If you follow my personal blog, Sophie Junction, then you may have already seen this quilt design. It started percolating in my head as I was thinking about a sampler quilt design for this year’s 8 inch lotto blocks.   But I hope you don’t think of it as a sampler design ONLY.  My idea was to create a quilt pattern into which you could fill-in-the-blocks.  What you use to fill them with is up to you. You could fill them with: 8 1/2...

My challenge for 2016 was to make 12 tops and 2 quilt finished from block lotto blocks.  I completed 10 tops and had no finishes.  Without this public challenge to myself I probably would not have completed any tops, so I consider this challenge a...

After 3-1/2 years in BL I have begun to see blocks that might be good for the lotto. (Unusual but not overly intricate.)  I’ve sent them along to Sophie for her idea file.   I was able to participate in all but two months this year — I just couldn’t get the pieced leaves to work out and I don’t have easy access to an enlarging photocopier for the chickens. I enjoyed making the blocks for the other ten months.  Ideas for...

Well, first of all, I’m a big fan, even though I don’t play every month. I like the simple blocks the best and the paper-pieced blocks the least. I like the colors Sophie specifies — she keeps track of what we’ve done and spreads the colors nicely around. And the 6-1/2″ blocks are the best for me and for the mail. As far as the mystery block and quilt-a-longs, they just don’t appeal to me. I’d rather...

This may seem late in coming, but I really really would like to know if anyone intends to continue following the Block Lotto (and making lotto blocks) in 2017. Is there anything that would make a difference in your decision to continue to play along? Larger blocks or keeping them small (and easier to mail)? A variety of sizes? More traditional blocks?  More improvisational blocks? More difficult blocks? New colors?  Different color...

I need the address of where to send my single hen, please. My podunk-holler email provider did an upgrade and I have not received any email sent between Dec. 3 and today. Plus they wiped out any saved webmail I had in my inbox, contacts and sent mail.   According to the website they are still working on it but it’s a weekend so I think not.   Anyway…email is working for now so if someone could send me Barb’s addy I might see...

My best laid plans for having my Old MacDonald’s Sampler quilt finished for December 1, came and went … I am still hopeful for an end-of-the-year finish, but in the meantime, here’s the layout with all the blocks. I will post more soon about how to make the half string-half split 9-patch blocks and share the bonus block pattern for the chicks … will anyone else be joining me in the race to the finish before the end of...

I think I missed the mailing info for September blocks.  My husband had major surgery Sep 29 and was in hospital until yesterday so I’ve kind of been out of touch with the quilty world.  Has the info gone out yet?  If so, may I get another copy? I’ll try to get to the P.O. asap. Cathy

Decided to use the blocks on the design wall from August, 2016 win, divided 9-patch blocks.  I think it will make a nice crib-sized quilt:...

I used Sophie’s pattern for making a pair of plaid 9-patch blocks (with her permission of course) for my quilt guild’s September block-of-the-month challenge and we got an overwhelming response. Block Lotto participants made this block in June 2015 from blue, black and white fabric. For my guild I changed it up by substituting pink for blue. My co-chair Robyn and I didn’t do a great job at the meeting this morning getting the...

My August top made from June 2011 3-patch blocks: I won 47 blocks and made 17 additional blocks to complete the top.  Not sure which blocks my September top will be...

My July top from 2012 June – Simplified Schoolhouse: I added a few paper-pieced trees.  My August top will be from 2011 June – Three-patch rectangle blocks.  ...