quilt backs.

  71. charlotte says:

    I am behind for the month of April, on my block count! Only 48 blocks this time, but I have also quilted, 3 tops for the Quilts of Valor!! May be I’ll do better in May!!!

  72. Amy Roth says:

    Okay, sign me up! I too have lots of projects that need to get done, and hopefully this will be one of the things that keeps motivated 🙂

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