Hey, everyone! What do you do when you finish a year-long series of twelve mini quilts with a heaping pile of scraps leftover, and you’re still not ready to call it quits??? Make another quilt, of course!

Meet Grand Finale – the not-so-mini bonus quilt that was literally designed to wrap up my year-long Monthly Minis Quilt Series with a satisfying, full-sized, scrap-busting bang. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s beautiful… And – as long as you started the series out the way I originally recommended (by using one fat quarter bundle of Garden Gatherings Shirtings, and one fat quarter bundle of Garden Gatherings Colors total to make all of the projects in the series), it can be made entirely from the leftovers you should have accumulated from making your mini quilts over the last year (you will also need an additional 2 1/2 yards of background fabric).

Whether you’re a strip-piecing machine, or more of a “one-square-at-a-time” type of quilter, Grand Finale is great for confident beginners and beyond. Measuring in at 79″ x 79″, this basic yet stunning quilt is simply done with traditional 9-patches. That means no templates, no weird angles, and no pesky half-square triangles or flying geese. Just simple squares and straight seams is all it takes. It’s a rhythm stitcher’s dream!

If you haven’t heard about the Monthly Minis Quilt Series yet, don’t worry – you’re not too late to the party. This quilt-along was created for anyone who’s ever dreamed of having their own mini quilt wall but didn’t know where to start. It ran for a full year, with a new pattern released each month – 12 mini quilts in total, each with its own personality, charm, and just the right amount of whimsy to build your dream wall one little quilt at a time.

Want to know more? You can find all the details on the Monthly Minis Quilt Series (and all my quilt-alongs) at www.lisabongean.com. Just head to the Quilt-Alongs tab and look for the Monthly Minis icon! Ready to dive in to the land of mini quilts? Don’t worry, it’s not too late to join the QAL! You can still grab the fabrics you need to participate in the full series by clicking the buttons below.

I knew this QAL was going to be fun but I’m super pleased to see that so many people benefitted from participating – thank you to those who have posted photos of your work in the STITCH with Lisa Facebook group! In fact, originally this quilt-along was only supposed to be 12 months long and was scheduled to end this month, but due to its overwhelming popularity I’ve decided to keep it going! I mean, why not? The only thing is, I need a few weeks to get my ducks in a row before starting another 12 month project. That being said, you can expect round two of the Monthly Minis Quilt Series to start sometime around June, 2025. Stay tuned to my blog, the Primitive Gatherings Facebook page, and my STITCH with Lisa Bongean YouTube Channel for updates!

Speaking of posting your work… Are you in the STITCH with Lisa Bongean Facebook group??? If not, you’re missing out! It’s a private group where we get together and show off our progress, achievements, and failures. It’s a great group of like-minded people that offer advice, guidance, and support! And of course, we LOVE to talk about all things PG! Interested? Request to join by clicking HERE – then answer the admin questions, agree to the group rules, and bam – you’re in!

Alright, stitchers, before I let you go – don’t forget! I’ll be going LIVE tomorrow (Thursday) at 1:00 p.m. CST, on my YouTube channel, STITCH with Lisa Bongean, so set a reminder, grab a snack when it’s time, and come hang out. We’ll be chatting all things Grand Finale, and more! Plus, keep an eye on your notifications – we’ve got a CommentSold sale dropping at some point too, and you won’t want to miss it. Click the STITCH icon below to watch. Have a great night! ~Lisa