The Indigo Sampler uses a block that I feature today called Broken Dishes. Again, this is a traditional/vintage block that is very simple to piece. May 3 Block - Broken Dishes, 18" Let's see how it appears in the Indigo Sampler. It's the second block down on the left side: Indigo Sampler: 78" x 90" I'm trying to make some sense of the pattern info in that 2010 Block a Day calendar. I designed 90% of the projects with Jean Ann contributing 10%. It was a LOT of work, believe me. Sometimes the math gets away from you. Yes, we not only patterned the 12 blocks but those border units also. Can you believe that those outside units are little houses? Here is that Castle Wall border block (6") that appears as the outer border. The quilt requires 46 of these!! (this is not in my new calendar, btw). If you are wanting to make this quilt, earmark this page (or better yet, print it!) At the end of sharing these 12 blocks, I will give you the pattern for making the qu...

The calendar blocks for 12 days straight come from my 2010 Block a Day Calendar. My editor friend, Jean Ann Wright, designed her Indigo Sampler and it appeared in April of that year. These are traditional/vintage blocks and are 18". Indigo Sampler Quilt by Jean Ann Wright: 78" x 90" (I just discovered that there were errors in this pattern when it was printed! - but not in the cutting of the blocks; just in the quilt size) Yesterday's block was Baby Bunting. This is a traditional (vintage) block that Jean Ann added an extra 2 color blue border around. May 1 block is Baby Bunting: 18" Each successive block has the same light and dark strips added, with some at the top and some at the bottom. Today's block is Brave World. It is colored differently in my Quilter's New Perpetual Block a Day Calendar (reds, pinks and yellow). But look how lovely it is in the same blues in the quilt above. May 2 block is Brave World: 18" If you stick with me for the next ...

( This is a repost from a few years ago.) That's two words, not one (crabby!). Crab Bay was a fabric collection I designed some fun table items with. This was in 2008. I'm sure you remember this pattern I designed a few years ago using the same Crab appliqué. I called this Crab Happy and it now lives with my son in law in Maryland (where crabs are king!) Crab Happy (not the free pattern) Here's the front cover of the 10 page pdf file for Crab Bay .  In the pattern there are: a Table Runner (with crab appliqué, of course) that's 20" x 52" Placemats that are 12" x 18" (and that crab again!) Totes that measure 16" x 19" (and then the handle makes them taller) and, Crumb Catchers for adults: 14" x 28" Full size templates for the crab, the bib and lots of well illustrated instructions. Consider this a fun project to make for Summer and those times you spend by the shore or just sitting outside eating a picnic lunch! Here is the  FREE C...

Today is April 30 and the calendar block for today is Country Fences. It is a 5 x 5 grid and works out to a 15" block. Here it is in a 12" size by Diane L. She said that she wanted it to fit with her other 12" calendar blocks that she's made from my calendar and so she engaged in some serious quilter's math! Country Fences by Diane L. I think she did an awesome job! The fat quarter collection she's been working with this past year is Grounded by Windham Fabrics . They were designed by Maria Carluccio. Grounded by Maria Carluccio I used this Country Fences block in a digital quilt designed for my 2010 Block a Day Calendar. This is my Trumpet Flower quilt. Trumpet Flower Quilt: 57" x 72" (blocks are 15") Isn't this a lovely alternate block to those appliquéd trumpet flowers? Check your local quilt shop for my  calendar . It's also back in stock with C&T and other retailers! on  Amazon at  C&T Publishing  (with a 15% off coupon whe...

Today is April 29 and the calendar block is Souvenir. It is 15" in the hard copy but I also designed it almost 20 years ago for Quilt Magazine using a selected fabric collection called Shibori by Kona Bay Fabrics. This is 10" finished. 10" Souvenir Block Last week I shared another pattern using this block. And there was another quilt called Color Blox Stars . Did you see it? This is an awesome way to showcase a lovely print in that center 6" square. Here's a quilt I designed and made using the 15" Souvenir Block. I called it Playtime Buddies and gave it to a little girl a few years ago. She was thrilled with those dancing dogs and cats! Playtime Buddies: 58" x 73" So, go find your calendar and turn the page to April 29, where you'll find the 15" Souvenir block. And then go to this link -  Color Blox Stars  - and download a pattern for a lovely quilt! Check out the  calendar at the C&T website  for a 15% off coupon (good until the end ...

Here is another April block from my  Quilter's New Perpetual Block a Day Calendar . It is called Rising Sun Variation.  Rising Sun Variation by Susan B: 18" Here is a quilt I designed for my 2014 Block a Day calendar that uses this same block: Here Comes the Sun quilt: 78" x 78" Compare it with the block I posted last week called  Rising Sun . Rising Sun  by me Susan is working with the Moonlit Collection by Windham Fabrics: Moonlit fat quarters Remember - there is a 15% off coupon for my calendar and expires at the end of May. Buy one for yourself and one for a friend! Check your local quilt shop for my  calendar . It's also back in stock with C&T and other retailers! on  Amazon at  C&T Publishing  (with a 15% off coupon when you click "add to cart") and in  Barnes & Noble  stores

The Squash Blossom Block? What? Are we talking food? No, that's the name of the block and it appears in my Quilter's New Perpetual Block a Day Calendar . (Click that link for 15% off!) And the Sewalong is featuring selected fabrics from the Benartex Superior Solids Collection. Here are the six I chose (and only used 4 in my block). Superior Solids by Benartex Fabrics They heard that they were going to star in a block and insisted on being photographed with the popular new calendar . I had to comply! THIS IS A PHOTO HEAVY POST - SCROLL THROUGH AND YOU WILL GET ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS SIMPLE BLOCK WITH A FEW STITCHING TRICKS! Link to the 3 page pdf: Squash Blossom Block Let's get going on how I created this simple block. Here's the calendar image and then you'll understand the cutting and piecing a little better. Squash Blossom block in calendar  (on sale until May 31!) Rectangles, triangles and yes - I FORGOT TO LABEL FOR THE SQUARES! Yikes! But, I...