Hey, everyone!

What do you get when you combine two busy quilt designers, a bit of a scheduling mix-up, and a month that’s already packed full to the brim? Well… usually you would get a quick and easy project meant to make things easier for everyone, but this month we just got confused. Let me explain.

You might have noticed that the first Friday of the month not only came and went this August, it came and went like a Stealth Bomber at midnight — very, VERY quietly. Being the first Friday of the month, normally we would have been celebrating the latest release in my monthly Weekend Quilt Series, but no… not this time. No bells and whistles, no Facebook announcement, no quirky blog post, and no show-off session during my LIVE show to be seen. What the heck, right? Sorry about that… that was a little boo-boo on our behalf when it came to whose turn it was to design it (we have been rotating). Jess and I thought it was Alysha’s turn, and guess what… Alysha thought it was mine! So, to answer the initial question — this month you get nada because there simply isn’t anything to release! That being said, if everything goes to plan, the next available quilt in the series will be ready in September.

Talk about a womp-womp, I know, but on the bright side, this gives you a chance to get caught up on everything else we have going on right now. How’s it coming with Betsy? What about Echoes of the Past? Are you keeping up with Val’s monthly Fat Quarter Series? How about O’ Say Can You Sew III — can you even believe that we’re halfway through that one already? It feels like we just started! Sad but true, summer is still going strong, but there’s no denying it’s definitely beginning to wind down.

On the bright side, if you’re someone who loves the holiday season and all the festive projects that come along with it, I have good news for you! Despite the fact that it’s still been in the 80s temperature-wise, we’re already starting to think Christmas around the shop (do we ever really stop?). In fact, my crew and I have two holiday-themed quilt-alongs currently waiting in the wings as we speak! The first one to launch will be the Joyful Gatherings II Quilt-Along, which will start on Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, with the first pattern release out by 5:00 p.m. CST.

Fun fact: this quilt-along will be the same Christmas tree-themed quilt-along we did two years ago with the original Joyful Gatherings line, so if it looks familiar, that would be why! The quilt-along will involve making 25 blocks over five weeks (five blocks each week), followed by a sixth week to make the little stars that will serve as the “cornerstones.”

Joyful Gatherings II will measure 92″ x 94″ when finished and will require eight yards of backing fabric. Here is a photo of the first version of the quilt done in Joyful Gatherings I for your reference (remember, the Joyful Gatherings II quilt-along will be done using the Joyful Gatherings II fabric line). Full details and links to purchase what you need to participate in this QAL will be available at lisabongean.com under the “Quilt-Alongs” tab tomorrow, Thursday, August 20th, 2026 by 5:00 p.m. CST for your convenience!

The second holiday-themed quilt-along that’s coming is our annual Countdown to Christmas Quilt-Along. The details on this one are still being finalized, but I can tell you that it will once again be a mystery quilt. This time around, it will be offered in two size options and feature a beautiful mix of fabrics from Joyful Gatherings II and Candlelight Christmas, creating a warm and festive quilt perfect for the holiday season. This QAL is scheduled to start on or around October 7th, 2026, and will unfold over six weekly clues, with a new clue released each week. Each clue will be available to purchase and download for $5.00, with our sixth and final clue (and the big reveal) arriving in November. Curious? Good! I really wish I could tell you more, but as usual, Jess is being a meanie and won’t let me! Seriously though, I hope to have a complete list of details and requirements available by the end of the day tomorrow at lisabongean.com under the “Quilt-Alongs” tab.

I just have one more thing to remind you about before I head out for the day, and that is, due to scheduling conflicts, there will be NO LIVE WITH LISA tomorrow, Thursday, August 20th, 2026! Sad, I know — but don’t worry! We’ve got something else planned that will be just as good… almost.

Instead, tune in for a pre-recorded interview with Dawn Cornell from Always in Stitches and yours truly! We’ll be digging into what makes our Primitive Gatherings Wool unique, tips for working with it, wool appliqué, wool care, storage, and plenty more! Tune in for the premiere at 1:00 p.m. on STITCH with Lisa Bongean by clicking the STITCH button below. See you in the comments! ~Lisa