Today's  calendar  block is the Cross Patch. It is the center of the outside blue strips (which make it an 18" block). It uses two different sized triangles to set those squares on point. Cross Patch: 18" This is block #6 in Jean Ann Wright's Indigo Sampler. Let's see that again and you will notice that it's the top left block in the quilt. Indigo Sampler: 78" x 90" This Indigo Sampler appeared in my 2010 Block a Day Calendar (you already know that). Sometimes you can still find used copies for sale online. Believe me, there are a LOT of quilting ideas in there with hundreds of blocks. 2010 Block a Day Calendar (with dozens of quilts) I still have my copy. I wish I still had all of them, but then that would be 19 in total! Of course, you will need your own copy my New Quilter's Perpetual Block a Day  calendar  to know how to cut and stitch each of the 12 blocks in our Indigo Sampler. Remember, if you don't have yours yet, the 15% off coupon i...

Cheyenne is a block that has many names for the arrangement of the squares and triangles. It's a wonderful way with the blues, isn't it? Cheyenne: 18" That center square on point isn't hard and we actually work with a cut square and four cut triangles. This extra treatment of the "logs" surrounding the blocks is something you may want to try for another set of blocks. When they sit next to each other it creates a secondary design and you don't need to worry about adding sashing (because the logs act as the sashing). The entire quilt as shown uses 5 different blues and a single white. I'll be giving you the yardages on the last day. Here's what the quilt looks like without any color: A few more days, a few more blocks! Of course, you will need your own copy of the  calendar  to know how to cut and stitch each of the 12 blocks. Remember, if you don't have yours yet, the 15% off coupon is still available until the end of this month (May).

Today is May 4 and the calendar block for today is the Butterfly Block. It is 18" square and I think it takes a little bit to imagine this being a butterfly! Butterfly Block: 18" Surrounding each of these 12 blocks in the Indigo Sampler with light and dark blue strips is genius! Then they flip flop back and forth and create a secondary pattern. Let's see the quilt again: Indigo Sampler: 72" x 90" The Butterfly Block is in the center row, the second one down. Making 18" blocks gets you to a good sized quilt fast! My original blocks for the Block a Day Calendar were colored in these blues. For some reason, the graphics department wanted different colors. I still prefer the blues!

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...