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What a ride it has been - both educational and wonderfully fun! The Moda Blockheads 6 final week is here and I'm excited to share the two quilts I've been working on. Both the Popsicle palette and the Snuggly palette quilt tops are officially complete, one playfully bold and the other oh-so-comfy sophisticated. It has been a pleasure watching these two colorways take shape stitch by stitch.  Here's the Popsicle palette quilt top. This project has been quite the journey, full of small victories, a few challenges and lots of hours with fabric scattered everywhere. Seeing the two colorways come together, identical in design yet each with its own personality has made every effort worth it.  These bright colors came together even better than I imagined, creating a design that feels lively and full of energy.  And here's the Snuggly colorway. I'm struck by how calm and serene it feels. There is a softness to these colors that has spoken to me throughout this entire project, encouraged me to slow down and enjoy the process.  Thank you to Moda Fabrics for hosting yet another inspiring Moda Blockheads designer sampler challenge. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching this community sew along, experiment with colors, fabrics, and layouts, and share their progress but most of all cheer each other on week after week. It's been a joy to be part of this creative adventure and I'm grateful for the friendships and inspiration that continue to grow here. I know you will miss Moda Blockheads, just like I will. So, why not get ready for another sew along sampler with the Fat Quarter Shop's SEWCIALITES 3!! Yes, I am one of the designers for that quilt and am now thinking about what I want to do with my Sewcialites plan....hmmmmm. Want more info? This is the Jolly Jabber Blog with dates and specifics: blog.fatquartershop.com/join-us-for-the-free-sewcialites-3-quilt-along/ The Sewcialites sew along will run February 20th through August, 2026 with new free blocks released on Fridays. I hope you will join us! Till then, happy sewing! Robin 
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This weeks block is block 24 and it is designed by Sarah Thomas and it's called Mod Water Wheel. I did not include this block in my quilt layout and therefore don't have any pictures to show. It is, however, a pinwheel variation block made up of half square triangles and stitch-n-flip corners. What I am working on this week is assembly and for that I have quite a few pictures to share. The intersection block sections for both the Popsicle and the Snuggly palettes are finished and photographed. These additional blocks measurements were listed during MY block 6 week. Here is the link to the blog post: https://www.robinpickens.com/blog/moda-blockheads6-week-6-is-my-block  These intersection blocks are made up of one of the Moda Blockheads 6 blocks, the HST intersection of the stars, and rectangles pieces. All the measurements to construct this block is in the Blog post for block 6. This includes cutting diagram and cut sizes. Shown here is Moda Blockheads 6, Block 9, Polaris, with my HST sides, in the Popsicle palette.  The two intersection blocks shown above have the same color placements for the rectangles and the HST patchwork but this group will be rotated in placement for the other end of the quilt. The Moda Blockheads 6 block used here is Block 12, Flight Path.  These intersection blocks are used as a divide for the colors to change drastically. Here the Moda Blockheads 6, block 3 is Sunday Best. I've got more contrast between the red and orange background colors.  The Moda Blockheads block used here is block 1, Regatta.  The Snuggly quilt is made with rectangles in Thatched Oatmeal and Cranberry. The same construction of these Intersection block sections as with the Popsicle palette quilt.  Two section blocks with Thatched Cranberry to the right, Oatmeal to the left. The patchwork above is identical for the two block sections.  Two section blocks with Thatched Cranberry to the left and Oatmeal to the right. The Moda Blockheads 6 blocks are the same as were used for the Popsicle palette.  The rest of the section pieces have been sewn together and are ready for final assembly. Oh, what fun! To see all of these blocks jointed together for one giant beautiful Moda Blockheads 6 quilt, tune in next week! I'm excited to see everyones interpretation of this challenge.
Happy sewing for one more week! Stacy Iest Hsu designed block 22 and named it, Lucky Charm. This block is a combination of the Cat's Cradle block with a nine patch center. This configuration can take many forms as the color studies show, anywhere from a Windmill block to a Daisy-in-a-square on point block. I like how the center can pop out as an individual diamond more or look like part of the background. Each week the color studies uncover new and unexpected modern designs. It's a way for me to get acquainted with a design.  The construction of the Lucky Charm block is shown here in greyscale for clarity. See the third block in the first row, in this version a Friendship Star appears with a nine patch in the center. A unique block unto itself! The guiding lines here help highlight the core structure of the block.  The Dotty Thatched Turquoise and Lime fabrics compliment each other beautifully. The calming element here is the light blue half square triangles in the Cat's Cradle. The turquoise Dotty Thatched reminds me of the ocean in the summer. A wave that ripples and curls under itself, causing small bubbles underwater. I just want to dive in.  I've sized up the Lucky Charm block to fit it into my quilt layout. At 18" finished it's twice the size of the pattern provided. To size up a square block you subtract 1/2" from the original size = (original size - 1/2"). Multiply with how big the new square should be, in this case x2, then add 1/2" back in. The center nine patch square in the original size is 1 1/2". To size that up (original size: 1 1/2" - 1/2") = (1"). (1") x2 =2” then add 1/2"= 2 1/2" square - each center nine patch square for the 18" block is 2 1/2" square. Use this formula for the other squares.  To size up a half square triangle the formula is the same in principle but the value of the seam allowance is different. The formula is as follows: the original size - 7/8" then multiply with the size you want, for this block x2, then add 7/8".   In the Snuggly palette, this block looks softer and quieter than the popsicle palette. It is a big difference this week! Thatched in Mocha, seen in the center nine patch, has a lot of contrast to the lighter colors. It has a slightly reddish cast which compliments the Pink Grapefruit and Petal colors in the quilt.  I must admit assembly is underway! (That is why I sized up this block- so I could fill one of my larger corners.) Check out the first square in my 9 patch layout! I love seeing this come together!!  This is a 27" block. My overall quilt top layout will be 9 large 27" square sections assembled as a giant 9 patch. This is one of those sections and will be set in the lower right hand corner of the quilt. See the layout below.   We're almost there.
Happy Sewing, friends! Betsy Chutchian is the designer for this weeks block 13 called Toadstool Twist. It's such a fun and different block, I can see why it's named with T's. And I had some fun with the color studies this week!  I love working with color. It really is such a powerful component in this blocks construction. So much variety. On the second row, second block, I see an X with petals around it! The second row, first block has more of a reversed bearpaw look to it or perhaps an arrow. And the first row, second block also has a pretty floral element to it. What a fun block to work with!  This grayscale study of the block looks very floral to me and yes, I do see the x'es, too. I hope the grayscale makes it easier to picture your own palette in. If only there was time to sew all the quilts!  This grayscale study has the fine lines around the seams for better understanding the construction of this block. Sometimes I squint my eyes to just see the contrast and shapes vs the seams as defining the spaces.  I'm still working on two colorways, the Popsicle- and the Snuggly palettes. First up we have the Popsicle palette, I'm using Dotty Thatched and regular Thatched in this block. These blues and greens are so vibrant with the light blue corner squares framing the block.  This block looks quite intricate to construct but it's essentially using the stitch and flip method, flying geese and squares. I like to use the stitch and flip method a lot, you'll see this method in quite a few of my patterns. Don't be afraid to try new things, once you break it down it's achievable!  The Snuggly palette always gets me, it's calm and inviting in these neutrals but with some fun peachy corners it lifts the look of the block.  The four neutral browns compliment each other so well. The reddish undertone of the darker browns pick up the Thatched Petal used for the corner squares just perfectly!
I'm getting excited for the assembly of these quilts. We have passed the halfway mark and it's game on! Have a good week sewing! Robin Corey Yoder is bringing us Flight Path this week! A clever variation of the Dutchmans Puzzle block keeping with traditions but still making it fresh and new.  For this weeks color studies I wanted to bring out the look of a more cohesive block trying to define it in color, letting color dictate where the eye goes not the seams. Middle row, left block looks almost artsy like an abstract composition where the bottom left is more traditional with a plus sign (if you squint your eyes) within the more traditional block. The bottom right block has a "supergraphic" look to it. Doesn't this blend of colors make you think of sorbet?  The grayscale option gives a much more defined visual expression. A moodier look to the block. But this is also a guide to using your own color palette as this defines the light and dark perfectly. Assign a color-hue to an equal shade of gray - light to light, medium to medium, and dark to dark - the overall look will show up as the block chosen.  First up is my Popsicle palette. I'm using these two identical blocks in different ways. The placements in the quilt defines the colorway making one a blender or border block for seamless transition from one color of the quilt to the other.  The blue green block made with three of the new Dotty Thatched colors from the new collection available now! The mixing of Dotty Thatched and regular Thatched gives such movement.  And then there is the Snuggly palette - a much calmer and warmer feel. The neutral block is made up of four different shades of Thatched browns - Washed Linen, Oatmeal, Cocoa and Mocha.  The fuchsia block is my border block making the transition from one colorway to the next look intentional. How different the two backgrounds of both colorways are! Quite striking and such a fun play on color.   The middle rows of the stars including the center star have been completed. I have added squares and rectangles to the middle row blocks.
That's all for this week. Happy quilting, quilters! Robin Week 2 of Moda Blockheads 6 and we have a beautiful block from Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles. Meet "Crossroads."  Summery June brings out those warm sunny colors in my mind. I worked with yellow to orange to red and burgundy. Is the center a bowtie? Or points on arrows? A turning point for a ribbon or line? With the first block I notice the corner triangles on the block a lot. The right one on the top row reminds me of a twist tie or the twisted ends of a wrapped candy. The right one on the second row has 4 arrows meeting in the center. The third row left is almost like horseshoe magnets. It can be a fun play of negative/positive with those horseshoe magnets in the next one. With only two colors, the next one is a strong silhouette. My bottom row uses 4 colors in the quarter square triangle center with more shades of the colors. In a case like this, if I were sewing one of these in Thatched, I'd flip my fabric to the back to get the lighter shade of a color.  Black and white and grayscale to see them without the color influence. And with the lines, below, to be clear on the piecing. I know with color studies like these, if you want to use them as inspiration, you may have to make some extra pieces to get the color and value differences in the pieces.  How about the sewn blocks? Well lets add a little Dotty Thatched to some corners in my Popsicle palette.  I'm using 2 blocks in the quilt this week, for each of the two quilts...so that is 4 blocks.   And same color vibe happening in the Snuggly palette too. Instead of Dotty, I've got the fuchsia in regular Thatched.  I stayed with a more traditional use of color arrangement in the Crossroads block. I'm excited to already have a total of 6 blocks made to be used in my two quilts!  How about you? Are you making multiple blocks? Or one a week is perfect for you? Some weeks are busier in life than others so go at your own pace, be good to yourself, and enjoy the process. Happy sewing my Blockhead friends!  |
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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