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This week's Sewcialites 3 block, Dreamy, is designed by Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life. It's a lovely tulip block featuring straight piecing and half-square triangles that allow the color and fabric choices to take center stage. When I looked at where this block would sit in the sampler, it felt like it needed a little breathing room. A lighter palette let the flower stand out while keeping the overall quilt balanced.  For my block, I used Thatched fabrics in Caramel, Buttermilk, Early Dawn, Primrose, and Sugar Rose. The neutrals became the stem and leaves, while the soft pinks brought the flower petals to life. This lighter palette fits nicely into the overall layout of my sampler while giving this delicate bloom a soft, airy feel.  I enjoy working with Thatched, and this block is a great example of how a near-solid fabric can add interest without overwhelming a design. From a distance, Thatched reads much like a solid, making it easy to define the shapes of the petals and leaves. Up close, however, the subtle scribble texture adds movement and depth. Texture doesn't always have to come from busy prints—sometimes a quieter fabric can give a block just the right amount of character.  As the sampler continues to grow, it's fun to see how each designer's block contributes its own personality to the quilt. Be sure to stop back next week for another Sewcialites 3 block as we get one step closer to seeing the finished sampler come together.
Happy Sewing! - Robin
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This week's Sewcialites 3 block is Gazebo, designed by Doug Leko of Antler Quilt Design. I'm not sure Doug envisioned this block dressed entirely in shades of pink, but I have to say—it is absolutely delicious! This palette gives the design a fresh, unexpected look while allowing the striking geometry of the block to take center stage.  The Gazebo block is perfect for playing with color. With just a few different shades of pink, it takes on an entirely different personality—from bold and dramatic to soft and understated. Whether you choose a soft palette, high contrast, or a rainbow of prints, the design offers endless possibilities for creative expression.  The Thatched fabrics used this week are Early Dawn, Sugar Rose, Fuchsia, and Primrose. By working within a single color family, the focus shifts from color to value, allowing the varying shades to define the design. From the soft, delicate Early Dawn presented as the background fabric to the bold Fuchsia at the center of the block, each fabric plays an important role. Sugar Rose provides a medium value that gently frames the center, while Primrose creates a soft outer border, bringing the entire composition together. This block is a wonderful example of how subtle shifts in value can create depth, and visual interest without relying on contrasting colors.  One of the fun parts of making a sampler quilt is watching the larger composition unfold. Each completed block contributes its own character, while the collection gradually comes together as a unified design. There are still a few weeks ahead, and I'm looking forward to seeing the final composition take shape.
Happy Sewing! -Robin Week 19 of Sewcialites 3 is here, and this week we're sewing Pinwheel Dash, designed by Bev McCullough of Flamingo Toes. As the name suggests, Pinwheel Dash is a delightful combination of two classic quilt blocks—a pinwheel and a churn dash. It's always fun to see familiar elements reimagined into something fresh, and Bev's design does just that.  For my version, I used Thatched in Fuchsia, Burgundy, Masala Spice, and Caramel. The construction is a bit more involved than it first appears, requiring careful piecing and accurate seam allowances. Bev's design is a wonderful example of how color placement can completely change the character of a quilt block.  The pops of Fuchsia naturally draw your eye to the pinwheel, making it the focal point of the block. I chose to use more Burgundy than the pattern suggests, rather than introducing additional colors, and it completely changed the overall look. The larger areas of Burgundy give the block a more unified appearance while allowing the pinwheel to shine without overwhelming the design. By simply moving color around you can transform a quilt block without changing a single seam. A different color choice or value placement can give the very same block an entirely different personality.  It's fun when a block surprises me, and Pinwheel Dash did just that. It's a wonderful example of how experimenting with color placement can create an unexpected and beautiful result.
Happy sewing! - Robin 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 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 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 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 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 |
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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