This post is part of the After the Rain Sew-Along! See all posts.

This week is the 4th week in our sew-along. Hopefully you’ve cozied into some relaxing, repetitive sewing. This week I have another question for you to mull over, as you sew.

I love to see your progress pictures, wherever you are in the process, on Instagram via #AftertheRainSAL.

Make sure you follow @StitchedinColor, and @TheConfidentStitch in order to be eligible to win prizes. More on that at the end of this post!

Week 4: Sew Columns 5-7

Still in the sewing zone, friends? For me, this part of the process is restful, as sewing the blocks for After the Rain involves a fair bit of repetition and not so much skill. My mind wonders, my breathing slows and I get lost in the process. I hope it is the same for you!

This week sew blocks for columns 5, 6 and 7 in your After the Rain quilt. That will entail two size small row and a medium row. There are less blocks than usual to sew in column 5, which means this is a smaller goal than last week. Always nice!

Here are all my blocks, stacked and tidy, ready for paper removal. Aaaaahhhh, a rewarding sight!

If you’re fond of the fabrics I’ve used, I have some good news. The Confident Stitch was able to put together just a few more of my After the Rain quilt kits. They won’t be around for long, so get it while you can!

Good news - paper removal of all my After the Rain blocks in one sitting took just 30 minutes.

Before the week is out, you may like to sew your blocks together to create complete columns. You might even choose to join columns, because who can resist? See, I told you this was a quickie!

While You Sew

Each After the Rain block has two elements: the dark and the light. Last week we considered where we need to say “no” in our lives. This week, we turn toward the lighter element, the upward-pushing triangles. Those are the never-giving-up, always hopeful, always growing triangles. We say “no” to create space for their growth and light.

The corona pandemic has been a dark time for the world. I imagine we have all felt the heaviness, the fear and the uncertainty of this period. Here we are in February 2021 and the end is not with any certainty in sight. There are still many question marks hanging over our heads, too many grim possibilities. How do we move beyond survival in difficult times? How do we overcome the darkness on our own, personal level to flourish rather than merely exist?

One way to flourish in difficult times is to find your personal openings for light. Imagine how you can nourish joy, peace and community in your little corner of the world. When the big, important things are scary-out-of-control, it remains within our individual power to find happiness in small ways. I learned to open my heart to this during Eleni’s difficult life. I’ll never forget allowing myself to find joy in decorating an empty wall in our home. The wall was so trivial, in the scope of things, but the good vibes it fostered were anything but. Perhaps you too need permission to find joy in your corner of the world.

Where can you still find light in the world? What hobby do you love - do it! Who can you still hug - treasure it! What do you still hope for - own it! Where are you growing and learning - relish it!

While you’re sewing this week, think on that never-giving-up, always growing, always hoping light. Let’s keep pushing onward to a brighter future.

This Week’s Prize

On Friday, February 19th I’ll select a random winner from among everyone who has posted to the After the Rain hashtag this week.

Someone will win 3 YARDS OF FLANNEL IN WINNER’S FAVORITE PRINT.

Maybe use it to make a cozy pair of pajama pants to liven up your stay-at-home days.

This prize ships free to winners in the USA or Canada. International winners will be asked to cover the cost of shipping.

Don’t be shy!  Just add #AftertheRainSAL to your Instagram photo caption and you’ll automatically be in the running.  Here are two recent additions to our hashtag stream:

The winner of last week’s kick-off prize is @etheldora_sews. I’ve reached out to you via Instagram messaging. Thanks for sharing, friends!