Side Bars- That is kind of a funny name for the pieces we are going to be working on this week, but I had to name them something.
These little side pieces are interval in making the design happen. Thought I would share a little history about this quilt design and my inspiration for this color option.
The geometric pattern of this quilt–commonly known as Burgoyne Surrenders or Burgoyne Surrounded–is said to refer to one of the most pivotal events in the American Revolution. In 1777, the British failed in their attempt to take control of the strategic Hudson River, and in the end British General Burgoyne with nearly six thousand of his men were surrounded by American troops and forced to surrender near Albany, New York. Burgoyne’s army is represented by the squares at the center of the blocks, encircled by the American troops. This design design could have also been inspired by the simple, grid-like patterns seen in handwoven linens and woolen coverlets of the first half of the nineteenth century.
When my book, Oh Scrap launched there were several quilt alongs using this design, but I fell in love with Haley Anderson of @happinessinthemaking Christmas version of 2019. I knew I needed to make it just like that! Does that happen to you?
Katrina Thennis you are the winner of my book, SCRAP SCHOOL.
Next week we will start assembling blocks together. Several of you are already doing this and it is so great to see your progress. Be sure and use #ohscrapchristmasqal when you share your blocks so I can follow along.
Each post will go live at 6:00 pm central.
-Wednesday, Nov. 10th – Assemble Blocks
Break for Thanksgiving
-Wednesday, Dec. 1st – Sashing
-Wednesday Dec. 8th – Assemble Quilt top
I sew any chance I get. I quite often get up early so I can sew a little before work or stay up late to work on any project I am obsessed by. To be able to work on items in short little burst of time, I have a few processes to help keep me on task. Today I am going to share how I pieced the center section of the block together. The is somewhat a mindless, therapeutic method that lets me stop and start without loosing my place.
I shared with you that the main focus fabrics for this quilt were from Hustle and BustIe by Basic Grey and that I also added some of Christmas Morning by Lella Boutique. The fabrics above are from Christmas Morning and Red Barn Christmas by Sweetwater. Those of you that follow me often know that I am obsessed by dots. Everything I make has some dot fabric in it. I would buy an entire bolt of the red and green dot shown above. It is just that good!
I stack all my pieces on one design board and chain sew working vertically down each section. This helps me keep all my pieces in order. (shown above is just 1 layer, normally I would have layers for all the blocks needed for my quilt.)
Shown above – all my center 9 patches chain pieced and ready to join into blocks.
I do not clip the threads so this keeps the sections in order and eliminates pinning. it is hard to see in the picture but there is a few stitches from chain sewing that hold these sections together. As I sew, I flip the seam allowance towards the dark and they nest together beautifully. If you like to press your seams open, not cutting the threads can be problematic. You will need to trim the threads once you have sewn the pieces together to press open. I press my seams to the dark side so don’t have to worry about that. (remember mindless, therapeutic sewing!)
Here you can see how one side of the block is sewn together and the other side is just “hanging on by a thread” waiting to be joined.
Last week I shared how I make some of my own design boards, so if you missed that post, click here.
Leave a comment and check back here next Wednesday to see who is the winner of their own copy of Scrap School. Also giving away a copy on my instagram so , visit @modalissa for another chance to win.
Join me back here, Wednesday Nov. 3rd to make side bar section of the block. We are almost done with the sections!
Thank you for joining me on my day for SEWCIALITES.
I am making my version using Moda’s Bella Solids and I thought pink was the perfect color for the valentines week.
I have started putting my blocks together. This will be one quarter of the quilt. Once it is complete it will be a big sawtooth star.
I had mentioned in one of of my PROGRESS REPORTS posts that I knew how I wanted to quilt this one. The crew at Moda recently made a quilt for someone retiring and I wanted that project quilted the same way I was planning on doing my Sewcialites quilt. Machine quilted in vertical lines in a small range of colors and some big stitch quilting added throughout is the plan. The picture above was hand quilted by Laurie Simpson, so I will have to consult her when I am ready to dive in to my quilt.
Fat Quarter Shop is doing a giveaway each month, you can enter to win one of several giveaways by posting your progress on Instagram using #SewcialitesQAL.
We all love a good giveaway, so leave a comment here for a chance to win my new book, SCRAP SCHOOL., in stores now.
I will pick a sweetheart of a winner on Feb. 14th.
Welcome everyone and thank you for taking a break in your Holiday shopping and planning to visit my blog for my last block installment in the BLOCKHEADS 3 series. I have a story to tell and if you make it all the way to the end there is also a chance to win a Layer Cake, so here goes.
Back in October of 2019 when we were planning Blockheads each of the designers all sent in their sketches. I am a big fan of anything plus mark and so I included a sketch. Then came 2020 and it has gone by so fast I had forgotten to add my inspiration to the block. It was in the midst of the election I was making my block and that is when I decided to name it X marks the spot embracing the power of making an X to cast your vote. Making an X is certainly old school but that is my story to tell.
If you would like to download my BLOCKHEADS pattern, please click here. But keep reading for the giveaway.
About the same time I was making my block and I had the most gut wrenching feeling.
I am a big fan of Jessica Bloomberg – @CraftyCop and what all she does to support families of police officers that have been killed in the line of duty.
Did I subconsciously copy the block that she uses for these quilts?
Was it too late to change my block?
I did my research and my block was different but I couldn’t stop thinking about her mission. I contacted Jessica and asked if I could share her story. On one of her profile I found this
…crafty cop who likes to read, garden, cook & craft all after the shift is over. That really doesn’t tell it all but does anyone’s profile tell the whole story?
Jessica is a police officer in Stamford Connecticut. She started making quilts for families of police officers killed in the line of duty and word has spread. When Jessica first reached out to fellow quilters to make blocks, the outpouring was incredible. She received hundreds of blocks and was able to make quilt with little to no cost. Individuals jumped in to help quilt, people donated fabric for backs and batting.
This is an example of one of the quilts that was made. Each quilt also gets a label for the front. If you are making a quilt, let Jessica know and she will send you a label to use.
These pictures are used with permission from Jessica. I highly encourage you to follow Jessica @craftycop to read some of the stories.
I asked Jessica what she needs and she said the hardest thing is getting the quilts to the families. Here is the rest of her reply.
If you want to learn more about this or get involved follow the hashtag #bluerkblocks. If YOU know of a police officer killed in the line of duty, I hope you’ll send me a DM so we can give that family a quilt too.
Anytime there is a need quilters come together. That is our jive, that is our community, that is what we do.
So, I made a new version of my block to use in my quilt so I will have a little representation of Jessica and the BlueRKblock program.
I started out this post worried that my block was the exact block, so I can’t end this post with out giving you the link to the actual block pattern supplied by Jen of RasberryStitches.
The block goes fast and as I cut into any thing blue I am making 12.5 BlueRKblocks.
I cannot end this post without sharing this cute picture of Jessica and service dog, Knox. Please share this with your friends and if you know of a family that needs a quilt, let Jessica know. More importantly if you are able to deliver a quilt to a family, let her know also.
I can’t believe this is my last block to post for Blockheads. It has been quite a year and I have enjoyed the journey with so many new online friends, and yes they do count as real friends. Moda has been generous to donate a Sanctuary Layer Cake by 3 sisters as my giveaway this week.
DO you have a goal for 2021? What are you thinking about as we end this year and hope for a safe 2021? Let me know, leave a comment for a chance to win this layer cake. The winner will be announce Tuesday night, Dec. 23rd.
Are you ready for a beautiful new book for the holidays?
If so, now is your chance to get an early Christmas present
from one of these talented designers.
Sunday November 22nd there will be several giveaways on the designers, blogs, Instagrams or Facebook pages. We are all different just like the quilts in this book so each designer is doing her own giveaway on one of their social media platforms, so you have to check it out to see where. One thing we do all have in common is that we love quilts and sharing surprises.
I will be giving away my book on my Instagram page – @modalissa
so be sure and follow me and enter on November 22nd.
I wanted to share the other designers in the book so you can drool over all the yummy quilts in the book.
Christmas Star by Mary Ellen Robinson and Paula BarnesSweet Mint by Edyta SitarTudor Rose by Karen StylesHome Sweet Home by Pam BudaPrimrose Holly by Lisa BongeanHeritage Mountain by Sheryl JohnsonStar Frond by Corey YoderSnow Lillies by Carol HopkinsHolly Bears Crown by Sandy KlopWinterberries by Jo MortonHolly Berry Baskets by Betsy ChutchianStarstruck by Susan AcheTheodores World by Laurie SimpsonScrappy Sisters by Lissa Alexander
This is my quilt and they said we could add a little bit of gold/yellow to our quilt. I did not ask define little bit?!
Be sure and follow everyone so you will be ready for the giveaway on the 22nd.
Today is Robin Pickens turn to share a quilt block named
CORNER GARDEN.
It is no surprise to anyone since each of her fabric collections are based on the study of flowers that Robin’s quilt block would also be a flower. I had a lot of fun piecing this block even though my leaves are cock-eyed.
block #25
To get the pattern, visit Robin’s blog, but you may want to read a little further because the Blockheads have some other goodies in store for you.
I wanted to take a few minutes and tell you about the Moda All-Star series of books. Each book focuses on a specific Moda precut including anything from Jelly Rolls to Mini Charms to the newest Fat Quarter book. My name is on the cover of each of these books as compiled by, but the real talent is inside the pages. Each designer has made a project and their proceeds of book goes to a particular charity. Each of the designers listed below will be giving away the featured e-book on their blockheads post today, so be sure and click on the blue link of the designers name to find out how to enter. I have also included a link to each of the books on Martingale site for more information. With each purchase of these books you are also making a contribution to a specific charity. Thank you for that!
Scraps made simple includes quilts from Amy Ellis, Amy Smart, Carrie Nelson, Corey Yoder, Edyta Sitar, Jan Ragaller, Jenny Doan, Laura Boehnke, Lisa Bongean, Lisa Calle, Lynne Hagmeier, Sherri Falls, Sherri Mc Connell and Susan Ache. I have always enjoyed making scrap quilts or quilts with lots of fabrics but being a part of this book was where I got my first twinkle in my eye to do my own scrap book. Being a part of such a wonderful community of talented quilters inspires me every day.
A few of the other quilts in the book are as follows….
To enter to won an e-book of Scraps Made Simple, leave a comment telling me how many hours a week you are able to quilt, thinking about quilting does not count. I will notify the winner Friday, July 3rd.
Enjoy,
Modalissa
Welcome to Blockhead’s Wednesday. If you have been following from the beginning you have visited each of the designer’s one time. Each quilter sharing a quilt block pattern, color inspiration and tips along the way and we get to do it all over again.
This week’s block and we are back at Corry Yoder of Coriander Quilts. To download the pattern, visit here.
When picking out my fabrics for this weeks block, I loved the combinations but once I got it all sewn together I was not thrilled with the choice for my center block, so I auditioned a few other fabrics to replace the centers. Should it be green, how about blue, maybe I should go with the navy pindot?
My little treasures this week are an assortment of old wooden spools. Nothing fancy, just classic treasures.
All of the blockhead designers have a little treat in store for you this week. Our friends at Martingale Publishing are sponsoring a giveaway of a Blockheads Ebook. I am not sure what social media platform each designer is doing their giveaway through, so check them all out, their blog, maybe Facebook or like me, maybe their Instagram account.
I collect block books and this is a good one. 48 different quilt blocks and several different quilt setting options.
Just a few of the blocks shown here.
Such wonderful inspiration for setting of the 6″ blocks.
Which of the block settings is your favorite?
TO enter , visit Instagram @modalissa.
Visit each of the designers listed below for an additional chance to win Blockheads.
Nancy is a very prolific designer. She is a Bernina ambassador, has done several books on paper piecing, is published in magazines, teaches online and on cruises.
This one is mine!
The subheading of the book is 13 remarkable quilts with Timeless Appeal, so I planned on making a classic orange peel design. To be quite honest I was not happy with how my points on the applique lined up, so I decided to add some sashing. I loved how it turned out. What could have been a big mess-up actually made me do some creative thinking and design a completely different quilt?
Baskets in Blue from the collection of Julie Hendrickson of JJ Stitches. Julie has a shop in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin and is a quilt historian and collector. She has shared one of her antique baskets quilts in the Blue and White book.
Cornered by Jill Shaulis of Yellow Creek Quilt Designs. Jill’s shop is in Pearl City, Illinois. Jill certainly creates timeless projects in everything she touches.
I love everything that Camille Roskelley of Thimbleblossoms creates and
We were working on our Blockheads blocks back in December, which seems so long ago. I watched the Gringe with my grandkids many times over the holidays, and we often talked about having a big heart. I named the block ZEST for great enthusiasm and energy and, of course, a big heart.
This block is so simple that I had to play around with all kinds of options.
My 4″ block is half and half.
As I have done in my other blockheads’ posts, I have featured a few of my treasures. This week I am showing two pins, modalissa and Moda certified. But one of my favorite treasures is this pin that was in my stocking many years ago. That year, after all the gifts were open, bellies were full, and kids were down for naps, my mom brought out a huge sack for my sister and me.
Each item was individually wrapped and had a handwritten explanation about the history of the treasure. My sister and I spent the rest of the afternoon going through the makeshift stocking while mom told us all about the goods. This reminds me of how we all tell the stories about the meaning behind our quilts and the messages they leave behind.
I couldn’t help but incorporate my family into this quilt, combining 4 of the 4″ hearts to represent my three grandsons and one granddaughter.
To represent my four boys and one girl, I did the same but made them as 8″ blocks and will add this to my quilt somewhere. Every quilt tells a story, and mine would not be complete without adding these.
I was in the process of photographing these two blocks, and it gave me an idea!
I made a heart in a heart version combining the 4″ block and the 8″ block.
This is probably not the most efficient way to make this, but sometimes you just have to roll with it. Here are my notes to make your own.
Using the math from the blockheads 8″ Zest heart block, layout as shown above.
I am obsessed about everything Farmhouse. ( thank you Joanna Gaines)
Love the fresh look.
Love the timeless style.
Love the classic simplicity.
I have hunted for vintage grain sacks/ toweling and paid big bucks for it. When Moda started making toweling many years ago it became a basic but people still asked what do I do with it? Moda’s toweling is available by the yard, hemmed on 2 sides and assorted designs
and fabric weights.
In steps Jenelle Kent, taking toweling to a whole new level as shown in her new book, Farmhouse Fresh.
Adding appliqué is just one way to bling your toweling.
There is nothing more classic than making pillows from the toweling. The variety of fabric weights make substantial pillows. Adding buttons, ties and even embroidered panels take the projects to the next level.
The toweling is generally 100% cotton so it is great to combine with your fabric quilting fabrics.
I love this blue stripe and the tech organizer.
I desperately need to make a sewing machine cover and this one is calling my name!
Are you intrigued? There are more projects but I wanted to share that due to the popularity of toweling, Jenelle has designed a few fabric towelings that are 60″ wide. Duvet covers, quilt backs, home dec and so much more, but more on that later.
Farmhouse Fresh has 11 different projects and includes the embroidery stitches for everything. Any of these would make perfect birthday or hostess gifts for that special person on your list.
I have a book compliments of Martingale Publishing and I am going to
add a 3 yd chunk of toweling to sweeten the deal.
Leave a comment and tell me which project is your favorite.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED.
Be sure and follow all of my friends that are on the book tour for more info
