Pinwheels All Around: My Block in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 15

I'm happy to be a part of Quiltmaker's blog hop for Vol. 15 of their semi-annual special issue featuring 100 original quilt blocks. Here's my block: Pinwheels All Around.

Giveaway details are at the bottom of this post, but I hope you'll take a look at some of the fabric and quilt variations you can do with this block!

This block works equally well as a 2-fabric block, a 3-fabric block, or a 4-fabric block. I think you could also do totally scrappy (which is my typical style), but you might lose the pinwheel effect in the block.

I did a few different layouts -- two with sashing and one without. I like the additional large pinwheels that are created where the blocks meet in the one without sashing shown below.

Here's a layout with simple sashing and cornerstones:

But for the ambitious quilter (and the one I'll probably make), I took the pinwheel theme to the next level. 

First, the version with 3-fabric blocks. I think this would be a fabulous Quilt of Valor for your favorite veteran or active military friend or family member.

And here's the version with 4-fabric blocks. I like the warm fabrics, reminiscent of the autumn time of year. 

But don't let all of those pinwheel blocks (made from half-square triangles) get you down. There are so many different ways to do half-square triangles. Depending on my mood (and the size of my fabric pieces), I choose between three different ways of making them: 

From strips with the Easy Angle Ruler:

Two at a time using fabric squares with line drawn corner to corner, then stitched scant ¼ inch on each side of the line; 

Or using triangle paper, such as Thangles:

When you're ready to sew them together, it is useful to use a 3.5 basting stitch to make sure all of the points are aligned. (Then go back and sew the entire seam with a normal stitch length.) However, if after the first several blocks you find that everything is aligned well, you can skip this extra step.

If you really want to use up your scraps, here's a version where every block uses a different set of dark and medium fabrics. However I left the light background the same to help unify the quilt. I also felt the small pinwheels needed to be more neutral because there are so many other fabrics in the quilt. But I love this version too!

Now, for the giveaway and your chance to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 15! All you need to do is leave a comment below. I'll randomly pick a winner on May 6. No, make that THREE winners. Quiltmaker sent me some copies to share as well. So, be sure to leave your comment by midnight on May 5.

And be sure to visit Quiltmaker's blog as well for more opportunities to win -- including the chance to win a signed copy of my book Triple-Play Scrap Quilting.

Good luck -- and enjoy this week's blog hop!

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Vol. 15 Blog Hop

Get ready for the next issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks. They are about to release Volume 15! Wow, that's 1500 original blocks from lots of quilt designers.

I'm happy to have an original block in Volume 15 and to be part of the upcoming blog hop. Be sure to stop back by on May 1 to have the chance to win a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Vol. 15.

This will be my fourth original block. I also had blocks in Vol. 8, Vol, 9 and Vol. 10.

See these blog posts about those blocks:

Deseret Beehive Block, vol. 8

Folk Art Mexican Rose, vol. 9

Churned Star Block, vol. 10

Also, I've provided Quiltmaker with a signed copy of my book, Triple-Play Scrap Quilting. By visiting the Quiltmaker blog (quiltmaker.com/quiltypleasures) you'll have a chance to win the copy of my book!

This is always such a fabulous special issue. You won't want to miss the blog tour!

The Big Book of Strip Quilts (plus GIVEAWAY!)

I'm honored to have a quilt in Martingale/That Patchwork Place's new book The Big Book of Strip Quilts. All 60 of the quilts in the book can be made from 2-1/2 inch strips (aka jelly roll strips). Yes, that's 60 quilts for less than 50 cents per pattern!

You can learn more about this new book from Martingale/That Patchwork Place on their blog today. Just click the book image above to go to the blog. And you're gonna want to go over there because they are giving away a copy of the e-book.

And guess what? I'm also giving away a copy of the e-book. All you need to do is leave a comment below and tell us what your favorite pre-cut size is. I'll randomly pick a winner on Tuesday, April 25. So make sure your comment is added by midnight on the 24th.

My quilt in this great book is called Plaid and Pinwheels. 

It is from my book Triple-Play Scrap Quilting and is what I consider a "coordinated scrappy" quilt because it uses fabrics from a single fabric line. This quilt requires two jelly rolls, plus some yardage for borders, sashing, backing, and binding. 

The blocks are very quick to sew. In fact, it will probably take longer to do the pinwheel border than all of the blocks in the center of the quilt. I did the half-square triangles for the pinwheels using triangle paper, but one can use their favorite method.

I also did two other variations of this quilt.

This is the "planned scrappy" version which features a planned color scheme: pink and gray. I kept the blocks and sashing fairly subtle by using only medium and light fabrics, and I brought the darker fabrics into the borders to frame the quilt center.

And this is the "make-do scrappy" version. I emphasized the geometric nature of this quilt by piecing the sashing border and adding bold black inner borders. Although you could skip making the pinwheels entirely and use a single-fabric border, I still added pinwheels in only the upper left and lower right corners. It's a great way to use up scraps!

Good luck winning a copy of the e-book -- either from me or from Martingale's blog posting!

I'm a "Cover Girl" with Wizard's Chess

Or at least my quilt is.

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/quickquilts/issues/Quick-Quilts-June-July-2017

I designed and made this quilt in December for McCall's Quick Quilts. I'm excited to see that it made the cover of the June/July 2017 issue!

On a shop hop last September I searched for black and white fabrics to use in a someday quilt. They seemed like the perfect fabrics to pair with Kaffe Fassett blue-toned fabrics for this quilt. It would look great using Kaffe Fassett reds as well. I even played around with traditional Civil War fabrics (scrappy) in combination with a black and cream checkerboard. 

You will be able to purchase the magazine in shops about May 1. Or it's available online now at McCall's Quick Quilts. 

I quilted it with my HQ Avante equipped with HQ Pro-Stitcher. I selected the Damask 2 edge-to-edge design from Wasatch Quilting. Here are some close-ups of the quilting.

For those inclined to stitch up this quilt, a pdf of the pattern is also available from McCall's Quick Quilts. And, as the magazine name implies, it is a quick quilt to make.