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This week’s Sewcialites 3, block 13 is Back Porch Block, designed by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co.. It’s a beautifully detailed block with a lot of small pieces, making it a rewarding sew that sits comfortably in the intermediate skill range.  There’s a lot of structure in this design, and the piecing really comes together in a way that feels both traditional and fresh at the same time. Because of the number of smaller pieces, it’s one of those blocks that benefits from a little extra attention and patience. Spray starch is especially helpful if you're working on the 3" blocks, along with taking the time to press carefully and square up each step — but the finished result is absolutely worth it.  The color palette for this week is Burgundy, Cranberry, Fuchsia, Sugar Rose, Primrose, and Early Dawn. Each of these tones brings a soft progression of value and warmth, creating a cohesive, gently shifting gradient across the block layout from the center outward. My color selections are guided by the overall layout of the quilt. Since this block sits in the burgundy section of the design, I’ve used Burgundy as the background fabric. This helps anchor the block within its designated section while allowing the remaining colors to shine in the piecing.  It’s always interesting to see how each block contributes to the larger quilt design, especially when color placement plays such a key role in the overall structure. The Back Porch Block is a great example of how thoughtful color placement can completely change the look and feel of a complex block.
Happy Sewing. Robin
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Welcome to Week 12 of Sewcialites 3! It’s hard to believe we are already this far along in the sew along, and each week continues to bring a wonderful mix of quilt history and fresh new color play. This week’s block is Block 12 — the timeless Shoo Fly block by Sharon Holland.  The Shoo Fly block is one of those classic quilt blocks that feels deeply rooted in the original handcraft of quilting. Timeless, versatile, and full of history, it’s a design that has carried through generations of makers. You could almost call it a soul block! There’s something comforting about revisiting these traditional blocks and seeing how they continue to inspire quilters today.  For my version this week, I worked with Fuchsia, Pink Grapefruit, Burgundy, and Caramel. As surprising as this may sound, it creates such a bright and lively block. The rich warmth of Caramel and Burgundy balances beautifully with the punchy Pink Grapefruit and Fuchsia, giving the Shoo Fly block a fresh, energetic personality while still honoring its traditional roots.  One of my favorite parts of the Sewcialites sew along is seeing how color can completely change the feel of a familiar block. A historic design like Shoo Fly can take on a whole new personality depending on the palette and placement choices, and that creative discovery is always inspiring.
Happy Sewing! -Robin Week 11 of Sewcialites 3 brings us the Snuggle Patch Block, designed by Edita Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. This block leans into a more traditional quilt block, making it a wonderful nod to classic patchwork. It’s labeled as a beginner skill level, but don’t let that simplicity fool you--Snuggle Patch offers a lot of versatility. From playful color combinations to more refined, tonal palettes, it can easily shift its personality depending on your fabric choices.  Beyond color, the block also shines in how it can be arranged within a full quilt layout. Whether repeated in a structured grid or mixed with other blocks in the Sewcialites series, it creates opportunities for a variety of finished looks. A timeless block with flexible possibilities, the Snuggle Patch block can offer endless creative potential.  This week’s Thatched color picks are especially rich and inviting: Pink Grapefruit and Burgundy—two of my personal favorites—paired with Masala Spice and Caramel. Together, these shades create a warm, layered palette that adds depth and a slightly sophisticated feel to this classic style block. It’s a beautiful example of how thoughtful color choices can elevate a classic design and give it a completely fresh look.  Seeing all of the blocks we’ve made so far come together is so satisfying. We’re almost halfway—what a fun sew-along this is! I’m already looking forward to next week.
Happy Sewing! Robin This week’s Sewcialites 3 block is almost too cute to resist. Block 10, the Little Berry Block, designed by Pat Sloan, adds a sweet and playful touch to the overall quilt with its charming patchwork berry motif. I’m working with the 3" finished size, which makes everything feel delightfully tiny—and definitely calls for a bit more care and precision. The smaller scale really highlights the patchwork details for this block, especially in the berry itself, where the two colors come together to create that classic berry look.  I couldn’t resist leaning fully into the theme, pulling from my Thatched fabrics of the rich Fuchsia and warm Sugar Rose for the berry itself, Caramel for the leaf unit, and Early Dawn as the background. The subtle texture of Thatched really enhances the block, giving the berry a soft, almost fuzzy texture that fits the theme perfectly.  This block is a fun make, and it delivers big on personality. It’s definitely one of those designs that would be adorable repeated across an entire quilt or even turned into smaller projects. Straight piecing combined with stitch-and-flip corners and half-square triangles, makes up this fun berry block.  A few notes from this week: Keeping a consistent seam allowance is especially important when working with pieces this small, as even slight variations can affect the final block. Pressing carefully made a big difference in reducing bulk, I pressed the seams open for this one.
Until next week, happy sewing! Robin Week 9 of Sewcialites 3 brings us the lovely Daylight block, designed by Corey Yoder of Coriander Quilts. This block feels like a breath of fresh air, with clean lines and balanced shapes, and a brightness peeking through the center that truly lives up to its name. The design has a gentle sense of flow, with light radiating outward, making it both eye-catching and versatile. It really shines when you play with contrast, allowing the structure of the block to take center stage.  For my version, I chose colors with its placement in my overall quilt layout in mind. Since it sits in the darker burgundy section, I wanted it to transition gently while still holding onto that “daylight” feel. I kept the center light and bright, then framed it with rich burgundy stitch-and-flip corners to anchor it into that deeper color story.  The colors I chose for this week’s block are Burgundy, Pink Grapefruit, Caramel, and Buttermilk—creating a warm, balanced palette. The lighter tones keep the center soft and luminous, while the burgundy adds depth and gently frames the design. I love how this approach allows the block to glow from within while still connecting to the surrounding fabrics, creating a thoughtful balance between light and depth.  As the weeks go on, the stack of blocks continues to grow, serving as a reminder of how far we’ve come and how each design builds on the last to create something truly special.
Happy Sewing, Robin We’ve made it to Week 8 of Sewcialites 3, and this week’s block is the Beacon Block, designed by Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter. This block has a lovely, slightly traditional feel and comes together with a combination of half square triangles and flying geese. It’s a fun mix of techniques that keeps things interesting while still being very approachable even when the tiny HSTs in the 3" blocks finish at just 3/4" square!  For this block, I chose to use more of the Burgundy Thatched fabric as the background - similar to how I approached the color placement for last week’s block, keeping in mind where it will sit in the overall quilt layout. The block has to blend in while still being noticeable, a subtle balance when playing with color placement.  This week’s colors are Pink Grapefruit, Burgundy, Cranberry, Sugar Rose, and Fuchsia. Keeping the background really dark allows the other rich berry tones to stand out in such a striking way, almost like a Beacon!  I really enjoyed how this one came together—the shapes create such a statement, and it feels like a little classic tucked into the quilt. More next week!
Happy Sewing, Robin Week 7 of Sewcialites 3 brings us a fresh and cheerful design with the Flower block by Elizabeth Hartmann @elizabethagh. This block has a clean, modern feel while still capturing the simple beauty of a classic floral motif. With her unique and highly recognizable style, Elizabeth Hartmann gives this design a distinctive charm.  A combination of stitch-and-flip corners and straight piecing allows this adorable block to come together with ease. The layout is approachable and fun to piece, offering a great opportunity to play with color placement. Whether you choose soft, subtle tones or something more vibrant, the design truly comes to life through your fabric choices.  This week’s color choices, from left to right, are Masala Spice, Caramel, Sugar Rose, Fuchsia, Cranberry, and Burgundy. I’ve placed this block in the darker section of my quilt layout, which is why I’ve chosen Burgundy as the background— the colors pop beautifully against the surrounding blocks.  Playing with these rich, warm colors inspires so many new ideas. The contrast you can create allows each element of the block to really express itself, bringing depth and personality to the design.
I hope you’ve enjoyed exploring the Flower block as much as I have and that it inspires your own color experiments for this block. Happy sewing! Robin Week6 of the Sewcialites3 sew along is here, and this week's design is a beauty! Block6 is called Window Seat Block and it's created by Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic. This block has such a clean, modern feel, with strong lines that really highlight contrast and color placement. True to Brigitte's signature style, the design feels both structured and inviting, you simply can't take your eyes off it!  The Window Seat Block is a fun mix of precision and creativity. Whether you lean into bold contrasts or keep things soft and subtle, this block gives you plenty of room to play with your fabric choices. It's also a great opportunity to focus on accuracy, as those crisp lines really shine when everything lines up just right.  For my version this week, I chose a range of colors from across the spectrum of my palette: Fuchsia, Primrose, Early Dawn, Sugar Rose, Cranberry, and Burgundy. I love how these shades work together to create both depth and softness, while still letting the geometry of the block shine.  As we reach Week 6, it’s exciting to see the progress week by week. Each designer brings a unique perspective, and this block6 adds a fresh, architectural element. It is the colors that bind them all together in a cohesive, harmonious composition.
Happy Sewing! Robin The Sewcialites 3 sew along continues to bring all the creative joy, and Block 5 - Little Love block - designed by Vanessa Goertzen is such a sweet addition to the series. This heart design feels like a celebration of all things cozy and handmade, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite blocks so far. What I love most about the Little Love block is how simple shapes come together to create something so expressive. The heart design is classic, but the layout gives it a fresh, modern feel. It’s a great opportunity to play with color placement—whether you go for soft, romantic tones or something bold and eye-catching, the result is always charming.  The fabrics I chose for the block this week are Fuchsia, Primrose, Early Dawn, Buttermilk, and Caramel—together, they feel as delicious as raspberry milk chocolate! The combination brings a warm, sweet palette to the heart design, adding just the right balance of softness and richness.  I played with fabric placement, mixing hues to give the heart some depth and dimension. It’s amazing how even subtle shifts in color can completely transform the look of the block.  If you haven’t started yet, it’s definitely not too late to join in. The Sewcialites 3 sew along is all about enjoying the process, building skills, and creating something beautiful one block at a time.
See you next week. Happy Sewing! Robin I love it when a color palette comes together and sparks endless ideas. That's exactly how I feel about this palette. We're at week 4, and block 4 is designed by Minki Kim. It's called Spring Wind Block and this block is such a fun one to sew. It includes plenty of bias edges and points that need careful matching, which makes it both a little challenging and really satisfying when everything lines up right. Taking your time with the cutting and pressing really helps keep those points crisp and the block nice and flat.  The colors I chose for this block are Smoked Paprika, Pink Grapefruit, Primrose, and Fuchsia. When these colors come together in this design, something really special happens. The block suddenly feels full of vibrancy and movement—almost like the shapes are spinning.  It’s always encouraging to lay out the blocks sewn so far and see the progress!  These blocks are sewn up in the colors that match the layout shown in the first blog post. Seeing that gentle color progression start to appear really gives a sneak peek to the overall design and makes me even more excited for the weeks ahead.
Happy Sewing, Robin |
About ROBINDesigner of colorful florals and Thatched basics for Moda Fabrics . Modern to transitional quilt designer, cross stitch designer, sewist, crafter. I am proud to be a designer for Moda Fabrics!
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