This is the time of year when I start thinking about what will we do NEXT year and I would love some input from you. Earlier this year, I asked for some input on colors and I hope you’ve noticed some of your suggestions in the blocks this year.   But before I start thinking about color, I start with the block patterns themselves.  I think about block sizes and overall themes for the year. A lot of my block ideas start with a, “What...

If–like Cathy and Toni–you are having problems printing the GIF version of the templates on the Quilter’s Cache … try this PDF one: sweet_dreams_template-converted I simply converted Marcia’s image to a PDF file format that will print at the correct size IF YOU DO NOT LET YOUR COMPUTER SCALE IT. The dialogue box you see when printing will likely look different than mine (on a Mac), depending on the computer/operating system...

I did a quick (mis)calculation in my head and thought I could cut 14 five inch squares from a FQ for my Mod-Mod quilt.  When that didn’t happen, I made like a scrap quilter and made do, by adding 2 more 5 inch squares from another fabric and mixing them up after I had cut them into quarters–I used the outside-in method.   I think those solid turquoise squares will add a little twinkle to my quilt. It made me think that however you...

So far I’ve made two blocks: This is the first one. For the paper-piecing, I didn’t make templates as described in the tutorial I linked–though I highly recommend that approach if you’re going to make more than a couple blocks.  I just cut the fabrics much larger than I thought I’d need and trimmed as I went along. To prepare the circular element, I used the technique I blogged about here: Preparing Circular Elements for...

For the first five years of the Block Lotto, we used Marcia Hohn’s block patterns on the Quilter’s Cache web site and Marcia posted our block photos as examples of her blocks.  When I first conceived the idea of making this a year of 7-inch (or multiples of 7-inch) blocks with strong graphic design, I was feeling nostalgic, I guess, and looked at her site and found this month’s block: Sweet Dreams. Julie P made this one. The...

The block for August was a 7-inch (finished size) square block called Little Windows made from quilter’s choice of fabric(s) in the windows and a black and white print for the frame. Kate made this one. 45 quilters made 275 Little Windows blocks for the Block Lotto in August.  They were won by Peggy, Gwen, Karen H, Mary Jane, Maree and Elizabeth. In August, two new quilters joined the Block Lotto: Glenys from Australia and Lisa from the...

I never really know which blocks will be the popular ones … and I was a little surprised at all the Little Windows blocks we made: a total of 275 blocks.  We’ll have SIX winners this month.  I have sent the list for the drawing to Toni, who will be our winner-picker this month. If you are superstitious, it’s time to cross your fingers (or whatever you do) for luck.

If you have made and posted Lotto Blocks this month, you should have received email from me with the sneak peek info for September. Remember, it’s a secret until September 1. As usual, as a sanity check for me, I’d like you to click over to the at-a-glance page and make sure I have correctly captured your August contribution to the lotto. If you should have received the email but didn’t or if you find a mistake on the...

I was catching up with the Block Lotto this morning and one of the quilt designs from Tula Pink’s City Sampler, 100 Modern Quilt Blocks popped into my head and seems to be a perfect match for this month’s lotto blocks. Clicking the book image will take you to Amazon.  If you like the geometric blocks we are making this year for the Block Lotto, you might want to check out the block patterns in this book. This is the Skyline quilt...

I am embarrassed to admit that I haven’t yet made any of August’s Little Windows blocks for my Mod-Mod quilts.   Here’s how many blocks you’ll need to make this month, added to the chart of blocks we’ve made so far.   Small Crib Throw Twin F/Q King Little Windows Blocks 2 6 9 11 14 25 Spokes Blocks 3 4 6 9 14 21 Sunrise Blocks 2 2 4 6 10 14 Diagonal Bars Blocks 4 4 8 12 12 20 Triangles-in-a-Square Blocks...

I mailed my July lotto blocks to the winners yesterday. If you made Spokes blocks in July and haven’t yet mailed them to the winners, please make it happen this week.

Someone recently emailed me to ask what the deadline is and I realized that I probably should include the deadlines in the first post of the month and on the At-a-Glance page, even though the deadlines are always the same: Post a photo of your blocks by 12 PM (Noon)  on the US East Coast of the last day of the month to be included in the drawing. If you are unsure of when that is wherever you are, here’s a link to a pretty easy to use...