GAME ON! Month 3

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

This is the BIG month! We will assemble the Center Medallion, the heart of this quilt. 

My SOLIDS center

MY TIPS:

1. WATCH THE VIDEOS: there are 8 of them, less than 35 minutes total. I recommend you watch them ALL first, before you start, as this will show you the process and you will know which videos to return to when you get to that part of the  assembly process. 

2. CUTTING RECOMMENDATION: don't cut the Inner and Outer Sashing strips until the center is complete. If yours is short, you can widen those strips to insure your Center Medallion with seam allowances is 36.5" square. This is VERY IMPORTANT as we move on to the pieced borders next month.

3. I changed a few colors in my Solid Kit. The Corner Circle are not Yellow and White. And outer sashing is not brown. It's your quilt, YOU get to decide.

4. FOLLOW the INSTRUCTIONS: in addition to the videos, the pattern Instructions take you step-by-step through the process with photos. Take time to read them as you work.

4. APPLIQUE: I used vellum to print the two Placement Overlay pages. I could see through it, no need to put marks on the quilt and I didn't have vinyl. Becky's applique technique always uses vinyl, she invented this method, I believe, so if you have it, you can use it. 

5. SETTING the MEDALLION TOGETHER: Step 7 shows how to draw pencil lines on the WRONG side of the corners, right at the edge of the paper pattern. It is important to do this BEFORE REMOVING the PAPER.  (NOTE: for those using Freezer Paper, I wrote on the FORUM last month the need to do this BEFORE removing the Freezer Paper.)

Since I remove the paper before I assemble the center, I drew these lines as soon as the corners were complete. Becky shows doing this AFTER the pointy parts are sewn to the corners.

Mine

In addition, I drew crosshairs 1/4" INSIDE that outer pencil line to show me exactly where the corners are. These lines replace the DOT on the pattern papers--since I removed the papers BEFORE assembling the Center Medallion:

6. TAKE YOUR TIME: the process of adding the 4 points to the 4 corners and then INSERTING the Center Circle takes time, patience, and forgiveness. You might try machine basting as you insert the center block. Go slow, watch the seam allowances you can't see under the needle, take it easy.  BE SURE the center "hole" where the center block is inserted is 6.5" on all 4 sides.

7. HOW TO FIX THE CONNECTIONS: if you are not happy with the "corners" surrounding the center square I have a solution: cover them with a circle.

When I got the Solid version together it wasn't that great. It had been a long day so I stopped. The next day I "fiddled" with all those places, re-doing as necessary, until I was satisfied enough with the result.

BUT laying in bed that night I thought "What am I going to do if I can't get this right?"  The "cover up my mistakes" method was born!

I use Karen K Buckley's Perfect Circle method. This is about the size of a dime. It is the same color as the top circle I used in the outer corners.  I have shown this to many friends and all agreed this is a good solution. It looks like it is part of the original design, in keeping with the other circles in the Center Medallion and no one but you knows what it looks like under there:

Now that I have made two of these Center Medallions, I can tell you it isn't easy to get those corners nice and pretty but it can be done. Becky says inserting the center block into the middle is the most difficult part of this whole quilt--I quite agree. You get to decide how perfect your quilt is. 

8. BE SURE the CENTER MEDALLION IS 32.5" square once assembled. Becky has excellent instructions and a video to help you. Once it is, cut and add the two sashings. If it is short, you can increase the width of one or both of the sashings to get the FINAL size correct--it MUST BE 36.5" SQUARE, including seam allowances when Month 3 is done. 

9. CELEBRATE the completion of MONTH 3! You earned it. Now we move on to the most fun and easy parts--adding borders.

10. PLEASE add your PHOTOS to the FORUM--we want to see all the progress. If the photo doesn't upload, it's too large, resize it smaller and try again. Google taught me how to do that.

My Prints version, through Month 7

Let's quilt.

Barbara

PICK A PETAL -- Month 9

PICK A PETAL is the 2024 Block of the Month quilt designed by Jen Kingwell exclusively for The Quilt Show. It is FREE to Star Members, join today to take advantage of this great bonus. WATCH Jen's Show to see how she makes this quilt--it is FREE for EVERYONE all of 2024: Jen Kingwell Show 3401

This month we work on more applique motifs for another Log Cabin border. For me, this is my Left Side. Yours might be different depending on which photo of the quilt you used for a reference.

Photos of Jen's sample quilt:

These photos allow you to see a bit of the embroidery and quilting up close.

Here are three photos of mine:

My Top done minus remaining embroidery

Next month we get the rest of the embroidery motifs for the two remaining Log Cabin borders. We are getting to the finish line!

Be sure to post your progress photos on the FORUM. And if you share photos on social media please use the hashtag #thequiltshowbom2024 or #pickapetalquilt

Let's quilt.

Barbara

HOMEWARD BOUND -- MONTH 10

This quilt is the 2023 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. It was designed by Sarah Fielke exclusively for The Quilt Show and is only available at The Quilt Show. The best news is it's FREE for Star Members of The Quilt Show. Each month in 2023 a new part of the quilt is released for download to Star Members. 

After spending 3 months on the wide applique border, you will like how quickly the pieced border goes in Month 10. There is just a small amount of applique, leaves, stems, and  berries. 

As always, watch any videos provided to supplement the pattern instructions. The Month 5 video may also be helpful:  Month 5 Video

The Half Square Triangle units are the exact same size as those made in Month 5. The fabrics to use for the Large Triangles and Small Triangles are spelled out clearly in the Fabric Requirements so I won't list them here. Just pull out the 6 fabrics for the Large HST and the 4 fabrics for the Small HST and you will easily be able to see where they go.

I make HST with a Half Square Triangle ruler, like the one in the Accessory Kit. You can also make them from squares--I cut the squares 3" vs 2 7/8", I prefer that so I can "trim to perfection".  My blog for Month 5 discusses how to make the HST units: Month 5

The applique is simple this month, leaves, stems and berries:

ROUND LEAF  Sweet Pea SWEET  32 using the Round Leaf Template from Month 3

ROUND LEAF Dragon's Breath AMEYTHST 32 using the Round Leaf Template from Month 3

BERRIES  Paperweight PAPRIKA  8 using the Template B circle from Month 2

IMPORTANT NOTE: My large rectangles are DIFFERENT FROM THE PATTERN. There was a cutting error I discovered after machine appliqueing the wrong size Bias Stems to both ends of the 4.5" x 10.5" Background Rectangles. The error has been corrected. Rather than spend hours removing and replacing those short stems, I simply added a berry to the end of each to cover up the raw edge. The stems are supposed to go under the Heart, which will be added in Month 11. Because I used the same fabric for the berries that is supposed to be used for the Heart, I changed my hearts to a lighter fabric. My own personal Design Decision. It's your quilt, you get to decide.

Here is mine--this is NOT THE SAME AS THE PATTERN:

I think you will find this a fun and easy month. The end is in sight! Next month we add the 4 Hearts, and complete the HST borders, adding them to the quilt center. Then we make the 12 Cabins for the last border.

We are getting toward the end of this project. The MOST IMPORTANT ADVICE I  HAVE FOR YOU: be sure to SAVE, COPY, PRINT, whatever method you prefer, ALL THE PATTERNS before DECEMBER 31, 2023. After that, all rights to the patterns return to Sarah Fielke, the designer. We cannot give anyone these patterns after that date, and no one else here can legally give them to you either. Please be proactive in saving what you still need so you can finish without having to BUY missing months.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

 

HOMEWARD BOUND -- MONTH 9

  This quilt is the 2023 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. It was designed by Sarah Fielke exclusively for The Quilt Show and is only available at The Quilt Show. The best news is it's FREE for Star Members of The Quilt Show. Each month in 2023 a new part of the quilt is released for download to Star Members. 

This month we finish the wide applique borders by adding the Birds and more leaves.

As always, I strongly recommend you watch any videos prepared for this month. They are important additions to the pattern instructions. 

First, we add the remaining leaves to the four borders. If using the Kit, here are the fabrics to use:

VINE LEAF SMALL: Tiny Stripes Moonglow  8

                                     Tiny Stripes Fern             8

                                     Tiny Dots Lilypad           8

                                      Dragon's Breath Matcha   8

VINE LEAF LARGE:  Roman Glass Emerald      4

                                      Paperweight  Lime           8

                                       Tiny Stripes Fern            8 --these go on the ends of the 8 vines

                                       Dragon's Breath Shire     8

Once all the leaves are in place, you can add the FOUR BIRDS on the top and bottom borders. 

BIRD BODY: Tiny Dots Bluebell     4 Right Side Up  4 Reversed

FRONT WING: Tiny Dots Candy    4 Right Side Up  4 Reversed

BACK WING: Roman Glass Pastel  4 Right Side Up  4 Reversed

I used Print n Piece Fuse Lite to make the birds, printing four of them and drawing the other four, which are Reversed. If your printer will print in Reverse, you could print all 8 of them. This product serves as a template and a stabilizer. Most of it will wash out when the quilt is completely finished and quilted. 

Print n Piece Fuse Lite fused to the wrong side of the bird parts: 

I used Quilters Select Fabric Glue Pen to turn the seam allowances over onto the back of the PNPFL patterns. Note a few places you need to clip to be able to smoothly turn over the seam allowance:

There are several previous blogs I have written about this "turned edge machine applique" technique. Here is the TUTORIAL and another with MORE DETAILS The product used in these earlier blogs is very similar to Print n Piece Fuse Lite.

I did all the Bird applique by machine. You can do it by hand with the turned edge prepared shapes if you prefer. I was in  a hurry.

I chose not to do the very tiny Heart that is reverse appliqued to the bird. My birds just don't have a heart. I also chose to omit the very tiny eye--mine will be either hand embroidered OR I will use tiny black buttons. Sometimes you just have to say "I am not up to that."

UPDATE: Here is how I solved the "sightless bird" issue: I used small black snaps for the eyes. You could also use a permanent fabric pen to draw them:

OK, now to add the Left and Right borders to the center of the quilt so you can:

1. Complete the Vines

2. Add the four remaining birds

When joining the Left and Right borders to the center of the quilt, be careful to keep the loose ends of the vine out of the way as you join the Left and Right borders to the quilt.

Before you can place the four birds that are on the Left and Right borders, you need to complete the vines as they travel around the the corners of the quilt. 

I used a ruler to be sure the vines cross each other on a 45 degree angle, right in the middle. This also shows how I placed the birds so they would each be about the same distance away from the Star points: 

This isn't perfect but it is pretty close and from any distance looks fine. Much better than if I had just "hoped" I got them close to the middle:

There is a lot of work to finish these four wide applique borders, but once done, you are in the home stretch. I found the rest of the quilt went together quickly, relatively speaking...

Next month we made the next pieced Half Square Triangle borders, very similar to Month 5. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara

HOMEWARD BOUND -- MONTH 8

 This quilt is the 2023 Block of the Month quilt for The Quilt Show. It was designed by Sarah Fielke exclusively for The Quilt Show and is only available at The Quilt Show. The best news is it's FREE for Star Members of The Quilt Show. Each month in 2023 a new part of the quilt is released for download to Star Members. 

This month we continue to add leaves and flowers to the wide applique borders. 

I had a bit of a struggle with the Petal Flower--which I really like. I wish I had drawn some registration marks on the  background for the petal placement so they were stitched as they should have been. The one in the photo above is particularly wonky. This one is better: 

The other thing that was a challenge was selecting the various fabrics from the Kit and knowing how many of each to cut. I made a few "wrong" choices. So they became "Design Decisions". 

To assist you with the Kit fabric selection, here is what is needed for Month 8 from the Kit:

TULIP FLOWERS:  Tiny Stripes Aster 4

                                     Tula Pink Solids Divax  4

PETALS: Tiny Dots Bluebell  16   (listed as Flower for Month 8 in the Fabric Requirements

FLOWER CENTER:   Dragon's Breath Snapdragon   4

VINE FLOWER:  Tiny Dots Peachy  8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4 of each orange

                                 Dragon's Breath Snapdragon  8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4 

VINE FLOWER TOP:  Tiny Stripes Mystic  8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4

                                           Tiny Dots Thistle   8  NOTE: this is a correction, pattern says 4

TULIP LEAF:   Tiny Dots Lilypad    8

                             Tiny Stripes Fern   8

FLOWER LEAF:  Dragon's Breath Matcha  4

The pattern often says to refer to photos of the quilt for placement. I have saved the photo so I can find it easily and it is also in my FAVORITES in the Quilt Gallery--find the photos here:  SEE QUILTS  If you are logged in as a Star Member you can save it to your FAVORITES to find quickly.

There is a lot of applique in months 7-9. I chose to do the bias stems by machine applique, the flowers and leaves by needle turn hand applique, and the birds by prepared turn edge machine applique--I will discuss that in Month 9.

Whatever method you chose, enjoy the journey.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Western Sun

 This week I started a new quilt, one I have wanted to  make for a few years. 

Here is the first block:

A few years back I saw a photo of this quilt in a Facebook group I participate in. It raised a lot of discussion, especially about the dimensions and how it was assembled. Ultimately, someone posted that this particular quilt had been published in the book Butternut and Blue by Barbara Brackman. I tracked down a copy of this now out-of-print book and began to think about making it "someday". 

As the time is now right, I have begun. After making the first test block to be sure the cutting instructions were accurate, I spent almost 8 hours one day cutting out lots of pieces. I love scrappy quilts and find it best to have lots of options for the various units ready to go as I start making blocks:

The book has three options for making the Sawtooth Star with the large circle in the middle:

1. Templates are provided to piece the entire thing, all those curved seams are pieced, by hand or machine. Most would find that challenging.

2. You can make an 8 pointed star (Lemoyne star), applique' a circle on the center and cut the star away from the back--all that hard work where 8 diamonds come together would be trash! 

3. OR there is the Easy Sew Method which I thought was brilliant. 

Make a basic Sawtooth Star, using a scrap fabric in the center. I used muslin. Prepare a circle with the template provided, then applique' it in place on the star--the center fabric is completely hidden--it serves as a "placeholder", basically. The applique' can be hand or machine done. I turned the circle edges over a template I made, gathered the edges and used a starch mixture to secure them. At night I am hand appliquéing them as I "watch" tv with my husband.

Here are 4 prepared and ready for the applique':

The layout is complex, using flying geese throughout. Eager to see how mine will look, I made one section of flying geese sashing to get the feel for it. This is another great opportunity to teach the freezer paper folded method of paper piecing:

Then I thought "What If?" I replaced the cornerstones, which are supposed to be two flying geese, with a square of a beautiful cheddar fabric? Here is that option:

The decision hasn't been made yet but I am liking the cheddar cornerstones. And the overall quilt would be less busy as they give the eye a place to rest. Time will tell. As this will be king size for our bed, it's going to take quite some time. 

UPDATE: Someone thought you might like to see Barbara Brackman's blog about this--I had seen this before--written April 15, 2017. I was planning to keep the overall look a surprise, but Google can find you anything, so here it is for your viewing pleasure now:

Barbara Brackman's Western Sun blog

A group of friends will be making this together with me in 2021. It has so many great tips to share. I am excited at all the things I can show them, that will make the process easier. Eventually, when the sample is done and we all begin to travel again, I will be eager to see which guild selects this as their "workshop" choice. 

But first, next up is a 45" square sample made in contemporary bright colors--maybe a Kaffe Fasset-type large floral for the center circles. It will look really different from this 1800's reproduction version. Stay tuned!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

AFTERNOON DELIGHT--Month 7

We are moving right along and this month there are only two applique' blocks to do. One of those is a variation of the "Twirly Ball" we did previously in Months 3 and 5. If you want a refresher on how I made the first one of those go to Afternoon Delight--Month 3

For those working on Double 9 Patch blocks, those continue this month too. I gave important cutting info about the Double 9 Patches when we released Month 6 early, in March, so if you haven't started them yet, be sure to take a look at that post: Double 9 Patches.  Remember, there are 64 Double 9 Patches in the quilt.

 

Both of the applique blocks this month feature circles. Recently, I learned about a new product, Applipops. They are metal disks that fit together, making it very easy to create round circles.

Take a look at their short video from the website to see the process: Applipops Video

I got 2 Pro Packs so I could try them out and used them with the 3 different size circles needed this month. 

UPDATE--Applipops has a discount for YOU--use BARBSFRIEND as a discount code to get 10% off your order. 

The process is very easy. The instructions say to use undiluted liquid starch and I should have. I had a 50/50 starch/water mix in a small spray bottle so used that. The edges would have been stuck down better with straight liquid starch.

First step: cut a hunk of fabric and place it between two disks:

 Trim to about a 1/4" seam allowance, less on very small circles. On the largest circle, I left too  much seam allowance so the edges have a few little puckers on the back.

If I were hand-appliqueing these, I could easily smooth out the little puckers:

Note I sprayed this red fabric on a washcloth as I just recently changed my big ironing board cover and knew the red might run--it clearly did:

The only down side I can see is you  have to wait for the metal disks to cool before handling them, and the starch to dry before removing  the disks. With two sets I can make two of each size at the same time. Since I didn't need a lot of circles, that was OK. If you need to make 20 of the same size, at the same time, it might take a while.

My usual method of making small circles is with Karen Buckley's Perfect Circles, sets of Mylar circles. That method requires basting around the template. If making a lot, that would take some time. On the Forum recently, someone posted she machine basted instead of hand basted and I thought that was brilliant! You can't go fast but it would still be faster than hand-basting. See Karen demo her process on Show 2007

Be sure to look at the Forum to see some of the fabrics being used by our members. Also, some people are choosing to change from an On-Point set to a Straight Set.  Forum--Show and Tell Your Blocks

This month's blocks on my sample quilt:

Block 23

Block 24

Next month there are two more applique' blocks and more Double 9 Patches.

Let's quilt,

Barbara

Month 10 The Patchwork Barn

This is the FREE Block of the Month pattern "Patchwork Barn", designed by Edyta Sitar exclusively for The Quilt Show. You must be a Star member of this world-wide quilt guild/show/Internet community to receive the free patterns each month, beginning January 1, 2018. Join today and get started on this journey.

Previous instructions are here:

Introduction Month 1
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6
Month 7

Month 8

Month 9

NOTE: On The Quilt Show, the Forum is the best place to ask questions, find answers, or find out if there is a change in the pattern.  I recommend you check in there frequently. And there is a Show and Tell Topic--show us your blocks. Forum Patchwork Barn

NOTE: This instructional blog is posting one day early--the pattern for Month 10 will be released October 1, 2018, as usual. 

In Month 10, you will make the two applique' borders. The pattern has the borders cut 78.5" x 7.5". This is the size the borders need to be AFTER they are applique'd and are ready to be added to the left and right sides of the quilt. 

Things to consider BEFORE cutting the borders to applique':

1. There might be shrinkage due to the applique', making the borders shorter than 78.5" once all the appliques' are sewn in place.

2. Do you plan to lengthen the quilt by adding additional sashing between each block? If so, be sure you make the borders longer to allow for that.

I always start my applique' projects with background fabric that is bigger than the size it will be when the applique' is done. For this quilt I would cut those borders 8" wide and 79" long. Make a light pencil mark 1/4" in from the top and bottom edges to show you where you will ultimately cut the long borders--they will be trimmed to 78.5" when the applique's are done.

I changed my quilt by not adding applique' at all and adding 1" finished sashing to separate the blocks. The Sunday Sew and Sews asked how to increase the size of  this project and this is what I came up with:

My Final Layout 75" x 98"

In Month 11 you will get all the instructions for putting the rows of blocks together and then adding these final applique' borders.  In my blog I will provide the measurements for my setting. 

I did make a wallhanging with the Twinkling Star center block and the same applique' shapes. I wrote about the applique' technique for Month 9, here.

We are getting  near the end of this project--I hope you are enjoying the journey.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

Busy Week = New Finishes

In the last week I have quilted, bound and put labels on four quilts, fairly small ones. It's good to have them in the "Done" column:

The X-block, or Old Italian Block is one of my favorites. I love to teach it and I love to make it. More information in this tutorial:  X Marks the Spot  This one has 3" blocks, it is 16" x 20" and was made from a charm pack of "Rachel Remembered 1820-1850" by Betsy Chutchian for Moda:

Twinkling Stars is my applique' sample for the Patchwork barn instructions--find it here.

I was eager to get it completely finished so I could wash it to see: 1.if it shrunk and 2. how the applique's feel after washing--they were made with Wash-Away Applique' Sheets by C&T Publishing:

It was 29.5" square before washing and 29" square after washing. It has wool batting so I laid it out to air dry after washing. The applique's feel very soft, not stiff at all like they were before washing. The Applique' Sheets package says "Sheets dissolve into tiny fibers leaving no residue".

Temecula Quilt Company had a weekly sew-along this year that drew me in. The 1880's Sampler Sew Along has 4" blocks, mostly made with half square triangles. It is a replica of an antique quilt. Mine is 31" x 40". I thought I would add another border but decided to stop with just one, like the original quilt:

Finally, Kisses + Hugs., AKA Japanese X and + is done. I have taught this several times, and really enjoy these very scrappy blocks. When I decided it would be the quilt to bring to Houston to help decorate the Education office, I had to quilt and bind it. Done. It is 45" x 60":

Now I have to get my two garments made for Houston. So this was my pre-Houston quilt marathon. There are several more quilts basted, just waiting for quilting. As soon as the garments are done I'll get right on the next one, Temecula Quilt Company, Circa 2016:

And one more thing happened in the last week--Stella became a BIG SISTER--welcome to the world, Samuel:

Let's quilt!

Barbara