 Brighten up your day with a little sewing! Here is "Brighten" from Minki Kim for this week's Sewcialites free block from the Fat Quarter Shop. What an interesting interlocking shape of rectangles. I love it! For color studies, the suggested layout then playing with those squares and rectangles a little to make a geometric layering of transparent squares in the center. Emphasize across the diagonal, have a pixelated "H" or a cut out rectangle that our eye is drawn into with it's dark center.  I stayed with the recommended layout since I liked the simplicity and movement of the shapes. I love this little red print in Wild Blossoms. It has all kinds of little blooming things with tiny bees buzzing about. It still shows some of the images in these small 3" blocks. I also had one more block to do to catch up..."Interwoven" from Shereece Nicole of Sew Hooked on Treasures.  This block took some concentration and careful following of directions. I love the outcome and how the ribbons have a continuous woven interlocking look.  If you are also catching up, here are a couple ideas in the color studies for the Interwoven block. The outer flying geese background can fill in more of a large "plus" shape. Center triangles can pop out as a pinwheel. The star points can be emphasized as their own element and we can also create a large X shape with fun motion.   Now I am all caught up and can go back to one block a week! My block will be coming up next month and I'm so excited to share! I hope you all have a fun Valentines (or Galentines) Day next week! Happy sewing! 
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 Hello Enchant! I breathed a sigh of relief for a slightly easier block this week since I'm also continuing my catching up on past blocks. I enjoyed this charming block from April Rosenthal of Prairie Grass Patterns on the Sewcialites Sewalong from the Fat Quarter Shop. How about a color study? Yep!  Outside half square triangles in background white or a color? I liked how the third one looks to me like corners folded in, like a galette with a lemon center. The second one plays on the idea of a churn dash block. Fourth uses background white to create a diagonal twisted candy and the last one is a color wheel of sides that draws your eye into the dark center.  I used number 3 as my inspiration. I think it was the idea of a lemony pastry that got me, and no, I don't have any lemon danishes or pastries here. Sigh. It is not till I look at the photos that I see I have a seam not quite matching but since it is a 3" block, I'm leaving it as is. I did use my seam ripper quite a bit on some of the other blocks I made so this seems minor in comparison to some of the other matching issues I encountered. Speaking of the other blocks, I made Flourish by Lori Holt of Bee in My Bonnet.  I used my seam ripper on this one a lot. Keep in mind this is a 3" block so each of those sections is only 1/2" finished. I am liking the blue/green combination and look for my smaller prints to use on these tiny-pieces blocks. For color studies, I played with these ideas:  Lots of pieces means lots of options to pull out the X shape (jumping jacks!), think of corner ribbon ends, play up the sides, or treat the rows like different colored bands. I used number two as my inspiration but it was a toss-up with number three.  Next was Nuture from Lissa Alexander. Wheels, pointers, plaids and, again, lots of options! This one was really structured for lots of color play. And again, my seam ripper was used a lot on this 3" block.  The last of the catch up blocks for the week was Butterfly Garden by Pat Sloan of The Voice of Quilting. I did not do a color study for this one since I had no desire to see it as anything but a butterfly. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this butterfly come into full formation.  Here is the group of this week's blocks, all done in different colors and fabrics from the Wild Blossoms collection, which should be shipping in March from Moda Fabrics!  Just a reminder, if you want to see past color studies, go to the COLOR STUDIES page listed in the menu and click on an image to go to that blog post. Next week I'll add in the block Interwoven from Shereece Nicole and I think I will be all caught up with past blocks!  Last week I mentioned I will be doing the Bountiful quilt along (Bountiful quilt from Corey Yoder) with the Fat Quarter Shop, raising money for Make a Wish! Here is a mock up of the quilt in WILD BLOSSOMS. Since Wild Blossoms is shipping in March, it might be a tiny bit behind on the first block but should be available to catch up and sew on the second in time. For more information about the Bountiful sewalong, and to see the fantastic bundles of Corey's fabric line, coordinating threads and a very charming matching CROSS STITCH, visit the Fat Quarter Shop's Bountiful blog post.  See you next week and until then, happy sewing!!  Sewcialites block #9 is from Brigitte Heitland of Zen Chic. Her block, New Plus Old, can use the snowball corners as ends of a ribbon, different color triangles, interlocking ribbon ends, or a twisty candy wrapper.  I loved the simplicity of the first block and wanted to try it in my NEW fabric line that will be shipping in July, Forest Frolic. There are 5 new Thatched colors in the collection so I wanted to use the light background of Buttermilk Thatched with the Little Forest Fling print in the square corners. The little triangles in the center block show off the new Caramel, Copper, Cinnamon and Mocha Thatched.  I also made the small 3" version in Wild Blossoms in cream and greens with the interlocking ribbon ends. I think this block would look cute set on point as well as straight.  I'm hopeful I can catch up in the New Year with the rest of the blocks so far! Happy sewing!
Chelsi Stratton is our designer this week for Sewcialites and her block is "Flirty." Simple one color with white or pull out more of a Bear's Paw type of block by shading in one corner square. Or treat the block as a study in diagonal movement and shades of sunset colors. Let the white stand out as a bow tie or accent triangles.  Block sewing will happen next week but I'll enjoy seeing the different blocks popping up in the facebook Sewcialites lounge while I finish up a couple things and then take a sewing break with a sweet 3" block.
Have a great weekend! Hello Patchy Days with little squares and flying geese from Jackie McDonald! I just got to see Jackie in person at Quilt Market in Houston and it was SO nice. We have connected through phone calls and zoom so this was the next step...an actual meeting! I have enjoyed making Jackie's block this month AND I caught up with last week's Tussy Mussy sewing. But first, color studies!  You can emphasize the diamond made from flying geese or the square in the center or make the flying geese and their joining rectangles into arrows pointing out. Those 4-patch corners can be one color plus background or play with gradations and place the lightest parts to the inside or outside. I like the arrow idea and decided to apply that to my sewn block.  I'm using blues from my new Wild Blossoms collection (the one showing at Quilt Market last weekend). The arrows are out of the blue bonnet floral print with corners in the diagonal sketchy plaid. Mist Thatched flipped to the back side for a lighter shade makes the center square.  I am thinking about combining these blocks in a variety of colors with the big width-of-fabric rainbow print of all the wildflowers. Perhaps in a tote...I'm working on my plan and will share when it is solid.  For my Tussy Mussy block, I used the pink Queen Anne's Lace print with a butterfly in the center part of the block, fluttering towards those outer dark petals. These small blocks are so much fun to make. Last year I did all the small 3" ones and fell in love with doing this sweet small size.  Now I've got a red, pink and blue block and have got to plan out next week's color. Orange, yellow, green? Sewing with the range of colors in Wild Blossoms has so many possibilities.  Check out the Fat Quarter Shop blog and shop for the free weekly patterns for this Sewcialites 2 Quilt Along!
Week 2 of Sewcialites with a block from Susan Ache called Tussy Mussy. This traditional nosegay block is adorable as a floral bouquet with pretty colors. Since it is a fairly definite shape and easier to "see" as a bouquet, I thought it would be fun to explore how else it could evolve.  First I have my traditional nosegay of flowers with a little modern feel by keeping the solid colors for the base of the flowers and all the outer fringy ring in the darker pink. Then I went for a blocky stand of greens and mixing apricot into the outer petals to give it a more explosive feel. But what if it is not a nosegay at all? I had to throw a little orange in there in honor of Halloween and that one just plays with shapes and switching up the white into the inner parts of the block and letting some background come in on the outer triangles. That last one was more shape exploration and I keep seeing a little red-haired paper doll girl with a pink skirt. Do you see her?  She's wearing a big pink scarf and orange mittens...she might be doing jumping jacks while carrying her grocery bags home. I can't help it! Sometimes the funniest little things jump out! Due to QUILT MARKET happening, my block will have to be sewn when I get back. But I look forward to seeing all your fun Tussy Mussy blocks!
Last week of Moda Blockheads 4 with block 28 from Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co. Her free quilt block pattern can be found at the Fig Tree & Co blog: For color studies I went with the cheery bloom suggested in the block layout and then played with the center band, the negative space, diagonal colors, a 3d look to the little triangles and a color quad with different color families in each quarter.  And my sewn block is the last of the big pink blocks. Sigh. Although I am happy to get to the finish line, I also am sad since this has been something I have looked forward to each week. Which makes me think about why I like sewalongs...skill building, trying new things and community. Because Quilty friends are the best. Thank you for the wonderful comments on the facebook and instagram posts each week. You have made me smile.   Till next time...happy sewing!
Happy Wednesday and Moda Blockheads day! Today Michelle White from Moda brings us "Threaded" for our free quilt block pattern! Visit Michelle on instagram @MichelleWhiteMakes and get your THREADED quilt block pattern at Moda's site: https://my.modafabrics.com/tags/blockheads-4  Michelle's design is shown with the angled ends all going in one direction, however the pattern also showed an alternate that faced the angles together, so I did some in the last row with that and took some liberties of flipping the last one as two mirrored angles. I like how treating the ends with the middle color of the bar next to it creates a bulging line. Or only playing the outer ends, having graduated shades of colors in the bars, or play with different colors. The bottom middle really plays with negative and positive space to form a strong O shape. Thanks for this versatile block Michelle!  My block is living in a green corner of my small row so I'm treating the shapes as a leaf idea. Two of the other green corners have leafy blocks with Autumnal and Clover.  My little butterfly that has rested on the leaf is from Sweet Pea & Lily with the little drawings next to it from Carolina Lilies. Thatched greens bookend the leaf.  Last week I had not blogged about my color studies. There was just a lot to catch up with at home plus needing more naps from Covid. Feeling much better but I'm behind on a couple of things. So this was my color study that I shared on the Moda Blockheads Facebook group for Block #26, POSTAGE STAMP!  This weet Postage Stamp is from Corey Yoder! The link is through her blog @CorianderQuilts. I think this would look adorable with "Forever" embroidered on it. Those little dashed edges would be cute as colored lines of playful hues. Corners the same color as the background make it round off the shape more.  A little orange stamp for my orange row. Abby Rose has a bud for the center!  And I've got a couple more small orange blocks from the bonus blocks that I had not posted yet. These are bonus block 6 STEP TO IT and bonus block 7 STAR TURN.    All of my orange and yellow blocks are made so I can start joining them. ONE MORE BLOCK TO GO! I have one space left in my big pink outer ring. Till next week...happy sewing!!  Ready to show some love? Well, Vanessa Goertzen's HEART quilt block will help you do just that! Visit Vanessa at https://blog.lellaboutique.com for the pattern and follow all her pretty Lellaboutique images on instagram https://www.instagram.com/lellaboutique/  This week's block just seemed to scream out for some pop-inspired colors with some super-graphics 70s vibe. I think of the roller skating rink with Donna Summers singing "I feel love" with those star points beaming out light around the heart. This would make the cutest tshirts!  My block for my sampler is in the large pink row and I've used a Mix of a print from Abby Rose with corners using broken lines from Painted Meadow. Four colors of Thatched (fuchsia, primrose, cranberry and sugar rose) mix in with the other pink blocks in the row.    Four spaces left to go! Based on what I have sewn so far, I have one big block left to go and 3 small ones (two orange and one green corner). When we get near the end of a sewalong I am so happy to finish, but also sad since the journey and sharing is so fun. Guess that means it will be time to start thinking about another one, right?  A little late here with my Blockheads post but I do have a legit excuse. Blame it on the Covid I contracted and my needing lots of naps. Doing better now and thought sharing late was better than never! Last week's block was Outtakes from Vanessa Christenson of V&Co. Vanessa creates those beautiful ombre fabrics with luscious colors! I think her fabrics would be so pretty in the block she designed. Visit Vanessa at https://vanessachristenson.com/blog/ or check out her feed on instagram https://www.instagram.com/vchristenson/  I like to squint my eyes to see what is popping out as the strongest element or is an overall feel in each of these. That all white center star really pops to me. I also like how it can also look like a visual illusion of corners zooming out at you. Such a fun block!  My Outtakes block will be the last of the four for my yellow center! I did not have the specialty ruler so I used the paper piecing for the star points, which worked well. I thought a little Dandi Annie puff ball was a fun center to use for this!   Here are my 4 yellow blocks together. I'm looking forward to getting this all joined!  |
About ROBINDesigner of colorful florals for Moda fabrics. Modern to transitional quilt designer. Illustrator, sewist, crafter. I am proud to be a designer for Moda Fabrics!
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