Gallery for “Sisters” Quilts

It’s so exciting, many of you are finishing your “Sisters” block of the month quilts! I have posted pictures on the “Sisters BOM QAL” page of this blog. Scroll to the bottom of the page, after all the block instructions to see the lovely and unique quilts. To whet your appetite, here’s a snapshot of Cindy C.’s. She felt all of her fabrics were too light in value to sash the blocks with a light background color. Since she wanted more contrast in her “Sisters” quilt, she turned her 6″ squares on point by adding setting triangles in a dark complimentary color.

It’s great to see all the creativity in setting the “Sisters” blocks!

Please send a picture of your “Sisters” quilt top to aby.quilts@gmail.com

“Old Maid’s Puzzle” – BOM QAL Participants Share

Today I’d love to show you blocks made by participants of the “Sisters” Block of the Month quilt along. To put us in a festive fall mood is Judy’s pumpkin man who proudly displays her “Old Maid’s Puzzle” blocks.

Karen continues her fabric theme of stashed batiks. These greens and earth tones are lovely and soothing!

From the beginning of this “Sisters” project, I have loved Cheryl’s blocks. The cheerful blue and yellow combination appeals to me so very much.

Sarah is making two quilts, one with Christmas fabrics and the other, shown here, in spring fabrics. She’s even making extra blocks as we quilt along so she’ll have a larger quilt.

Beautiful blocks, ladies! Thanks for sharing.

Remember to check out even more fabric/color combinations from those who post at #sistersqal on Instagram.

If you are a new blog reader and wonder what in the world we are raving about, click on the SISTERS BOM QAL tab in the menu. This navigates you to a page with links to an introduction and instructions for patchwork blocks, one design per month, posted on the first of each month. We have just two more block designs in the “Sisters” QAL, but it’s not too late to join the fun!

“Sisters” Group Along

My friend Diane recently sent me pictures from a mini quilting retreat she enjoyed with three friends. (I met most of these ladies via the Black Forest Quilt Guild in Boeblingen/Stuttgart Germany about ten years ago!) As a group, they have challenged each other to make the blocks for the “Sisters” Block of the Month QAL. I think you will love seeing their color/fabric choices!

First up are Marah’s blocks. The pale, mottled blue is a perfect backdrop for the bold and bright batiks used in the patchwork foreground.

Rachel selected Civil War reproduction prints for her “Sisters” project. The muted tones and shirting background lend a comforting and comfortable air to the quilt blocks, don’t you think?

Suzanne is making two quilts. (Shall we say “over achiever?” LOL) The text print background adds so much interest to the first set of blocks. Its also fun to see the large scale floral prints in the center squares. In the second set, some of the geometric prints look very regular like gingham or polka dots from a distance. This textural difference shows up well against the small scale floral prints, making for a pleasing combination.

Diane selected a gray background which I find very unexpected and interesting; the other colors really “pop” against this hue. In addition to noticing the fussy cut center squares, take a look at the mini quilts she made with cut-off triangles from sew and flip corners. How fun!

Thank you, ladies, for encouraging each other in the “Sisters” quilt along and for sharing pictures of your progress.

Are you quilting along with a group of friends? If so, I would love to share pictures of your quilt blocks with blog readers (aby.quilts@gmail.com).

Several of you are planning to make larger quilts containing more patchwork blocks. You can find more 12″ blocks on quilterscache.com, with Marcia Hohn. Another source is Sherri McConnell’s blog aquiltinglife.com; she is also posting a block of the month in 2020. Moda Fabrics posts a block every week in their Blockheads 3 project. Moda is also spear-heading Stitch Pink 2020, a quilt along during October to raise awareness for breast cancer.

Happy Quilting! — Aby

“Sisters” BOM – September

Special September greetings to you, my quilting friends! I am looking forward to the cooler temperatures this month usually brings. Maybe milder weather will entice me to sit on the porch and stitch rather than hibernate in my air conditioned sewing studio. Maybe.

If you are participating in the “Sisters” Block of the Month Quilt Along, you have been looking forward to today’s reveal of the September patchwork block. “Ribbon Star” is such a pretty block, and it’s fairly easy to construct. I know you will enjoy making it!

The stripe fabric I selected for the longer star points adds so much interest and movement to the “Ribbon Star” block. If your layer cake, fat quarter bundle or scrap fabric collection does not include a stripe, consider making the longer star points from a bolder color and making the shorter rectangles from a fabric of medium value.

How to find instructions for “Ribbon Star:” Click on “SISTERS BOM QAL” in the menu. This takes you to the page of links to the instructions for all the blocks to date. Scroll down to the September listing and click the black “Download” button.

The “Ribbon Star” instructions include a link to an online tutorial that details a different method of construction. I would be curious to know which patchwork method you use.

Once you’ve constructed your Big Sister 12″ “Ribbon Star” and your Little Sister 6″ “Ribbon Star,” post a picture on Instagram with #sistersqal or send me a picture to share with other QAL participants: aby.quilts@gmail.com.

Happy Quilting! — Aby

“Sisters” BOM – August Wrap-Up

Are you quilting along with us in 2020? Each month I post instructions for another 12″ block and a 6″ block of the same geometric design. If you make the Big Sister and the Little Sister by the end of the month, you can comment “Done” for a chance to win a quilting magazine. (Several of you commented “Done” on a blog post a couple of days ago; be sure to comment “Done” on today’s post for a chance to win.)

The block design for August was “Bronco’s Star,” the trickiest block to date. I am so proud of you for rising to the challenge and making your blocks! Marie, Sana, and Karen emailed me pictures to share with you.

Marie is using brown and pink Civil War reproduction prints for her “Sisters” quilt. I absolutely love the color combination!

If you know Sana, you will correctly assume that she is using bold colors for her quilt. And her choice of a dark background really makes the other colors “pop!” The fussy-cut star flower print adds visual interest to the center of her Big Sister block.

It is so much fun to see all eight of Sana’s 12″ blocks made this year! Notice the various fussy-cut motifs.

Karen’s batik blocks are equally stunning! The arrangement on her design wall inspires me to make a row by row quilt with rows of 6″ blocks between rows of 12″ blocks. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful setting for our Sisters blocks?

Thanks, ladies for sharing pictures of your blocks! We love seeing your work and admiring your color and fabric choices.

Now . . . it’s time to register your accomplishment. Comment “done” if you have completed the 12″ “Bronco’s Star” and either the 6″ “Bronco’s Star” or the 6″ “Shoo Fly” blocks.

Until tomorrow . . . when the instructions for the September “Sisters” blocks will be posted.

“Sisters” BOM – “Bronco’s Star”

Did you find time this past weekend to work on your “Bronco’s Star” blocks for the “Sisters” Quilt Along? (If you are not sure what I am talking about, click the SISTERS BOM QAL tab in the menu. You will find a page of links to instructions for the eight blocks, to date.)

I am so pleased that you are rising to the challenge of creating this design. Admittedly, it’s more complicated than the other blocks you’ve worked on. Way to go! I will have a prize for a random drawing of those who complete “Bronco’s Star” by the end of August.

Jane-ellen emailed me a picture of her blocks. Love those blues! Just imagine how beautiful an entire quilt made with “Bronco’s Star” would be.

The following photo shows all of Jane-ellen’s “Sister’s” blocks. Putting them on a design wall helps her see which colors/fabrics have been used the most, and which could be used next to add color balance. The down-side of thus displaying blocks is that it will tie up your design wall for an entire year!

Cindy also sent a picture of her blocks, January-August. She chose Moda’s collection for a cause – “Nurture.” Gorgeous fabrics combined with expert piecing is breathtaking!

Thank you, Jane-ellen and Cindy, for sharing pictures of your blocks. It is so inspirational and motivating to see your work. Your quilts will be beautiful!

If you have an Instagram account, take a look at other “Sisters” blocks at #sistersqal. If you’d like to email me a picture of your blocks, I would love to admire and share them on the blog; my address is aby.quilts@gmail.com.

“Sisters” BOM – August

Good-bye July, and hello August! A new month, a new patchwork design challenge. This month, Quilt Along participants will work on 12″ and 6″ blocks of “Bronco’s Star.”

“Bronco’s Star” was designed by Sarah Bisel and was published in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers, vol. 11. I re-colored the block to use four fabrics, and I simplified the construction. This is our most intricate block to date, but I am confident that you can make it!

When making the 6″ block, you need to use fabric from your “Free” box. These are scraps you’ve saved from making previous blocks. I can’t wait to see your color/fabric choices!

Clicking on the “Sisters BOM QAL” tab in the menu links you to the blog page containing instructions for all the “Sisters” blocks. Scroll the the end and find the entry for August. Click the black download button. Once you’ve completed your blocks, post a picture on Instagram if you have an account, #sistersqal.

It’s not too late to join the “Sisters” Quilt Along. Be sure to read the instructions about selecting fabrics first. Then jump in with the block that seems easiest to you. This project is perfect for summer sewing, not to mention quarantine sewing.

Kathy R. sent me a picture of her blocks, January through July. She is using her scrappy stash inherited from her mother and grandmother and plans to give the quilt to a graduating piano student. Each block is a jewel!

“Sisters” BOM July Wrap-up

Quilt Along Participants: Today is THE day to comment “Done” if you have made the “Sisters” blocks for July. Wasn’t “Round Rosie” a sweet design?

Sana sent me a picture of her blocks. The dark background really makes the lighter colors pop. The fussy cut flower in the center of the 12″ block is an awesome detail.

Joy also sent a picture of her blocks. I love the mixture of geometric and floral prints.

Be sure to check out more photos of “Round Rosie” on Instagram #sistersqal. Kudos to everyone who is keeping up with our Quilt Along. You will find a link to the instructions for the August “Sisters” blocks under the Sisters BOM QAL tab tomorrow, August 1st.

Remember to comment, “Done,” and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free Sept/Oct issue of McCall’s Quilting magazine!

“Round Rosie” Blog Readers Share

Here we are – mid July – and “Sisters” Block of the Month participants have been busy. Have you checked out the pictures on Instagram (#sistersqal)? Several of the ladies residing in Japan are miniaturizing and hand-stitching the blocks, making 6″ and 3″ blocks instead of 12″ and 6″ blocks. Simply amazing!

Roxann emailed me a picture of her blocks. She wrote that green is the common fabric in these two blocks, and she used previously cut fabrics for “Round Rosie.” (She’s putting her “Free” box to good use.)

Karlene fussy cut the center squares for her blocks. Isn’t that red polka dot fun?

I always enjoy seeing Trinity’s blocks – she’s fussy cutting the center squares on nearly all the blocks to include the cone flowers and/or bees from her theme fabric.

Cheryl selected a blue and yellow theme. Besides admiring her workmanship, I am always drawn to the colors and prints she chooses. This probably means I should plan to make a blue and yellow quilt in the near future!

Karen’s using a layer cake of 10″ batik squares, but she admits that she is incorporating coordinating batiks from her stash.

Tashera is also quilting along. Her blocks this month say “neutral.” How soothing!

Thanks, ladies, for sharing pictures of your “Round Rosie” blocks. It is so inspiring to see different color and fabric choices!

“Sisters” BOM QAL – July

My inspiration for this block was “Round Rosie,” designed by Pam Vieira-McGinnis (pamkittymorning.blogspot.com) and published in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks from Today’s Top Designers, Vol. 4, p. 66. I simplified and re-colored the block to utilize a large scale floral print, a small scale green print and a red tone-on-tone.

Are you ready to make “Round Rosie?” Click on the “Sisters BOM QAL” tab in the menu, and then click on the black “Download” button under “July” to link to the printer friendly instructions. After making your blocks, so we can applaud your progress, post a picture on Instagram (#sistersqal) or send a picture to aby.quilts@gmail.com.