|
It's Friday, which means it's time for another Sewcialites 3 block reveal! This week we're making Block 17, Flutter, designed by Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart. At first glance, Flutter might look like a nine-patch block, but take a closer look and you'll discover a clever twist. Not that we don't love a good nine-patch, it's a classic for a reason, but this block has a little fairy dust sprinkled on it. The construction is all straight piecing, making it approachable and enjoyable to sew, yet the design feels anything but ordinary. Oversized corner squares and pieced outer middle units create movement and interest, transforming a familiar layout into something fresh and playful.  What I especially appreciate about Flutter is how Sandy Gervais took a traditional block structure and gave it a different personality. It's a great reminder that sometimes the most creative designs come from reimagining the basics.  The Thatched fabrics I used this week are Early Dawn, Primrose, Sugar Rose, Pink Grapefruit, Smoked Paprika, Masala Spice, Caramel, and Buttermilk. I chose the darker Smoked Paprika for the center square and combined the remaining colors throughout the block to create a balanced, lighter overall look. The contrast helps draw your eye to the center while allowing the surrounding colors to flutter around it.  Flutter is a wonderful example of how thoughtful construction doesn't have to be complicated to be effective. A few clever design choices are all it takes to turn an everyday block into something memorable. See you again next week, friends.
Happy Sewing! - Robin
1 Comment
It's Friday and that means it's time for another Sewcialites 3 reveal! This week we're making Block 16, Florabelle, designed by Heather Briggs of My Sew Quilty Life. Florabelle is as pretty as it is intricate. Rated at an intermediate skill level, this block is constructed almost entirely with stitch-and-flip units. While stitch-and-flip is a straightforward technique, working at a finished size of just 3" means there are a lot of very small pieces to manage.  This is one of those blocks where accuracy really matters. Trimming, pressing, and maintaining a consistent seam allowance all help keep the units the correct size as they come together. With so many stitch-and-flip corners packed into such a small space, even a slight variation can add up by the time the block is assembled.  For color, I used Burgundy, Fuchsia, Pink Grapefruit, Sugar Rose, Primrose, Early Dawn, and Caramel. That's the majority of my color palette represented in a single block! Because Florabelle contains so many small pieces, it provided a great opportunity to incorporate a wide range of fabrics without any one color overwhelming the design. The combination of warm pinks, rich burgundy, and soft neutrals really helped bring the design to life. Despite its small size, Florabelle makes a big impact with both color and detail.  One of the things I'm enjoying most about Sewcialites 3 is how each block presents a different challenge. Some weeks focus on color placement, while others test accuracy and construction. Florabelle definitely falls into the latter category, making it a satisfying finish once all those tiny pieces come together.
Happy Sewing - Robin It’s Friday block release day for Sewcialites 3 and this week’s Block 15 is the beautiful Split Star Block designed by Lissa Alexander of ModaLissa. This design is delivering the look of two blocks in one, as the background becomes a design element itself in addition to the main sawtooth star motif. The layered illusion is the diagonal half-square triangle divide that creates a two-tone background, allowing your eye to move between foreground and background depending on fabric placement. One moment the star shines forward, and the next the background creates a striking secondary pattern.  Color placement becomes especially important in creating contrast and depth within this block. Strong value differences between medium, and dark fabrics, chosen here, help separate the look of “overlapping” shapes and emphasize the layered effect. When the background has good contrasts with the star, the sawtooth star feels bold and dimensional. But when similar tones are placed beside each other, the secondary patterns begin to emerge more subtly, creating a softer and more intricate visual texture. It’s a block that completely changes personality depending on how colors are arranged.  The colors I used this week, from top to bottom, are Sugar Rose, Cranberry, Burgundy, Smoked Paprika, and Pink Grapefruit. Together, this combination paired with the Split Star Block feels like the epitome of warmth and depth. The darker Smoked Paprika, Cranberry, and Burgundy tones pull the design forward, while the softer Sugar Rose and Pink Grapefruit create an almost glowing background that lifts the block. It’s tempting to make an entire quilt using this palette — perhaps with the background split diagonally throughout the whole design to frame the star blocks!? So many ideas, so little time!  Every week of sewing along has been inspiring and fun, and I always love seeing how different fabric and color choices completely transform each block. This one especially feels like it could go in so many directions depending on the fabrics you choose. It is becoming a fast favorite, like so many of the others!
Happy Sewing! -Robin 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 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 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 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 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  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! |
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!
Shop Robin's Designs
 I am an affiliate for Fat Quarter Shop and may earn a small commission through my links. Thank you for your support!
Check the March 6, 2017 Episode!
Categories
All
Archives
November 2025
© Robin Pickens Inc. All rights reserved. No images may be reproduced without permission.
|
RSS Feed
