In 2014, we were inspired by our extensive fabric library—and readers expressed interest in trying new techniques—to create our first Swatch of the Month Club. Our library of sample swatches archives over 500 techniques, embroideries, fabric treatments, and colorways that we have experimented with or used in past and upcoming Alabama Chanin collections.

If you have visited one of our trunk shows or attended a workshop, you have likely browsed giant binders of these swatches. Each individual sample represents a small moment in our company’s history and growth—as a whole, they represent a decade of design history. In 2015, we are offering a new Swatch of the Month Club with an expanded selection of stencils and techniques. We learned a few things about this process during our 2014 run and have updated the program this year to reflect those lessons and streamline, saving packaging and reducing our carbon-footprint.

When you enroll in Swatch of the Month 2015, you will receive the full year’s necessary notions (thread, embroidery floss, and a label), along with the first month’s swatch in a beautifully wrapped box. For those who want to add additional embellishment to swatches, you have the option to add 6oz. of chop beads, 6oz. of bugle beads, and 1oz. of sequins for an extra $30—or you may choose to purchase sequins and beads separately. Select this option upon ordering and you will receive all beads, along with your notions, in your first package. After the initial shipment, we will mail your 10” x 16” fabric swatches and an informational insert via United States Postal Service (USPS) at the beginning of each month.

Detailed instructions for all of our monthly highlighted techniques can be found in Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Look for information on each swatch—including photos, tips on techniques, and our design choices—on our Journal at the beginning of each month. Our stencils and design options for 2015 include Angie’s Fall and Eyelets from Alabama Studio Style, alongside our new Polka Dots stencils in a range of sizes.

Those who participate in Swatch of the Month can use finished swatches to complete any of the projects we shared in 2014 and new projects that will launch in the coming months; or you may save all of your swatches to make a 24 Block Quilt as shown in the illustration below or add one swatch to make our Sample Block Quilt—which uses 25 sample blocks. We will be including an additional bonus swatch in December of 2015 that you can choose to make the 25 block quilt if you’ve subscribed for both years. We’ve also chosen to keep our color offerings consistent from year-to-year, to allow you to create projects using any combination of completed swatches.

Follow along on social media and on our Journal with the hashtags:
#theschoolofmaking
#swatchofthemonth
#buildawardrobe2017