GAME ON! MONTH 7

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 almost 20 years of shows and tremendous additional content. Join HERE

This month we add the fourth 3" border, the one at the bottom of the center. This is another one of those "good to know" borders, easy to make and interesting to use. Arranging colors makes the border flow.

The units are easy to paper piece. Simply start by figuring out your colors and keep the fabrics organized. 

Becky has a great tip to make it easier to get intersections to match well. After removing the paper, repress the seam allowances of EVERY OTHER BLOCK in the opposite direction they were pressed when paper piecing:

Now the seams at top and bottom will "nest" 

The intersections will be just where you want them with little bulk:

Be sure the 3" borders measure 36.5" long. I "measure as I go". Each pair needs to measure 6.5" wide. Two pairs sewn together will be 12.5" wide. There are six pairs--I check them all after joining them to each other. Finding the mistake as soon as I make it and fixing it then makes it much more likely the border will be 36.5" wide when complete. 

If the border is longer than 36.5",  measure each unit/pair to find the ones that are too wide and snug up that seam allowance. The FIRST PAIR will measure 6.25" when sewn to the next PAIR, allowing for the outside SEAM ALLOWANCE:

The pairs already sewn to other pairs need to be 6". It is very EASY for borders to GROW just a little with each seam. It is best for me to check each unit/pair as I create the border.

Next we make the four SMALL CORNER BLOCKS that will are used as you add the four 3" borders to the center. Becky shows two LOG CABIN options: a Log Cabin with a CORNER square and a Log Cabin with a CENTER square. 

You can use ANY 3" unit you like. I used Nine Patches for mine:

Here are some alternative ideas:

Once your borders are the right size follow the pattern instructions to add a Log Cabin or your choice of block to the LEFT and RIGHT sides of the TOP and BOTTOM borders to complete the center. 

Finally, carefully cut the narrow BROWN SASHING strips to the EXACT size of the center and add them. Good job! The MIDDLE is getting DONE!

The final 6" CORNER BLOCK also gets made this month. I had a little trouble with my first one. I sewed the wrong sections together:

I should have taken my own advice: WATCH THE VIDEOS, READ THE PATTERN! 

The second time was better. And I didn't trim the outside edges of the papers until the star was assembled. This allowed me to be sure my star was 6.5" and I had a 1/4" beyond each star point:

Another thing I tried to do was keep straight of grain on the outside edge of each section. This meant I usually placed the white fabric on the paper first, then added the blue star point:

Whenever I sew seams with ODD ANGLES or more than FOUR FABRICS coming together, I machine BASTE the seam first. It is much easier to remove basting threads and readjust if I need to:

Machine basting, long stitch set at 5.0

Check to see if you are happy with the intersections. If so, set the machine back to normal piecing length, 2.0 for me, and now sew the complete seam. Here I like this basting so I will complete the seam:

This is a good FIVE POINT STAR and a block I like. Paper piecing it works well for me. I use Freezer Paper so I can use the pattern multiple times. 

Next month we get started on the wider 6" Borders. This will be regular piecing--NO PAPERS TO PRINT!

Let's quilt.

Barbara

PAPER PIECING LESSONS

 Having just returned from 5 days in Las Vegas for our 50th anniversary, I didn’t have a weekly post ready. 

Using the SEARCH box in the upper left corner above, I typed Paper Piecing. Here is what I got:

Paper piecing posts

If you are new to Paper Piecing or are experienced with this technique, you will likely learn some useful tips in these posts.

Next week the Month 5 GAME ON! Post will appear.

Let’s quilt.

Barbara

GAME ON! MONTH 4

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 month we move on to the narrow borders. Becky has used a classic triangle block in a unusual way:

The only cutting change I made was to the white background triangles. Instead of cutting rectangles 2" x 4.5", I cut them 4" x 4.5", in pairs, wrong sides together. Cut them into half triangles starting about 1/2" from the upper left to lower right. This puts close to straight of grain on the outside edge rather than bias:

If using a fabric with a motif you want to center it takes a bit of effort to figure out how to cut it. My  Zebra was carefully fussy cut so it was centered but I forgot about the triangle shape. Here you can see this won't fit without chopping off important parts: 

                                                            

I cut a second Zebra and he fits better though he has lost his hind end: 

The rotation of the blocks just wasn't my favorite so I tried an alternate layout. My original plan to have all the points facing out would have put a lot of bulk at each seam so I tried this instead. It's still fun and different, just not as different as Becky's. This will go on the PRINTS KIT version when I get that made:

For my SOLIDS KIT version I designed a completely different paper pieced border. Let's call it BB's Border. Here it is on the left:

You are welcome to use it if you like. It is simple to draw--I won't be providing it already drawn. This works well using freezer paper so you only need 2 patterns for speedy sewing. Or you can use vellum or newsprint.

Start by drawing a 3" square, add seam allowances all around to have a 3.5" pattern. Draw a line from the top left corner to the lower center. Draw a line from the bottom right corner to the top center. Connect the top center to the left line, connect the bottom center to the right line. That's it, you have your pattern.

Because these are sewn as reverse mirror images, half have blue on the left and half have green on the left. I simply wrote those two colors on the paper--make 6 of each:

Cutting sizes are:

A1-- center diamond 2.25" x 3.75" (3.5" would work but I like insurance) Cut 12

A2 -- white triangles Strip 2.5" x WOF folded in half will make the 24 equilateral triangles needed, the photo below shows just a small strip of fabric to show the process. Start with a 60 degree cut on the end and alternate those cuts all along the strip. Cut 24

A3, 4 --outer colors, 3.5" x 4.5" cut in pairs, wrong sides together, 3 pair of each color, blue and green in my sample. Cut these exactly as shown in the diagram above for the original pattern:

This border has to be 36.5" including seam allowances when complete so it fits the center medallion. The best way to be sure it will be correct is to check as you go. After sewing 6 pairs, check that each is now 6.5" long. You want to find the mistake as soon as it happens, not when the border is done and is too long or too short:

BB’s Border

My variation of Becky’s Border

Then join the pairs into fours--check them--they should be 12.5" long. Join the three sections and check one more time. If the border is 36.5" long you are good to go! Add it to the left side of your center.

The other project for this month is one of the 4 larger corner blocks. I followed the SOLIDS KIT fabrics exactly with no other changes. 

NOTE: You could cut the white background pieces as I did above to put straight of grain, or close to it, on the outside edges. Cut in pairs, 4.5" x 3" or 3.5" (for insurance), wrong sides together, cut across on the diagonal, about a half inch in from the corners:

Set this aside until later when needed:

If you are a symmetrical kind of person, as I tend to be, you can make each of the narrow borders the SAME. It's YOUR quilt, YOU get to decide. For my PRINTS  version that is what I am doing. This is the border we do in MONTH 5, and is one of my Favorites:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  if you are using the Kits, either SOLIDS or PRINTS, be aware any changes you make to the original pattern MAY impact how much fabric there is left for future positions. This doesn't bother me as I can simply add additional SOLIDS or PRINTS in the future when I get there. IF YOU WANT TO BE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH: follow the pattern as written by the designer.

Next month we make the top narrow border and another of the larger corner blocks.

I look forward to seeing your progress on the FORUM.

Let's quilt.

Barbara

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. Remember the steps of paper piecing: SEW, FLIP, PRESS, TRIM

8. 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.

DO NOT REMOVE THE PAPER until we get to MONTH 3 INSTRUCTIONS.

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

WINTER DAYS

 Like most of you in the US, this weekend finds us in the deep freeze. No walking for me for the next several days. No snow here, just sleet, freezing rain and temperatures below freezing for the next several days. At least we didn't get the 14" of snow first mentioned several days ago. Winter in the South.

So what to do? Put a pot of 15 Bean Soup in the slow cooker. Corn muffins will be made later:

Free motion quilt Diamond Jubilee, with a new ruler:

The only thing left is the borders

Wavy border straight line quilting

This is a terrific new ruler: STITCHLINE 1 QUILTING RULER designed and sold by my friend Geraldine Wilkins--no relation that we know of.  Watch her video at this link and you will want one too. It combines a channel for Stitch in the Ditch--a MUST for me, a long straight edge with needle stops at both ends AND a cool wavy edge that lets you make lots of great designs easily. In addition, there are lots of great reference lines built in that allow for less marking on the quilt itself. 

Her website and YouTube channel have good videos as she explains lots of important things to know about free motion quilting with rulers. If you want one of her brand new rulers, buy it from her-- shipping was reasonable and fast once she got them in stock. Tell her I sent you:

 

I haven't decided if I am going to do a cross hatch border--double the quilting--but I might. When all the first round is done I will decide. 

Spend a few hours with the hubby doing a jigsaw puzzle:

My “Will” Wilkins

A few days ago I had fun teaching THE VILLAGE at Southern Charm Quilting here at home. The students did well, most learned a few valuable tricks to improve and enjoy paper piecing:

Student work at the end of the class

I bet some of them are building more houses today

Class sample:

I hope you are warm and contentedly working on whatever brings you joy during this big storm week. How do you keep busy?

Let's quilt.

Barbara

WHAT AM I DOING?

By the end of Thanksgiving day I had come down with a big head cold that kept me in my easy chair for 3 days, reading, sleeping and eating. No exercise, no energy, just sneeze, cough and repeat. All better now and ready to get back to several ongoing projects.

Here is what I am working on:

TEXAS STAR: begun more than 25 years ago, this BUCKET LIST QUILT has come back out to play. More borders are yet to come, one from the 2026 Block of the Month quilt Game On!  To read more about this quilt see this post: TEXAS STAR

Texas Star, more borders to come, currently about 65" square

Speaking of GAME ON! the 2026 Block of the Month quilt designed by Becky Goldsmith exclusively for THE QUILT SHOW, I am having SO MUCH FUN! This quilt will teach you a lot and it's fun too. The Solids version is the Kit available, if any are left, from The Quilt Show Shop:                            

In progress, more tweaking needed then a trim and double borders are added

This Prints version is from my stash. It is fun to select fabrics, everything goes, and a few of my most favorites get featured. The top half needs the large circles appliqued in place, then the Medallion center block can be completed. 

These take extra time because I make notes and take photos as I go for the Blogs to come and the LIVE broadcasts I do each month: 

I always have a LEADER/ENDER project going. Old Italian Blocks are one of my most favorite. 

Currently this is my Summer Sew-a-Long 2025--find all the details with several size options here: SUMMER SEW A ALONG 2025

230 done so far, bagged in color families--I have a layout plan that uses color as a feature

Leader/Ender blocks laid out beside my machine, these are 3" finished

When I want a break from piecing I work on machine quilting my DIAMOND JUBILEE quilt, started 13 years ago. The end is near...

Read more about this quilt here:  DIAMOND JUBILEE:

Deciding WHAT to quilt is always the most challenging for me. After a few failed attempts that involved lots of time with my stitch ripper, I figured out what I wanted in the stars. 

The wide outer border has yet to be decided on though I have a few ideas. The paisley fabric is so busy no intricate designs will be noticeable. And I will draw the ideas out on plexiglass first, BEFORE stitching them, to be sure I like the designs, lesson learned: 

Detail of the quilting designs

When I am not at my sewing machines, I am on my computer, writing blogs, booking future airplane trips and hotel reservations, etc. It's also holiday season so I do have to decorate a bit before the Sunday Sew and Sews Christmas potluck party here. And buy a few gifts, and bake cookies. And so on and so forth...

My LIVE broadcasts are always available here: The Quilt Show channel on YouTube. This month I am doing two: Friday December 5 we wrap up Laurel Ridge and get very excited for Game On!  Monday December 29 is the kickoff for Game On! I have tips and tricks to help you be successful with a variety of foundation paper piecing skills.