Sister Sampler Quilts: What are Sister Blocks?

Sister Sampler Quilts looks at sampler quilts with a slightly different eye.  Most traditional samplers use only one of each quilt block in the quilt layout.  Sister Samplers make quilt blocks in pairs - called "Sister Blocks".

SISTER BLOCKS:  For the samplers in Sister Sampler Quilts, all sampler blocks are made in pairs.  You make 2 of each block instead of just one.  Each time we make a block, we learn about color and fabric placement, value, tone, scale, etc.  By making two of each block, we can play, improve upon our selections, or try out something different.

25 INTERCHANGABLE BLOCKS: All 25 traditional quilt blocks in Sister Sampler Quilts are interchangeable.  The blocks are placed into chapters for each sampler, but you may substitute any block throughout the book to make your own unique sampler.  The cutting instructions are given in 2 finished sizes.  You may choose to make smaller 9" finished blocks or bigger 12" finished blocks.  This results in allowing you to choose to make the smaller or larger version of the sampler quilts.  This helps if you are on a budget.

SKILL BUILDING BLOCKS:  The blocks in Sister Sampler Quilts are intended to help you practice skill building techniques that will leave you with a solid foundation in quilt block basics.  Chapter 4 of the book provides detailed step-by-step tutorials with photos on six different quilting basics: Half-Square Triangles, Quarter-Square Triangles, Flying Geese, No Waste Flying Geese, Curves and Strings.  Additionally, there are two more tutorials to help you find the scant 1/4" on your sewing machine and instruction on binding a quilt, both by hand and by machine.  If you prefer to study up on these techniques by watching a video, I have created a new YouTube channel that contains video tutorial versions of all the skills included in the book.

FUN TO SWAP:  One of the coolest things about Sister Blocks is swapping.  Since all the blocks are made in pairs, it's easy to trade with a partner or a "sister".  Whether you swap just one block or decide to trade for an entire sampler, it's double the fun!

2016 BLOCK OF THE MONTH:  If making sister blocks is something that interests you, check out all the details of the 2016 Bonfire Block of the Month Club (BOM).  It all starts here at Gen X Quilters on January 1, 2016.  We will be making the Bonfire Sampler, the third quilt in the book.

Purchase Sister Sampler Quilts here (signed) or here.

Patchwork Auditions Quilt Finish

I am happy to show you today my Patchwork Auditions quilt finish!  I started working on this project back in March or so of this year as a means to think outside the box.  (And a way to use up scraps!)  I wanted to explore the many different ways to color quilt blocks - especially ones we have all seen and used many many times.

This quilt is the result of that artistic exploration.

There are 7 different classic quilt blocks in this quilt.  Most of the blocks were made three times - but each one is constructed using a different coloring scheme.  For example, below is a screen capture that shows all 3 of the Churn Dash blocks I included in the quilt.  Can you find them all in the finished quilt?

The finished setting takes the quilt blocks and sets them into rows.  There are both 12" and 16" finished blocks, and to make the math work out for the 12" rows, I needed to add some flying geese and rainbow blocks to round it out.  Overall, I'm really happy with how it ended up!

I found this little brick hut in the park I was shooting at.  I'm not sure what it's purpose is/was, but I was fascinated taking photos on it's gate door.  Just a little photography fun, but you can't see much of the quilt since it's huge and folded up.

This quilt is HUGE.  It's 80" x 88".  It was really hard to photograph.  It's fun though because I made it completely from scraps and my stash.

There is one quilt we have that everyone fights over in the winter.  It's the only flannel backed one we have.  This year I've finished this Patchwork Auditions quilt for us with this awesome Remix Flannel quilt back.  So soft and warm.  All the colors in the Remix print go nicely with the scrappy front.  Can't wait to use this all winter!

The Patchwork Auditions series is a FREE series here on GXQ.  Go here to try making a block or two - and maybe you'll end up with a whole quilt yourself!  The instructions for the full size quilt are all a part of the series.

Quilt Stats.

Name: Patchwork Auditions

Size: 80" x 88"

Fabric:  Misc scraps and stash fabric with Architextures Handwriting print background

Piecing:  Me

Quilting: LAQ Beany of Quilty Pleasures 

Bonfire BOM 2016 - Selecting Fabric

The Bonfire Block of the Month Club starts January 1, 2016 right here.  And if you're like me, one of the best parts about starting a new project is auditioning fabric!  By sharing my process in selecting fabrics, I hope this post today will help you decide what you like.

First, here is what the original Bonfire Sampler quilt looks like in the book.  It is a scrappy quilt, mixing prints and solids, fabric lines and manufacturers.  The block background is Kona White and the larger background is Essex Linen in Natural (both by Robert Kaufman).  The star points are very small scale tone-on-tone prints that almost read as solids.

Now of course, in making this quilt for the second time around, I naturally wanted to change things up a bit.  Since the first quilt was scrappy, I decided I wanted to make this quilt from one fabric line.  (See the Choosing Fabrics section (p. 7) in the book to elaborate a bit.)  The quilt above is made with 9" blocks; this time I'll be making 12" blocks.  To get started, we need the all important fabric requirements.

BONFIRE FABRIC REQUIREMENTS
Lap Quilt - 64" x 64" (9" finished Blocks)
1/2 yard total of each of 5 colors (aqua, purple, gold, orange and red) 
2 yards Linen in Natural (outer background)
1 1/2 yards White Solid (block background) 
1/2 yard each Red and Orange Prints (fabrics for large setting HSTs) 
4 yards Backing 
5/8 yard Binding

Large Twin Quilt - 82" x 82" (12" finished Blocks)
1/2 yard total of each of 5 colors (aqua, purple, gold, orange and red) 
3 yards Linen in Natural (outer background)
2 yards White Solid (block background) 
3/4 yard each Red and Orange Prints (fabrics for large setting HSTs) 
7 1/2 yards Backing 
5/8 yard Binding

When I am shopping for a line for one of my sampler quilts, I first look at the colors.  Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman has some awesome vibrant colors.  Karen's best-selling screen printed designs are printed on select shades of Kona Cotton Solid's rainbow.  I like to choose small to medium-scale prints for samplers.  The tone-and-white prints in these designs are perfect for use in a sampler.  If I am choosing multi-color prints, I prefer to choose only a few of those.

There are 3 different colorways (Cool, Bright (shown below), Neutral).  The Bright colorway is the one that spoke to me. 

Bright Color Story of Blueberry Park by Karen Lewis for Robert Kaufman

Once I find colors I like, I check to make sure the line fits into the break down for the Fabric Requirements.  The callouts above list 1/2 yard each of 5 colors.  Can the bundle I've chosen breakdown into at least 5 color groupings?  Yes.  The Blueberry Park Brights FQ bundle can be grouped into reds, yellows, oranges, purples and pinks.  And there is at least (usually more) 1/2 yard of each color group.  Perfect!

 If we're getting really picky, you can see that the oranges can be broken down into even small subgroups.  Oranges and salmon?  But I didn't need six groupings, only five, so keeping them grouped as oranges works for me.

 Ok, I've selected my bundle of prints that I plan to use for the interior sampler blocks.  My next step is choosing an overall background (where the Essex Linen is in the above sample).  For this quilt, I wanted to go bold, so I decided to choose a coordinating Kona Cotton Solid in Cerise.

 The last fabric I need to select was for the large Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) that make the star points in the Bonfire quilt.  In the book sample, I used only 2 colors (red and orange) in the HSTs. 

Again, to change things up and show you a slightly different variation of the quilt, I chose to use 4 different colors in the Blueberry Park line as the star points.  Those four shades are shown below.  The Valentine print on the far left is actually similar to the Cerise shade once I saw it in person.  The jury is still out on that one.  I may change out that fabric in the end - and since the star points will be made at the very end of the BOM, I can wait to decide until much later in the quilt along.

PARTNERS:  SO - remember, I am partnering up with my mom to make sister quilts of the Bonfire Sampler, right?  Well, if you've decided to work with a partner, remember that you will be making 2 blocks each month and trading with your partner.  You and your partner should agree on what fabrics you are using for the blocks.  Lucky for me, Mom was immediately on board with Blueberry Park.  I think it would be fun to use a scraps or to use only certain colors too.  Just make sure you discuss it ahead of time!

1.  Block Background.  For our sister quilts, my mom and I decided to use Kona Snow.  It looks great with these fabrics and will make the block designs stand out.  Plus, I already had a bolt of it in my stash.  :/ Not sure if I should admit to having bolts of fabric in my stash.  This will make the blocks that both of us piece consistent and coordinating.  You may decide to use different shades of the same color or all low volume fabrics, etc.  Just make sure you talk about your plan.

2.  Block Fabric.  There was actually enough fabric in the FQ bundle for my partner and I to split the bundle.  Each person needed 1/2 yard of 5 colors, or 2 1/2 yards total of color prints.  Since the FQ bundle of Blueberry Park came with 6 1/4 yards, we were easily able to share one FQ bundle.  We actually cut all the FQ into fat eighths so we each could have all the prints to work with.  This is all up to you, I'm just trying to give you options to consider.

3.  Larger Background Fabric.  You and your partner may want to choose different large backgrounds.  As I mentioned above, I selected Kona Cerise.  My mom chose to work with Quilter's Linen in Natural.  Both background selections are on the bottom of the below photo.

4.  Star Points.  Once the basics are settled, choosing the star points is simply picking 1-4 fabrics that contrast nicely with your Large Background fabric.  Make those star points pop!

If the thought of doing all of this is daunting, take it one step at a time.  I have a coloring sheet of the quilt layout available to help you plan colors if you like.

So here are the sketches of what our sister quilts will look like.  I love it!  Two coordinating yet different quilts.  Each will demonstrate the individual's style, yet showcase the same fabrics.  AND we get to trade blocks along the way!  I am so excited to make this quilt with my "sister" for this quilt along, my mom.

SISTER QUILTS: My Bonfire version (left) and Mom's Bonfire version (right)

Are you joining us?

  Copies of Sister Sampler Quilts have arrived!!!  Order your copy here or here.



Let me know if you have any questions or if I left any details out.  Sorry for the wordy post, I hope this helps you in thinking about your selections!

A Special thank you to Robert Kaufman for providing fabrics for this Bonfire Block of the Month Club.  They are beautiful!