The beauty of Swell is trusting the journey

Five clues. Five weeks. One beautiful finish.

That's exactly what our latest Cotton Cuts 5x5 Mystery Quilt, Swell, was all about.

Whether you chose the Small or Large version, every week brought a new clue that quickly transformed a pile of precut pieces into a stunning quilt. The Small quilt included more than 900 pieces, while the Large version contained over 1,400. It sounds like a lot—and it is—but because every piece arrives precut and ready to sew, all you have to do is sit down at your machine and start stitching.

A Fast Finish

Was Swell a quick sew?

Yes...but it was "forced" to be!

With only five clues over five weeks, the pace kept everyone moving. Before we knew it, quilts were coming together all over the world. While there was plenty of sewing involved, each clue was manageable, and watching the design emerge week after week made every seam worthwhile.

Personally, I was surprised by how quickly my quilt came together. Even with hundreds of pieces, the construction was straightforward and enjoyable. It never felt overwhelming because each clue built naturally on the last.

The Perfect Chain Piecing Project

If you've been wanting to improve your chain piecing skills, Swell was the perfect project.

Chain piecing isn't just about sewing quickly—it's about staying organized. Working with dozens of pieces at a time teaches you how to keep everything in order as units move from your sewing machine to your ironing board and then into completed blocks.

When you're sewing 48 pieces in one sitting, paying attention to organization becomes just as important as your stitching. It's a skill that improves with practice, and Swell gave everyone plenty of opportunities to sharpen it.

Trust the Process

One of the most unique parts of Swell was the fabric distribution.

Each quilt was intentionally scrappy. Rather than receiving equal amounts of every print, each participant received a variety of fabrics within their chosen colorway. Some prints appeared more often than others, and there were no instructions telling you exactly where each fabric belonged.

That was intentional.

Go into a project like this with an open mind. Don't worry about making every fabric appear the same number of times or trying to create perfect balance. It won't happen—and that's exactly how it's supposed to be.

Take a look at my blue quilt. You'll notice some fabrics appear more than others, and that's part of the charm. The only adjustment I made was trying not to place two of the same fabrics directly next to each other. Beyond that, I let the design develop naturally.

Trust the process and resist the urge to "fix" the layout. The beauty of Swell comes from its organic, scrappy appearance, not from every fabric being perfectly balanced.

Five Beautiful Colorways

Swell was available in five gorgeous colorways:

• Blue
• Green
• Pink/Red
• Orange/Yellow
• Purple

Participants could choose either a Small or Large quilt, creating a wonderful variety of finished projects.

Our sample quilts featured:

• Blue (Small) – Robyn
• Green (Small) – Cheryl
• Pink/Red (Large) – Carrie
• Orange/Yellow (Large) – Kim
• Purple (Large) – Em

Seeing the same design come to life in five completely different color palettes reminded us just how much color changes the personality of a quilt.

Since our 5x5 reveal last Wednesday, we've loved hearing everyone's reactions. Sewers have been raving about the scrappy look, the carefully curated colorways, and the fabric selections. One comment we've heard again and again is how the crisp white background makes the colors truly pop.

Of course, quilters are always full of great ideas! One participant suggested a future rainbow colorway, while others mentioned they'd love to see background options beyond white. We love hearing your feedback, and many of your ideas help inspire future 5x5 projects.

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

There's a saying that perfectly describes Swell:

The comfort zone is a wonderful place, but nothing ever grows there.

This quilt encouraged quilters to embrace randomness, trust the design, and enjoy the process instead of trying to control every fabric placement.

Sometimes the quilts we love most are the ones where we simply let go and sew.

What's Next for 5x5?

We're already looking ahead, and exciting things are coming.

Future 5x5 projects will continue exploring new ideas, including:

• Two-color precut kit options
• New center star design possibilities
• Fresh layouts and creative construction techniques

And that's just the beginning.

Introducing the 2027 5x5 Adventure

Beginning in January 2027, Cotton Cuts will launch an all-new exclusive five-week experience unlike anything we've done before.

The theme?

Come with us and we'll sew you the world.

Each adventure will celebrate a different country through quilting, complete with themed inspiration, recipes, giveaways, and surprises. Along the way, you'll even see some familiar Cotton Cuts favorites woven into the journey, including Gnomes, Tim Holtz, Floral States, and more.

Our first destination?

France.

We can't wait to pack our sewing machines and take this quilting adventure around the world with you. Stay tuned—2027 is going to be an unforgettable journey.