How to Quilt: Basket Quilt Blocks and Free Quilt Block Patterns

Creating a Block of the Month Quilt and January Free Quilt Block Patterns

"May all of your ups and downs in life be with a needle and thread."

Greetings Quilter -

Many quilters like to start the year off with a Block of the Month project.

By creating one block each month, by the end of the year, you have enough blocks to make a nice size quilt.

There is no special magic to creating a Block of the Month Quilt. You can choose a holiday theme - like Halloween - or a block-type theme - like Stars.

Or you can just choose several of your favorite blocks and combine them into a quilt.

Many Block of the Month projects use only 9-10 blocks, leaving the other months for finishing the quilt - sewing the blocks together, then quilting and binding.

These projects are fun for quilting groups of any size. You can create a Block of the Month for a Quilt Guild, a small group of quilters who meet weekly or monthly, a quilt shop, or just yourself.

The point is to have fun creating a variety of blocks - not just make 12 of the same block using the same color fabric in each block.

Many quilters use this as an opportunity to hone their quilt block sewing skills, choosing blocks with a variety of different patches, and maybe even including applique.

You'll find more information about creating Block of the Month quilts below. Check out www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com for more ideas and quilt block patterns to use. There are tons of quilt block patterns in a variety of sizes, many of them are free, too!

Once your quilt is finished, you'll need a method of binding. Our Ultimate How to Bind a Quilt DVD Mentor is the perfect resource to help you choose the right binding for your quilt, and will give you detailed, step-by-step instructions for making 6 different types of binding.

And now for the rest of the news - -

Happy Quilting!

penny halgren

Member Quilt of the Month

Antique Heirloom Crazy Quilt made by Dorothy V. Grimes' grandmother

Close up picture of the quilt with a picture of the quilt maker

This heirloom crazy quilt comes to us from Dorothy V. Grimes, along with the following story:

Here are the the pictures of the Quilt. I hope you can see the embroidery on it. The fabric in it is beautiful. And most of it is hand done.

My Mom did some quilts too but those were used on the beds we only had wood burning stoves for heat. I remember her quilts being very heavy. I think she used old worn out woolen blankets for batting and I don't think there was any thing left of them when we were done with them.

Nothing was thrown away in those depression days. On below zero nights after the chores were done, we would cuddle up in the quilts she made by the kitchen stove for most of the night and she would read to all of us from my Dad's favorite Zane Grey cow boy stories and my Dad would keep the fire going and pop corn, There were cookies and fudge to eat.

The teakettle was always on for Mothers tea and our hot chocolate and the coffee pot for Dad's coffee. There was no heat upstairs in the bedrooms so until it got warmer we stayed down in the kitchen.

We lived on a farm. Well I hope I haven't bored you with this story but I thought it went with the quilts.

Dorothy

P.S. The picture of the lady is of my Grandmother Nicholas who made the quilt in case you didn't guess.

A Quilt Idea - Creating a Block of the Month

When quilters make resolutions for the New Year, they usually involve, well, quilting.

It makes sense that whether we quilt for fun or for profit, we have goals that we want to meet for the New Year. January is the perfect time to start some of these goals, especially if you decide to work on a Quilt Block of the Month project.

Most quilters participate in a Quilt Block of the Month project through a guild or local sewing group. If you don’t have a guild or a group nearby to join, don’t let that stop you. Create your own Quilt Block of the Month.

If you are new to quilting, you will need to keep in mind that your quilt will be easier to sew together if all of your blocks are the same size. So, you don’t want to have a 9 inch block for January and a 12 inch block for February…unless you have special plans to incorporate them as such.

Next, develop a theme. This can be as easy or as difficult as you like. Ask yourself if you want to piece the quilt blocks only or if you would like to incorporate appliqué. Either way is fine, or mix it up by piecing some and appliquéing some. It doesn’t matter, but knowing which you will do can help as you select a theme.

To develop your Block of the Month Theme, decide what you like. Do you like birds? Develop a bird theme. How about cooking? Develop a cooking theme. Are you known for hopping in the RV and traveling across the country? Guess what – that can be a theme too.

Baskets can be a theme, too. And we have presented two basket blocks to give you a start. The video below demonstrates the Cherry Basket quilt block, and you'll find a link for the May Basket quilt block as well. Both of these patterns are available at www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Your next step is to visit www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com for some pattern ideas. If you are working on a bird them, search for bird related quilt block patterns. You may be surprised at how many you find! If you are looking for food related themes, you will find patterns like “corn” and “corn and beans.”

There are several turkey and chicken blocks. Also look for the “goblet,” “picnic basket,” or “prickly pear” patterns. Take a little time and look through all the patterns to find your favorites!

If you are looking for a cross country traveler theme, look for patterns with names of states. The “Lone Star” pattern could represent Texas, and of course there is the “Ohio Star.” Search the patterns to find states you want to include in your monthly project.

If the idea of a quilting group appeals to you but there isn’t one in your area, join an online discussion group. You’d be surprised at how much encouragement and how many great sewing and quilting tips you can get from an online community.

If you want to make a quilt block each month but don’t have the time or desire to develop a theme, just pick a block and make it. Pick a different block for each month and select fabrics to coordinate. Or, use the same block every month and vary the fabrics you use.

Pick the method that works best for you. Create your own monthly goal that you can achieve. By the end of the year, you’ll have 12 beautiful quilt blocks to your credit!

A Halloween-theme quilt is fun. These blocks are different sizes, but are surrounded by Attic Windows to make them the same size for adding the sashing.

You can also take two different blocks and vary the colors for a Block of the Month quilt. In this quilt, Bachelor's Puzzle is the main block, offset with Pinwheels.

It's interesting to see the difference in the block just by varying the colors in each patch.

Banish Lumpy, Bumpy Binding. Forever!

Imagine Yourself Stitching Binding on Your Quilt That is So Beautiful
It Looks as If It Were Sewn by a Professional.

Learn 6 different ways to bind your quilts with perfection - You'll have smooth and square mitered corners; hand sewn blind stitches that are completely hidden; a smooth closing where the beginning and end of the binding meets; and even edges all the way around your quilt.

Using this resource, your binding worries will be over forever, and all of your binding will be beautiful and easy to make.

www.HowToBindAQuilt.com

Featured Block Video - Cherry Basket

cherry basket quilt block

Last week we saw how to sew the May Basket quilt block. That block presented some challenges with its diamonds.

This week's basket is a little easier, since it has only half-square triangles, squares and a rectangle or two.

Like many baskets, this block can be placed in a quilt on point in the center surrounded by interesting borders.

Postcard Quilts for the Troops

Valentines' Day Roundup Next - Deadline January 21!

With all of the end of the year holidays fast approaching, Penny's Postcard Posse is wrapping it up for the year 2009. This was a most excellent year for sending fabric postcards to the troops abroad.

Thanks to the hundreds of quilters who contributed thousands of postcards to send, and thanks, too, to Diane who continues to pour her heart into the collection and distribution of postcards.

But our work is not over. There are still men and women who appreciate hearing from us, and - as promised - our effort will continue as long as there are troops fighting in the Middle East.

During the year end holidays, take a few minutes to make a card or two. And to get you started, download a package of free Heart Quilt Block patterns. These are full size patterns that can easily be made into small fabric postcards.

The directions are very easy. You’ll find free designs to get you started at www.fabric-postcards.com.

You'll find tons of free fabric postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Please send your cards to:
Diane Malaznik
14215 Westmore St.
Livonia, MI 48154-4149

Diane is doing a fabulous job keeping the pictures updated, and if you have sent cards in, let your friends and family know that they can see pictures of them here: www.Fabric-Postcards.com

Remember you can get FREE postcard patterns at: www.QuiltBlockLibrary.com

Special Note - we are in the process of changing the Picture Gallery on the Fabric-Postcards.com site. It may take a few days, so bear with us. Not to worry - We have all of the pictures and will get everything squared away soon.

January Quilt Block Patterns

The January selection of free quilt block patterns includes a variety of 4 patch quilt blocks, ranging from the easy to make to some that are a little more complex.

Click here to download your January FREE quilt block patterns