Splendid Sampler II

Welcome to the last stop on the Splendid Sampler 2 block hop.

I have a story about my quilt block, but first I wanted to tell you about a few behind the scenes details. (excuse my analogies, but it fits)

While I did not birth this Splendid Sampler baby, I was indeed there at conception. A few years ago, I sat with the uber-talented Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson as they talked through this little idea they had. I immediately asked how Moda Fabrics can be involved. We continued to talk through the process from beginning to end, organizing the fabrics, creating Facebook pages, building a website, featuring patterns and inviting creatives to be a part of the journey. We all hit the ground running. Over the next fun months the baby grew and grew, we had our version of morning sickness as we orchestrated picking two color palettes,  dividing the fabrics into sets, shipping them across the world. Whew! Pat and Jane were contacting designers that could tell a story and teach a different technique all in a 6″ block. The baby was birthed, and it grew, bigger than anyone would have expected. It became so much and eventually turned into a book.

Pretty Awesome!
They survived the stretch marks, morning sickness, and delivery.

Well, Jane and Pat decided that they could do this again!!

June 13, 2017, I received the second invite to be a part of another birth…….

Below are swatches of the color palette for Splendid Sampler 2.

Fabrics were cut, folded and mailed.

My block’s name is Big Sun.

I made this block during the Hurricane Harvey.

We were asked to tell our story about Best Quilting Life as we were making our blocks and this is why I named this block,

Big Sun even though it is a little 6″ block.

I couldn’t help but think about how so many people were affected by this storm,
that I wish a Big Sun would come and dry up all the water.

I have been so fortunate to start quilting at a very young age, to have met many people through the process

and eventually found a job in the industry doing what I love.

My quilt block instructions can be found on the Splendid Sampler website, click here for more info.

Splendid Sampler- Big Sun

What I know is quilter’s use their gift of quilting to help others, whether it is making a

quilt for a new baby or comforting those experiencing national disasters.

The life of a quilt lives on long after we are gone, it is a part of the maker, it is part of their story.

Who knows what is in store for Pat and Jane on their journey, but I always hope to be a part of their story and

thank them for including me in the birth of the Splendid Samplers!

Now if you have read all the way to here,
you know I have something good in store for you!
YES, a giveaway!! I have a couple of prizes.

Prize 1

Splendid Sampler 1 book with some fabric goodies!!

Prize 2

Splendid Sampler 2 book with some fabric goodies!!

Leave a comment, letting me know what your favorite size quilt block is and I pick a few winners at random.

I will announce the winners, November 8th.

Be sure and check out all the other great talent that has shared part of their story through the Splendid Sampler projects.

June
14 Alex Veronelli
21 Rebecca Bryan
28 Helen Stubbings

July
5 Wenche Wolff Hatling
12 Susan Ache
19 Lori Kennedy
26 Sharon Burgess

Aug
2 Brenda Ratliff
9 Amy Friend
16 Rachaeldaisy
30 Nadra Ridgeway

Sept
6 Irene Blanck
13 Carl Hentsch
20 Jo Avery
27 Nicole Vos van Avezathe

Oct
4 Jenny Doan
11 Jane Pineapple
18 Carolee McMullin
25 Pat Radio Waves

Enjoy,

-modalissa

277 comments

  1. Gisela Buitendag says:

    I love small blocks preferably 6inches with its of piecing. Like the challenge ! I also do like to do different blocks, so samplers are my favourite.

  2. Carol C says:

    I particularly like 6″ or 8″ blocks but if I’m using fabrics with larger prints, they sometimes demand larger blocks with larger pieces to highlight the fabric.

  3. Delaine says:

    Right now, my favorite finished block size is 6 inches. I am making a queen sized quilt for my daughter that consists of 330 half square triangles that finish at 6 inches. Wish me luck! Thanks!

  4. Dorris Dale says:

    I love blocks of all sizes. I tell myself I like big blocks, but I find myself doing mostly 6 inch blocks. I am loving this splendid sampler 2 quilt along and I got my book a few days ago ( I ordered it in July). I am also doing the Moda block heads 2 which is also mostly 6 inch blocks.

  5. Margaret Veon says:

    I seem to do mostly 9″ blocks easier to get the points just right? Don’t know but I did the Splendid Sampler 1 and enjoyed learning and perfecting my sewing.

  6. sally christiansen says:

    I love the smaller blocks like 6″ or 8″ but I do like the look of these quilts that have lots of different sizes.

  7. Colleen O'Hogan says:

    I live tiny, so find it easier to have smaller blocks and work incrementally. Six inch or eight inch are my preferred size block.

  8. Anna says:

    I prefer 8 to 10 inch blocks, but have also done several of the 6 and 12 inch sizes. Or occasionally a really large one for a center medallion. Size does not really matter when the quilt is complete they all look great.

  9. Carol B. says:

    Depends on the size of quilt I am making. Right now I am into smaller quilts so most of my blocks are 6 inches. Small enough for small quilts , wall hanging or table runner size.

  10. Elaine Done says:

    I am a newbie to quilting and I am learning so much. So far I have done a 6″ block and love it! I am so enjoying the ride!

  11. Barb Bobbitt says:

    My favorite block size is the 8″ block because it allows me to get creative with either piecing or appliqueing without having to make really small or really large components.

  12. Leslie Fitzgerald says:

    I love 8″ blocks. They are easily managed and I don’t need Jack the Ripper companionship very often for them. 6″ blocks…Jack and I are really good friends sharing the work on these SS2 blocks. 😉

    • modalissa says:

      Leslie,
      Love the Jack the Ripper comment. You are one of the winners of a Splendid Sampler book and some fabric goodies. Please email me or DM with your shipping details.
      Sincerely,

      Lissa Alexander

  13. Dee says:

    I really like 6” blocks. Love all sizes really. The Splendid Sampler book one is great. Wanting the second edition now! Thanks for the sun block.

  14. Cynthia says:

    I don’t have a particular favourite size. It depends on the project. I have made everything from 3 inches to 18 inches although I probably more often in the 6 to 12 inch range. I have the Splendid Sampler 1 book and hope to eventually get Splendid Sampler 2. I have enjoyed following along so far so it would be great to get the second book!

  15. Ellen says:

    Though I will make blocks in pretty much any size (no minis yet, but never say never), my favorite are 12″ blocks. I also am not averse to mixing sizes within a quilt!

  16. Christine A Sharp says:

    At this early stage of my quilting career, I feel most comfortable with 12″ blocks. I am currently working on a project which involves 6″ blocks and I find myself slowing the entire process down to insure the greatest accuracy. Nonetheless, whatever quilting project I find myself working on, I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to continue developing my quilting skills.

  17. Carol Bell says:

    I like to work with either a 6 or 9 inch finished size blocks because it makes the maths easier when working with 9 patches

  18. Dee Green says:

    My favorite size is 12 inch. I do not have the manual dexterity that I once had so I can easily make larger blocks. I’m just grateful that I can still make the blocks that I can – I will continue to adapt as long as my quilt journey continues!

  19. Sally says:

    Currently I am working on a quilt with 6 inch blocks and loving it. Each block has 12 pieces and I’ve made 100 of them. I tend to like smaller things, so that size works best for me!

  20. Darrell H says:

    My favorite size block is 6 inches, but I enjoy working on anything from 6-12 inches.
    dquilterguy48329 (at) prodigy (dot) net .

  21. Lisa Marie says:

    I think 8 inches is a good size. When set 7 blocks by 9 blocks they will yield a nice sized lap quilt. And making 63 blocks is not overwhelming to me.

  22. Ellen says:

    I have never thought about it! I think 10 inches is as big as I want to go and I have made as small as 4 inches. I love quilts where different size blocks are put together.

  23. Roseanne C Atkinson says:

    I have used 5 1/2″ up to 21″. I always adjust the number of blocks to make bigger quilts! On the Fat Quarter Shop Patchwork Quilt Along it was simple to make the 5 1/2″ blocks. Then I found Sondra Davidson (OutoftheblueQuilts) and took on a challenge (to myself) to make her big blocks. I have put all of the blocks together to make one huge quilt! I’m hoping to have it quilted before Thanksgiving! I have even tried some tiny blocks at 3″! They are a bit harder. I have to always remind myself to press not iron!

  24. Sharen Mayers says:

    I like to work with all block sizes, each having their own special qualities. It all depends on the individual project, time, and patience in piecing.

  25. Sharen Mayers says:

    Each block size has its own special qualities. It all depends on the individual project, time, and patience in piecing.

  26. Janice Scandrett says:

    I am making a quilt that has 365 blocks in it – both 3 and 6” – one block a day for a year! I have been adding some of the Splendid Sampler blocks to my pile of blocks that will make this quilt.

  27. Jill Cassidy says:

    Thank you for this great block. I was excited to see that the last block wasn’t appliqué!
    I got interested in splendid sampler when I saw some quilts at shows last year so I bought the SS1 book, which sat on my shelf until I saw the sewalong for SS2. I plan to blend blocks and create a 1 1/2 quilt.
    At the same time I’ve started working on 4X5 blocks and I am really liking the smaller sized block.

    Thanks again.

  28. jaime says:

    I don’t have a favorite size quilt block. I have made 12″ blocks and a hundred + 6 1/2″ blocks. Right now I am working on 8″ and 9″ blocks .. I think. I am not sure what this other sew along block size will be yet. And then there are these little quilt blocks that I am thinking of making. Simple Whatnot Blocks.. on the small size. I like making them all, I don’t have one single favorite.

  29. Sara Browne says:

    My “go to” block size is 6 1/2″ – I love scrappy string quilting, and have a 6.5″ x 6.5″ square ruler which makes block trimming a breeze. I love your block – and my version will be very scrappy!

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