Welcome to Wednesday, BlockHead day! Number 47! One to go and we will be done! What a great block number 47 is....Thanks Lisa! In fact they have all been great blocks! I've had a ball making these, hope you have as well. Question of the Week... Now that we are nearing the end...if you could start your blocks and quilt over again, is there anything you would have done different? I'm really happy with the palette of my blocks, so no changes there. I do wish I had planned a setting in advance, or at least very early on. In my defense, however, I almost never plan a setting in advance!!! Here is my version of Lisa's block.... Click here for the link to Lisa's blog and pattern. This block was fun to make. I liked the added dark triangle in the points...it's different. When sewing together the two triangles to make the star points, press that seam open....my one tip for this block. Be sure to visit all my friends, links below, to see what they have made this week. Thank you Lisa, for all of your blocks! For my 3" block this time I chose to keep the 9 patch block going but made 4 - 1" finished 4 patches to do something a little different. You may wish to change up you placement of the 4 Patches, so here is basic cutting... 5 - 1 1/2" squares light print 1" light strips, 1" dark strips (I used several short strips to prevent the curved thing that sometimes happens when pressing strips.) Sew lengths of strips together and press to dark strip. Cut apart in 1" increments. And, then sew those together to make 1" finished 4 patches. So tiny and sweet! Assemble into a 9 Patch block that measures 3 1/2" for a 3" finished block. Lots going on here. Not too long ago I was at retreat sewing on just ONE project, that I still can't show and this week and next, it's one deadline after another. I told my daughter the other day when she asked why everything comes at the same time, "It's the Law, it's just the law." When it rains, it pours. Of course something gets delayed or unfortunately forgotten. I'm trying my best to remember everything, at least everything I have remembered to write down! Happy Sewing! Next week is our last week! I can't believe it. Take care... Until next time, ~ Betsy Lynne - Blog - http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/ Betsy - Blog - http://betsysbestquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/betsy.chutchian Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/betsy_chutchian/ Lisa B - Blog - https://lisabongean.com/ Jan - Blog - http://janpatek.blogspot.com/ Jo - Blog - http://jomortonquilts.com/jos_journal/ Blog - http://blog.modafabrics.com/

I always find it interesting that so many variations can be created from a single quilt pattern. The four patterns above are all created from 9-patch blocks alternating with snowball blocks. How different they look! The two on the top row both have dark-on-the-corner 9-patches. The snowballs on the left have dark triangles in the corners. The snowballs on the right have light triangles in the corners. The two on the bottom row both have light-in-the-corner 9-patches but the snowballs on the left have dark triangles in the corners and the snowballs on the right have light triangles in the corners. The patterns that are catty-corner from each other have colors in opposite positions. It may depend on your own vision what stands out to you or what you see first. When I look at the top left pattern the first thing I see are the diagonal crosses. In all the other patterns, I see the snowballs first. If I squint I can see the white diagonal crosses in the lower right pattern. Turn these patterns on the diagonal and it almost looks like there are four different patterns. How about you? Do you notice how different patterns can look when the colors and/or lights/darks change places. What do you see when you look at these patterns? --Nancy. .

I joined in on Bonnie Hunter's split 9-patch project of 2013. It is made with 2 1/2 inch cut squares and half-square triangles. I used up many of my pre-cut squares, but there are many more in the bin. The block finishes 6 inches. The border is 9-patches with just dark fabrics. I love streak of lightning sets and it works well for this quilt. Machine quilted by Suzette Fisher. The back uses up large blue pieces, many with special meanings to me.

Quilts made with disappearing blocks are intriguing—and oh-so-fun! But just what are they and how are they made?

Instructions for making a modern quilted table runner using the disappearing Nine Patch technique. Using the awesome Banyan Batiks Intaglio. Free Pattern

This post highlights the classic 9-patch Snowball Quilt Pattern, an excellent choice for beginners without looking like a beginner quilt.

Find free quilt patterns that use layer cake precut fabric! Using these makes quilting fun and easier -- and guaranteed to coordinate!

You may recall that I participated in a blog hop back in February (click here to see my quilt) for a new book by Teresa @ Sewn Up, Teresa Down Under -- Turnabout Patchwork. Teresa is currently hosting a QAL for Flying Confetti, one of the patterns in her book. I've been wanting to try this pattern so I decided to play along. I had some scraps of Island Batik fabrics from my Ambassador box. I used my Bloc Loc ruler to trim my HSTs. The blocks sew together very quickly. Then you cut the block in half horizontally and vertically. A quick turn of each quadrant and then sew back together for a new block. I pieced one block to see how it worked. It was so easy and quick, so I made all the blocks. I'm making a baby size, just 9 blocks, so it didn't take long to sew all the blocks, cut them, and then re-sew them. At this point, I thought I might as well sew the 9 blocks into a top and be ahead of the game in the QAL. And then I remembered why I wanted to sew along with Teresa. She was going to show us how to quilt as you go without sashing. Well damn. I either had to take all my blocks apart or start another quilt. So I grabbed some charm squares in my stash and some Kona Seafoam. And now I have another set of blocks. Lesson learned....it doesn't always pay to sew ahead. LOL Tereas has some tips on chain piecing, pressing, and trimming half square triangles. Head over to her blog to see the video. There's still time to join in.

It's my turn on the Riley Blake Designs Block Challenge #rbdblockchallenge and in an earlier blog post I asked if anyone had any guesses on what my block would consist of. A couple of you guessed a star or a pinwheel. For those of you who guessed star - you are correct! Stars are truly my favorite block element for a quilt followed not too far behind by the pinwheel. As some of you may know, I was absent here on my blog for the last (3) blocks due to Covid-19. I plan on writing a blog post later this week on what all went down and how grateful I am to be here, this morning, writing this post! 2/21/2021: Quick update to the above paragraph. I didn't get it written. Fingers crossed time will allow me to get it done next week. Because of my absence, my dear quilting friend and Gem Stone extraordinaire sewer for Planted Seed Designs, Lisa Garber @thecurvyquilter, jumped in (without asking) and made my block for me! Lisa is NO stranger to my blog. She has sewn some incredible quilts for me over the past 18+ months and honestly, I'm not sure what I would do without her and a few of my other sewers AND long arm quilter! Please check out all her fabulous quilts in these earlier blog posts here and here and here! OK, without further ado, Lisa's 9-Patch Star Block! I absolutely LOVE it! I intentionally designed a block that wasn't intimidating and would come together quickly! The block Lisa made for me is how I submitted it to Riley Blake Designs at the beginning of this block challenge BUT later I was playing around with color and placement and look how many "looks" you can create with the 9-Patch Star Block! A bouquet of tulips (above)! A scrappy-patchwork (above)! and a center cross (above) Aren't they fun?! Gives you something to think about as you begin to plan your fabrics and placement for the 9-Patch Star Block. I had so much fun "playing" with the different looks of the blocks, I decided to use them ALL in a row quilt! A very simple, straight forward design that would be quick and easy to sew up during our "break period" next week. And to make it even easier, we're offering it as a KIT here! The kit includes ALL the (16) Gem Stone Bright fabrics used in the design plus background and binding! As mentioned at the beginning of this post, Lisa made my 9-Patch Star block but she also caught me up and made the (3) blocks I missed while in the hospital. Check out these beauties . . . . Block 9: Sugar Candy (above) Designed by my dear and special friend, Jill Finley of Jillily Studios! Pattern can be found here! Block 10: Lady of the Lake (above) Designed by Amanda Castor of @materialgirlquilts Pattern can be found here! Block 11: Glint (above) Designed by Melissa Mortenson of @polkadotchair Pattern can be found here! Glint and 9-Patch Star share some similar characteristics but still very different! I hope you enjoy creating your very own 9-Patch Star block and I'm extra curious if you'll make it the way I submitted it to Riley Blake Designs or if you'll take a different direction. Please let me know in the comments! Don't forget! This is the last block for May. We're taking a break next week to catch up on our blocks or make more blocks or just chill because you know, summer is right around the corner! Happy 9-Patch Star Sewing! Gerri PS: I was able to get my version of the Sugar Candy block by Jill Finley done before Covid-19 struck and I wanted to share it with you here: I like Lisa's version better; but I was intrigued that we had the same idea just our tones are different; her's light, mine dark! So, the above are my (9) blocks that will be mixed and mingled with Lisa's (7) blocks (the (3) above and the (4) blocks coming in June)! This quilt will hold so much more meaning to me than when we started. Gerri

This 70- by 88-inch quilt is an eye-popping design that Sue Garman based on an old quilt she spotted at Houstons big annual quilt show one year. She tells everyone that making the quilt was a great experience: she fell in love with intricate piecing while working on this quilt and got so excited about it that she has made many more intricately pieced quilts. And theres a bonus for you if you make this quilt: its a great scrap-eater!

Top US quilting blog and shop, Seams Like a Dream Quilt Designs, shares how to make the Snowball Quilt Block. Click here to read more!

Here's Charlene's Split Nine Patch finished. She wanted a simple meander, so that's sort of what I gave her. But, I wanted a bit of a difference between the light and dark side of the streak of lightening effect of her setting.So, I did the simple puzzle type meander in the light, and a loop meander in the darks. I'm happy with this one. I used varigated Rainbows blues in the top thread, and a light grey in the bobbin.

What do you get when you put together nine-patch squares with pretty stars? You're about to find out! The addition of 8-legged stars at each intersection really makes this quilt shine and it's all done with easy strip piecing and a bit of snowballing. To start, you'll need one roll of 2 1/2" print strips along with 1/2 yard each of two different background prints. Grab a yard for the inner border and a yard for the outer border and you're ready to stitch! Finished size: 65" x 65" Pattern for 2.5" Strips.

Use Those Scraps You’ve Been Saving to Make a Magnificent Quilt! If you’re a quilter, you surely have fabric scraps. While it’s nice to use a few here and there, it’s even nicer to make an entire quilt from scraps. Not only will it make a big dent in your stockpile, but in the process, …

I was born near Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in the Northeastern United States. I remember summers spent combing beaches and watching yachts glide in and out of the harbor. I day-dreamed ab…

Snowball Quilt Pattern / PDF Download / Easy Quilt Pattern / Detailed Instructions / Lap, Twin, Queen, King Size Quilt / Strip Piecing I spent many years teaching quilt making for a national fabric company, and I always found their quilt patterns lacking the information many quilters needed to construct their quilts. I've designed my patterns so they are very easy to follow and understand. I've included step by step instructions and clear detailed illustrations to help make the quilt making processes fun and very rewarding. The illustrations taking you step by step, from building the blocks, to assembling the quilt. The detailed instructions show how to construct a quilt using the strip piecing method. All of the directions are detailed enough for a novice quilter to understand. There are reference tables throughout to assist with helpful information. The quilt blocks are made using traditional piecing methods. No templates. No paper piecing. Only simple straight line sewing. I've included charts listing recommended fabric yardage for each quilt size. This is a PDF digital download only. The Snowball Nine Patch quilt is based on a two different 6" blocks. The pattern includes instructions for four different quilt sizes: Lap Quilt: 60" x 60" Twin Quilt: 70" x 88" Queen Quilt: 88" x 106" King Quilt: 112" x 112" The quilt pattern includes: Complete fabric requirements for each quilt size Fabric cutting instructions Sewing directions Layout and assembly directions Binding assembly and attachment. This item is a PDF file that you download and will have to save to your computer before printing. Following the confirmation of your purchase, you will receive an email notification from Etsy giving you a link to enable you to download your file.

Stack up these alternating blocks to add a secondary pattern. This is a great skill builder if you are a new quilter with many options to personalize in the fabric combinations. The star emerges due to the deep tone in the triangles, keep this in mind as you select fabrics. If all your fabrics are of the same or similar value, your stars won’t sparkle. Look for three decidedly different tones when selecting your fabrics.   Sizes included in the pattern:  Baby - 45" x 45" Throw - 63" x 72" Twin - 72" x 90" Quinn - 99" x 99"   Paper pattern available here

Finished block: 18in x 18in Finished quilt: 70.5in x 70.5in Printed Paper Pattern Final Product: Quilt Finished Size: 70.5in x 70.5in Technique: Standard Machine Sewing Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Pieced by Judy McNaughton Quilted by Jessica's Quilting Studio

Vicki made this striking Smoke and Fire quilt which was a pattern in Fons and Porter's Quilting Quickly magazine July/Aug 2015 edition. She used a great mix of black and white prints with the perfect pop of red. I quilted it with the Gingersnap pantograph, light grey So Fine thread and Quilters Dream Blend batting.

The Magnolia Quilt is a quick and simple repeating block pattern with a bold statement.  Create a classic black and white look, or go bold with prints. The possibilities are endless! Includes 5 different sizes: Baby, Lap, Twin, Queen and King. Partial piecing reduces the amount of seams and small piece, adding to the clean, smooth, classic look of this pattern. Be sure to post your finished project using #magnoliaquilt and #simplymackbethpatterns Fabric requirements are pictured in the image gallery. Listing is for a PDF version of this pattern only! Additional Information: *Must have Adobe Reader 6.0 or newer to view the pattern. *Due to the nature of this product, no refunds or returns are permitted. * **Although this pattern has been tested by multiple testers, mistakes are still possible. Please email any errors you may find to simplymackbeth [!at] gmail.com Pattern is for personal use only, and may not be copied, distributed or sold. Copyright Simply MackBeth Design Co., 2018

I saw so many interesting quilts while we were traveling, that I ended up splitting my pictures into 4 posts! I love vintage quilts. I don’t feel a need to buy them all, bug I do enjoy taking…

The 9 patch quilt block is seriously one of the most basic and easy quilt block. Mix it up with a few fun rotary cuts and you have yourself a super quick, simple and easy to sew quilt block!

Quick quilt using scrappy strips.