GAME ON! Month 2

Game On! is the 2026 Block of the Month quilt designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for THE QUILT SHOW: find Game On! information here. Join as a Star Member to get all the patterns and all the videos FREE. Membership is just $49/year and provides access to over 18 years of shows and tremendous additional content. Join HERE

In Month 2 we make the four corners for the Center Medallion. As always, I strongly advise that you WATCH THE VIDEOS FIRST! This month there is one video, it's 11 minutes long, and very important to watch before you begin.

For me, it was best to use vellum for the corner sections as seeing through the pattern is very helpful. 

Fabrics 1 and 2 in place 

TIPS: 

1. Double check the printed pattern is the correct size, verify the 1" scale box is exactly 1"

2. Take time to carefully tape the 6 pattern pages together, be sure all lines align perfectly

3. Be sure to use the correct fabric at the correct position. LIGHT and DARK go in specific places

4. Place the wrong side of the fabric to the wrong side of the pattern

5. Backstitch where you should, Becky explains this in the video. I ALSO BACKSTITCHED at the outside edge--this really helped when removing the paper later

6. Work in numerical order: fabrics 1 + 2 is the first seam, than add 3, then add 4, etc. 

7. If using a KIT, any changes you make in fabric selection may effect choices down the road. If you don't want to add additional fabrics later simply follow the pattern as written. I made a few changes to the SOLID version and if I have to add more later, I am fine with that. All fabrics GO!

CUTTING SUGGESTION: 

While the measurements are correct, if you are new to paper piecing you may find it helpful to cut the pieces 1/2" longer than the pattern says. For example, fabric 3 is cut 4.75" x 12"--making that 12.5" long gives just a bit of "insurance".   I suggest you cut ONE SET OF FABRICS to make the first corner before you cut them all, in case you want to add that extra 1/2" 

In the LIVE BROADCAST for Month 2. January 30, 2026, I will show how to fold back the paper to double check fabric placement before you sew. This really helps. The alternative is to PIN on the sewing line BEFORE SEWING, to double check the fabric being added will fully cover the paper pattern for that piece.

The Corner pattern from vellum: 

The Corner pattern from freezer paper. Becky suggests using painter's tape to hold the 6 pieces in place as you use transparent tape to join all 6 pieces accurately:

I have written a lot about using Vellum vs. Freezer paper for the patterns. The main advantages to using Freezer paper is the pattern can be used many times. You do not sew through the paper so there is no need to lower the stitch length as you really must when sewing through the paper. 

I tried the Freezer paper pattern because it would save a LOT of paper--as I am making two of these quilts, 6 pattern pages means 19 sheets of vellum for EACH quilt (38 sheets total) OR only 6 sheets of Freezer paper total. 

FREEZER PAPER WAS A POOR CHOICE:

I wasn't able to see through it well enough to get the initial points just right. 

The pattern is large so it's awkward to get it and the fabric under the needle.

It is crucial to keep the fabrics connected to the paper until the last piece is sewn in place. It took a LOT of glue to keep the fabric adhered to the freezer paper.

It was much more difficult to get the accuracy I wanted with the freezer paper.

SO, one corner of my SOLIDS quilt was made with Freezer paper, the remaining corners were made with vellum. Smaller borders to come I will use freezer paper when it works well. This is the time for vellum.

See my TUTORIAL on FREEZER PAPER FOUNDATION here for more information on that process.

Becky stresses careful trimming of the patterns, always placing the 1/4" line on the ruler on the solid/sewing line, so you are sure you are trimming 1/4" beyond the sewing line:

Trimming the pattern

Once the corner is made, trim ONLY the two angled, INSIDE edges. Be very sure to trim 1/4" beyond the sewing line. LEAVE THE TWO OUTSIDE EDGES as is. They will be marked then trimmed next month--this is VERY IMPORTANT: 

It is not a case of HOW FAST you can complete this month's work, but HOW ACCURATELY. Take your time, watch the videos several times, refer to the GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS as needed.

Once all four corners are made, admire what you have accomplished this month:

My PRINTS version

My SOLIDS version after month 3--notice I changed the colors of the corner CIRCLES 

Next month we will join the corners to the points, create the square with applique, make and applique the corner circles. That's a lot, the real "heart" of this quilt so I will see you then.

Let's quilt.

Barbara